Well, it’s that time of year again, with summer already in some parts of this great country, and quickly approaching other parts. CFL football is back. And with a new season comes a clean slate for all teams; including the 2nd expansion in 12 years for Ottawa, the possibility of a Rider repeat, and Chad Johnson making a go of it in the CFL – that is of course if the league and players can make a deal.
The big question here is will the Riders have what it takes to recapture the magic of last year’s victory? What with losing 2 key cogs on the offensive wheel in Kory Sheets and Weston Dressler – as well as the leadership of Geroy Simon – the team has some big shoes to fill. Dressler’s notable lack of size; leads me to expect to see him in green and white by Labour Day. Sheets, on the other hand, after setting a Grey Cup record of 197 yards against Hamilton and 177 rushing yards in the West Final against Calgary, may very well be a strong candidate for consideration by Oakland this year.
More of a concern on the Riders front are the four defensive starters who have found new homes for 2014; linebackers Diamond Ferri, Craig Butler, and Renaud Williams, as well as lineman Keith Shologan. Rider return man Jack Sanders also won’t return this year. That being said, with the stellar offensive line still intact I expect to see Darian Durant to come back and prove himself as a natural-born leader and to use his inherent athletic ability to make big plays out of nothing once again.
The Rider defensive line with Rickey Foley and John Chick will continue to anchor the ends and provide leadership on top of wreaking havoc on opposing quarterbacks. If you don’t agree with me, just ask Smilin’ Hank.
Speaking of Burris, after another so-so performance throwing for 272 yards, a pick, and 0 TD passes, he’s moved on from Hamilton and on to Ottawa. Yes, after toying with the emotions of Winnipeg fans, he finally said “Thanks, but no thanks,” packed up and left for the capital. Winnipeg now is hoping Drew Willy will stop the revolving door of quarterbacks in Bomber Land; Willy the career 2nd-stringer will attempt to lead Winnipeg out of the dirty basement of the CFL.
It’s a brand new season with lots to look forward to: Ottawa with another expansion – will this one work finally? Do fans West of Hamilton really care that Ottawa’s back? Despite it being our nation’s capital, what does it really have to offer to a new football team? Not much, to be honest. If we’re really looking to make this league truly Canadian from coast to coast, why not stretch out into the East to eager cities like Halifax and Moncton who actually possess the fan-base and the resources to support the game? Chad Johnson in Montréal just sounds delicious: Chad Quatre-Vingt Cinq, his touchdown celebrations would make Canadian football in Montreal very entertaining.
The CFL is unpredictable, which – let’s be honest – is what makes it so great; from Calgary with 7 turnovers handing the Riders a Grey Cup ticket, to Hamilton shocking everyone and reaching the big game. So, with that, here’s hoping to a quick resolution between players and the league, and an enjoyable summer filled with highlight catches, big runs, and comeback wins. Happy watching.
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