DAYTONA HOMES FRIDAY RODSERVATIONS

A RIDER DOZEN FRIDAY ODDS ‘N ENDS

1 – THE FORECAST AND THE LINE:  Finding the odds-on favourite to win Saturday’s Roughrider game versus Montreal (5:00 pm, TSN, CKRM, ESPN3) is a lot easier than finding an accurate forecast.  The 4-2 Riders are now 13-point favourites over the 1-5 Alouettes.

I’ve also seen four different weather forecasts for Saturday afternoon and the latest from Environment Canada predicts a high of 23 degrees Celsius with a 30% chance of rain.  Former Regina Pat Tim Wicijowski says the guy you need to talk to for accurate weather forecasting is the “Storm Chaser” Greg Johnson.  Or as we like to call him, Line Brawl Johnny, from his days as a WHL referee.  When asked for a forecast on Thursday’s SportsCage on 620 CKRM, Johnson (@canadogreg) predicted “Saturday will be cloudy with a chance of touchdowns.  #riders 42-10”.

2 – RIDER MT. RUSHMORE:  Above you see a photo of our friend Sudsy from Saskatoon from his family visit to Mt. Rushmore in South Dakota’s Black Hills this week.  This photo led to a spirited debate on 620 CKRM’s SportsCage:  Which four Roughrider head coaches would be depicted on a Mt. Rushmore in Saskatchewan?  We settled on Eagle Keys, John Gregory, Ken Miller and Corey Chamblin.  What are your thoughts…

3 – RIDER GAME NOTES: Saturday is Chris Getzlaf’s 100th career CFL game … Darian Durant is 251 yards away from passing Roy Dewalt and moving into the Top 20 all-time for CFL passers.  Hopefully it happens against the Alouettes.

4 – MR. SMITH:  The current plight of popular Roughrider wide receiver Taj Smith gives you a glimpse into all that’s good, and bad, about playing for Saskatchewan’s CFL team.  When he was on top, Taj received a rousing ovation when throwing out the first pitch at a Regina Red Sox game this summer.  He was the only Roughrider player who rode the team float in the 2013 Queen City Ex parade.  Life was good.

Taj in last year’s Buffalo Days Parade

On the flipside, from what we know of his role in the Dewdney Incident one year ago, he only did something that happens every weekend on multiple occasions on that strip.  However, I suspect because of his stature as a local pro athlete, he was singled out and made an example of.  Now, he’s been relegated to a back-up role for Saturday’s game against Montreal and his starting wide receiver spot will be taken up by newcomer Korey Williams.  He also can’t go into a watering hole anywhere across the country.  I, for one, would find that rather difficult.

For some players, that’s not a big deal.  For instance teammate Darian Durant rarely leaves his house.  And that doesn’t make him weird.  In fact former Dallas Cowboys quarterback Troy Aikman was a hermit as well, faxing his grocery list to the local Fred Meyer outlet weekly.  (It was the 90’s after all).  Some guys find life in the fishbowl easy to deal with however for others, it’s far more difficult.

We continue to wish Taj well and support him as he gets through this.

5 – NO OCHO CINCO:  The Montreal Alouettes declared Friday moring that receiver Chad “Ocho Cinco” Johnson will NOT play this week at Saskatchewan.  It’s due to a concussion. That’s a shame because it would’ve been nice to see one of the NFL’s most-colourful all-time receivers play in Regina.  Honestly I never thought this stadium would see his shadow.  It’s a pity too, because I knew some kids that wanted to get autographs and a pic with Johnson but perhaps it’s not meant to be.  It’s also not the end of the world.  Because of his antics and off-field stunts, I could take or leave him.

6 – QUOTE OF THE WEEK:  CFL Defensive Player of the Week John Chick – who’s on pace to set the CFL’s single season sack record – admitted to being a little tired of talking about himself this week.  However he quipped, “It doesn’t take long to get humbled.  I go home to my wife and kids and they remind me I’m a nobody!”  The sad thing is, he actually believes it.

Runner-up for the Quote of the Week comes from former Rider linebacker Mike McCullough who said on our TV show In The Huddle, “Starting for the Saskatchewan Roughriders is nerve-wracking.”  Mike was referring to the first-year starter’s role for linebacker Sam Hurl.

7 – THE NEW JERSEYS:  The new Reebok Signature Roughrider jerseys have come with mixed reviews however they’re mostly positive.  The two-tone green with neon take some getting used to but they’ll look fantastic when the team debuts them on Saturday.  WR Rob Bagg groaned that people may have liked them better if he wasn’t the one modelling them!  Initially I wasn’t a big fan but after looking them over, seeing them from all sides, they truly are stunning.  The waves of wheat sheaves on the shoulders and across the helmet resemble a prairie durum field.  They nailed it, and Rider Merchandising & Retail Manager Mark Habicht told us on the SportsCage that it’s been a three-year process which really heated up over the past 18 months.

