Thursday Morning Sentimonies: Playoffs?!?

What a week to take a couple days off!

I had planned to give an overview of the Riders’ draft picks but that will have to wait until Monday because Stewart Johnston (a guy who somehow is making people walk back their hatred of Randy Ambrosie) came out with another bombshell to rock the CFL world. 

First let me explain something that I think is super important to understanding Stewart Johnston and what he is doing. There is another commissioner I know who is universally reviled by fans… Gary Bettman. You know who loves Gary Bettman? The NHL Owners. Why? Because he makes them crazy amounts of money. No one at the NHL gives two craps about whether the Commissioner is liked as long as he makes money. 

Enter Stewart Johnston. As CFL Commissioner he exists to do what the owners tell him. And I can assure you that that owners have not told him to work on being viewed as a likeable guy. The owners have told him “make us more money”. 

That is the entire context of the playoff format change… $$$$$. More playoff games means more ticket sales and most importantly more games to market to broadcasters and advertisers. It’s the same reason the NFL expanded their playoff format. Playoff games make money and more games equals more money. No matter what anyone says, this and this alone is the reason for the change. 

Now do I personally like it? 

Like most people I don’t love that all but one team makes the playoffs. It cheapens the regular season and will mean that a 5-13 team can make the playoffs despite sucking for the entire regular season and still have a shot at a championship. If you miss the playoff now the head coach of that team should need to parade through the streets while people yell “Shame” like on Game of Thrones.

 

I don’t mind the page playoff system (non-curling fans will need to Ask Jeeves, anyone under the age of 30 will first need to google Ask Jeeves, maybe try Alta Vista). I like the reseeding to ensure the top seeds always play the lowest seeds. The advantage to finishing 1^st is greatly reduced (2^nd is almost as good) but the risk of a top team being one and done is removed so that part is ok.

So while I am generally a traditionalist and would have been fine with the old system I am open to given this a try. But as I mentioned in the opening the only measure of success for this will be $$. If it makes the league more then Stewart Johnston will gladly let you call him all the bad names in the book as he lights cigars with $100 bills. Whether Johnston will be right in the end I do not know. But I do know doing nothing different will make the League $0 so the owners are more than will to risk it. 

Monday Morning Sentimonies: Draft Musings

A week from tomorrow the CFL Canadian Draft goes down. The next day is the Global Draft.. or as it is more accurately known the Kickers and Punters from British Colonies Draft. To start getting you primed for the draft(s) here are some of my random draft musings:

 

-        I see many writers saying that the Riders will target a linebacker due to the departure of AJ Allen. This is nothing but lazy writing (and I know a thing or two about lazy writing). I don’t buy that logic for a number of reasons. First, there is no guarantee we plan to continue playing a Canadian in that spot. Second, we just so happen to have the best defensive players in U-Sports from both 2023 (Wiebe) and 2025 (Hundeby) so its not like our cupboards are suddenly bare. We also have Malique Straker who has been playing very well on special teams… which is exactly how AJ Allen started his career.

-        I am not saying that any of those guys are guaranteed to be the next Allen. I am just saying that if O’Day drafts an LB in Round 1 or 2 it will be because someone was too good to pass on, not because of any particular need.  

-        I have to think the priorities are OL, DL and WR in that order.

-        We have 5 Canadian OL on the roster and need to dress a minimum of 3. Given that we lost 2 OL before the first preseason game last year I would have to think that either O’Day has a line on some reinforcements (McEwen, Gagnon, Hergel) or he intends on drafting a couple.

-        As I said last week, it appears to be a draft thin on top end OL so I expect by the time we draft the top ones will be gone and we will have to use a second rounder on a guy with NFL interest (ala Hergel) or a guy we send back to school for one more year (ala Andersen)

-        Ajou’s unfortunate life choices don’t suddenly create an emergency at WR. We still are fine with Emilus, Baker and Duncan-Busby. But unless both Mimbs and other Wiebe pan out depth is starting to look a little thin there. I expect O’Day to take at least 2 WR in Rounds 3 through 7 and hope his string of always finding a Canadian WR late continues.

