By Riderville

Riderville Report

Jul 25, 2011 | 9:03 AM

Just for something different, I watched the last game with Riders who didn't make the trip to Hamilton. These are practice squad players and those on the injury list and they all met at the Press Box bar in Regina and yours truly joined them.

Talking to these players before the game, they felt confident of winning. The intensity was up in practice this week, the players felt confident they could exploit Hamilton and control Kevin Glenn. They felt they could move the ball on Hamilton and with Hamilton missing their two top receivers that the defence would dominate.

And then the Riders ran out onto the field.

Watching the Riders at home watching their team-mates was painful. They could not believe what was happening to their team. And then they decided to leave the bar halfway through the third quarter. The game was over as far as they were concerned.

I talked to one of those players today who already has offers from Toronto, BC and Edmonton. He's sticking with the Riders, but he was embarrassed by what he saw and provided an interesting perspective on the game that I didn't hear in the bit of the post game show I took in.

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“The coaches gave the players everything they needed for this game,” said the player, who will remain anonymous. “We go to war with these guys every day in practice and they were intense and seemed ready for this game.

“The only thing I could think of was they got paid this week and didn't bring the intensity they needed. We need to play each game and each play like it could be our last and we just didn't against Hamilton.
“Hamilton is one of the worst teams in the league. Kevin Glenn is not a good quarterback, but we made him look all CFL. Our defence played better, but you can't be on the field all the time because your offence is going two and out.

“In my mind, it is not on the coaches. It is up to the players. This team has a tradition of playing hard at home, hitting you on every play and not letting up. We haven't done that and it is embarrassing.”
Coach Greg Marshall said in his post game comments the players are continually being evaluated, but the time has come to make some changes. The Rider Nation is calling for the removal of everyone from Jim Hopson as CEO to Greg Marshall as head coach to Richie Hall as defensive coordinator and Doug Berry as offensive coordinator.

There has been speculation that Durant is not comfortable with Berry's system and a change in offensive coordinator would allow Darian to roll out and play like he did the last couple of years.