Riders vs. Bombers: Preseason Game 2

It’s Game Day!!!! Savour that excitement because it will last until 2 minutes into the game when you remember that this will likely be terrible. I enjoy watching preseason football but you need appropriate expectations. Expecting a riveting preseason game is like watching Dude Where’s My Car and expecting high quality cinematic art. 

With a short turnaround to a Thursday regular season opener, anyone of any importance is wisely being sat. Those few names you do recognize (Micah, Rose) will likely be on the field for less time than it will take you to stand in line for an overpriced drink. This game is about determining who gets to be a back-up, who gets a practice roster invite and who might be driving Uber by the time the calendar rolls over to June. 

There are still some intriguing things to watch.

Jack Coan will get half the game and its his chance to show the coaches that he is progressing as a QB and worthy of keeping around. If he plays well, I expect a devasting hangnail injury could land him on the 1 game IR. Maier gets the first half so it seems wrong to skip over him. But his place is secure and honestly with a 3^rd string OL and 2^nd string receivers I don’t expect him to light it up. Its just a chance to get more comfortable in the Mueller offense. 

Anderson vs. Pennix for back-up RB will be a battle to watch. Personally I am pulling for Anderson because I think he can bring a different element to our run game. While he may lack in a last name I can make get puns about (if Pennix makes the team, look out), Hudon (Le Camion Canadien) already fills the role of power back. 

Big opportunity for the Canadian WRs, in particular Mimbs who gets to start. I think we keep 2 of Mimbs, Nield, Misseri, Wiebe and Picton (and a 3^rd on PR). No one has really separated themselves from the pack yet, so this is their chance. 

I will be closely watching Daniel Johnson. With Erik Andersen yet to take the field and presumably hurt Johnson and Zerr are it for Canadian OL depth (unless O’Day wants to lace them up one more time). If he can not look like a giant man on roller skates, it would do a lot to ease my OL concerns. 

Another draft pick who should get a good long look is Ali Saad. As mentioned Micah and Rose will not be playing much so Saad gets a long audition. With Dabire hurt he has a chance to seize a roster spot.

Another DL battle to watch is Eric Black vs. Aaron Patrick. At most we keep one of them and while we have many good DE’s we currently don’t a true number one pass rush threat off the end. Be nice if one of those two could take a step to one day becoming that.

We tried handing the punting job to Bailey Flint and that experience was much like a night with me… short and forgettable. This week we will try to hand the job the Joe Couch. So, you know, we'll see how that goes. I've already spent more time discussing punters than I care to.

There are also a few veterans I think could be at risk of losing a roster spot and need a good showing to ease the pressure off.

-        Mitch Picton – I love Picton and am rooting for him. Versatile, smart, hard working. But at 30 years of age at some point we may decide to go younger. There are 4 younger guys vying for his spot.

-        Mario Alford – This one has been talked to death already. I still think he starts the year as our returner but likely does not finish.

-        DeMarcus Fields – I realize we can’t rest everyone but Fields is the only starting DB dressing, which can’t be a great sign for him. I still think he beats out Heckard and Sanford but its far from a guarantee.

-        Joe Robustelli – Not really a veteran but as a year 2 player he can’t just be as good as his competition (guys like Janneh and McCray). He needs to outright beat them or we will move on to someone with a higher potential ceiling.

I am generally just looking forward to being back in the stands enjoying all the foibles of preseason ball. Penalties called on players who aren’t even in the game, offside and procedure penalties galore, a guy dropping a perfectly thrown pass a Rider Prophet yells out “CUT!” from the stands.