While we won't really hear this until next Sunday when the Riders host the Edmonton Eskimos in their home opener, they crack the lid on another CFL season tomorrow in Steeltown against a couple of old friends. Henry Burris and Andy Fantuz know call Hamilton home and tomorrow they will bang heads with the new look Saskatchewan Roughriders.
Coming off of last year's debacle I honestly can not wait to get the pigskin in the air tomorrow. Following a year like last, change is a requirement and the Riders certainly did that in the off - season. New faces abound all over the roster, in particular along the Offensive Line as all five starters are new to the Riders. Clearly that was an area of weakness last year and something GM Brendan Taman along with Jeremy O'Day look to remedy. Time will tell but here is what I really like about the O - Line is the youth. Gone are the likes of Gene Makowsky and Dan Goodspeed who were slow going downhill and in their place are fresh faces like Brendan Labatte, Ben Heenan and recently acquired Chris Patrick.
An area the Riders have to improve this year is putting pressure on the QB. With that in mind Odell Willis was brought in from Winnipeg. If he plays as well as he did for the first half of last year, he is a steal for the Green and White. Throw in a healthy Brent Hawkins, Keith Shologan and Tearrius George and that group should be better.
Linebacker is another area to see a lot of changes as gone are the retired Barrin Simpson and last year's top tackler Jerrell Freeman. In their place are Shomari Williams in the middle, Abraham Kromah and one of the most impressive Riders during training camp, Tyron Brackenridge. I really liked Brackenridge at the end of last season and look for big things out of him. A lot of banter has been thrown around regarding whether or not Shomari Williams is capable of playing the middle. Time will tell but the way Shomari has developed in front of our eyes the last two seasons, I expect him to be fine. He has huge shoes to fill but I am sure he will be up to the challenge.
There were very few changes in the secondary short of releasing seven year Rider, Lance Frazier. In his place will be Eddie Russ inside along with Chris Mackenzie, Nick Graham and Tristan Jackson on the outside and the best safety in the league James Patrick patrolling centre field. I myself was guilty of criticizing this group last year, in particular Nick Graham. A new year is a new year and in my eyes this group has a lot to prove to us but I am going to take my time before calling for changes and jobs.
Offensively we lost Andy Fantuz and Wes Cates. Big blow? Yes and no. The more I think about it Fantuz really only had one stellar season. There are very few teams who could stand to lose a player of his calibre but I see this group as one of them. The rest of the recieving corps remains plus the return of a healthy Rob Bagg along with Justin Harper and Sinorice Moss. Harper is a big target and Moss is in many ways similar to Weston Dressler...small and quick.
In the backfield, one of the most exciting areas for me this year, we have Korey Sheets who was a monster in the pre - season. He along with incumbent Brandon West and Louis Rankin could make for a terrifying three headed monster of speed with West and Sheets and size with Rankin.
A lot of fans were down on Durant last year, but you know what, it is hard to play well when you have no time. Our O - line was slow and looked similar to Swiss Cheese at times last year. With that shored up, plus the threat of a solid running game, Durant should have more time to make plays. He, along with OC Bob Dyce must remember that when he is able to use his legs and get outside of the pocket, he is a much better football player.
Last year I went on here with a full summary and predictions for the season. Naturally I picked the Riders to go all the way. While I won't go that far this year I will say that they will be better. I will say that a play - off spot is a real possiblity. And lastly I will say that July 8th, the atmosphere at Mosaic will be electric. Here's to a great season of Rider football in 2013.
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