Riders finally play up to potential

By Greg Urbanoski

I’ve been going to Rider games since 1976 and the best game they ever played was in 1976 when they beat the Edmonton Eskimos 40-0.

This year the Riders got a perfect game when they needed it the most.

The 52-0 win by the Riders over the godless Winnipeg Blue Bombers gave Rider fans a reason to stay tuned for the rest of the season. It was a combination of offense finally clicking, defense being dominant and the special teams being special.

The Riders spent this week looking at themselves and resolving that things would be different. In this Labour Day game the offense went with extra protection by bringing up their fullbacks to provide blocking support and allow Durant a few extra seconds to get the ball away.

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In addition, the game plan featured more running from Kory Sheets who came through with his first 100 yard plus game this year. The Riders took the wind in the first quarter and once they got ahead, they poured it on, especially in the second quarter when Tyron Breckinridge blocked a punt and returned it for a touchdown.

This was the Rider team that finally was operating on all cylinders. The adjustments the Riders had not been making prior to this game were finally made in this game. Weston Dressler was open for two touchdowns and might have had the hat trick.

There were a lot of encouraging things in this game, besides it being the best shut out in Saskatchewan history and repaying the Bombers for a 56-0 shut down back in 1986 – yes, I sat through that game as well. Brooks Foster, a tall receiver formerly a basketball player, made an amazing catch in the first quarter and contributed throughout. Foster may well be the long sought third receiver the Riders need to take pressure off of Dressler and Chris Getzlaf.

Another player who contributed was Jock Sanders who is turning into the latest version of Corey Holmes, the running, receiving and special teams ace of last decade. Sanders has been moved from a running back position out to slotback, made some key catches and is a threat on special teams.

With the encouraging signs on offense, another emerged unexpectedly when Durant went out with a stinger in the third quarter. With the Riders comfortably ahead, Drew Willy came in and marched the Riders effectively, showing a cannon of an arm and the ability to scramble.

While the game was comfortably ahead for the Riders Willy got some valuable reps that will come in handy in case Willy has to step in again. With Willy at the helm, the Riders showed they may drop down a little from what Durant gives them, but the upside of what Willy gives the Riders is the ability to look off receivers, something that Durant does not do that well.

On defense, the Riders pass rush was aided by the fact that Winnipeg has probably the worst offensive line in the CFL. The Riders got good pressure and that resulted in the defensive backs providing tighter coverage, including an interception by Brackenridge in the third quarter.

The Rider defense has played well in the last few games, but was finally rewarded by the offense doing its job by moving the ball effectively. With first Durant and then Willy, the Rider offense moved the ball using all of their players, something the team needs to do to be successful.

The Riders special teams were very good, although with Sanders in the lineup, the wisdom of using Weston Dressler is debatable, considering his value to his team. Milo was effective punting and Sandro DeAngelis made five field goals. The Riders also got a few breaks thanks to Winnipeg being unable to field kick-offs and recovered two.

While it was one of the best Labour Day wins over Winnipeg, the Rider season does not stop there.

They have to go to Winnipeg and another 52-0 win is out of the question. The Bombers came out on Sunday totally flat, and being shut out for the first time in 45 years will not sit well with their fans or team.

That being said, can Winnipeg come back from such a humiliating loss? In the CFL anything is possible, but if the Riders take control against Winnipeg next week as they did this week, the Riders should win again. Then of course we await the status of Darian Durant, but Drew Willy showed he can manage the game and the Riders don’t lose much with him at the helm.

If the defense and special teams again perform as they did, the Riders will do well, but this is a challenge for the Riders, playing consistently. Winnipeg though has a lot of problems, most of them in management and with their players who are consistently some of the most undisciplined and selfish in the league. With the deck stacked like that, the odds are good the Riders will again this season series and set themselves up in pretty good shape as they chase a playoff spot they saw slipping away just a week ago against Calgary.

And to add to such a perfect game, Odell Willis threw his gloves into the stands at the end of the game. I got one of them. Watch the video on demand of this game for the rest of the week on the TSN website Rider fans, this is the team that finally played up to its potential and that gives us hope for the rest of the year.