Bring Em' Out...

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.

Almost Time...

With the Riders slated to kick off their pre - season on Wednesday night on the left coast I figured it time to sit down and provide you with my thoughts as we grow closer and closer to the season opener on June 29th in Hamilton. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- I am always skeptical about a new coach; I am always fearful if they are the right man for the job. One needs to not look any further than last season to realize that some jobs just aren't the right fit for individuals and their philosophies. Everything I hear about or from Corey Chamblin gives me hope that this ship is headed in the right direction. He is keeping players accountable; see Shomari Williams and Odell Willis and does not shy away from saying this team needs to get better and that they are not a Grey Cup calibre team yet. While part of this is obviously motivation, it is also truthful. At this point I don't see the Riders as a Grey Cup team, I see light at the end of the dark tunnel that was 2012 but I have limited aspirations of having to make a trip to Toronto at a moment's notice to watch the Green and White play for the 100th Grey Cup. I am not saying it isn't possible, I am saying they need to prove to me, you and the entire league that last year was simply a blemish. Long story short, I think Chamblin is the man for this job and will take us back to where we as Rider fans expect to be each and every year; gearing up for a home play - off game at the grand old girl that is Mosaic. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Offensively, there is one less hand in the cookie jar when it comes to the QB position. Today the Riders cut ties with Colt Brennan. While I know he has come a long way from nearly dying in a car wreck a few years ago, at the end of the day he not only looked tentative but lacked the arm strength to be an elite QB in this league. I said that on this blog the day he was signed; he had the potential to be a stud but arm strength to make that wide side throw was a question. Well today that question was answered leaving three guys to battle for two positions. Durant is the guy, and I would think that with his experience and ability, J.T. O'Sullivan is the probable back up. That leaves Levi Brown and Drew Willy left to battle it out for the third QB on the roster with the odd man out arguably being offered a spot on the practice roster. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The battle in the back field appears to be tough as incumbent Brandon West is recieving stiff competition from the likes of Korey Sheets and former NFL'er Louis Rankin. Time will tell who is in there at the end of the month but I sure hope that new OC Bob Duyve realizes these guys have the speed to get outside and can catch the ball in the flat which hopefully leads from the traditional and predictable off tackle runs of the past. I truly believe that style was utilized as it was what Wes Cates did best but with Cates gone, the approach to the running game should be more dynamic and creative. Honestly, all we lose with Cates is great blocking but with a beefed up O - Line, that is less imperative. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The O - Line has to be better than last year. Those needs were obvioulsy addressed with the signings of Brendan Labatte and Dominic Picard. This weekend's acquisition of Chris Patrick is one that Dan Goodspeed needs to take notice of. Too many times Goodspeed got beat outside last year; if this continues to happen look for Goodspeed to be slowly making his way out of town. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ The most intriguing aspect of camp this year, and most years is to me the battle at reciever. The likes of Dressler, Getzlaf and Bagg are clearly not penciled in, but rather sharpied in. That leaves a plethora of recievers battling for the remaining spots. From what I hear Justin Harper has been ultra - impressive, not to mention solid play from Sinorice Moss and Jason Cherry. The retirement of Dwayne Jarret was good in my mind; he had been nothing but a distraction from the moment Rookie Camp started. Regardless, at the end of the day with the recievers Taman and O'Day brought in, one thing is for sure; some very good recievers will be looking for work elsewhere by the end of the month. I sure hope Harper is as good as they say but let's remember two words from last year -- Terrence Nunn. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Defensively, our D -Line must improve. If Hawkins can stay healthy, he is the fastest D - Lineman in the league, maybe on the planet. Shologan is Shologan up the middle; big and solid. Odell Willis is not guaranteed to start on this team but either way, the combination of himself along with a healthy Brent Hawkins and Kenny Rowe, if he can live up to the hype will be a trio who should make opposing QB's lives a little more miserable. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ The battle at linebacker and in the secondary are very interesting as I am not sure anyone short of James Patrick is assured of a job outside of the big boys up front. From what I hear Tyron Brackenridge has been the beast of camp on the D - side of the ball. I am not surprised. Last year when he got time at the end of the year he looked really good. He becomes even more valuable in the sense he can play in the secondary or as a linebacker. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The team that takes the field on June 29th will be much different not only from this group of men, but of signficant importance, quite different than the team that kicked off 2011 and after that train wreck change is surely a good thing. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Can't blog without mentioning the NHL and Game Six of the Finals tonight in Los Angeles. Even though they are down a game there is no pressure on the Devil's tonight. Rather the Kings, who have failed to hoist the cup twice in the last week have all the pressure on them. A loss tonight means a trip back to the Swamp, talk of a historic melt down and a whole bunch of words, thoughts and anxiety the Kings want to avoid at all costs. If the Devil's win tonight, they win the Cup...tonight is in my mind the deciding game of the series. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Later.....HBM

