The Saskatchewan Roughriders are a team in search of a new identity heading into the 2012 CFL season. After a Grey Cup title and two near misses at the hands of the Montreal Alouettes, Rider Nation had become accustomed to winning and contending for titles.
But after a disastrous 2011 season where injury problems and the absence of now former Roughrider and current Hamilton Tiger-cat Andy Fantuz to chase NFL prospects saw the end of an era in Regina as the Roughriders didn't just fail to make the playoffs, they failed to do much of anything all season. Save for the three week stretch of the season where back to back wins over the Blue Bombers and a 30-20 win over the Argonauts gave Rider fans false playoff hope and you had a season of football that was pretty hard to watch.
Now, new faces have been brought in, a new head coach has been named, and the Riders are looking for a fresh start under Corey Chamblin.
However some of the old faces have managed to outlast the Rider makeover as slotbacks Weston Dressler and Chris Getzlaf return to a receiving core bolstered by the addition of former NFL player and New York Giant Sinorice Moss. Getzlaf who recently signed a contract extension with the Riders, had a breakout 2011 season and was one of the few bright spots in the Riders offensive attack last season.
Even with a new contract and new faces being abundant heading into Friday's season opener in Hamilton it is the player that survived that will be the main focus throughout the 2012 season. Yes Darian Durant is back after a disaster of a 2011 campaign that was hampered by injuries, poor play bickering with the offensive coaching staff and head coach and everything and anything in between. Durant has been given a long and short leash in his stint with the Riders, from being the fan favorite in taking over for Kerry Joseph, to being fairly maligned in the media for his various troubles last season. Durant is expected to be the opening day starter for the Riders and all eyes will be on him from opening kickoff Friday until the end of the Riders season. The Rider media and bipolar fandom that has come with it in recent years will guarantee that Durant needs to bring winning football back to Taylor Field (Mosiac Stadium) or else he will be eaten alive on the message boards, social networking sites, and call-in radio shows that have fueled the madness of Rider football.
New offensive linemen have been brought in, including the number one overall draft pick Ben Heenan from the University of Saskatchewan to provide Durant protection and a defense that potentially could be one of the best in the CFL give Durant little excuses this season. If the Riders are to continue their struggles blame will fall on their franchise quarterback.
Durant's every turnover and incomplete pass will be placed under the microscope this season as the whispers that he was the product of the CFL's best receiving core have already begun from last season, and will only grow if he doesn't come out strong in 2012. As for a prediction it is hard to tell after a 0-2 pre-season if the new look Riders will gel enough to succeed. With the addition of Odell Willis to the defense as well as another year of Shomari Williams development the Riders have the defense on paper to make the playoffs. It will be up to Durant and that suspect offense to make the difference between a playoff team or another year of rebuilding for the Roughriders.