-        Speaking of the Punter draft… err I mean Global draft, as much as this is a much maligned initiative I still stand behind it. It may be slow moving but it is progressing. In the inaugural Mexican draft in 2019 we took an O-lineman (Rene Brassea) who was only good enough to stand on the sidelines for all but 1 snap (where I'm oretty sure he just snuck on the field). Now we have guys like Baldonado who are legitimately good players.  

-        Not sure anyone cares but we nailed the 2023 Global draft with Adam Korsak and Baldonado.

-        It balances with the 2024 Global draft where neither pick has ever reported to the CFL (Tyrone Taleni, Jordy Sandy)

CFL Draft Preview: Saskatchewan Roughriders

The CFL Draft is two weeks away. Much like March Madness its amazing how many people suddenly become experts on a college sport they did not previously pay attention to and have no intention of paying attention to in the future. 

While the Riders enter the draft with no glaring holes, they do need to restock the shelves a bit as offseason departures: Allen, Nield to other teams; Picton and Hus likely to retirement will impact depth.   

Based on O’Day track record we should be very confident. He has done pretty solid with his top picks (Emilus, Saad, Korte-Moore) but where he excels is the back half of the draft. Just look at what he has been able to find after the first 3 rounds. Dalke (6), Ajou (7), Baker (4), Betrand-Hudon, (4), Daniel Johnson (5), Straker (4). 

Picks: 8 picks, first selection is 9^th Overall

Potential Pipeline: DL David Oneymata (NYJ/Never coming to the CFL), DL Neville Gallimore (Chicago, probably never coming to the CFL), OL Sidy Sow (Houston), DL Tavius Robinson (Baltimore), OL Kyle Hergel (Chicago), QB Kurtis Rourke (San Francisco)

Current Strengths:

Overall the Riders have some elite talent at the top end. Emilus, Campbell and Ferland are among the best at their positions regardless of passport. Biggest strength has to be receiver. We have enough to comfortably start 3 Canadians. Emulis is a stud. Add in Baker, Duncan-Busby and Ajou and you are pretty solid.

Specials Teams and depth is another strength. Straker and Exume are studs on teams. We have guys like Hudon, Dalke, Wiebe, Marion, Ford, Awachie who contribute on teams but can step in and play meaningful snaps as well (not Exume clearly but the others). 

A big strength I see is the pipeline that O’Day is building. He built up solid Canadian depth and no longer has to rush new draft picks into action. Just look at the 2025 draft class. We sent the following players back to their final year of University:

OL Erik Andersen – J.P. Metras Trophy winner as the top lineman in U-Sports in 2025

LB Seth Hundeby – President’s trophy winner as best defender in U-Sports in 2025

WR Daniel Wiebe – Hec Creighton nominee in 2025

Those guys would all be drafted higher this year than what O'Day got them for in 2025. The ability to invest in development is massive. This means we can be patient with the 2026 class if needed too. 

There were long stretches were our draft was questionable and we had no ability to retain any of our prospects long-term. Credit to O’Day and his scouting staff for flipping the script (probably one of the reasons they won an award recently). 

Current Needs:

As mentioned no glaring needs but depth is definitely needed. 

I know we only start 2 Canadian OL so ours needs are a lot less than most teams but we only have 5 Canadian OL on the roster currently. That is an insanely low number. There have been times where that would not last us through June. Unless Hergel unexpectedly shows up we need to build some more depth here. 

With Saad expected to take on a greater role with the retirement of Micah, we will want to build depth there. In theory Korte-Moore can be added back to the D-line rotation but beyond that we ain’t got much (espicially with Dabire now gone). 

If last year taught us anything its that it would be nice to have someone not named Exume as depth behind Campbell. 

Prediction:

Would not surprise me to see us follow a similar script to last year. Target an impact defender in Round 1 (DL Wesley Bailey, DB Malcom Bell) and then look to get an O-lineman in Round 2. Like Andersen it could be a guy who could go back to college, or it could be a guy likely to try the NFL who we need to wait on.  I think our preference would be OL in round 1 but with picking 9 the top end ones will be gone before it gets to us. 

