Labour Day Classic....time to turn the season around

Later today the Riders will take the field in the annual Labour Day Classic. Once again, versus the hated Winnipeg Blue Bombers, Mosaic Stadium will be rocking for what some will say is the Riders' most important game of the year.

Its an important game for more than just being the Labour Day game. This game has to be the start of the turnaround. The Riders have to do something to stop the negative momentum of the last five games where their season has been going the wrong way. Not many would have predicted that the team would get off to a 3-0 start, but now that they have lost 5 straight, all of the early excitement that the team generated is on the verge of turning this year into another last year.

In 2007, when the Riders last won the Grey Cup, the Labour Day game seemed to be the turning point. A last minute TD run by Kerry Joseph instilled some new belief in the players (and the fans!). I am hoping for lightning to strike once again and I am hopeful that someone will step up to make it happen.

I expect that person to be Darian Durant. I think that he still is a good quarterback and has all the tools to lead the team to a win. Running the ball like they did last week against Calgary was a good sign, and although they are forecasting some strong winds, hopefully they don't have to face a 70kph wind ....so they can get the passing game back on track. And Durant gets it; he knows the importance of the Labour Day Classic, to both the team and the fans. There should not be any need for motivation speeches today.

A wrinkle in this game is the changes that the Bombers made with their coaching staff. Last year the Rider's fired Greg Marshall and replaced him with Ken Miller in advance of the the Labour Day game. A similar situation takes place this year with the Bombers as Paul La Police was replaced by Tim Burke last week. Will it result in a win for the visitors? I am betting against it, as mid season coaching changes have not been too successful in the history of the league.

I think today's game goes a long way to determine to what is going to happen for the rest of the season. A Rider's win puts them back in the playoff hunt at 4-5 with half of the season to play. A loss, for six in a row, may be too much for this fragile team to overcome.

So "Go Riders!" Make this game a win. It doesn't have to be another Labour Day Classic, just another Labour Day win!

 

Miller time returns

When the Riders announced that Head Coach Greg Marshall and Offensive Coordinator Doug Berry were fired after the loss to Toronto, I have to admit that I wasn't surprised. In fact, after watching the game I was already envisioning what changes they were going to make. Going into the bye-week, it seemed to me that would be the perfect time to pull the string. And it happened and happened quickly...as soon as team returned back to Regina.

Something had to be done as 1-7 is just not acceptable in the new Riderville. The fans wanted blood. The team's leadership (and many fans) believed that the players there were better than their record indicated. So a coaching change had to be made. But my surprise was that it was Berry and Marshall

Coaching changes, no doubt, are hard on the people involved and this one is no different. Fans have never warmed to Doug Berry and he seemed like the easy fall guy. Marshall, who had an impressive resume as an assistant coach for the past 19 years, finally got his shot and perhaps he would live to fight another day. He didn't.

What really struck me about Marshall was how quick he was to throw players under the bus after a loss. Additionally, comments made about players lack of motivation not being his job and team discipline didn't help him at all. It was clear that he lost the dressing room....and when I saw his bitterness at his press conference the following day, immediately my thoughts were that the Rider's made the right decision.

So today was the first day of practice with Ken Miller back in charge. The comments from players such as Darian Durant, Sean Lucas and Lance Frazier indicate that these guys love Ken Miller's coaching style. Frazier even said that the players are willing to go through a wall for Miller. There also was a new sense of optimism in the room as well.

So it seems the change is being well received by the players (and most fans!) so far. That's great, but the players have run out of excuses now and they need to perform on the field. The season is not over yet, but they still have a long road ahead of them and it won't be easy.

0-3? Not good, but not over yet

It has been an interesting week with a lot of my fellow Rider fans breaking their ankles as they jump off the bandwagon. Yes, the Riders are 0-3, and the team hasn't played that great in any of the first three games, but I still believe that they have the talent to make the playoffs.

It doesn't hurt that B.C. and Calgary aren't setting the world on fire either. Its better to be looking forward instead of backward, but with B.C. still winless and Calgary not that far away (with the Stamps up next week) there is no reason to believe that the season is over. Yet.

I admit that everytime I watch the Riders play I want everything to work. I want to see the offense dominate and put up lots of points; the defense force turnover after turnover and the special teams be a threat on both sides of the ball. Of course, this may happen only once in a while...but isn't it wrong not to want this?

In the Riders first game Edmonton coach Kavis Reed told his players that nobody expects them to win. And now they are a surprising 4-0. I think that nobody expects the Riders to beat the Alouettes, so I am predicting they will. And if they do, today's game will be the turning point for the season.

Riders are back in it

I haven't been able to take in the Grey Cup festivities as it has been a busy week with work. I was in Edmonton for one day this week, but I had to get back to the office as I was needed there. That's what usually happens to me this time of year and maybe I should learn. Well, there is always next year.

I did get to the Grey Cup game last year in Calgary, and it was an emotional rollercoaster. The too many men penalty did bug for a few days, but I did get over it. I think the players have as well, even though the media has reminded everybody about it every 5 minutes!

I am looking forward to great game and I know the Riders will give the Alouettes a run for their money. Last year I was just hoping they would keep it close. This year, I want them to take it.... and I believe they will.