10 WEEKEND THINGS FOR CAPITAL GMC
1 – NO COACHES, NO PROBLEM: The 2020 Grey Cup host Saskatchewan Roughriders have yet to name their coaching staff and that’s got people in the Wheat Province anxious. That’s silly of course, but it’s a telltale sign of the pressure that’s ratcheting up from the fanbase ahead of this year’s historic season. It’s the first time the CFL’s championship game will be played in the league’s newest, nicest stadium and the expectation is for the home team to win it.
2 – WINDS OF CHANGE: The football insiders say the announcement of Craig Dickenson’s staff is right around the corner. Shoot, they’ve already named their coordinators (Jason Maas on offense and Jason Shivers on defense), so what’s the panic? As we predicted a month ago, there would be change and there has been in the departures of assistants Stephen McAdoo (OC), Steve Walsh (QBs) and Terry Eisler (ST). There will be some other mild changes once the new staff is unveiled but rest assured; quality coaches are clamouring to be on this staff. If you think the delay is because Dickenson can’t find good people, you’re barking up the wrong goalpost.
3 – PRESSURE COOKER: Coaching Canada’s Team is the most high profile job in the CFL at the best of times, but throwing in the 2020 Grey Cup expectations takes it to another level. However it says here the pressure isn’t nearly as high as 2013 when the franchise was in the same spot. While it may never have been said publicly, the assumption was that GM Brendan Taman and Head Coach Corey Chamblin would be whacked if a Grey Cup wasn’t delivered. Kudos to them, they won it all. However if the Saskatchewan Roughriders are not crowned 2020 Grey Cup champions, neither the coach nor GM will be gassed. Someone will be made to walk the plank, but it won’t be them.
4 – SHIPS AHOY: Touchdown Atlantic 2020 can already be deemed a success as the Saskatchewan Roughriders have been named the opponent for the host Toronto Argonauts for the July 25 clash in Halifax. It’s a head-scratcher why it’s taken so long for the Green & White to appear in the CFL’s marquee summer game but the league finally got it right. Now Rider Priders are snatching up hotel rooms and booking flights which has caused organizers to kick their own plans and bookings into high gear. Whether this Atlantic Schooners thing flies or not remains to be seen, but this glitzy game is a big step in the right direction regarding selling the CFL to Haligonians.
5 – COACHING CAROUSEL: The Argonauts are the other team who’s yet to name its staff but 3DownNation’s Justin Dunk reports the Boatmen’s coordinators are expected to be Jarious Jackson (OC), Glen Young (DC) and Mark Nelson (ST). This leaves some pretty big CFL coaching names outside the party including Devone Claybrooks, who was jettisoned by the BC Lions at the end of last season. However the football insiders say Claybrooks is eyeing opportunities in the NFL and that’s where we should expect to hear an announcement. “Clay” has vast contacts in The League after having played for the Packers, Browns, Bucs, 49ers, Cowboys and Falcons. He’s a good guy and a good coach. He’ll land on his feet.
6 – JONES’ING: We learned this week that Chris Jones will be retained by the Cleveland Browns for the 2020 season, despite the fact his friend Freddie Kitchens was replaced as head coach by Kevin Stefanski. On the surface this seems somewhat strange because generally head coaches bring all their own people. However perhaps things work differently in the NFL. And it’s likely Jones impressed Stefanski enough with his unique defensive philosophy when they met last week. Jones is a CFL coaching legend, and you can count football minds like his who’ve come through Canada on one hand. I expect he’s in the NFL to stay.
7 – LEOS: Sportsnet radio’s James Cybulski ruffled some feathers on the RP Show this week when he said it’s “incredibly difficult” to be a CFL supporter in Vancouver. My former teammate at The Score said fan apathy has set in and the Lions need to move out of BC Place if they want any hope of being successful. Lions boosters say talk like this doesn’t help generate hype but I disagree. Not talking about the Lions at all is farrrrrrrr worse. It says here the franchise is ripe for a turnaround however owner David Braley needs to get off the pot, sell the team, and let an energized new owner do his thing.
8 – LEAVE IT TO BEAVER: Brendan Taman fans were pleased to see the former Rider GM was named Sr. Player Personnel Director with the Alouettes on Friday. We spoke briefly and he sounds very excited. This seems an ideal fit. B.T. has been cooling his heels since leaving the Riders way back in 2015 and has turned down plenty of opportunities since. The Saskatoon product has decades of experience in this league and had the luxury of time on his side as he awaited “just the right” opportunity. This is it.
9 – SUPER BOWL LIV: The San Francisco 49ers will beat the Kansas City Chiefs in a close one in Miami next Sunday. Book it. However between now and then will be a riot for fans leading up to football’s biggest game of the year. It’s on our bucket list to attend a Super Bowl but it won’t be this year. However we’re lucky to have serving as RP Show Super Bowl correspondent, Jeff Reinebold of the Hamilton Tiger-Cats! Jeff is covering the big game for Europe’s Sky Sports and has offered to give us live reports. What a great guy!
