DAYTONA HOMES: MONDAY MORNING GOALIE

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BRING THE ACTION:

* The Saskatchewan Roughriders are still licking their wounds following Saturday’s tough 29-25 loss to the Stampeders in Calgary.  We all know the situation — the win clinched first for the Stamps and leaves the Riders to host BC in the Western Semifinal in two weeks’ time.  There’s a meaningless game in between with the non-playoff bound Edmonton Eskimos coming into Regina next Saturday afternoon.

* You can look at the Riders’ current situation in one of two ways: 1) The Riders have a chance to go 12-6 and are guaranteed a home playoff game by virtue of their second-place finish.  That’s a fine season no matter how you slice it and it says here it doesn’t matter how you got there.  Like golf, it’s about numbers not pictures.  Or… 2) The Roughriders blew a big game in Calgary by not taking full advantage of four Calgary turnovers in the first half.  Poor pass protection and bad penalties over the final 30 minutes led to their demise.  They took the ball out of the hands of their undisputed MVP, Kory Sheets, and it caused a disturbing ruckus on the sidelines.  Forehead-slapping comments by DB Dwight Anderson after the game exposed the fact the Riders aren’t “mentally tough enough” according to head coach Corey Chamblin at this point in time.  Is that correctable between now and the playoffs?  We’re about to find out.

* The game was replayed on TSN2 Saturday night and I watched much of it once I got back to the room.  TSN analyst Paul Lapolice correctly stated at halftime, “This should be a blowout already”.  Cause for concern that it wasn’t.

* Going into the Calgary game it seemed like a “Win-Win” situation for Saskatchewan.  A victory would have kept their first-place hopes alive while a loss meant the end of a three-game losing streak.  However for the Riders to run the table and win the Grey Cup, they would reasonably have had to put together eight consecutive victories dating back to Week 15 in BC.  That’s a monumental task for any team, no matter how good they are.  Saturday’s loss stung, there’s no doubt.  But it’s time to go on another streak and one characteristic of Chamblin’s time in Regina is that the Riders are a streaky team.  Which way are they going to go now?

* You want analysis from a football guy?  Here are the postgame comments of CKRM Radio’s Carm Carteri Saturday night:

“It was a game of two halves really,” Carm reflected.  “Unfortunately for the Riders it only all went their way in the first half, with four turnovers in their favour but they could only put up 15 points in the first half.  They had a 15-10 halftime lead and then unfortunately for the Riders John Hufnagel made the move to bring Drew Tate in for the second half and he engineered 19 points.  That was the difference.

“It was good for the Riders early because they had a lot of pressure from their defensive front four but in that second half Drew Tate went to the short game, dumping the ball off to Cornish and hitting his receivers, and did a good job getting the ball to Jeff Fuller, a rookie out of Texas A&M.  Unfortunately people are going to have to talk about penalties.  Penalties really hurt the Riders tonight.”

“Darian really didn’t have any time at all but, again, you’ve gotta adjust.  You knew the Calgary Stampeders were coming after Darian Durant so that’s when you start dumping the ball off.  We didn’t see anything short to Kory Sheets until late in the game when Darian threw the interception.  He was dumping it off on third down.  You can use the screens and get him out on the flare patterns, put some pressure on that defense but again, this is a game that the Riders, I won’t say could afford to lose, but they lost it and now they get to regroup and get ready for that big Western Semifinal at home in a couple weeks time.  Then, hopefully, we get back here to Calgary and finish the job we thought they would do.”

* Last comments about Kory Sheets’ sideline blow-up Saturday night: it was more than a little eyebrow-raising to me.  Kory’s boastful comments all week were a source of amusement but they did undermine the “team first” attitude we’d all like to see.  More than anything Sheets must have been upset that he never even got the opportunity to back up his statements.  But it’s not about him.  To date, I’m not sure that he’s spoken publicly about the situation since the game’s conclusion.

* If you noticed, Stampeders defenders were viciously attacking Sheets in the game.  They were trying to take his head off in the few times he got the ball.  After the game they were mocking him by saying “Who? Who?” when asked by reporters about Sheets.  Apparently CKRM’s postgame show goes all the way to Calgary.

