Monday Morning Sentimonies: I Was Saying Boo Levi

Riders 29 – Ti-Cats 9

What was supposed to be a battle of the top teams in the League turned out to just be one top team showing up and dismantling the other team. In the process the Riders extended their league leading record to 8-1 and remained undefeated in games that occur when scheduled.

First off, it was great to see a crowd befitting this first place team. Seats were full and the fans were among the loudest I have heard them at the new stadium for a non-labour day regular season game. 

Supposedly we just took down the top offense in the League for a second time this season. I say supposedly because when they play the Riders the Ti-Cats go from the best offense in the League to Timmy Chang-level production (many might not get that reference but I assure you its good). Bo has 5 INTs on the season. 3 to the Riders and 2 to everyone else. The Ti-Cats have allowed just 15 sacks all season. 8 to the Riders and 7 to everyone else. The Ti-Cats average 33.5 points per game when not playing the Riders compared to 16.5 when they do. Its time to start given this defense the credit it is due. They didn’t just best Bo and Lawler/White/Smith. They suffocated them. The front 4 have been becoming more noticeable with each passing week and they were on full display on Saturday. We also sent 5 pass rushers on almost every play to add to the pressure. Also credit to the coverage. Bo is a smart QB who can make quick reads and get the ball out. He was not finding open receivers. He completed just 3 passes to his favourite target Lawler. That must make Rider DBs his second favourite target since he completed just 1 less pass to them than Lawler.  

The offense unfortunately took a full quarter to wake up. They managed a solitary point and an INT in the first quarter (and definitely should have had a second INT). Harris looked bad. Not seeing the field well. Locking onto receivers despite them be the absolute wrong read. Then the second quarter hit and he suddenly remembered we were good at football and proceeded to carve through their D. I saw that Myers TD coming as soon as they lined up. Single coverage. Safety on the other side of the field. Easy decision and man oh man did Myers run a beautiful route to just embarrass the DB. Just feed 88 the ball. Teams are struggling to keep him contained. Nield just keeps making plays and manned up to take a big hit to secure that TD. Ouelette didn’t have the flashiest game but was a consistent cog in the offensive wheel churning out over 100 yards from scrimmage. 

The Nield TD is what broke the game open but the 3^rd quarter was what sucked any remaining life out of them. The Cats started the 2^nd half with the ball and the wind desperately needing a spark to get back in. The quarter went like this:

-        Campbell INT

-        4 minute offensive drive for the Riders

-        Force a 2 and out

-        Brief idiot kick returner interlude

-        Milligan INT

-        8:30 minute drive

We let them accomplish zero with the wind. Just dominant football.

 Seems wrong to highlight the negatives after a win that big but this is currently the best team in the CFL and 43 of the 45 players are playing at a high enough level that we have a chance at the Grey Cup (I am reluctantly even including Lokomob in that 43). Unfortunately we are currently being weighed down by a kick returner who cannot catch and a kicker who cannot make a kick. At least with McCray he is not the intended starter and actually rips off some good runs when he manages not to have frying pan hands. I think we need to activate Bane and let Myers return. Hell let Picton return. Just someone that can catch. Mario cannot get healthy soon enough. 

As for Lauther… how many more chances can we give him? Yes he is a great leader and has the respect of the room. Yes he has done great things in the past. But he has now missed 11 FGs and 1 convert. That 29 points that he has cost this team. Any other player would be benched for sucking that bad. We inexplicably don’t even have any competition in practice. Don’t even try to give him an excuse with the wind. Hamilton’s kicker seemed to figure it out just fine. Because that’s his job. Lauther is going to cost us a game. Its inevitable at this rate. I have not confidence when he lines up (except that 59 yarder, oddly enough that was the only kick of his I was confident would be good). Maybe he gets it figured out but we NEED some competition for him. Can't preach accountability and not address our weakest link. 

Overall though, another statement win for the Riders. They keep stepping up and taking down whoever they face.  

Other random thoughts:

-        While its likely forgotten with all the other big catches Johnson made, he may have had the best 2 yard reception you will ever see. Scooped it inches off the turf and prevented an INT.

-        The Riders game day crew still won’t come up to the second deck. So we continue to make our own fun and do our own prize giveaways up in Section 510. This week it was family-themed Rider trivia. Check it out here.