Riders Give Fans What They Need With a Win Over BC

Maier tended to force the ball in and throw interceptions and for this game to work for the Riders, they needed Maier to be a game manager and first and foremost not turn the ball over. Despite some close calls, Maier did exactly what the Riders expected, and they helped him up by unleashing a running attack led by AJ Ouellette that finally met expectations.

The turning point came just before half time when BC was driving for a field goal or a touchdown, but Masoli threw an interception returned by former University of Regina Ram Tevaughn Campbell for an 89-yard touchdown. The Riders then used their first drive of the second half to drive for another touchdown and the game was essentially over by then.

The Riders first three games featured a team that took the lead but let the other team back into it before emerging with a win. The Rider defense rose to the occasion by playing solid football and not allowing BC to get any sense of momentum.

A 4-0 start is not new in Riderville as Mace managed that in his first year. The difference is the depth of the team and the contributions of the defense and special teams to help the offense who were missing their starting quarterback and some of their big play Canadian receivers.

The Riders adapted their game plan to the talents of those playing unlike last season, it looks like a team that the longer it plays together, the better it will get. The true test of the Lions will come in three weeks when the Riders get out to the coast and see if Rourke is off the injury list.

During the game Rourke did not look happy as two BC defensive players were looking like they were telling jokes or stories on the sideline and laughing and smiling. Rourke was more upset with how the game was going, and you wonder what the effect Rourke will have once he gets back on the field. Oblique injuries are very hard to come back from, just ask Cody Fajardo, and one suspects if the Lions go down to Montreal this weekend without Rourke, he may be inserted just to send a message to fans this team can contend in the west.

I suspect Rourke will be back against Montreal because BC with Masoli has no chance of beating Montreal. If Rourke comes back and his injury prevents him from going deep or throwing accurately, the Lions will slide out of the playoff race before the season is a third completed.

James Butler had a good game for BC at running back and you have to wonder if BC head coach Buck Pierce had Masoli in for as long as he did as a reflection of the influence of Mike O’Shea who lost the Bombers the Grey Cup last year when he sent back an injured Zach Collaros onto the field after he was injured, and the Bombers threw two interceptions to give the Cup to Toronto.

Masoli has been a hard luck story the last three years, but the time have come when someone must tell Masoli to maybe try coaching because his balls were too often overthrown at his receivers, and he had problems with the pass rush the Riders used.

The Lions may have signed Masoli because of the job Nick Arbuckle did in the Grey Cup last year when he led Toronto to a Grey Cup surprise over Winnipeg. Having a veteran as a back up who is not flustered by the lights is not a bad idea if you give him protection and he can still play.

Masoli cannot play.

The Lions go into Montreal with their season at stake and facing a Montreal team who got manhandled by Hamilton 35-17 This makes me think Rourke will start just to build confidence for Lions fans, but BC’s offensive line has some weak points, and you can run on their defense.

Montreal may have Davis Alexander back and they invested in their own veteran back up in McLeod Bethel Thompson who did not do much to recommend him for further action. If teams can knock out Alexander, they stand a better chance of beating Montreal, and expect every team to play Montreal to dial up a heavy blitz package.

It is not fair to make a snap judgement about a team following a loss, but a look at the standings shows BC not even making a crossover playoff spot in the east. BC needs to get back into the race and sell tickets to fans excited about how the team is playing.

Rourke will not be 100 per cent but his look of disgust at his teammates joking on the sideline shows a guy who wants to win. Rourke cares, which is important in selling the team to Snoop Dog fans, but if he cannot physically deliver, which is highly likely, the Lions may make this close, but no cigar as Montreal comes out with a 29-21 win.

The Stony Mountain Blue Bombers are the only other undefeated team besides Saskatchewan and after the Bombers handled the Elk easily 36-23, there is all sorts of talk of Zach being back, and how the Bombers are leading the league in Canadian running backs.

I was more impressed with the Bombers defense because trying to keep the wraps on Elk’s quarterback Tre Ford is not an easy process. Ford played probably his best game but again is limited because if he doesn’t get his first read, he tends to bail out and run and while those runs are entertaining, you have holding all over the place because none of his teammates know where he might be going.