Speaking of NFL guys, the Potential Pipeline above shows that O’Day is not afraid to roll the dice on a guy in the NFL. He will do it again in 2026 and I love it. Other than Hergel all it has cost is 3^rd round picks or later (CFL late round picks are no guarantee anyway). If just one of those guys shows up it worth it. It’s like a lottery ticket. Most won't every amount to anything but just one is a potential game changer.

Tuesday Morning Sentimonies: 3 and 3

We are a month out from training camp, let that one sink in. As we start to turn our heads to the 2026 season there is a wide range of views on what to expect this season. Some will say the Riders are gonna run it back. Some are saying we are gonna take a big step back. And pretty much everything in between. 

Rather than definitively answer the question (where would the fun be in that?), I will instead give you 3 reasons to be hopeful that the first repeat in franchise history is possible and 3 reasons why you should stock the liquor cabinet and expect a season that ends pretty much like every other one of the 100+ ones in our existence. 

3 Reasons To Be Skeptical

 

1)    D-End

I quite like how our roster is shaping up at pretty much every position… except one. The current state of our D-ends instills hope in about the same way that American politicians instill hope that the Stright of Hormuz will soon be opened. In passing league you need the ability to disrupt the passer. I don’t want to say the state of our D-ends is dire but if the Riders signed me today I would rank 5^th on the team in career sacks by a D-end, 3^rd if you only count sacks as a Rider. Until one of the new recruits or guys who spent last year on the practice roster prove they can be an impact starter, this remains the biggest question mark on this team.

 

2)    Depth

You need depth to maintain success over the length of a season. Last year the Riders had unbelievable depth. Maier stepped in for Harris; Baldonado stepped in for Ray; Nield and Robustelli made key contributions when called on; Allen stepped in for Avery; Reavis moved positions to balance out our roster. Those guys are all gone. Our depth is by no means completely eroded, but is has taken a hit.

 

3)    Special Teams

When he makes his retirement official, there will be Jorgen Hus appreciate post coming. But for now consider that we will enter the new season with a new snapper and new kicker. The most “veteran” member of special teams is a mediocre punter. Other than returner we have a lot of question marks. I am at least happy we brought in a veteran snapper. But anyone not named Hus will unfortunately be a downgrade.

3 Reasons To Be Hopeful

 

1)    Offensive Continuity

Harris, Ouelette, Johnson/Emilus/Baker/Ajou/Duncan-Busby, Tommy Stevens. They are all back. Harris is coming off one of his best years. You gotta go back a while to find the last time we had the same OC and QB 3 years in a row. Most importantly, almost all of our O-line is back (an o-line that tied for second in sacks allowed last year). This team is far from an offensive juggernaut but they did finish 3^rd in offensive TDs.

 

2)    Secondary

Speaking of continuity, the entire secondary is back. While you can debate whether the Lokombo/Fields part of that is a good thing or not, amid a lot of defensive changes we should benefit from continuity in a group where communication is paramount.

 

3)    Coach Mace

The number reason you should be hopeful is the man leading the team. Mace has won everywhere he went (except Buffalo but no one wins there so its hardly a him issue). He has a ring as a player, as a D-line coach, as a D-coordinator and now a Head Coach. He has never had a losing record in his entire CFL coaching career.  The improvement in his game management from his first year as a head coach to last year was visible and significant. The only knock against the guy is he curses too much… and personally that makes me like him more. With a quality coach like Mace at the helm there is good reason to expect sustained success.

Monday Morning Sentimonies: Products I Might Like to Purchase

While green paraphernalia and Rider logos are now the norm across the province, and the world, there was a time dear reader when it was decidedly not cool to wear Rider gear. Today you might get chided for not wearing Rider gear. Back when I was in school, it was decidedly the opposite. There is a “what were you like in the 90s” trend going around social media, well merch sales were not great and Rider gear ranked slightly below itchy sweater your grandma knitted in terms of things you wanted to wear back then. 

Fortunately since the Riders’ resurgence in 2007 its been a very different story. They have stuck a Rider logo on pretty much everything imaginable and people how thrown many at the team to acquire it. 

