Riders vs. Argos: East Coast Prognostications

By the time you read this I will on the east coast enjoying all that Newfoundland has to offer (aka pubs, seafood and possibly a jig). Mrs. Prophet and I are off on vacation returning Monday. So I will not be attending the game. I have sent my children to hold down the fort, if we lose blame them for not cheering loud enough. If we win I anticipate a petition to keep me away from further games will be coming (I understand). 

So I wrote a brief pre-game analysis before jetting off to Dildo… it’s a real place that I plan on visiting. Google it. On second thought do not google it, just take my word for it. This was written early in the week without the benefit of any practice reports are anything like that. So if this is all irrelevant come Friday when you read this feel free call the Ombudsman. 

Toronto is a weird team to me. They are simultaneously both better and worse than they should be.  Their offense is very good. #1 in passing, high scoring. They are carrying on their former head coaches deep seeded hatred of rushing (the only team with less rush yards is Dinwiddie’s RedBlacks). And Chad Kelly may throw a lot of TDs but he hands out INTs like they are unwanted passes at female coworkers. This is a team that hung 40 on us last time we played. Their defense is not so great (7^th in points allowed, 7^th in yards allowed, most big plays allowed). They do lead the league in sacks. On special teams the Riders would all be happier if Janarion Grant never touched the football again. He’s just a Rider killer. 

For the Riders it all boils down to health. As of writing this Emilus was just returned to the 6 game IR and there is a legit chance we are forced to play newly acquired WR Shemar Bridges for lack of any other options (other than Daniel Johnson, who we all know will be leaned on to fill the Emilus void). Toronto is going to put up points. Simply put, I don’t think we have the horses to compete in an arms race. Harris will break out of his funk at some point… but I don’t see it happening until we start getting healthier offensively. 

I think the Riders keep it close. Defense will keep Kelly suppressed early. But offense won’t be able to capitalize as much as needed. Eventually D will run out of gas and offense will produce one drive to few. You may be happy that me and my negative energy have been banished many time zones away. 

Better days are coming but we gotta wait one more week. As they say in Newfoundland “Long may your big jib draw”. I don’t know what that means b’y but it sounds nice. 

See you next week