Riders Get Things Started

With Rider Mini - Camp set to get going tomorrow, it is time to start thinking about another summer in the sun at Mosaic. Believe it or not, the Riders are t - minus 67 days away from kicking it off for real on Friday, June 29th. The day before camp was highlighted by the Riders announcing some roster moves. To start with they signed three imports to the roster, all of whom have NFL experience at some level. Included in this group was Wide Reciever Sinorice Moss, who has spent the last six seasons in the NFL and won a Super Bowl ring in 2007 with the Giants. The Riders have signed a LOT of former NFLer's this year. In fact, there are many more than usual coming up north to the CFL. While I am excited about many of these signings, I think one needs to remain cautious before passing judgement. Too many people get excited at the notion of signing a guy who has played good football in the past. Until the season kicks off and the guys get out there for real you never know what you have. Case in point: Terrence Nunn. Last year some were anointing him the next great thing. A year, a handful of catches and an achilles injury later we realize that he was not as good as he appeared to be. Sticking out in camp is one thing; bringing that to the field is another. While I like the shape the team is taking and the work done by Brendan Taman and Jeremy O'Day to this point, time will be the ultimate tale. The CFL draft is coming up and the Riders hold the top pick. Consenus #1 Ben Heenan is no longer the top ranked player having being supplanted by Boise State DL Tyrone Crawford. The issue I have with taking either guy is the NFL. Tyrone Crawford will go in the first three rounds of the NFL draft and Heenan is going to get some looks down south. I know taking Heenan makes the most sense but look, if he is going to be another Matt O'Donnell who never shows up, I would rather take Wilfrid Laurier Recieved Shamawd Williams...just saying. A light night in the NHL as the Panthers look to move on in New Jersey. How happy can one be for Shane Doan. The guy has been a class act his entire career, never left the Jets/Coyotes organization and always answered the bell for Team Canada when asked. For the first time in his career, Shane Doan has tasted playoff success after last nights 4 - 0 victory over Chicago. I don't think it could happen to a better guy. On a side note I hope Sidney Crosby has no taste of playoff success ever again. Good day to you...

What a Weekend!

