The loss of Elijah Thurmon to Calgary weakened an already-thinMost importantly here, Bedell rates the Riders DEAD LAST in the league in receiving. I really hope there's about 12 receivers in camp. We need all the help we can get.
group in Saskatchewan, but the acquisition of Jason Armstead in last week’s
dispersal draft more than offset that loss. With Matt Dominguez returning from
injury, the ‘Riders will look to go beyond possession receiving in 2006.
Armstead certainly adds a threat to stretch the field, and his familiarity with
new pivot Kerry Joseph will provide an instant attack. But beyond the size of
Sam Breeden, the remainder of the squad is average at best.
Sunday, April 23, 2006
Riders Weak at Receiving
Jack Bedell talks about the state of receiving in the CFL this year. Looks like I wasn't the only one who noticed how shit the Riders are in receiving. He writes:
Thursday, April 20, 2006
Greene No Longer Wearing Green
Lots to talk about lately - the CFL dispersal draft and the subsequent trading of quarterback Nealon Greene.
Alright. The dispersal draft. The Riders had little choice in selecting Ottawa quarterback Kerry Joseph first overall. It comes as no surprise to anyone across the league. Shivers was try to trade for him over the winter. This despite the fact that I watched Danny Barrett on TV earlier this week say they were happy with their quarterbacks and weren't looking for more. Really, management had little choice. Rider Nation would have been up in arms if something was not done about the quarterbacking situation.
They also picked up Jason Armstead, which is a great thing. A lot of people missed the fact that the Riders was receiving corps was complete shit in 2005, and they were at least partially to blame for the poor quarterbacking. But none of these guys ever took any heat. There were so many dropped balls last year I could have cried. I mean, give ME a friggin' jersey. I'll catch some of that shit. Why on earth Jason "Oops" French was re-signed, I'll never know. I thought for sure he would be let go. Just this week, Corey Grant was put on waivers, but he could be resigned. We also lost Jamal Richardson to Calgary, and Travis Moore, who played just about better than anyone on the team while slowed down by age, has retired. So we're really only left with Matt Dominguez. So this was a smart move. Also today in the Canadian draft, the Riders first pick was a receiver. Good.
Ok - back to the dispersal draft. We also lost Corey Holmes to get Kerry Joseph. Not a big deal in my opinion. While Holmes was the team's best and most popular player, running backs are easily replaced in the CFL. We still have the best offensive line in the league. Hamilton does not. Whoever they get to fill that hole (the under-performing Keith? Dorsey? New Guy?) it won't change much.
With Joseph now in the fold, that meant one had to go, the lucky one being the team's biggest goat, Nealon Greene. Which is a real shame. I like Nealon, and I've met him once. I think it was a travesty when he broke his foot in the first game of the 2004 season. I really think that would have been his breakout year had that injury not occured. I remember him being on fire in the opening minutes of that game. Had he not broken his foot, things would have been much different. I think his confidence took a huge hit after that, and he was never able to recover, especially with the pressures of the re-signing of Henry Burris, and later Marcus Crandell. It doesn't help a guy out psychologically when suddenly he gets surrounded by possible replacements.
ANYWAYS, Nealon is sent to Montreal for a defensive back, and is reunited with old coach Don Matthews. There's something like 5 quarterbacks who will be at camp in Montreal, including former Toront backup Marcus Brady and former NFLer Quincy Quarter. Montreal's training camp will be one to watch to see who gets to back up Calvillo.
So long Nealon. You didn't get a fair shake here. Maybe you will in Montreal.
Alright. The dispersal draft. The Riders had little choice in selecting Ottawa quarterback Kerry Joseph first overall. It comes as no surprise to anyone across the league. Shivers was try to trade for him over the winter. This despite the fact that I watched Danny Barrett on TV earlier this week say they were happy with their quarterbacks and weren't looking for more. Really, management had little choice. Rider Nation would have been up in arms if something was not done about the quarterbacking situation.
They also picked up Jason Armstead, which is a great thing. A lot of people missed the fact that the Riders was receiving corps was complete shit in 2005, and they were at least partially to blame for the poor quarterbacking. But none of these guys ever took any heat. There were so many dropped balls last year I could have cried. I mean, give ME a friggin' jersey. I'll catch some of that shit. Why on earth Jason "Oops" French was re-signed, I'll never know. I thought for sure he would be let go. Just this week, Corey Grant was put on waivers, but he could be resigned. We also lost Jamal Richardson to Calgary, and Travis Moore, who played just about better than anyone on the team while slowed down by age, has retired. So we're really only left with Matt Dominguez. So this was a smart move. Also today in the Canadian draft, the Riders first pick was a receiver. Good.
Ok - back to the dispersal draft. We also lost Corey Holmes to get Kerry Joseph. Not a big deal in my opinion. While Holmes was the team's best and most popular player, running backs are easily replaced in the CFL. We still have the best offensive line in the league. Hamilton does not. Whoever they get to fill that hole (the under-performing Keith? Dorsey? New Guy?) it won't change much.