The Bombers showed great discipline in going after Ford and this week have Vernon Adams Jr. in town with the Stampeders. The Stampeders are coming off a loss to Ottawa and with the Stamps signing middle linebacker Adam Bighill and Kyrie Wilson, the feeling is there the Stamps are just trying to tread water and maybe slide into third where no one is looking.

The Stamps loss to Ottawa in the midst of a monsoon was not really a surprise but showed the Stamps are not quite ready for Prime Time. Hosting Winnipeg may help narrow the story, but based on the level of play seen so far, and considering the last Stamps game against Ottawa may or may not be indicative the team has peaked and is on the way down, I don’t see this game being anything more than a glorified practice for the Bombers.

It will be hot in Calgary, which means lots of cramps, and the Bombers are the older team. It might be fun to see Bighill suit up for the Stamps, but he is coming off an ACL injury and to be honest, he is now a defensive liability playing off his past reputation.

The Bombers might be guilty of looking past the Stampeders, but I don’t think Calgary has the team to cash in on that. Look for the Bombers to win 26-20.

Edmonton, who lost to the Bombers last week get a long week to prepare for Ottawa Redblacks to show up. I thought Ottawa was about to turn the corner after beating the rain and the Stampeders but showed their Achilles Heel losing to Toronto 29-16.

Bob Dyce is a good coach and a great person, but he makes some very questionable calls, and those calls are costing him games. Ottawa had Dustin Crum playing and he lacked the discipline he showed against Calgary and more importantly, he lacked the offensive line that made last week’s win possible.

Ottawa needs Dru Brown back, but more importantly, they need competent offensive line play. Crum was battered more often than fish sticks and putting Brown in there may cost Ottawa their season is Brown gets hurt worst than what he has been.

The big mystery in Edmonton is where is their defensive line? The lack of pressure on opposing quarterbacks has resulted in many games of pitch and catch by opposing teams and if Brown, who threw for over 400 yards in his first start, gets back in, he may be able to spark the Ottawa offense.

Judging by the empty seats in Edmonton, they need some reason to believe in this team before writing off this season. If Dru Brown plays Ottawa wins 27-24 in a must win game for both teams.

Hamilton is coming off a win against Montreal which featured Bo Levi Mitchell’s 100th win. Hamilton got back into the eastern conference race with a win and now go to Toronto to play the Argos who beat Ottawa magnificently 29-16.

Hamilton showed some defensive teeth against McLeod Bethel Thompson, and against Nick Arbuckle should do even better. Toronto needs to get some players off the injury list, but that takes times and while Argo Head Coach Ryan Dinwiddie talked about people leaving, no one really did after the Argos loss to the Riders.

You get the feeling the Argos are treading water until Chad Kelly returns from the injury list and if they can keep it in the ballpark for Arbuckle and get contributions from special teams and their defense like they did against, Ottawa, Toronto could find themselves in second place.

Expect a tough competitive game between these rivals but right now, the Tiger-Cats have fewer holes than the Argos. Hamilton will go into Toronto and win 28-24.

As for the Riders, the coaching staff were in their offices Monday working on the next four games, featuring Calgary, BC in BC, Edmonton at home and Montreal in Montreal. The Riders can go anywhere from 2-2 to 3-1, although a win in Montreal is not inconceivable.

The Riders may be getting some help from south of the board as Ajou Ajou showed up on the sidelines of the BC game and was welcomed by fans. Ajou is currently third on the depth chart of the Indianapolis Colts and his return will be welcomed to a decimated Canadian receiving corps.

The other potential returnee is Kyle Hergel, who is currently fourth on the New Orleans Saints depth chart and getting his return to Riderville would allow the Riders to try some new things on their offensive line. The Riders lost one offensive lineman to what is likely a torn bicep but right now it is next man up and the Riders are responding.

So enjoy this week with the Riders putting their feet up and knowing they have another week of being one of two undefeated teams in the league.

by Greg Urbanoski

Riders Give Fans What They Need With a Win Over BC

What's Trending