Is it just me or has this year's NHL Playoffs been the most enjoyable first round ever. Tension, hostility, OT galore and just overall great hockey has made the past two weeks a wonderful time to be a hockey fan. Take into account my dislike for certain teams and players and short of the Oilers sitting in the second round, nothing could be much better right not, and here is why: Example A: The world will not be forced to watch Sidney Crosby bitch and whine endelessly until at least September. Of even greater importance to me is not having to watch his poor excuse for a beard. With yesterday's 5 - 1 loss to the Flyers, Sid and the boys have once again made an early exit after winning the Cup just three seasons ago. Example B: I don't hate the Detroit Red Wings and San Jose Sharks but in recent years they always seem to be in the equation. I love watching a changing of the guard and with the elimination of these two, you could argue the changing of the guard has begin in the west. Example C (and the highlight of my weekend): Watching Dam Hamhuis blow a tire trying to make an extra move, only to turn the puck over to a good ol' Sasky boy who in turn goes roof - daddy over Corey Schneider and turning the lights out on the season for the Vancouver Canucks. I know they are Canadian but honestly there is no team I detest more. As an Oiler fan I would much rather root for the Flames than the Canucks; sounds weird but it is so true. With a little luck the Panthers can move on along with the Senators and since they won it last year, let's get rid of the Bruins again. Time will tell...my picks for tonight; Ottawa gets it done at home and the Panthers finish off the Devils to adcvance to the second round for the first time since they lost to Colorado in the Finals sixteen years ago. Wow, hard to believe it has already been sixteen years since then; I was only in Grade Twelve! I don't talk about basketball much but last night Metta World Peace, aka Ron Artest gave James Harden of the Oklahoma City Thunder an absolutley disgusting elbow to the back of the head. Harden left the game with a possible concussion while World Peace was ejected much to his surprise as he claimed it was purely accidental. Given World Peace's track record, 111 games missed due to suspension in his career, including an 86 gamer for fighting fans in Detroit a few years back, coupled with the NBA's willingness to throw out stiff penalites, expect no less than 30 games. In the world of sports, lack of respect for the opponents is on the rise, and Metta World Peace demonstrated that in full yesterday afternoon. To him I give the one finger salute! Later....

Another Day....another Rant.

Another night in the NHL Playoffs and low and behold there is more controversy. The venom spewing out of Chicago relates to last nights game in which Raffi Torres of the Coyotes delivered an open ice hit on Hawks forward Marian Hossa. No penalty was called on the boom - boom play but watch the replay, and I have issues.

Sure Hossa had his head down and never saw the hit coming. However, Torres still leaves his feet to propel himself at the defenceless Slovak. Fortunately Hossa was released from a Chicago hospital last night after being removed from the ice on a stretcher. My issue??? Raffi Torres has made this an annual habit. Last night was a year to the day he drove Brent Seabrook into next week behind the Hawks net while he was with the Canucks; again leaving both feet. Earlier this year he was suspended for head butting Nate Prossed of Minnesota and on four seperate occasions the NHL has suspended him, twice for leaving his feet to hit a defenceless player.

I am a hockey fan and the golden rule is keep your head up and you shouldn't get hurt. I am all for a clean, open ice hit on a guy with his head down, but why jump Raffi Torres? You have done this over and over and I sincerely hope you get the message this time in the form of a suspension of no less than ten games. Matt Cooke finally learned his lesson, let's hope Torres either learns how to play within the rules or NHL teams stop bringing him in as an energy player. Fingers crossed that Brendan Shanahan get it right on this one.

The Washington Capitals take on the Boston Bruins tonight in Game Four of their Eastern Conference QF and will do so without Nicklas Backstrom who will be serving a one game suspension for his cross check to the face of Boston's Rich Peverley. This morning the Capitals organization released a statement that voiced this displeasure and disappointement with the decision of the league to uphold the suspension that came with the match penalty he earned at the end of Game Three. Really, you don't think a guy should be punished for driving a guy in the face with a hockey stick? I wonder what the opinion of the Capitals would be if Zdeno Chara does the same to Ovechkin tonight? My guess is there tune would shift in a millisecond. That is what I find frustrating; all teams want to clean up the game but nobody thinks their players deserve to be punished.

I wish I could say something about the Riders for Tad who occassionally drops a comment but I have been so engrained by the playoffs and the intensity that goes with it, I have been completely naive of anything going on in Rider Nation. Patience please, camp is only a month and a week away and then this blog will be nothing BUT Riders.

I would like to add I tweeted my picks to score the winners in last night's Hawks/Coyotes game and don't you think I called it...Boeddker for the desert dogs. In saying that, I did only get one game right last night. Tonight look for the following; the Flyers end the Penguins season in a game that could be VERY ugly if things go the way of the Flyers early and often, the Bruins take a 3 - 1 lead on the Caps which will only enhance the wine and cheese smell emanating from the American capital, the Blues fall to the Sharks as the Sharks square things up heading back to the heartland and the Los Angeles Kings assure us all of a new Western Conference Champion as they break out the broom at Staples and sweep the Canucks, a result most Canadians outside of BC will embrace.

