Time for the Riders to Prove They are Contenders

The Argos are now 8-6 and while quarterback Chad Kelly has been tossing touchdowns and interceptions for the Argos willy-nilly, he probably also threw his team for a loop when he paused negotiations on a new contract. In a story on 3DownNation, Kelly’s agent Chris Lambiris was quoted as saying he was looking for a contract that would be tied to the percentage of salary cap increase instead of hard dollars.

The initial story of Kelly pausing negotiations initially made many think he was doing this to enable following his former coach Ryan Dinwiddie to Ottawa. It seems Kelly is looking for a solid team and notes teams like the Riders and Bombers are maybe going to be looking for new quarterbacks considering the age of Harris and the diminished physical skills of Collaros.

The new TV contract and the potential for more including money from a potential CFL expansion franchise in Quebec City have increased the salary cap for players. If you are a player and sign for a long-term contract and the salary cap increases, you lose money and there is no incentive in signing a long-term contract when you could make more the following year if the salary cap again increases.

Lambiris, who is originally from Saskatchewan, noted it is not certain Harris will return next year and with Collaros, his injury history combined with his contract expiring makes one wonder if the Bombers are ready to move on if they can get their hands on another gunslinger.

The Riders have five games left with the meat of their schedule determining their playoff positioning. Winning two Grey Cups, especially in a row, would raise Harris to a new plateau in Rider lore, but if he can win three in a row, then it is time to put up a new statue. If Harris makes through this season pretty healthy, I would say the odds are pretty good he would not pass up an opportunity to make history.

Even if the Riders didn’t win the Grey Cup this year but made it to the Western Final, I would think Harris would still be interested in returning next season. The Riders though would be wise to figure a back-up quarterback who can help reduce Harris’ exposure to an unnecessary hit and be capable of leading the club.

If Kelly gets what his agent is looking for from the Argos, they will be a contender for the Grey Cup for the next five years. After winning a statement game against the Lions, the Argos now ride into the place where Dreams Go To Die – otherwise known as Princess Otto Stadium.

The Argos were a feast or famine team with Kelly throwing as many touchdowns as interceptions as the Argos wandered North America looking for a field after getting kicked out of their own field to make way for the World Cup. Now that hey have survived the CFL version of The Odyssey, clinched second in the east and look forward to spanking the Bombers yet again.

With Collaros out for this game with a neck injury, or whatever it is, the bombers are going to have to rely on a physical defense and a running game to keep the Argo offense off the field. Kelly has been throwing darts all over the field but while the passing is wow, the running game has been non-existent.

The Bombers took a great deal of succour from their win in the Labor Day rematch. They still have a shot at hosting a playoff game and nothing smells in Winnipeg quite like hope.

I am going to pick Toronto to win 28-27 because Dru Brown might have beaten the Argos once, but their defensive line is about to dominate and force the Bombers to try running. After seeing what they did to BC, I don’t think Kenny Ploen could help the Bombers.

Then we have the Riders to BC for what is a battle for second place, but also positioning to take a run at first if Edmonton falters. The Riders got some good news at practice this week with Kian Schafer-Baker and AJ Ouellette practicing with the starting offense. After seeing Trevaughn Campbell on the sidelines, I would imagine Campbell would be back in the lineup for the Montreal games.

The Riders expanded their practice roster by bringing in players for extended looks before next season. The Riders signed American defensive back Milliard Bradford, American linebacker Ja’Kobe Clinton, Canadian linebacker Justin Herdman-Reed, American running back Deon Jackson, American quarterback Eddie Lee Marburger and American defensive lineman Malakai Williams.

Tuesday was the first day I had seen these players and Rider fans should note Marburger was wearing a #4 jersey which shows Marburger is thinking big. He does throw a nice ball and it will be interesting to see him in some game situations.

BC is coming off a win against Montreal which was another spicy affair with players getting punched in the grain and Davis Alexander pushing the envelope between being competitive and being obnoxious. The guy to keep an eye on in BC is running back Zander Horvath who is battling Tommy Stevens for the league lead in touchdowns.

Horvath is a power back and if BC can run on the Rider defense, it will be a long day for the Riders. The Riders need to hope the return of the walking wounded will be enough to spark the offense out of the doldrums it currently finds itself.

The point spread will be small, and the Riders win this one 28-27.

One of the saddest, predicable, and weirdly funny games last week came when Ottawa went to Calgary to try for their first win of the season. When a team is 0-13 and setting new records for longest losing streak, watching them live is like watching a live experiment in how many ways a team can lose a football game.

Ottawa should have won this game, but Calgary had the ball and the wind after Ottawa scored to take the lead with a minute or so left in the game. They moved the ball enough to set up kicker Renbe Parades for a 62-yard field goal to win the game 40-38.

Ottawa gave McLeod Bethel Thomson the starting job and he provided more of a spark than what they had under Jake Maier, although a lot of that blame falls on the offensive line. The Redblacks are being remade on the go, got a bit of a boost at the news Kelly may come to Ottawa, but the bottom line they make mistakes at the most inopportune times and shoot themselves in the foot while collecting another loss.

Ottawa has come close to winning several times and this may be their last best chance to pick up a win with the Stampeders following apart piece by piece as they try to keep up in the west.

The game is in Ottawa, and it may attract some fans, but it is hard for an 0-13 team to drum up enthusiasm with no prospect of success., If Ottawa had won their close loses, they would be 5-8 and still in contention.

Ottawa needs a great sports psychologist. Calgary gets a 36-29 win.

Finally we have Hamilton going to Edmonton to face the Elk and try to stay alive in the playoffs. Hamilton lost to Montreal 37-25 in a game that was not as close as the score would indicate with Montreal lifting their foot off the gas in the fourth quarter.

When Hamilton lost quarterback Bo Levi Mitchell earlier this season, their faith in Tre Ford was not realized since he is a running back who can throw, but not read defenses. Jake Dolegala is just too ungainly to be of much use and Hamilton brought in Harrison Frost to chill out the fans and he has performed exactly as a first-year quarterback would be expected to.

Edmonton is coming off a loss to Toronto where they didn’t have an answer to Toronto’s pass rush. The Elk have a solid running game but can be pressured by a quarterback who can go deep or run around and wear out the Elks defense.

Edmonton’s Achilles Heel is penalties and since Hamilton doesn’t seem to have a quarterback capable of stretching the Elk defense. Hamilton has a good team, but Mitchell’s loss shows if you don’t have a quarterback, you have a wasted season.

Edmonton wins this one 3-24

by Greg Urbanoski

Time for the Riders to Prove They are Contenders

What's Trending