The Saskatchewan Roughriders have lost 42-5 and 40-3 in the last two games.
Head coach Ken Miller said after the BC loss (42-5) that his team did not come out flat. They played hard, but didn't play well as a unit. For some reason, nobody even asked Miller (from what I've read) if he felt as though his team came out flat yesterday against Calgary.
At 4-and-9, this team's season is over. Maybe not mathematically. But, it's over.
It's now time to take a look at what you have at all positions, this includes quarterback. I'm a supporter of Darian Durant, but the reality is that we need to see Ryan Dinwiddie and perhaps Cole Bergquist in a game against the opposing teams' first string defenses. If you have no faith in either back-up, then cut them loose. Otherwise, now is the time to see them. There is no point in risking a serious injury to Durant. Sit him down and see if quarterback is one position whether you have to actively recruit during the offseason or not.
On CKRM yesterday, it was mentioned that six players have been brought in from NFL camps. Get them in the line-up. Doesn't matter at who's expense. Don't waste people's time by adding players and not ever looking at them in a meaningful way. Practice is nice, but with the team being dreadful and showing no heart whatsoever, you have nothing to lose by dressing some raw rookies. At 82-8 over two games, it's not possible to fare worse.
The fact that Miller says he's not planning wholesale changes says a great deal about this organization's accountability level. I said around this time last year that I didn't think there was much accountability starting in the front office and filtering down. Nothing has changed to make me think differently. Miller's constant defending of players, who week after week show no loyalty to the logo whatsoever, is annoying. If Calgary can sit Joffrey Reynolds, the Roughriders can (and should) sit a handful of guys.
There's a reason this franchise has won just three Grey Cups in 101 years. You'd think they'd win six or seven just based on accident. The league isn't that big. I come into contact with fans all the time who suggest you have to cheer through thick and thin. I don't buy it. This team has more support and more money than any other CFL club. Yet, they do nothing with it. If the Riders want to continue their run of sell-out crowds and record selling merchandise, I would suggest they try this: fix this mess. Show the fans you are trying to rectify a disaster. Saying you are not planning wholesale changes tells me you are content to let the rest of the season pass you by without any meaningful on-field evaluation. I'll cheer a 4-and-14 season next year if I see measures of a rebuilding effort. Right now, all I see is a front office in denial of how horribly terrible they are. Yes, the coaching is bad. But, the players are worse. And, they are not going to get better trotting the same guys out there (who, obviously don't care) week after week without recourse.
In my opinion, the following players can come back next year (everyone else should be fighting for a job):
Craig Butler, Weston Dressler, Darian Durant, Andy Fantuz, Jerrell Freeman, and Keith Shologan.
Dressler, Durant, Fantuz, and Shologan are players I would tell to take the rest of the year off. Freeman and Butler should continue to play in order to improve as I still see even greater upside.
Of those keepers, only Dressler has shown me a willingness to compete week in and week out regardless of the score.
Which brings me to another area that should be of great concern: leadership. I don't think this team has it. Every team should have a strong leadership group amongst its players.
Good luck next week in Edmonton. They are going to need it.
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