Lastly, seventh heaven in the WHL tonight as both Western Conference series goes the distance, Spokane goes to Kennewick, WSH to take on Tri - City while the Kamloops Blazers look to do the unthinkable and move on after falling behind 3 - 0 in the series. For the record the Blazers were also down 5 - 2 heading into the third period of Game Six. I for one #believe in the Blazers....


Later....

Another day...another suspension

Before I start, let me be clear that I love the hostility and tension that seems to exist in most of the first round play - off match - ups. With the exception of the Florida/NJ and SJ/STL series, each of the other six have been witness to old time hockey which while some dislike, I thoroughly enjoy.

Now, onto last night. At the conclusion of the Bruins 4 - 3 victory over the Capitals, Caps forward Nicklas Backstrom attempted to rearrange the teeth of Boston's Rich Peverely with a vicious cross - check to the mouth. Backstrom was assessed a match penalty which carries an automatic game suspension. While I don't care for the cheap shot, it gets better. This morning Caps Head Coach Dale Hunter commented that he was pretty sure the league would overrule the match penalty and not force Backstrom to miss Game Four because he said Backstrom was merely defending himself from Peverley who already had his stick raised. Watch the highlight; the only time Peverley's stick is raised is when he realizes what is about to take place. He did nothing visibly to instigate this situation. In saying that I think Dale Hunter is out to lunch; not only should the league uphold the match penalty, but Backstrom should be suspended for more than one single game. And furthermore, Hunter felt that Backstrom's head has been targeted by the Bruins. This may or may not be the case but who is Dale Hunter to question the antics of other players? Certainly not the same Dale Hunter who recieved a 25 game suspension for the cheapest of cheap shots on the Islanders Pierre Turgeon in the 1993 playoff's. That year after Turgeon scored a game, and series clinching goal late in Game Six of the Islanders and Capitals Patrick Division playoff series, Hunter checked a completely unprepared Turgeon into the boards. Turgeon seperated his shoulder and missed the remainder of the Isle's run to the Conference Final. Past record alone tells me Dale Hunter is one of the last guys I would take any advice from in terms of supplemental discipline.

Brendan Shanahan continues to mystify me...first he gives Zenon Konopka a fine for the same amount given to Shea Weber for 'turnbuckling' Henrik Zetterberg and then today he gives the Blackhawks Andrew Shaw a three game ban for his 'hit' on Mike Smith of the Coyotes on Saturday night. That was not a hit, if anything it was incidental contact that came about as a result of Shaw hustling his butt in after a loose puck. BRUTAL call on Shanahan's part. While Shaw isn't Toews or Keith or Kane, it is still a call that will have some impact on the Blackhawks.

And that sets up tonight...and here is what will transpire. The Predators, who I would love to see take a two game lead home against Detroit won't get it done and will return home with if nothing else, having regained home ice, the Flyers dust off the Penguins in a game that gets ugly in the third as Sidney Crybaby and those not so lovable losers from Pittsburgh realize they are done, and in a great game in New Jersey the Panthers steal on OT victory from the Devils.

Later.....

Where do I Start?

I am at a loss for what I think of Sidney Crosby at the moment. I have been following sports for as long as I remember and I struggle to find an athlete who I have less respect for. His actions at the end of the regular season and into his Penguins first round series with Philadelphia have been emabarrasing. The guy has missed substantial periods of time due to concussions and was the first to speak out about the NHL needing to eliminate the blows to the head and other cheap shots. Yet, who has had his nose in every scrum chirping and generally causing more sh#t than necessary? The same little golden boy who is apparently the greatest player on the face of the earth. Well, to that I would say does the greatest player on earth need to shoot away an opponents glove as they bend down to pick it up, and then later explain his actions by saying "I hate him"? Come on, that is in my opinion BRUTAL! I am so sick of wathcing him and his poor excuse for a moustache whine and complain after every shift. Don Cherry said it best when he said the kid needs to just shut up and score. He has all the talent in the world but is sticking out for all the wrong reasons. At this point he is to the NHL what Tiger Woods is to the PGA...a disgrace and someone no youngster should look up to and aspire to be like.

