In terms of sport this is one of my favourite times of year.
I am a diehard Canadian Football League fan. It is my league, in my country, and I watch as many games as possible over the course of the season (love the DVR for that).
Of course I bleed green in terms of the Saskatchewan Roughriders, although admittedly the last couple of seasons have been trying as a fan to say the least.
The Corey Chamblin debacle finally game to an overdue end mid-way through last season after proving the team had been successful based on talent and the leadership of quarterback Darian Durant and not because of Chamblin and his ill-placed arrogance in terms of what he was.
Durant of course has been hurt for most of the last two seasons, a definite factor in the dismal on-field results by the team. It didn’t help Chamblin saw Tino Sunseri as a viable option at pivot in Durant’s absence.
So the team imploded, the effort faded, and fans laboured through two abysmal seasons.
That as they say is history, although the scars on fans’ psyches remain rather fresh.
This season begins the regime of Chris Jones.
Expectations are high as Jones righted a floundering Edmonton ship in a season, and eventually won the Grey Cup with that franchise last November.
Now we expect the same from Jones in Riderville.
And that my friend’s is a tall order.
Jones has not been shy in changing the personnel on the team, and given the lack of effort often shown by the team last season, the moves were needed and justified.
That said, football more than any of the other ‘big-four’ pro team sports in North America, relies on a ‘team’ chemistry.
Who blocks who, and how they do it, is integral to receivers running routes, and precise routes allow a quarterback to know where his targets are. The more changes within the units; offence, defence and special teams, the more time it may take for those unites to jell into a consistent winning football.
And of course there is there question of Durant. The quarterback is 33, and hasn’t played real-time football in nearly two years. Does he still have what it takes to win?
You would like to think so. It would be a great story if he can return triumphant.
And, if he doesn’t the projects turn dismal in a hurry.
Who is B.J. Coleman? Phillip Sims?
Sorry no one knows, at least in terms of CFL football.
It can be argued back-up quarterbacks are not the position fans should worry about because they can’t be expected to win. That is in essence correct. Back-ups rarely take you to a Grey Cup party, but credible back-ups can keep you entertaining and competitive.
British Columbia has the tandem of Travis Lulay and Jonathon Jennings, Edmonton Mike Reilly / James Franklin; Calgary Bo Levi Mitchell / Drew Tate and Winnipeg Drew Willy / Matt Nichols, all more credible one/two tandems than the Riders to start the campaign.
Add to Durant’s issues an almost completely new receiver corps with no established rapport to draw on, and uncertainty in terms of a carry-the-mail running back as a relief valve, and the offence is going to trace time to click.
The ‘Rider offence was a train wreck last year, especially the defensive backfield. Junes is noted as a defensive genius, so expect better, but that may be mid-season better, not immediate.
The Roughies struggled in pre-season but that means nothing.
Week one the team gets the bye, so Jones has essentially an extra week of training camp to work with, a good thing as they work on chemistry.
The team finally hits the field when it matters June 30, in Regina against Toronto, the team is somewhat the same boat as the ‘Riders, an experienced star pivot, Ricky Ray, coming back after injury, with no credible back-up.
Week 3 though is the telltale one to start the season. Jones leads his new charges into Edmonton against Reilly, the Grey Cup champs, and his former team. It will be the first litmus test to see if the Roughriders can be competitive in the CFL West.
