10 THINGS FOR TITAN AUTO & REALTY ONE

1 – BACK HOME: Following a 35-10 shebockalling at the hands of the Blue Bombers in the Banjo Bowl, the Riders are back home Saturday against the Montreal Alouettes in a 5 pm kickoff. It’s a glorious chance for the Jolly Green Giants to repent, and get back in the chase for 1st place. They are favoured by 7.5-points and the forecast calls for sunshine and +22 degrees.

2 – SHEBOCKALLING: It is a term invented by Hall of Fame QB and TSN analyst Henry Burris. It’s a combination of the terms “shellacking” and “debacle” or, another way of saying “butt-kicking”.

3 – COINKY-DINK: Do you think it’s a coincidence that the Riders laid an egg on the very week where they were named the CFL’s #1 team in the Power Rankings, and Grey Cup favourites by the CFL Simulator? I don’t. You wonder why coaches hate that stuff.

4 – JONNY BE GOOD: The Riders are 7-4 (FAR better than many of us had expected), and yet there’s a controversy over the punting of local superstar Jon Ryan? This started out as a mole hill in the preseason and has grown into a mountain by Week 14. My take? I have a tough time believing J.R. can’t place the ball wherever he wants on every single punt. He’s as good as there is.

5 – OUTKICKING COVERAGE: If you’da asked me in the spring for a wins prediction for Canada’s Team this year, I would’ve said “7 or 8” given the absence of a proven QB. So this 7-4 record with 7 games to go is an absolute marvel. As far as I’m concerned, they’re playing with house money the rest of the way. Hats off.

6 – BET ON RED/BLACK: The Ottawa RedBlacks are certainly one of the biggest surprises this season, at 3-8. They were in the Grey Cup just last season. However it’s sad that they’ve blamed departed offensive coordinator Jaime Elizondo for their woes, such as they did in the Ottawa Sun. It’s so easy to blame somebody once they’re out the door. However no one wants to look in the mirror. And even Elizondo would have a tough time having success with the depleted personnel Ottawa has.

7 – FOR THE W: The lopsided victory in the Banjo Bowl may well have been a statement game for the Blue & Gold. They slapped around the Riders with their back-ups and showed the world what they are capable of when they lock down and focus. Most importantly, they showed themselves.

8 – LION DOWN: BC and Ottawa open a home-and-home set on Friday Night Football, from BC Place. It’s a playoff-type showdown because a sweep would put either team back in the race. For some reason, I still find myself pulling for the Lions. They remain must-see TV. Regarding TSN announcer Glen Suitor saying some BC players “have quit”, Lions head coach Devone Claybrooks said on The Rod Pedersen Show this week, “He and I talked about that. We agreed to disagree”. Stay tuned.

9 – A.B.: I get that so many people think Antonio Brown orchestrated his exit from Oakland with all his crazy behaviour, just so that he could sign with New England. However just like I wrote about Johnny Manziel – whom people said the same things about – this theory is absolute hogwash. “Normal” people can’t fathom why people like A.B. or Johnny Football do the things that they do. But I get it. There’s something wrong with them and they know it, but they don’t know what it is. They become outcasts, but I feel sorry for them. My greatest pleasure is working with guys like that everyday. Some can be fixed, some can’t.

10 – RANDOM THOUGHTS: There’s one big name absent from football season this fall: Johnny Manziel. Has anyone noticed but me? … Isn’t it odd that Bomber great Chris Walby has never actually eaten the Chris Walby Burger at IG Field? How Winnipeggish! … 105 WHL players will attend NHL training camps this month. That’s a whopping number! Here’s the numbers from the Sask teams: Saskatoon (7), P.A. (9), Moose Jaw (3), Regina (0), Swift Current (0) … The Regina Rams host the Saskatchewan Huskies in the Wheat Bowl Friday at 7 pm at Mosaic Stadium. The game will pit two first-year starting QBs against each other, both from Regina: Mason Nyhus (Riffel) vs Josh Donnelly (Leboldus). It’s also the Rams first-ever Homecoming Game. Let’s pack the park! … The 2019-20 SJHL season starts Friday night and there are games in your area. League President Bill Chow will be on The Rod Pedersen Show on Thursday for a preview. I love that league! … Be sure to check out the new exhibit at the Saskatchewan Sports Hall of Fame which is called Play Hard, Fight Hard: Sport and the Canadian Military. It explores the relationship between sports and military service dating back to the 19th century. It is the largest touring display the Hall has ever hosted!

Y’er welcome,
RP
@rodpedersen

(Photo: Hannah Souster)