TUESDAY COMMENTARY – BURNING BRIDGES

(Listen daily for the Rod Pedersen Commentary on Cat Country 98 & Rock 98.5 FM)

WE’RE BACK IN THE WHEAT PROVINCE FOR A SPELL AND NOT SURPRISINGLY, IT’S IMPOSSIBLE TO AVOID THE TALK OF THE RIDERS, WHO ARE RIDING A 3-GAME LOSING STREAK FOLLOWING FRIDAY’S 32-17 LOSS TO BC AT MOSAIC STADIUM.

THE PEOPLE ARE HOT.

LET ME FIRST SAY … PEOPLE HAVE BEEN FILLING MY INBOX WITH THE QUESTION: “WHAT’S WRONG WITH THE RIDERS?”

I CAN ASSURE YOU THAT IS NOT MY JOB TO ANSWER ANYMORE.

BUT IT CERTAINLY SEEMS THE STRESS LEVEL IS HIGH AND LOTS OF FOLKS ON ELPHINSTONE STREET ARE HOT UNDER THE COLLAR AS THE TEAM HAS SUNK TO FOURTH IN THE WEST DIVISION STANDINGS.

CLEARLY IT’S A GOOD WEEK TO HAVE A BYE.

BUT IF YOU EXAMINE IT A LITTLE MORE CLOSELY … THINGS AREN’T AS BAD AS THEY SEEM AND WE ALSO SHOULDN’T BE THAT SURPRISED.

EVERYONE’S TALKING ABOUT THE OFFENSIVE LINE AND FOR GOOD REASON. THE RIDERS HAVE GIVEN UP THE MOST SACKS IN THE LEAGUE BY A MILE BUT THEY’RE STILL THE THIRD BEST RUSHING TEAM. THE FACT THAT CODY FAJARDO’S HEAD IS STILL ATTACHED IS A WIN, TO ME.

BEING WITHOUT CENTRE DAN CLARK HAS MUDDLED UP THEIR WHOLE SEASON AND IF HE DOESN’T RETURN, THERE MAY BE NO WAY OUT OF THIS.

BUT THERE ARE CANADIAN OFFENSIVE LINEMEN ON THE STREET WHOM RIDER GM JEREMY O’DAY HASN’T CALLED WHICH TELLS ME THE RIDERS ARE HAPPY WORKING THEIR WAY OUT OF THIS WITH WHAT THEY HAVE.

(WAIT … I THOUGHT THEY WERE IN TALKS WITH FREE AGENT NFL VET BRETT JONES?)

YOU CAN TALK ABOUT THE INJURIES ALL YOU WANT BUT YOU’RE NOT GOING TO GET A PASS ON THAT FROM ME.

IF RUMOURED SALARY NUMBERS ARE CORRECT, THE RIDERS HAVE CLOSE TO THREE QUARTERS OF A MILLION DOLLARS TIED UP IN QUARTERBACK CODY FAJARDO AND RECEIVER DUKE WILLIAMS, WHICH COULD’VE BEEN SPENT ELSEWHERE TO PROVIDE DEPTH.

WE SAID AFTER FREE AGENCY THAT THIS ISN’T A GREY CUP CONTENDING TEAM, JUDGING BY WHAT WE SAW ON PAPER.

NOW EIGHT GAMES INTO THE SEASON, THAT’S BEING PROVEN AT 4-4.

WHAT HAPPENS IF THIS TEAM FAILS TO REACH THE GREY CUP?

 

I’M ASSUMING THE RIDERS WILL BURN THAT BRIDGE WHEN THEY GET THERE.

 

THAT’S TODAY’S ROD PEDERSEN COMMENTARY

(The Rod Pedersen Show airs daily at 12 pm ET & 10 pm PT on Game+ TV across Canada and the USA. Call your cable provider for details. You can also watch on YouTube Live or listen 24/7 at RodPedersen.com/ListenLive)

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CCRider
CCRider
2 years ago

The issue is Fajardo.. he’s not a championship level QB. This team isn’t going anywhere without a new quarterback.

SMT306
2 years ago
Reply to  CCRider

But, that won’t be happening this year. This team can still win with a healthy Cody, we’ll see what happens after the bye.

Uncle Nic
Uncle Nic
2 years ago
Reply to  CCRider

NO QB will be effective with the offensive line they have. Rodgers is a turnstile!!! The rest are average. I have always said, put your money in a good Oline. If you give Cody some time he will be effective and no QB is effective when he has 0 time to throw the ball and no time for patterns to develop.

Tom
Tom
2 years ago

My take is, I put 90% of it on Jason Maas.

Bruce Evenson
Bruce Evenson
2 years ago

We will be okay once we start getting defensive llinemen back. We may need a upgrade on the offensive line so Cody could have some time in the pocket .At this time it appears as if we will cross over into the East division and become the first West division team to represent the East in the Grey Cup. Would it not be Great to have the Riders play the Bombers in the Grey cup this fall in Regina.

Norm
Norm
2 years ago
Reply to  Bruce Evenson

Dream on Bruce.

Dan
Dan
2 years ago

Hi Rod…..I’m not sure I understand what you mean when you say it’s not your job to answer questions about what is wrong with the Riders. I guess I understand that you own the site and control the content but the there is only one reason I visit this site and that is to learn about, and get opinions on the Riders. There is really not much else here I am interested in. Just curious, but is this not consisted with any analytics you are seeing on readership and your audience?

Rod Pedersen
Rod Pedersen
2 years ago
Reply to  Dan

It falls under the category of “If you can’t say anything nice, don’t say anything at all.”