Many Questions Around Riders After Loss

Wow! Where to begin? The Defense couldn't get off the field, the Offence couldn't stay on it and they never should have let the Special teams set foot out there in the first place.

The obvious turning point in this game was the fumbled punt by Gerran Walker that turned into 7 points and gave the Lions the lead after it looked like the Riders were set to go into the half out in front. But that was merely one play that only made it a 5 point game.

Where was the pressure on Buck Pierce? The Riders had 9 sacks in the season opener, but Friday they barely got within shouting distance of the Leo's QB.

Why do the Quarterbacks need to hold the ball so long? Are the Rider receivers not getting open? Or are the pivots simply not getting rid of the ball? If I can predict the play before the snap, you might think the other team is going to figure it out! Why did it take till the 4th quarter to throw a screen pass? Was Chris Getzlaf (last week's hero) even playing in this game? Do we not have a quick hit crossing route in the playbook? Wasn't BC the worst in the league at defending the run?

The game changed on one special teams play, but can be summed up on another. The on-side kick attempt with less than a minute to go, that didn't even have a chance. Kinda like the Riders.

CFL - Predictably Unpredictable

This weekend marks the 1/3 mark of the season and almost nothing is what it seemed.

Sure, the East is almost as pathetic as most years, but with a little twist this year. Hamilton actually looks like a professional football club. I think most would have predicted Montreal being good and Winnipeg being bad, but Hamilton with a winning record? The Cats declawing the Lions, sweeping the season series? Not many would have the stones to have predicted that.

Now, if Hamilton is a shock, then Winnipeg is just what was scripted. Mike Kelly continues to be more abrasive than an S.O.S. pad. The Bombers Coach seems intent on wearing out his welcome in the Keystone province just as fast as he can. Now, the team is hanging their hopes on Michael Bishop? As one former teammate of Bishop's told me, "All the tools, no box." Good luck Winnipeg, but I don't think I'd worry about a late November trip to Calgary, although the Labour Day Classic should be entertaining!

Toronto. Well, KJ is struggling and has nobody to throw to. I can't say too many people in Saskatchewan are feeling bad for Rob Murphy these days, in fact most of the province has Stevie Baggs's spin move around the outspoken O-Lineman as a screen saver on their computers!

In the West, its more like a game of Yahtzee in '09. The Riders look great, 15 minutes at a time. The Esks look like they can't do anything, then beat down on the Als. Calgary is too busy dancing and looking at themselves with pictures of the Grey Cup to remember they have to play football. As for the Lions, did anybody believe Wally when he said that the team didn't lose much with the departure of Wake and Logan? Oh yeah, wins is the only thing they lost.

However, its REAL early in this wild league called the CFL and no doubt every weekend will continue to present the odd head shaking result, and that's why we love it!