10 – RANDOM THOUGHTS: Why do I spend so much time thinking about the Saskatchewan Rush? They wanted me to become a fan and now I’m all-in. Last weekend the local NLL heroes built up a 3-0 home lead against Colorado only to be outscored 12-3 after that and wind up on the wrong end of a 12-6 score. They are 3-0 on the road but 0-2 at home which includes two inexplicable losses. February 8 they welcome the Mammoth again and this time I hope they don’t take their eye off the ball. They’re better than that. … I brought a busload of first-time fans to that game and their comment was “The game sucked but the event was awesome!” Bingo. Hopefully other leagues are taking notes. .. There will be no WHL Playoffs across the TransCanada with Regina, Moose Jaw and Swift Current all bound to miss this spring. That stinks but at least we’ll be in driving range of some tremendous SJHL playoff action. That should make up for it. … A text message hit my phone this morning asking if the rumour’s true that the Regina Pats are for sale. Laughable! … On January 29 nothing extraordinary will happen when the Flames meet the Oilers in Edmonton despite the UFC-style build-up. That’s not a bold prediction; it’s a guarantee. Dave Tippett won’t let it happen and the 2 points are far more important. … It’s shocking and mildly disappointing that you can count on one hand the amount of Canadians who’ve had a major impact on Major League Baseball (i.e. a Hall of Fame induction) but kudos to Larry Walker for being one of them. … When is this Co-op strike going to end? I’m tired of it. … Friday’s Melville/Kindersley SJHL game was cancelled due to bus problems for the Millionaires. Frankly, I’m shocked it doesn’t happen more. … Hats off to the SJHL and MJHL for another successful showcase this week in Regina! A lot of excellent players were showcased and as one NHL scout said, “If they make it convenient for us, we’ll come to their games. In this case, they did.”
Y’er welcome,
RP
@rodpedersen
(Photo: Hannah Souster)
Good morning, It was good to see the Pats back in Regina last night. The outcome was the outcome, but they are still scrapping and trying. I’ll miss this season when it ends as they’ve represented themselves with class and dignity. You make good points as always Rod. 1) Rider’s coaching staff as far as I’m concerned is done. They have a H.C, O.C, D.C – Craig will be the Special Teams Coordinator. Past that it’s all window dressing as there is a lineup of guys wanting to work here. 2) I am the rare exception. I don’t “feel” the… Read more »
(2) The reality is, Jerry, the only team that hasn’t won the Grey Cup in the past 10 years is Hamilton. Eight different teams have won the Cup in the past 10 years. If you are talking about a 5-7 year run, there’s too much parity, over half of a club’s team are free agents every year, regardless of which team we are talking about. I don’t know how the team is “ahead of schedule”. The nucleus of this team has been 4 years in the making, approaching the end of the cycle for a lot of veterans – 14… Read more »
I enjoy the discussion on this blog and the back and forth, and I’ll only engage if it’s intelligent. – there is no guarantee you’ll ever win a Grey Cup. Having said that if you were Montreal during the Calvillo era or Calgary during this Hufnagel ere – every year you can go in knowing you’ll contend and if aligns you can be in the final. Hamilton had a foundation built they have been to 3 Grey Cups – maybe should have won one, but they were there. That franchise could have folded before Bob Young. In a salary cap… Read more »
I agree completely that paying Reilly that money was idiotic. I don’t believe Hervey needed to pay that much as he essentially was running an imaginary bidding war with the Eskimos. Reilly, in my view, was going to BC even for less money. But let’s not be too smug about this – Bo Levi signed in Calgary for $725K & it was well reported that was less than the Riders & Argos offered. We were lucky not to be in the BC boat, doubly lucky Collaros lasted 3 plays, lucky 3 times Fajardo turned out alright. The competition for the… Read more »
Do we have to keep talking about having the best stadium? I follow the Riders but I find it embarrassing that we constantly have to puff our chests about having the best stadium & how players & coaches will flock here because of it. Last year proved this is a fallacy. Reilly raved about BC, Bo Levi chose less money for Calgary, Harris went to Edmonton. The disappointment in Regina after the draft was palpable. Turned out okay. This year Campbell was ecstatic about BC, MIlanovich rated the facilities at Commonwealth as world class, a touch maybe below Jacksonville. Ottawa,… Read more »
Reilly raved about the trailer the Lions use in surrey? Bo Levi got over $700,000 a year from Calgary, he took less to stay? Jason Maas said the Rider facility is he nicest hes ever been in.
No clue what you are talking about with draft disappointment. The team got two huge receivers and a defensive lineman that played Zach Evans out of a job. Three roster players out of the draft is amazing.
You may be tired of talking about, but it doesn’t mean you are right.
Well, Roger, Reilly did rave about the Lions & the chance for multiple Cups. He didn’t mention the facilities which is my point. Mosaic is not enough to convince players to come. Bo picked the Stamps for, yes, less money than Regina offered despite playing in the worst facility in the league. It was weii reported. I misspoke about the draft. I meant the disappointment after Free Agency in Regina was very loud from fans. I agree the draft was good. As for Maas or any other player/coach – what do you expect him to say? That the stalls in… Read more »
The stadium is nice but it doesn’t change the fact that the players have to live on Regina. I’m sorry but Regina is dead last on CFL cities to live in. You could put a brand new NFL stadium in Regina and it wouldnt convince players to sign here.