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After a brief pause to talk about the
draft, we return to our look at the best Roughriders by numbers. It’s certainly
a more uplifting talk than the increasingly unlikely CFL season and the financial
woes of the CFL (I keep telling you, run a telethon, they work).
The 20’s were a set of numbers that were
very bipolar. It contained some of the easiest choices possible and some
choices that made me die a little inside.
20 – Ken McEachern would be worthy candidate here but I’m going
with a more recent player. If you look in the Rider rushing records you will
find one name consistently after George Reed. RB Wes Cates. In 2007 we
needed a replacement for Kenton Keith and Cates stepped in and solidified the
spot. He was one of those prototypical 3 way players: solid runner, receiver
and blocker. We shouldn’t also forget that in the 2007 Grey Cup he played on a
broken foot that he had frozen.
21 – There’s obviously some sentimental love for hometown
product Paul Woldu. On a personal note I liked Rontarius Robinson, though it’s
tough to classify him as a great. As much as I don’t want to do this this one
does have to go to RB Al Ford. Say what you want about Al Ford the GM
(and I’m sure many of us have) but as a player Ford was a swiss army knife. He
could play multiple positions and fill multiple roles.
22 – This number was surprisingly depressing to look into. The
first player that came to mind was Stu Foord but I was sure there would be
someone better as I looked back further. After uncovering names like Bart Hull
(as in the brother of Brett Hull), Dylan Ching and Sedrick Shaw, I came to the
unfortunate conclusion that RB Stu Foord is the guy. I have nothing
against Foord. His jump from the Thunder to the Riders is a great story. But
for a guy with less than 500 career yards to be the best is a bit sad. My
favourite Stu Foord story is how a big reason he made the team in 2008 was
because Quentin Griffin pulled himself in the final preseason game and refused
to play. Griffin was cut at the airport. Foord went on to evidently be the
greatest 22 to date.
23 – Clearly the easiest decision on the list. I’m pretty sure
that even suggesting anyone but the Little General is the best 23 is a capital
offense in Saskatchewan punishable by revoking of your season tickets and a
lifetime ban from Wisers, Watermelons and the Coop. QB Ron Lancaster is
Rider royalty. He is the greatest QB in franchise history and along with George
Reed, the best player in the history of the franchise and a huge reason that
the Riders are the team they are today. His career stats are made even more
amazing by the fact that he did them all in an era where smoking on the
sidelines and in the locker room was common practice.
24 – Some
good options here. Recent fans will remember Tad Kornegay throwing up the X as
he ran out of the tunnel. Older fans may point to Ventson Donelson. I’m going
with another memorable defender: LB
Jackie Mitchell. Always like
him as an LB and I think every Rider will remember that time he almost killed Dave Dickenson.
25 – This is a player before my time but I think it’s telling
that he’s on my radar in spite of that. When you think of rushing in the 60s
obviously you think of George Reed. But from 63-67 he shared the backfield with
another talented back: RB Ed Buchanan. What sold me on this one was that
I recently read George Reed’s autobiography and he spoke glowingly of
Buchanan’s talent and impact on the Rider offense. When one of the greatest to
ever do it gives praise that carries a lot of weight for me.
26 – This was another surprisingly depressing number to
research. Scott Gordon was the first name that popped into my head but I was
adamant that there had to be someone one better. I mean Gordon was an adequate
at best safety who could deliver a big hit from time to time but there may not
have been a less effective safety blitzer than him. So I scoured and I scoured
but nothing better came up. That was until DB Larry Dumelie.
Statistically he’s actually about on par with Gordon but I’m giving him the
edge a) as a local product and b) as I refuse to give it to Scott Gordon.
27 – I can already hear you grumbling but there is no debate
that this has to go to DB Glen Suitor. He’s the franchise leader in
interceptions (and up there on the all-time CFL list). I know some people don’t
care for him as a broadcaster but that doesn’t diminish his impact on the
field. The only thing I find weird is that despite being one of the best DBs in
franchise history there are only 2 things that people will remember of him off
the top of their head. The fact that he held for “the kick”. And that one time
he took a stupid penalty that cost us a game. Seriously, name another Suitor
moment off the top of your head.
28 – I was tempted to give this Craig Butler purely for the
time he almost decapitated Buck Pierce (between that and the Mitchell hit, I
had a fun time researching this post). I know not everyone will agree with this
but for me, the best 28 has to be RB Kenton Keith. I know he is a
controversial figure (mainly for off field stuff) but on the field this
franchise have not had many players with his ability to change a game on any
given play. He was electric. Go back and watch any west-semi final during the
Danny Barrett era if you to be reminded how good Keith was. Just don’t subject
yourself to the West Finals that followed. Barret era playoff football was a
maddening repetition of KK dominating the semi and then in the final teams
would game plan around him and we had no ability to adjust and quite frankly
always seemed shocked that they did.
29 – Ending the 20s with another super easy selection. Hands
down the best halfback to suit up for the Riders was DB Eddie Davis. His
job day in day out was to cover the best receiver on the field and he routinely
did his job so well that his name was rarely mentioned in the game. His arrival
from Calgary was integral in the development of the defense of the early 2000’s
that became so dominant. What is most amazing about Davis was his longevity.
DBs tend to have a very short lifespan. Davis played at the highest level in
the most difficult position for 14 years. Bonus points for having spent one
year as a Birmingham Barracuda.
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