* Stamps QB Drew Tate is a prickly sort, but personally I’ve never had an issue with him.  But he was truculent with reporters after Saturday’s game.  When asked if he’ll start next game or if there’s a quarterback controversy brewing, Tate snapped, “Print whatever you want to print”.

* Regarding the pass protection, Chamblin said the team will have right guard Chris Best available for Saturday’s game against Edmonton.  It’s been indicated that he’ll play against the Eskimos and beyond and that should smooth out any hiccups on that offensive line.  It reminds me of the 2007 championship season when DB Eddie Davis returned from a nine-game absence due to a shoulder injury just in time to go on the Grey Cup run.

* The torch and pitchfork crowd is after George Cortez now.  That’s rich.  Four Grey Cups with Calgary, credited with developing Aaron Rodgers at Cal, and a tour with the NFL’s Buffalo Bills.  But when he got to Regina, he got stupid.  There must be asbestos in the walls of those Mosaic Stadium coaches offices.  Give me a break.  Let these guys do their jobs.

* Anyone who’s been to Rider practice the past little while knows about one particular new play that no one’s ever seen before.  It appears to be unstoppable.  I thought they’d bust it out in the Calgary game but since they didn’t, my guess is they’ll unveil it in the playoffs.  It will initially be impossible to defend.  That’s why I don’t like going to practice; it feels like I now know the coordinates to a secret missile launch site.  I’d rather not know this type of information.  However I’ll be watching for it in the playoffs and know what’s coming!

* You knew this photo had to surface at some point!  A Rider fan sent it to me about 10 days ago and it depicts Stampeders head coach/GM John Hufnagel wearing the ball cap of his top rival.

“I was at the airport during the off-season and there were some Saskatchewan fans,” Hufnagel explained to Carm Carteri on our pregame show.  “We had our pictures taken and he said ‘how about wearing a hat also?’ and I said, ‘sure I used to be a Roughrider'”.

Carm asked Huff if he’s sure it’s not a more recent shot.

“No,” Hufnagel laughed. “Get off the drugs.”

QUICK HITS

* Saturday’s game was about 2,000 short of a sellout at McMahon Stadium and on that night Rider fans definitely outnumbered Stamps fans.  Perhaps Calgarians chose the Flames game, which faced off at 8:00 later that night against the Washington Capitals?  I was stunned by the number of Rider jerseys in the Saddledome and it caused me to wonder if those fans attended both contests.

* The hatred for Saskatchewan isn’t going away any time soon in Calgary.  It might even be growing!  It started from the time I picked up my rental car at the Calgary airport Saturday morning.  “Oh no,” groaned the Avis attendant.  “I have to get a car for a Saskatchewan guy?”

It continued later that day from a parking attendant at McMahon Stadium.  He asked where we’re from and when I replied Saskatchewan, he said, “Oh … I’m sorry”.

That’s okay!  We’ve got big shoulders and as I’ve often stated, the illwill is not mutual.  The things I love most about Alberta: the Westin chain of hotels, Hooters, Country 105 and CISN Country, NHL hockey and the western flair.

* It was a mild annoyance to be beaked on Twitter by a ton of Stamps fans well into the night on Saturday.  The Ticats and Stampeders are the only teams whose fans pipe up at yours truly through social media throughout the course of the season.  At least they care!

* Saturday night’s Flames-Capitals game was a good way to get over the postgame blahs.   Calgary won 5-2 and their goals went in real easily.  Thanks to the Flames for the press pass!  I spent the second period chatting with Sportsnet’s Roger Millions and the third period visiting with Winnipeg Jets pro scout Carter Sears, my old coach!  Carter said, “You’re a hockey guy at heart.  It’s time to come back.”

* Introduced myself to Flames President of Hockey Operations Brian Burke while we were waiting for an elevator after the game.  “We have a close mutual friend, Drew Callander,” I told Mr. Burke.  He replied, “I’m surprised you’d admit to being close friends with Drew!”   Those two are real tight going back to their Calder Cup-winning days with the AHL’s Maine Mariners.  Brian also stated that he was in attendance for the first half of the Rider game at McMahon Stadium.

