ARE THE RIDERS THE WORST TEAM IN THE CFL?

Now, before you call me crazy, I would suggest with decent evidence that over the last 3 weeks, the Saskatchewan Roughriders have been, in fact, the worst team in the CFL.

They lost to an Edmonton Eskimo team that responded after their 17-14 win over Saskatchewan by losing 52-5 to the Calgary Stampeders.  With smoke and mirrors, the Riders defeated Winnipeg on Labour Day and then, today, put out the exact same effort as a week ago and were met with predictable results (31-2).

I took some heat for criticizing Saskatchewan after their big win a week ago, but maintained throughout the last seven days that the same effort at Canad Inns Stadium would result in a big loss and I was proven to be right.

There was very little different when looking at the two games against Winnipeg.  At the end of the day, the Bombers didn't provide the Riders with any gifts in the form of turnovers and that was the difference.

Here's my take, for what it's worth:

--There have been absolutely zero adjustments by the coaching staff as they go through the league a second time.  Teams are taking away Andy Fantuz and Weston Dressler.  They are really putting pressure on the Saskatchewan offensive line, and the running game remains a bland 'up the middle' and nothing else type of style.

--It's too late now, but the Riders are bound to finally cut Dominique Dorsey this week.  Another fumble by Dorsey sucked any possible wind the team may have had in their sails today.  I think Dorsey fumbled every single ball kicked to him today.  He was, eventually, replaced on punt returns by Dressler.  Other than the fact he actually caught the ball, the outcome was the same.  Nowhere for the returner to go.  Further to the embarrassment, the Riders gave up 30 yards on one particular punt return despite getting called for no yards.  I don't  proclaim to know the ins and outs of CFL economics, but I heard that Dorsey has to be paid his full salary if released after September 1st.  It was obvious to the entire province he was a failure before September 1st.  This one is on management and coaching as much as it is on Dorsey.

--Darian Durant has regressed as a quarterback.  I'm a huge Durant supporter, and he and the Riders will try and tell you to ignore the stats, but you can't.  5 touchdowns and 14 interceptions in the last eight games.  It's unacceptable.  I know he doesn't have enough time to release the ball on most snaps because the offensive line has not held up their end of the bargain, but Durant is less of a quarterback today than he was a year ago.  Doug Berry's fault?  Ken Miller?  Durant himself?  I'll say all three share the blame on this one, but I wonder if Durant hasn't fallen in love with some of the headlines he was reading two months ago.

--Prechae Rodriguez and Jason Clermont also should get pink slips.  Rodriguez was supposed to be a deep threat, but I don't recall him catching a deep pass this season.  Clermont hasn't been used, therefore what's the point of having him around.  I'd be big-time peeved if I was him, and maybe he is.  He's too classy to say something.  Oh, but wait.  It's past September 1st so both get full salaries.  Again, misjudgment on talent.  This gaffe is on management and coaching.  It's not Rodriguez's fault he's not sent long.  It's not Clermont's fault he doesn't get to see the field.

--When the game is 31-2 in the fourth quarter, wouldn't you expect to see some back-ups?  I would.  If Durant is the future at QB, he doesn't need to be subjected to a needless injury (like Matt Dominguez was in 2007).  Not only was Durant still playing well into the fourth quarter, but the rest of the first stringers on both offense and defense were in there.  The ironic thing about replacing Dorsey on punt returns is that they chose their best receiver (Dressler) to return punts in a game that was well out of reach by the time he was installed.  So, now Dressler is at further risk of injury too.  It's one thing to put Dressler in the game as a returner if you still have a chance to win.  This game was lost well before Dorsey was removed.  Furthermore, if Durant is to get injured at any point this season, wouldn't you want to know what Ryan Dinwiddie is going to give you?  If there is no faith in Dinwiddie, then make Cole Bergquist the back-up and put him in to see what he can do.  This comedy of non-action errors falls on the coaching staff.  They took the easy way out and did nothing when they could have sent some messages to a few of their players.

--This team is quickly squandering a huge opportunity.  The CFL is very weak this year and Saskatchewan's talent level is at or near the top of the league.  How disappointing.

--Don't expect to see many changes for Friday against Calgary as management and coaching has been stubborn to a fault in not amending the game plan or changing certain player personnel.  The Riders are going to be destroyed on Friday.  It will be ugly.  Unless some of what I've outlined above changes.

--This has already been a longer write-up than originally planned, but to summarize I would say the coaching staff and management team have not put the players in the best possible situation to win.  The players, meanwhile, have become so complacent they look like they could give two hoots whether or not they win or lose.  The players know the coaching staff is loyal to a fault and they've taken advantage of it.

Curious non-football thought of the day:

Saskatchewan's 50/50 draw was for $47,000 last week.

With, roughly, the same number of people in attendance in Winnipeg today the 50/50 pot was $20,000.

Hmmmmm.