But even in an age where the Rider store is lined with more hat and shirt options than you can count and pretty much every kitchen implement you could imagine, I believe there remains untapped potential and suggest the follow items be added. 

Bobby Jurasrin Bandana – I can’t fathom how at no point in the past 20 years this has not been available. Bring him into town for legends night. Sell it as a limited edition and just print money.

Cereal – Gone are the days of Fantuz Flakes, DariOs and whatever cereal Getzlaf had (berry crunch or something). This should be an ongoing thing. We need a new generation of player cereals to fill our pantry: Rolan Milligan Agent Os, Ajou AjO’s. I would add LokombO’s but they would probably never end up in the bowl, just fall inconveniently slightly away from where they are supposed to be. 

Condoms – Roughrider condoms seems like low hanging fruit.

Spinners – I would never by these and would make fun of anyone who did but in a province of 2x4 spoilers and Walmart underglow kits you can’t tell me that a set of low quality Rider spinner rims would not sell. Cavaliers would be lining up to get them installed.

Parachute and Zubaz pants – The fact that I can’t buy green novelty pants directly from the Riders is ridiculous. Give the people (me) what they want.

Shake and Bake (Kian edition) – How is they not a line of Shake and Bake (or at least imitation Shake and Bake) with KSB’s face on it?

Tommy Stevens Plungers – When you want the best plunger in the business reach for a Tommy Stevens.

Trevor Harris Icy Cold – To me there seems like no better spokesperson for pain cream than an old man who gets hit for a living.

What Rider products would you like to see? 

Monday Morning Sentimonies: Random Quasi Coherent Thoughts

There is not a whole lot going on the CFL world. That means you get the pleasure of my random, quasi-coherent thoughts. Strap in... 

-        We signed an O-lineman by the name of Dartanyan Tinsley. Not only does he immediately become my favourite player name, I would go one step further as GM and be actively searching for OL named Porthos, Athos and Aremis. Try and field an all Musketeers line.

-        Hell I we can find a dude named Albert then we could do all 5. That is a very obscure Saturday morning cartoon reference. So if you have no clue what I am saying that’s probably a good sign for you.

-        The Miami Dolphin’s have so much salary tied up in dead cap dollars that it would be enough to cover every CFL contract , reactivate all former American franchises and establish a Mexico team for good measure. The only group willing to pay more than the Dolphins to let their exes go enjoy their lives with other people is divorced husbands.

-        The Riders are looking for a new Gainer. I would imagine there is some pretty heavy screening to that job. By nature of the position you get ready access to a ton of children without the danger of your face being seen. That’s gotta attract from applicants you probably don’t want.

-        The Saskatoon preseason game is an example of the Riders doing something right from a marketing perspective. You can barely pay people to come to the preseason game here in Regina. The majority of season ticket holders don’t even bother. But now that its in Saskatoon, something new, something different. There is actually some demand for tickets.

-        I know there is a ton of logistical barriers but I would seriously be looking at ways to make future preseason neutral site games around the province a reality.

-        Hey Wisers, when will I be able to get my Grey Cup whiskey? 2007 and 2013 have been lonely on the shelf for a while. They need some company.  

Monday Morning Senitmonies: Same Old Themes

We are getting to the time of the year where the Riders will soon announce their theme nights for the upcoming season. Each year their best and brightest marketing experts get in a room and spend hours of effort (and billable time) to basically just end up dusting off the same list they do everyone year just in a different font (that’s how we got the Goth Labour Day Classic). I can tell you now that the list will include Home Opener (which isn’t really a theme), Retro Night, Orange Shift Game, Legends Nights, Labour Day (which is also not really a theme), Family Day, Fan Appreciation Night and whatever the online thesaurus they use comes up with as an alternative wording for Country Night. 

Now in fairness to the Riders, they did actually try a couple new ones last year. Christmas in July was a unique idea… it was not so great in practice. It could maybe work for an afternoon game but it just made an evening game feel really lame. They also tried Vegas night… though other than the title and couple on screen graphics they really didn’t do much with this one. But credit where credit where credit is due. I would rather they try new things even if they flop than just recycle the same old drivel. Unfortunately based on the new ideas flopping I do expect them to double down with the same old drivel again this year. 

