THROWIN’ ELBOWS WITH BRENDAN MCGUIRE
1. DON’T BLAME IT ON BANDY: Much of the blame over the Riders Week 3 disaster in Montreal has been pointed at the injury to starting centre Dan Clark. The eight quarterback sacks on Cody Fajardo and Mason Fine would suggest that’s correct, but it’s not quite that cut and dried. The film shows blitzes from all different angles that sacked these Rider QBs over and over. Enough to make you realize it wasn’t just one guy dropping the ball on these plays, although the lack of coordination with the new centre probably didn’t help. From the O-line and running backs who couldn’t pass-protect to the quarterback who couldn’t get the ball out fast enough to the receivers who couldn’t get open, this stinker was a team effort.
2. BLAME IT ON MAAS: If there was an offensive game plan from Saskatchewan tailored to work with a shaky O-line, it sure didn’t look like one in Montreal. Quick, precision short-passing and run plays should’ve been the order of the day and would have given the Green & White a fighting chance even after a night on St. Catharines Street. We didn’t really see it and now the heat is cranked up a bit more on Rider offensive coordinator Jason Maas who came to Regina with high billing but has yet to really cash in with Saskatchewan. It’ll be fascinating to see what adjustments he makes, if any, for Saturday’s rematch.
3. FORGET ABOUT LaBATTE: If he hasn’t wanted to come back yet after missing two and a half years, don’t expect that to ever change. 3DownNation’s John Hodge dropped the bombshell on last week’s In The Huddle that former NFL offensive lineman Brett Jones was in serious talks with the Riders about patching their O-line. At this point, barring a miracle recovery from Dan Clark, Brett Jones would appear to be the best-case scenario. If you’re a Rider fan, fingers crossed that Jeremy O’Day can make this work.
4. THIS WEEK I AM JEALOUS OF: Marshall Hamilton. This guy is getting really good with the telestrator and he’s only had it for a week. I think Access Now Sports has found our CFL version of Don Cherry and Howie Meeker all rolled into one. Nice work by our producer, Spencer Burridge. This guy has so many ideas, he’s hard to keep up with.
5. THIS WEEK I’M NOT JEALOUS OF: Na’Ty Rodgers. He’s the American who was supposed to stabilize a shaky o-line but hasn’t done it so far. Every time you turn around, he’s got a hold of someone’s jersey or his hands are too high. He hasn’t solidified the O-line the way we thought he would and is turning into a disappointment so far.
6. VENTON DONELSON: The Rider great joined us on In The Huddle this week to tell us all about playing for Nick Saban in college, life in Regina after football for an American player and his thoughts on Rider defensive back Nelson Lokombo. These days, Ventson is coaching the U of R Rams defensive backs and would like to coach in the pros one day. I won’t bet against him getting there either. He’s also trained inmates at a correctional facility on employment skills, he’s a motivational speaker and trains athletes, too. Check him out at www.ventsondonelson.com
7. REGINA RED SOX BATS FINALLY BREAK FREE: The Sox starting rotation has been probably the best in the league so far and has carried this team, mostly making up for their sluggish at-bats. That was until this week. They put up a dozen in Moose Jaw Sunday, finally beating those pesky Miller Express and then another dozen in Weyburn Tuesday night. The Sox bats appear to be finally awakening just in time for the Canada Day long weekend. A serious late summer run at contention all of a sudden seems like a real possibility. Leo Mac and I will have the broadcast of Thursday night’s game against Moose Jaw on Access Now TV. Join us for the first pitch just after 7 bells.
8. LOCKER TALK: It was a big thrill for me to appear on this show with hosts Pete Paczko and Mitchell Blair. We talked about the Riders, Sox and Pats. Then the three of us even held a long overdue gossip-session about the Regina media scene. It was like a blast from the past in pre-pandemic days and a reminder of how much I’ve missed the little things we used to take for granted.
9. BEDARD UNTRADABLE FOR PATS: He has too much star appeal for the Pats to betray all of those fans who bought his jersey the last couple years. But above all else, the fact we’ll see the same Hamilton Bulldogs who played in the 2018 Memorial Cup here in Regina play in the 2022 Memorial Cup final Wednesday night is a brutal reminder for the Pats and their fans of how painfully long this rebuild is taking. Expect John Paddock to go all in on next season because he really has no other choice.
10. STANLEY CUP FINALS: I’m enjoying it as much as anybody but there is something seriously wrong with all this hockey in June. It all needs to be done by May 31stand not started again until after Labour Day. The NFL became the grand-daddy of us all by leaving you wanting a little more. Somehow, the hockey world still hasn’t figured that out because their season is still way too long. Maybe they’ll figure it out after Gary Bettman retires. Or maybe they won’t.
To me it just doesnt seem that the offense being called by Maas doesnt suit Fajardo or the way the play, or even the receivers. Why does it seem all the other teams get guys open yet the Riders have no one open and Cody needs to thread the needle. Something is wrong here and I say it is Maas’s inability to taylor a plan that suits Fajardo and his offense. ?????? any thoughts out there or am I making more out of this than is there.
Cody hasn’t been the same QB since he threw his receivers under the bus… Something seems off.
I’m in complete agreement.