Riders vs. RedBlacks: Home Opener

Thursday night the CFL season kicks off in Regina. The Roughriders play the used to be Rough Riders in match-up of teams looking to take that next step in 2025. Last season the Riders made it to the West Final in year one of Corey Mace. The RedBlacks finally made it to the playoffs after missing them for an almost statistically impossible amount of time in a 9 team league. 

Ottawa has made improvements to their team. Last season they had an ok passing attack but were dead last in TDs score and dead last in rushing. Adding William Stanback and Geno Lewis certainly help address that. As much as it does not seem that way, Ottawa and Saskatchewan finished with the exact same record in 2024. 

Offensively we have a healthy Ouelette, a receiving core led by Baker and Emilus and with Johnson and Myers poised to take big steps forward in their second seasons. Last season when healthy Harris may have had one his best seasons ever. Highest efficiency rating and 4^th most TD passes despite missing a third of the season. He will get hurt at some point but until then I expect him to be slinging it. Our biggest weakness on O is that the amazing OL depth we amassed in the offseason is already so depleted that a guy we signed May 2 is starting at tackle. 

The RedBlacks have a very strong D-line and a pretty good LB group but their secondary is a weakness. Very young. Amari Henderson is their most experienced DB and Rider fans know all about the Henderson experience. Throw a WR screen and he will blow it up in text book form, pretty much anything else is a roll of the dice (but like a roll of the dice in Vegas where the odds are never good). Obviously getting Ouelette going his priority 1 to help the O-line but I really think that Harris dinking and dunking will be what brings us success. Veteran QB vs. inexperienced secondary.  Get the ball out quick (including Ouelette in the pass game) to ease the pressure on the line and let the WRs make plays. 

Defensively I look at our depth chart and just smile. That DT rotation of Micah, Rose and Colonel Sanders is downright scary. Really strong LBs. Milligan and Sayles will lockdown half the field. The other half? Well that’s where I expect Condell to attack. I hope Campbell proves my doubts unfounded because facing an offense with Geno Lewis, Justin Hardy, Khalil Pimpleton, DeVonte Deadmon and William Stanback is no easy task. Last year one of Ottawa’s issues was turnovers. They led the league with 45. Getting a few of those is a great way to neutralize their playmakers.

Here's what I expect. Offense will struggle out of the gate. Defense will give a TD on the first drive and then wake up and lock things down. Come the second quarter offense will pull us back into in. I expect a low scoring, FG filled game. Probably not was TSN would be hoping for in a season opener.

Gone are the days (years? Decade?) where Ottawa was a pushover. We are going to have to earn this one the hard way. It will be one of those “just barely” games but Riders will eke out a win at home thanks to the home crowd.

Riders by a KeeSean Johnson TD in the 4^th quarter.