As always I have some ideas (patent pending), on ideas that people might actually enjoy.

Actual Retro Night – Pitched this last year and I will continue to until they get it right. And yes, I get the irony of criticizing the Riders’ lack of creativity only to open by rehashing an existing idea. But the Riders’ current version of retro is half assed at best. A real retro night would have old school Gainer (pre- drugged out eyes), Cousin Leonard, the old faceless Worksafe Bob, paper game tickets, paper 50/50 tickets that get drawn from a raffle drum from a 50’s bingo hall. Retro prices on booze that require me to purchase drink tokens that get me my choice of beer, rye, rum or Pink Drink. Rename Pil Place Hemorrhoid Hill. Re-create a one night only university section that offers cheap tickets. Put a hot tub beside and assume nothing bad will come of that.  Riders in 90s style jerseys. Mysterious dripping water throughout the stadium that no one really want to ask too much about. Find me the dancing chicken suit guy. Play the Audio Warehouse theme that we all still know the words to. Bring back the direct west sling shots. I want the full Taylor Field experience. 

Saturday Morning Cartoons – On October 17 we play the Als at 1pm. A matinee game is the perfect opportunity for a cartooned theme game. Encourage fans to come in PJs or dressed as their favourite cartoon character. Sell sugary cereal, pop tarts and Eggos at the concession. Air old commercials and cartoon clips. Make it a family oriented day. 

Bi Mon Sci Fi Con – For the non-Simpsons fan among you that stands for Bi-Monthly Sci-Fi Convention. Set it up like a Sci-Fi convention. Bring in some b-list stars from Sci-Fi shows for a meet and greet before the game. Have people dress up as their favourite Sci Fi character. Sell green lightsabers and phasers. Have Gainer show up in a Green tardis. If you can’t find a marketing cross over between green baby Yoda and the Riders you should give on life (and yes I know his name is Grogu). 

Backwards day – This is not fleshed out at all but I feel like when we host what is technically a home game for the Argos this season there has to be a way to make it backwards day.

Wrestling Night – I maintain that this would be epic. Encourage fans to come dressed as their favourite wrestler. Have Bret Hart do the coin toss. Better yet have someone dressed in a Bomber jersey about to do the coin toss then have them get hit with a chair and then have Bret step in. Have players cut promos leading up to the game. Sell green Hitman-style sunglasses. Partner with the local wrestling promotion to put on a match at half time. Make it a couple celebrities teaming with wrestlers and build hype leading up to the contest. Sell Rider branded championship belts and luchador masks. Have a ref get “knocked out” inadvertently at some point (say when a measurement is required) and have another ref come sprinting from the tunnel. Invite the Road Dogg to do intros in the traditional New Age Outlaws way “Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, the Saskatchewan Roughriders proudly bring to you…”. Last but not least, gratuitous crotch chops.

Social Media Night – I actually shocked that the Riders haven’t done this yet. Generally when companies run out of ideas they assume social media is the answer. And in this case they would actually be right.  Now understand I know very little about all of this so someone younger and more with it would need to fully flesh this out. Have alternate streams of the game on YouTube or Twitch. Have local influencers take part. Encourage fans to post on IG Live, have hashtag contests. Release a dance on the Ticky-Tokies that everyone needs to learn and do instead of the 4^th quarter stretch. Have people’s Myspace page talk about the game (that’s still a thing right?). Basically turn the game into something that everyone over the age of 40 would hate/not understand. 

Purolator Tackle Hunger Night on Steroids – Tackle hunger has been a long-standing and highly valuable promotion that greatly benefits food banks across Canada. But if you want people to really get into it you need a big draw. So I say make it a contest. Say that we are trying to create the world’s largest pyramid of canned goods and encourage all fans to bring as much as they can to help us build it. Like I want a stack of canned goods that would make an OHS inspector nervous. People love contests and something this visible and simple would for sure get attention.

What do you want to see for theme nights?