THROWIN’ ELBOWS WITH BRENDAN MCGUIRE

1. ROUGHRIDER DEFENCE GOOD ENOUGH WITHOUT AC LEONARD: Posted four quarterback sacks against an Argo O-line that had surrendered that many only once and it was against a great Winnipeg pass rush. Also put up a goal-line stand on two plays from the one-yard line that resulted in a 10-point swing just before the half and effectively won the football game. AC Leonard needs the Riders more than the Riders need him. Period.

2. CHARLESTON HUGHES OVER-THE-HILL: Good enough to be on the field and good enough to tackle Cody Fajardo behind the line of scrimmage on an outside scramble. But that’s about it. Not worth top dollar. Has progressively gotten worse as the season has gone on for the past few seasons. Riders made the right call in letting him leave for more dough. The Rider pass rush was good enough Friday night without AC Leonard AND Charleston Hughes.

3. EXPECT RIDER OFFENCE TO BREAK OUT SOON: Finally got the run game going in their win over the Argos. Missed on a couple of long passes, including one Brayden Lenius should’ve had. The Rider offence and its failure to connect on big plays is a league-wide phenomenon in a season with no preseason. As Marshall Hamilton pointed out on this week’s IN THE HUDDLE, it takes longer to build an offence than it does to build a defence. That said, we can see signs galore that Jason Maas and his game plan is in line for a breakout game and soon. Could even come on Friday night in BC.   

4. O’DAY & DICKENSON MOVING OUT OF CHRIS JONES’ SHADOW: We saw a masterful performance by the Rider defensive front seven on Friday night that, other than linebacker Micah Teitz, were all made up of players acquired by the Riders in the post-Chris Jones-era. We’ve often given great kudos to Chris Jones and the great defence he recruited here and that’s still true. But if the Riders win a Grey Cup this year, and they have to be in the conversation right now, it will be as much for the recruiting efforts of general manager Jeremy O’Day, assistant GM Paul Jones and player personnel director Kyle Carson as it will be for anything left behind by Chris Jones. And let’s not forget that head coach Craig Dickenson managed to solve his quarterbacking situation pretty early, something head coach Chris Jones failed to do in his three years with the Roughriders.   

5. ANTI-VAX PROTESTORS: They didn’t show up until about 45 minutes before kickoff, I’m told. I might sympathize with your cause if you put some effort in and show up early. But lazy protestors? Nah, forget it.

6. THIS WEEK I’M JEALOUS OF: William Powell. ‘Willie P’ as he wants to be called is 33 years young and proving there is life for pro football running backs after when they reach the wrong side of 30. Other than Cody Fajardo, Willie P just might be the most important piece to the Rider offence winning a Grey Cup in November.

7. ANTI-VAX EX-RIDERS: I’m told a certain ex-player to be inducted into the Plaza of Honor and another who’s been on the broadcast are anti-vaxxers and one of them even tweets out conspiracy theories. That’s their choice and that’s their right. Just like it’s my choice and my right to think they’re both idiots. If they want to be known as Roughrider stars or something else, that’s their choice. God bless all this freedom we enjoy.

8. WHO’S TO BLAME IN OTTAWA: Marcel Desjardins for being the GM who let his quarterback, Trevor Harris, get away for peanuts? Or Paul LaPolice for letting his GM sign Matt Nichols and release Nick Arbuckle? Either way, neither one looks so good right now. My answer: Desjardins should take the blame. They had problems in Ottawa long before LaPo ever showed up.   

9. WHICH CFL TEAM TO CHEER AGAINST: Edmonton Elks. Love the new name and new logo but rumors are swirling about anti-vaxxers roaming their locker room and even their management crew. That could derail not only their season but others as well. Edmonton has always been an easy team to cheer against and that’s true even in 2021.

10. TV PICK THIS WEEK AND NEXT: Guest hosting for Rod Pedersen on Access Now TV’s IN THE HUDDLE with Marshall Hamilton and this week, 1976 Grey Cup MVP Cleveland Vann. Like OMG! How did I sweet talk my way into this?! Watch us Tuesday nights and replays throughout the week.

(Follow Brendan on Twitter at @brendanhowardmc)