With Joseph now in the fold, that meant one had to go, the lucky one being the team's biggest goat, Nealon Greene. Which is a real shame. I like Nealon, and I've met him once. I think it was a travesty when he broke his foot in the first game of the 2004 season. I really think that would have been his breakout year had that injury not occured. I remember him being on fire in the opening minutes of that game. Had he not broken his foot, things would have been much different. I think his confidence took a huge hit after that, and he was never able to recover, especially with the pressures of the re-signing of Henry Burris, and later Marcus Crandell. It doesn't help a guy out psychologically when suddenly he gets surrounded by possible replacements.
ANYWAYS, Nealon is sent to Montreal for a defensive back, and is reunited with old coach Don Matthews. There's something like 5 quarterbacks who will be at camp in Montreal, including former Toront backup Marcus Brady and former NFLer Quincy Quarter. Montreal's training camp will be one to watch to see who gets to back up Calvillo.
So long Nealon. You didn't get a fair shake here. Maybe you will in Montreal.
Monday, April 10, 2006
One thing, dear readers...
When leaving a comment, please put your name to your words. I generally don't engage in conversation with people named Anonymous. No, you don't have to sign up for a Blogger account, but leave your name in the body of your comments.
This applies to all my spam too. So you want me to enlarge my penis. At least tell me your real name so I can get to know you first. A guy is just not going to rush into something like that without knowing who is involved.
This applies to all my spam too. So you want me to enlarge my penis. At least tell me your real name so I can get to know you first. A guy is just not going to rush into something like that without knowing who is involved.
Alright, fine - The Renegades
It should come as no surprise that I am quite glad the CFL has suspended the Renegades, although I would be happier if they were folded altogether. I remember being shocked back in 2002 when the league announced that a franchise would return to Ottawa. Wha? Huh?
The question of why football returned was never answered. There was no outcry from fans in Ottawa for its return (at least that I was aware of). It really didn't make any sense to come back to a city that was at best lukewarm to the idea of professional football. Ottawa suffered throughout the 1990s, and the city and league were humiliated by its one-time owners, the infamous Gliebermans. The father-son tandem were notorious for meddling with the on-field product which lead to the resignations of several assistant coaches, not to mention fan indignation.
Cut to 2004. The Watters family, apparently shocked that they were losing money thanks to fickle Ottawa fans, bailed thus leaving the league to find suitable owners. And who should these new owners be? Why, the Gliebermans, of course. At this point, everyone associated with the sale of the franchise should have been fired. This means the commissioner, the committee set up to sell the team, and all 8 board of governors should have been told to get their coats on, and leave. It was a COMPLETELY moronic move to involve the Gliebermans again. Did they think Ottawa fans forgot what had happened 10 years earlier, or that somehow the Gliebermans could make amends this time? The only possible outcome was the one we currently have - the franchise has been suspended, and I suspect that by next winter, the league will quietly announce the folding of the franchise, and hardly anyone will notice because the team doesn't physically exist anymore, other than a few jerseys and some football equipment.
It was stupid to put football back in Ottawa in 2002. This should only happen when a city craves it, in order to ensure it gets properly supported. A city like Halifax seems to have a strong deisre to have a team. However, I don't see this happening in Ottawa in the next 10 years. The league should instead get involved in communities like Halifax and Quebec City and help them get stadiums built. This is the first step in the expansion of the league. I think Halifax will eventually happen, especially if they are awarded the Commonwealth (?) games, and gets a 30,000 seat stadium that goes along with it.
In any event, the league will continue to be strong. Ratings will stay up. Fewer teams will lose money this year. Ottawa will come back to the league - but only when they decide they want to be part of something they deem to be valuable.
The question of why football returned was never answered. There was no outcry from fans in Ottawa for its return (at least that I was aware of). It really didn't make any sense to come back to a city that was at best lukewarm to the idea of professional football. Ottawa suffered throughout the 1990s, and the city and league were humiliated by its one-time owners, the infamous Gliebermans. The father-son tandem were notorious for meddling with the on-field product which lead to the resignations of several assistant coaches, not to mention fan indignation.
Cut to 2004. The Watters family, apparently shocked that they were losing money thanks to fickle Ottawa fans, bailed thus leaving the league to find suitable owners. And who should these new owners be? Why, the Gliebermans, of course. At this point, everyone associated with the sale of the franchise should have been fired. This means the commissioner, the committee set up to sell the team, and all 8 board of governors should have been told to get their coats on, and leave. It was a COMPLETELY moronic move to involve the Gliebermans again. Did they think Ottawa fans forgot what had happened 10 years earlier, or that somehow the Gliebermans could make amends this time? The only possible outcome was the one we currently have - the franchise has been suspended, and I suspect that by next winter, the league will quietly announce the folding of the franchise, and hardly anyone will notice because the team doesn't physically exist anymore, other than a few jerseys and some football equipment.
It was stupid to put football back in Ottawa in 2002. This should only happen when a city craves it, in order to ensure it gets properly supported. A city like Halifax seems to have a strong deisre to have a team. However, I don't see this happening in Ottawa in the next 10 years. The league should instead get involved in communities like Halifax and Quebec City and help them get stadiums built. This is the first step in the expansion of the league. I think Halifax will eventually happen, especially if they are awarded the Commonwealth (?) games, and gets a 30,000 seat stadium that goes along with it.
In any event, the league will continue to be strong. Ratings will stay up. Fewer teams will lose money this year. Ottawa will come back to the league - but only when they decide they want to be part of something they deem to be valuable.
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