8 – REDBLACKS NOT SO BAD?:  There’s a three-way tie in the muck for second-place in the CFL East between Hamilton, Ottawa and Montreal who are all 1-5 but the RedBlacks may be the best bet to come out of it all with a home playoff game.  Ottawa made the playoffs in 1982, 1983, 1990 and 1993 despite 1-5 starts … This year the club has yet to lose a fumble and are +3 in the turnover ratio …  No player in the CFL has more catches in the past three games than Ottawa receiver Marcus Henry (19/234) … Henry Burris has been their leader and needs only five touchdown passes to surpass Ron Lancaster (333) for #3 all-time … They may not have shown it against Saskatchewan, but the RedBlacks are exceptionally well-coached and it says here they’ll be heard from in the end.

9 – MORE CFL NOTES:  BC QB Kevin Glenn needs only 141 passing yards to pass Doug Flutie for #8 all-time … Hamilton QB Dan Lefevour has rushed for 100 yards or more in two games this year and the last pivot to do that in the CFL was Saskatchewan’s Nealon Green in 2002 … BC defensive back Ryan Phillips continues his CFL iron man streak of 169 consecutive games played.  He’s never missed a game in his CFL career … Edmonton kicker Grant Shaw has a career-long 10 consecutive field goal streak on the go … The Hamilton Tiger-Cats were 1-4 to start last year but finished 9-4 over the next 13 … The Ticats have lost seven in a row against West Division opponents and on Saturday they host Calgary.

10 – DRESSLER UPDATE:  The folks in Kansas City must wonder what all the fuss is about over their rookie receiver/punt returner Weston Dressler.  Social media has been abuzz for updates on the former CFL All-Star but no, he hasn’t been cut.  He was active in Thursday’s practice and plans to suit up in Preseason Game 2 on Sunday at Carolina (6 pm Sask time).  Chiefs reporters feel Sunday’s game will be make-or-break time for Dressler and we’ll be following along closely for updates.  If he does get cut, he’ll be a hot commodity in the CFL however Ottawa GM Marcel Desjardins wouldn’t comment on that this week.  He told reporters that as long as Weston is still under contract in the NFL, he won’t discuss their desire to sign him.

Meanwhile Rider offensive tackle Xavier Fulton is anxiously following Chiefs camp as well.  His little brother, Zach Fulton, is a rookie offensive guard out of Tennessee and started last week’s preseason win over Cincinnati.  Meanwhile reports out of Oakland have been all positive regarding tailback Kory Sheets.  Apparently he’s made some eye-popping plays and given the Raiders no reason to cut him.

11 – ONE MORE HIRE:  The Regina Pats are filling out their staff with training camp looming only a week away.  They’ve hired John Paddock as Head Coach and Sr. VP of Hockey Operations and named Dave Struch as Paddock’s top assistant on Wednesday.  They’ve got another assistant coach to hire and the word is it will be Darrin McKechnie. The former 50-goal scorer for the Pats is a long-time member of the Regina Police Service but perhaps he’s nearing retirement and is ready to return to the game?  Either way, there should be an announcement soon.

12 – ROASTING FRANK: Jim Hopson, Larry Mueller and I will be roasting Regina Rams coach Frank McCrystal tonight at the Turvey Centre at 7 pm.  The event is being put on by the Rams Alumni and it’s an honour they still consider me one of them and to have extended an invitation to speak.  Anybody have any dirt on Frank you’d like to share?  I’m looking at you Saskatoon…

If you’d like a last-minute ticket, call Josh Shaw at 306-539-4072 or Marco Ricci at 306-421-8981.

13 – STILL ANOTHER TRIP WITH US: So the SportsCage Marlin Travel Ultimate Sports Trip IV to LA, San Diego and Anaheim this December sold its final 24 spots after Monday morning’s mention here on the blog.  Good news for some, bad for others.  That’s okay!  You can still join Carm Carteri and me along with Winnipeg Blue Bomber greats Chris Walby and David Black on th first-ever Banjo Bowl Fan Cruise through the Carribean in February of 2016!  The Celebrity Cruise Lines ship sets sail out of Miami, FL.  For information or to book, email christine@IxtapaTravel.ca or call 1-204-885-7261.

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THAT’S ALL.  ENJOY SATURDAY’S GAME!
RP
@sportscage