Riders 26 – Lions 33
The West-Semi was a was a fitting representation of how the 2026 season went as a whole. The Riders started out with a lot of promise only to fizzle and fail down the stretch. I think we all knew going in that odds of victory were miniscule, yet I’m sure you were left feeling disappointed after the game despite expecting to lose.
It felt like I was watching a different team for most of the first half. The defense came out fired up getting massive pressure up front, hitting hard and neutralizing a very good BC offense. I couldn’t have been the only one who wondered if Mace took back the playcalling for this one. Offense also looked strong. Piled up over 80 yards rushing in the first half against the best run D in the league. Produced multiple long extended drives that kept Rourke on the sideline (the absolute best way to defend him). This was the team we expected in 2026 but hadn’t seen since the summer.
Then with 5 minutes left in the first half everything changed. It was as if we were Cinderella and the clock struck 12 and all the magic wore off. That was when our secondary (mainly Fields and Ford) forgot that the primary goal of a defensive back is covering receivers. They let Berryhill so far behind them that he could have opened a driving range in the empty space. We started that play in 2 high safety. Both of them bit up short to the same side of the field! That play changed everything. Defense suddenly remembered they sucked. Offense couldn’t muster a big pay. Everything after that absolute bonehead of a play was just a slow funeral march to the end of the season.
The game really boiled down to 2 things. Offense couldn’t find the endzone. Lots of great drives that all ended in 3s. 1 TD was not going to beat BC. Hell even if they mustered a 2nd TD I think it changes the complexion of the game. Defense allowed a 69 and 70 yard TD. Take those 2 plays away and we likely win. Those 2 things were the difference.
Offense was stymied by an inability to stretch the field. Even with our big 3 receivers we did not pose a vertical threat. For some reasons we thought the best use of Emilus (our highest paid receiver) was short swing passes and a rushing attempt (a rushing attempt!). Run game was the best we’d seen all season in the first half but our inability to build a passing attack off that eventually led to BC shutting it down and us having no other answer.
Defensively, DeMarcus Fields was a trainwreck just completely useless on any play over 10 yards. Ford is about the worst guy you could pair with Fields to protect against dee passes. Trotting them out there as our deep guys is like trying to bluff with 7 high in poker facing a someone with a full house. Also, I don’t understand it but I swear the more people we drop into coverage the worse our coverage gets. We could drop 12 and I’m sure 3 receivers would be wide open. Early in the game we were committed to sending pressure and it worked great. As the game wore on we inexplicably went away from that and chose to put our faith in a pass defense that couldn’t stop a double amputee.
And so ends another season. Lots of questions on this team as we head into the offseason. Its not all doom and gloom as there is a lot of talent on this roster but the last 2 months have pretty clearly shown that some significant changes are needed if we want to be legitimate contenders again.
Other random thoughts:
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Who would have guessed at the start of this season that
kicking would be the only thing that was not an issue come playoffs?
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At this point can we just take the challenge flag away
from Mace. Whoever is in charge of telling him to challenge should be kicked in
the nuts… that or promoted to head of the CFL command centre where they would
fit in better.
For the 3rd time in Vancouver we were left chasing the game in the 4th Qtr. Mace dialled up the pressure in the 1st half. BC adjusted @ the half & burned us with hot reads to an open Cottoy. They hadn''t used him till then & we got caught flatfooted - twice. We never recovered. There were 6 big plays - Cottoy's double, Berryhill & McInnis in the air - Rourke & Horvath rushing. They accounted for over 50% of their total offence. We knew what had to be done.
ReplyDeleteOur pass defence needs an overall. We were 7th in pass yds allowed, 8th in opposition completion %, & in opposition pass efficiency. I'd say, besides the 2 you mentioned, we probably need to replace Campbell & Milligan as well. Getting too old, CAP is rising substantially, spend on defence.
Lots of talks about Harris. He was non-committal on returning or on asking for a bigger salary. Some say pay him $1MM. I'm not sure. This I know - you can bank on it. Trevor Harris has always said, going back to his so-so time in Edmonton, that he wants to play to 45. Trevor Harris is NOT retiring. And at his age, you have to believe he may only be good for one more big paycheque. Talk is cheap but he may not be.
Pretty much wrapped it up in your weekly say. A little early to look too far ahead. I will say this, though - need to get younger. I look at the Elks roster for comparison.
ReplyDeleteThere are 72 players on the Elk roster. FOUR are over 30. How do they win 13 games? Brinkman, Carney, Williams, Smith & Metchie - 9 GC rings on defence. Fajardo, Mack, Julien-Grant, Robustelli, Leake & O'Leary-Orange - 5 more GC rings on offence. That leadership showed this year. They won 9 games in the last 3 minutes. They don't panic.
What we have to do is build a team to competed with the best in the West. We have 35 FA's coming due at this point. Lots of decisions. Hervey has signed most of his defence through 2027. They're not going anywhere.
There has to be a youth movement of sorts, especially on defence. Vaughters, Rose, Milligan, Campbell are useful but not going to get it done. Calgary is another team loaded with young talent. It's going to get tougher. Lots of work ahead.
The Riders had to play much betta
ReplyDeleteAt defence, offence, coach etcetera.
If next year they are to succeed,
A rebuild on defence they’ll need.
It wasn’t their year. Offence is fine. Drop Ouellette. Can’t stay healthy. Harris will be back. Need to get younger. Could see half a dozen changes on defence.
Finals
Mtl in a rout. Edm in a squeaker.
It would have been nice to see *anything* during that second half. For me the big moment was when we finally got a decent return, and started a drive on BC's side of half. The result? 2 plays, -3 yards, and a punt. Blech.
ReplyDeleteHopefully the defense gets a significant overhaul in the off season. Thankfully we still have 2025 to bask in for a few more years before the shine completely falls off. And we can still continue our tradition of cheering against Winnipeg for at least one more game. I'll be in Calgary for the GC regardless and will be rooting for either B.C. or Edmonton regardless of their opponent.