Tuesday Morning Sentmonies: Preseason Thoughts

Riders 15 – Stampeders 20

Ah the preseason. The mounting excitement of a new season that is almost immediately crushed when you are reminded 3 secofds in that the preseason is terrible football. What Monday’s game lacked in excitement… well I’m not really sure how to end that sentence without outright lying. It was, as the Germans say schrecklich (seriously, google it).

Here are my random thoughts on the game:

-       I think we were all shocked that CFL+ didn’t crash. I mean yes, it was briefly 2^nd and 84 and later 0^th and 0 but the league as set the bar so low with its technology that anything better than total failure is viewed as a resounding success.

-       Even the scoreboard guys don’t understand the new CFL rules quite yet as they initially scored a punt single that would have counted in 2025 but not 2026 before needing to correct it.

-       VA opened the game by throwing a pass so off target that it found its way directly into the hands of Nelson Lokomobo… meaning it was not close to where it was supposed to be.

-       Had Jack Coan been a rookie, I would not have critiqued his performance too hard. But as a second year guy I was definitely underwhelmed by what he showed. He was hurt by some drops and a weak OL but what concerned me is that his reads were slow and often wrong. Not ready to write him off just yet but he certainly did not put a stranglehold on the #2 spot when given the chance.

-       Comparing Coan and Schager is not apples to apples as Schager played against crappier defender. But for a rookie he at least showed me a spark.

-       No receiver separated themselves from the pack (which is not ideal) some good catches, some drops. I guess Sexton was the best. With Djete yet to step on the field nice to see that McBean could be an emergency depth option.

-       Morgan Runge had a terrible day and is lucky that as a veteran special team guy, his job is safe. In Runge’s defense, how on earth do we end up with 2 pass plays to a blocking FB??

-       RB Conley put the Quali in “not of a good enough quality to keep on the roster”. Anderson’s job is quite safe.

-       Spencer Brown is another guy I hope they just left in the Calgary airport. Seems rude to fly a guy back to Regina only to cut him and make him fly back home through Calgary.

-       Defensively I did not see near the impact at DE I was hoping for. Kendy Charles was probably the best at DL. Things will likely get better when we have starting DTs in to help with pressure but I remain moderately concerned for now.  

-       Malcolm Bell was noticeable in a good way. His brother Darius is going to need a lot more work before being a viable option at centre.

-       Jonathan Kim did his job, including a nice 45 yarder. Unless something wild changes, the kicking job his.

-       Jesse Mirco remains just mediocre enough not to lose his punting job.

-       It was preseason for the Calgary announce team as well. They once referred to us as the Argos and then briefly forgot that Calgary had scored a second TD.

The quality of the game was about what you expect and we seem to have emerged without injury. But usually one or two guys will make an impression and that really did not happen. Hopefully Saturday changes that.