On a side note I think the Philadelphia Flyers have done a tremendous job of getting the Penguins off of their game. They are in their heads and in the process are on the verge of sweeping them away. All I can say is look out because when the clock nears midnight and the Penguins realize their season is over, there is still a lot of bad blood that could spoil over.

Still with this series, Aaron Asham is a guy who at times you have to respect and at times you have to shake you head at. His cross check to the throat of Brayden Schenn was horrific and the penalty should match the narcissitic nature of the hit. In my mind, anything less than five games is a joke. I mean if Carl Hagelin can be given three games for his hit on Daniel Alfredsson, Asham will should certainly be a lot lighter in the pocket.

Other random NHL play - off notes:

* The Vancouver Canucks are one game away from elimination, and I love it. Alain Vigneualt should be looking for employment within the month. Too bad they gave Roberto Luongo all that money because they are now stuck with him, and to be honest, I don't even see him as a top five goaltender in the league anymore. Shoot, he isn't even the best goalie on his team.

* Brendan Shanahan has dropped the ball yet again. I love Shea Weber and the game he plays but to allow him to slam the face of Henrik Zetterberg into the boards and recieve only a $2, 500 fine is not right. Again, love Weber but a game was what he deserved.

* Mike Smith's antics on Saturday night were laughable. He got run into by the Hawks' pest Andrew Shaw, not that hard I might add, and went down like he had been shot only to return to the night shortly thereafter in the Coyotes 4 - 3 loss in Game Two. Some have said Andrew Shaw deserves a suspension; I don't even think he deserved a five minute major on the play. If anybody needs to be fined and suspended it is Mike Smith. Apparently he didn't practice with the team today but my gut tells me that is a ploy by the Coyotes to try and influence the decision of the NHL on this matter.


Moving away from the NHL and onto the Riders, who by the way open the regular season is just a little more than two months. News out of Atlanta last week was that Odell Willis had been arrested for DUI. And then the madness erupts; Rider fans everywhere are livid at Brendan Taman for trading for him, he should never be allowed to play a game in the CFL again. Are you kidding me? The guy is a human who made a mistake, got caught and luckily enough harmed nobody else in the process. For those fans who feel that he should be done with the team, how many of you have a crystal clear record and conscience having never done ANYTHING wrong? Just another classic example of how Rider Nation can be such cynics. If he struggles early they will bring this up as the problem and if he has five sacks in the first month of the season, it will all be water under the bridge. To me it is a mute point, if the Riders can get him into Canada, he starts at DE and provides us with the legitimate pass rushing threat we have been lacking since John Chick and Stevie Baggs left. Case closed!

I am not one to talk about the SJHL very often but the Humboldt Broncos won the Canalta Cup on Friday with a 6 - 0 victory over the Weyburn Red Wings. Not that losing the series appears to be the issue in Weyburn though; rather they are upset at the suspension of their top player and SJHL Player of the Year, Jesse Ross for Games six and seven of the series. Look, he two handed a guy in the ankles, got caught and had to pay the piper. It happens, and for those of you who may read this and think the SJHL and Bill Chow did this to ensure the Broncos win, something smells over there.

WHL Play - off's continue tonight as the Kamloops Blazers look to force a seventh and deciding game against the Portland Winterhawks after fallig behin 3 - 0. As you may know, a good friend of mine, Jon Keen is the voice of the Blazers and for him alone I hope the Blazers not only force a one game showdown, but continue onwards to the Memorial Cup.

Have a great night, and talk to you soon.