Dan Plaster
Hello Rider fans, the team’s week long two city road trip began ominously with some questionable flights, but all are now accounted for in Ottawa and are ready for Saturday’s battle with the expansion Redblacks (1-3). This is the first of back-to-back road games for the Riders (2-2) that will see them stay in Ottawa for the week after the game in preparation for next Thursday’s game in Winnipeg.
Why are the Green and White staying out east? When you factor in travel time from Ottawa and to Winnipeg for next Thursday’s matchup, a full day of preparation to face the Bombers is lost, and after the numerous flight delays that happened this Thursday, all that time is needed with only five days between games.
To this week’s matchup against Ottawa and the last time we saw the Redblacks was at a rain soaked Mosaic Stadium with a 21-17 Rider win. The combination of terrible weather and being the first preseason game of the year, wouldn’t tell you much in regards to this game. What I do know is the former Riders currently with Ottawa are really chomping at the bit to get after their former teammates. Keith Shologan and Zach Evans were very active during the preseason game and expect the same today.
Here are a few things about the Redblacks:
-They give up a ton of big plays (20+ yards). In just four games this season, they have already given up 20 big plays.
– Ottawa has led every game they have played in. This includes losing a 14 point lead in their season opener week two in Winnipeg (Bombers scored 16 straight points in the 4th quarter for the win 36-28).
– TJ Hill is their best defensive player. He is currently tied for the Redblacks lead in sacks with two and ranks second in tackles with 17. The key stat of his take downs, 15 were before first down yardage was gained.
– Other than Henry Burris, Chevon Walker is the other key asset on the Ottawa offence. The third year running back out of Sioux Falls, sees the majority of touches on first down. Combining running and pass catches, Walker sees 42% of the touches on first down.
– Henry Burris has yet to be intercepted on 1st down, or 2nd and long this season.
A few quick hitters for the Green and White:
– In wins, the Riders have a +5 turnover differential, with 14 sacks and giving up just 3 sacks, but in their losses their turnover differential is -3, only getting to the QB 4 times while giving up 7 sacks.
– The Riders have outscored their opponents in the first three quarters, but are outscored 40-6 in the fourth. The six points they’ve scored came last week against Toronto.
– Despite the run-heavy offence, the Rider offence is almost split 50-50 on first down. They run the ball 51% (most in the CFL, but BC and Calgary are second at 49%) of the time on first down and pass 49%
– Here’s the weird one, the Riders are 6th in the league in 2nd down efficiency. It’s not 2nd and medium (4-6 yards: tops in the CFL with a 60% conversion rate) or 2nd and long (7+ yards: 27%, tied for 4th in the CFL) that have hurt them. On 2nd and short (1-3 yards) the Riders are 3rd last in the league at a 60% conversion rate (league average is 67%).
For the Green and White, they are coming off a solid defensive performance in a 37-9 thumping of the Toronto Argonauts at Mosaic Stadium. The defence came out of the gate with their hair on fire and made Ricky Ray’s night miserable with 4 sacks and 2 interceptions. Will Ford was great in his debut with the Riders, rambling for 113 yards and three scores. Not bad for a player who was by no means in game shape.
Let’s hope an offensive explosion is what’s next for this Rider team and they get a boost with the return of all-star slotback, Chris Getzlaf to the line-up. The injury parade on the receiver front did take another hit. Dan DePalma was hurt on the final day of practice, which means Ryan Smith is back on the roster. But with Smith’s injured finger, I don’t know if he will be placed on the 44 man roster, but he is currently on the 46.
Chatter on social media in the early part of this CFL schedule has been about the apparent increase of penalties through the first five weeks of the season. Now I’m not here to judge the stripes, I’ve never officiated and I never want to, I’m just going to present some facts:
– The 2014 projection in penalties will blow 2013 out of the water. Penalties are up across the board, each and every category will be significantly higher (except for facemasking, no clue why).
– Currently, there are 24 penalties per game called compared to the 18.5 per game in 2013
– The most significant change is in the roughing the passer calls, up considerably (60% per game) and according to the officials, Ottawa and Calgary (5 each) are the worst offenders in this category with the Riders having just two infractions.
– Pass interference is status quo as compared to 2013, but now the coaches can challenge pass interference calls or non-calls. CFL head coaches have challenged 10 DPI (defensive pass interference calls or non-calls) plays and only two have changed.
– Riders head coach, Corey Chamblin has challenged four calls overturning two, while Redblacks head coach, Rick Campbell is 0-3.
Why the uptick in penalties? Well, it’s not 100% of anything. The officials have more than likely been told to call things tighter and the players need time to adjust, but the big increase in procedure and no yards calls (up 20+% each) is all on the players. While games seem to grind on (average length of 2:57, which very nicely fills the TSN three hour broadcast window), it’s not all officiating, the players can shoulder some of the responsibility in in the increase of penalties as well.
Four things I am looking for against Ottawa:
1. Rider GoZone offence – The Riders have the best redzone (inside opponents 20 yard line) efficiency with nine touchdowns on 12 attempts, while the Redblacks are the worst in the CFL at defending the redzone as they have given up six TD’s on 10 attempts. If the Riders are able to get near the goal line, they should be able to punch it in for six.
2. The no-name warriors – The Rider defence has its marquee names in Tyron Brackenridge, John Chick, Ricky Foley, Weldon Brown and Tearrius George. They have been great, but some other names are starting to creep into Rider fans lexicon. Terrell Maze is turning into one of the top DB’s in the CFL, Sam Hurl is starting to settle down at linebacker and defensive tackles Trevor Guyton and Derek Walker are quietly holding things down up the middle. These players have to keep raising the bar for the Riders to get out of the nation’s capital with the win, with the rest of the defence following suit.
3. Chris Getzlaf – He’s back and it will be interesting to see if he inches his way into the regular pass catching rotation with Darian Durant, or will he be the number one option in his first game since the opening week of the season.
4. Pound the Rock – Like usual, use the great Rider run blockers, chew up the time of possession and wear down the Redblack defence and good things will happen.
It’s going to be a fun game in Ottawa and if you want a great game recap, tune into Rider Rewind Tuesday nights on riderville.com.