* Is it a coincidence Burkie shows up and the Flames start winning?  Possibly.  But Flames coach Bob Hartley has an impeccable resume which includes a Stanley Cup, Calder Cup, Memorial Cup and two Centennial Cups.  I just about choked on my Diet Coke when I read that in the game notes.

* The Flames’ next game is Wednesday when they host the Toronto Maple Leafs on TSN.  As one NHL insider said to me in the press box, “If I was Burkie, I wouldn’t even go to that game”.  However I’m sure he will.

* It costs $15 to park in the lot adjacent to the Saddledome.  Regina sports fans don’t know how good they have it.

* The biggest celebrity at the Saddledome Saturday night, on either side, was Washington star Alex Ovechkin.  There were a 100 or so fans waiting for him outside the arena after the game, all adorned in either Flames or Stampeders jerseys.  “Ovie! Ovie! Ovie!” they chanted, and they erupted when he finally appeared.  They seemed less interested in waiting outside the Flames player exit.

* They are laughing at the Edmonton Oilers in Calgary currently.  Edmonton entered Sunday dead-last in the Western Conference.  If the Flames can’t make the playoffs, their next priority is finishing ahead of Edmonton.

* In the NFL the Kansas City Chiefs are still unbeaten after Sunday’s 23-17 home win over Cleveland.  There was a pair of fans in Chiefs jerseys at the Regina airport Saturday morning, headed down for the game.  Chiefs coach Andy Reid refuses to use the term “Super Bowl” to his players, preferring to use the name the “Big Game”.

* Did you see the black cat wander across the Atlanta Falcons’ bench during their game in Arizona?  The superstition held true as the Cardinals won 27-13.  The Cards should adopt and name that cat!  I vote for “Kurt”.

* In Denver, Mike Shanahan was unsuccessful in his return as his Washington Redskins fell 45-21 to the Broncos.  Shanahan’s Steakhouse in Denver provided 100 boxed suppers for the Redskins for their flight home.  I counted and the Riders travel with about 70 bodies.

* Friends of the Riders Touchdown Lottery President Tom Shepherd mentioned on our broadcast Saturday evening that about 23% of lottery tickets are sold in Regina and area and 8% are sold in Saskatoon.  The rest are disseminated across the province, and country.  This year’s draw will be held on Thursday live on 620 CKRM.

* Quote of the Weekend: It came from Regina Pats video technician Reg Bagwell after the second period of Friday’s game when the Edmonton Oil Kings led the Pats 7-0.  “It’s the first time all year Edmonton’s been up by a touchdown!” Reg quipped.

* That Friday Access 7 broadcast with colour commentator Frank Kovacs seems like a month ago already.  A 7-2 Pats loss was a tough one to have for our first broadcast of the year.  The next telecast is November 29 when the P.A. Raiders come to town.  It sure was a treat to work with Frankie!  He’s the Pats career games-played leader at 352.

* A HUGE congratulations to the Regina Thunder for beating the Saskatoon Hilltops 21-16 on Sunday at Griffiths Stadium to claim the Prairie Football Conference championship!  It’s the first league title in franchise history and it’s been a pleasure to work with the Thunder right from Day 1 of their journey this season.  What a rookie year for head coach Scott MacAuley!!

* Took a mental break last night and rented The Internship despite the poor review it got from Rider punter Ricky Schmitt.  And of course it gets Two Thumbs Up from the Monday Morning Goalie!!!  It’s got Vince Vaughn and Owen Wilson.  What else could you ask for?  It’s got some silly parts but overall it was a side-splitter.  In fact I’ll probably watch it again soon.

* Gotta love my hometown.  RCMP issued a news release last week detailing a rash of thefts in Milestone, SK.  It said vehicle thefts and thefts from vehicles.  RCMP advise people not to leave their cars unlocked with the keys in the ignition.  Yes, you read that right.  God bless them.

THAT’S ALL FOR TODAY!
RP
@sportscage