Riders For 2009
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Can't see the 'ShareThis' icon? Reload your page view by pressing Shift and clicking Refresh at the same time.Now that the Riders season has concluded, what does the future hold?
Let's start with everyone's favourite topic, the quarterback. When Michael Bishop came over from Toronto, many of my friends from T.O., who watched and covered the boatmen, said "The Riders will never win with him!" Those people weren't totally right. He showed flashes of brilliance during the season. Yet after Saturday's western final it's pretty evident that a playoff performer will need to emerge from this position. Bishop may not be that guy. I still believe that Darian Durant gives this offense the best chance to win, but like every quarterback he wants to be an uncontested starter. If that situation does not exist in Regina, then he may be else where for 2009.
There is no need for an offensive overhaul on this team. Injuries, although not a huge factor the playoff loss to BC, were a huge factor in the regular season. It's tough to forecast where this team would be had their not been a rash of broken legs and the Matt Dominguez leg injury. What this team was able to do with players such as Adam Nicolson, Vincent Marshall, Stu Foord, etc. etc. was amazing. Had this team gone the distance with players like Andy Fantuz and D.J. Flick it may have been a much different story today.
Status quo may be the way to go on defense as well. The Riders led in many categories early in the season. Defensive co-ordinator Richie Hall had a defense that caused opposing offenses fits. There may be one or two free agents that GM Eric Tillman may have to move, but the same defensive scheme with the same group will be successful again in 2009.
Then there is coaching. The only flaw in Ken Miller and the coaching staff that I can find is the way the quarterbacks were handled at times. Late in the season two interceptions basically meant you were on the bench. However, it was clear at the end of the year that the rules of the game changed a bit. Michael Bishop was given this team during the final week of the regular season, and pehaps left in too long in the western semi final loss to B.C. This take me back to my opening statement. It's up for Tillman and the Riders coach staff to find and work with a playoff performer and have him be the guy the regular season. Calgary won the west divisoin title, Montreal won the east, and there is no doubt as to who their starting quarterbacks are. Players know that Ken Miller is in charge, and he gets the most out of his players by treating them like men. From the outside looking in, it appears to be a close knit coaching group. That's never a bad thing.
One final thought to the Rider fans. It's been over a decade since a team has repeated as Grey Cup champions. To take a line from "A League Of Their Own"......"If it was easy, everyone would do it".
Comments
Bishop was supposed to be
Bishop was supposed to be our starting QB and was given lots of chances. I have been a supporter of him and Ken gave him all the support as his starter by not pulling him.
Unfortunately fumbles, bad snaps, tips and interceptions showed that he couldn't pull it off.
If he could be more consistent I would have no problem with cheering for him next year.
And what can you say about the best defense in the league? Special thanks to Richie Hall!!
Congrats to Ken and all the riders on a great season of entertainment for us and we sure finished a lot higher and with more wins than anyone thought we would have!
Already counting down till they return to the field :-)
You are a true Rider Fan
You are a true Rider Fan
Miller
I have to disagree on coach Miller he made it clear he wanted Bishop and he stuck with him even though anyone could plainly see he simply is not good enough to play in this league or any other pro league for that matter.Miller made some very poor choices over the season.I believe Tillman should let him go and probably will fire him.We need to expect results from the Riders, losing is no longer an option in riderville.
"Now that the Riders season
"Now that the Riders season has included, what does the future hold? " - do you guys have editors? - Included?
What are you on? Read the
What are you on? Read the bi-line...it says "concluded".
lets go forward into 2009
who would've thunk!!!!!
after 6-0 record without the starters expected, we even made it to the first round. what a team!
Many players responded after Saturday's loss in true team spirit: "a team wins together and loses together, it's not a one-man show"!
yeah there were some decisions in question thruout the season, yet, we made the playoffs. some teams had first stringers (High paid help), thruout the season and never made the first round!!!
Next season should see the next step for Coach Miller to take the instilled discipline to the limits and a Grey Cup! Everyone looking in from the outside was amazed at the depth of our "Team" when it was needed most.
Thanks for a great season in 2008, stay safe and healthy in the off-season, and looking forward to a great 2009!!!
riders
When some jerk wants to fire the coach, then that tells me they could'nt put two clicks together to get a clue.they no nothing about football,so go watch ringball.EH?
Miller shouldn't be fired,
Miller shouldn't be fired, but Bishop should- Crandell was canned for less. Where in the CFL would Durant be the uncontested starter? Have an open competition with the four young guys, and forget about mediocre veterans who will never be consistent enough.
08 RIDERS
How can anyone blame MIller, we are lucky to have him & Hall. He has correctly shown discontent with all our QBs, but has provided opportunities, and support, keeping as little comment to the press as possible. He has not been slow to pull the pivot until the last two games.
Management needs to find a legitamate QB, it may well be Durant, but he stumbled as all QBs do. I can remember Lancaster being questioned some days too. Did we or the press scare Kent Austin from Sask as a player.
If the reads are right, but the throws off, we must support the QB & coach.
Sometimes you have to tip your hat to the other team, and in this case, their front four.
Tillman has made this a team to support again, but he also has limits, and we will be over the cap I am sure. He has a challenge, but I hope he finds a way to keep this team together. GO RIDERS GO
Why we lose year after year
I have put up with 30 years of excuses and B.S. its time we no longer condone losing.These same fans that are putting up with Millers incompetance are the same ones that thought Barret was a good coach and the same people that thought it was alright we let Austin out of his contract.Bottom line we keep Austin we are back in the Cup.We hire a 67 year old rookie head coach we lose.
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