Open Season

Three more sleeps.

Tree.  If you're Andre Proulx.

Once again we made it through the off season.  We made it through training camp.  We made it through the cuts and we made it through pre-season.

How did your team fare?

Pretty much everyone I know was shocked when Paul Waldu was one of the people released from the Roughriders.  I know defensive back is an important position but it's just not something I pay lot's of attention to.  I've heard that it's not because Paul was under performing but he just wasn't showing anything different.  It's hard to say.  I wonder if the change in the rules made it tough for him to adapt this year.  I also wonder if he'll take the Tristan Jackson route and this release will make him hungrier to compete.

Alex Peirchalski.  He was one guy who I thought was assured a spot on the roster.  I saw him out perform Chris Getzlaf.  I really thought it might be Getzlaf who was in jeopardy.  I think there were a few things that weighed into this decision.  It may not have been that Alex wasn't "good enough" for the Riders, but if you give him the spot...who goes?  I hypothesized Getzlaf's release or trade.  Yet I cannot debate the veteran presence and chemistry there is between him and Darian Durant.  There is a bigger risk if you go with youth and it doesn't work out.  Even I have to face it.....if we want the cup - and we always want the cup - then we have to go with Getz.  Unfortunately, a practice roster spot wasn't what AP was willing to do so the REDBLACKS snapped him up.  Hopefully, that choice doesn't come back to bite us in the butt.

The first day of training camp at Griffiths Stadium in Saskatoon I witness Ray Early kick a boomer that made my jaw drop to the concrete.  One of the players we missed the most last year was Ricky Schmidt.  There were many instances when poor punts resulted in poor field advantage and determined plays.  The Riders desperately needed someone dependable who can flip the field.  They needed someone who was consistent and dependable AND someone who could kick a field goal when Milo was having a rough game.  So it was no surprise to me when Hugh "the beard" O'Neal was let go.  *shudders* Ick.  I will never understand the appeal.

My Saskatchewan Roughriders.....Canada's Team.....went 0 - 2 in the preseason.  I'm okay with that.  It's preseason.  Preseason doesn't determine how the regular 18 game schedule will work out.  Sure coaches want to win every game and so do players, but the reason for these games is to figure out who rises to the game occasion.  Some guys suck.  Some guys are amazing.  Plus I don't think you want to risk injury for an exhibition game.

This brings us to Saturday and the home opener in Regina against the Blue Bombers.  I cannot tell you enough how it makes my stomach turn that my very own husband thinks Drew Willy is the second coming of Ricky Ray.  What I can tell you is that when you meet the same team three (tree) times in a season and you share the same division every game is a must win.  Our Roughriders absolutely MUST win every game at Taylor Field.....Our House.

I'll be there to find out what happens from my new seat in the end zone.  It's going to be a gorgeous evening with a temperature forecast of 31 degrees.  Remember to stay hydrated and wear the sunscreen!

Fun-da-footballs

As a piano teacher in "real life", I've always stressed that if you know the fundamentals you can play pretty much anything.  You need to be able to read the notes, you need to count & you have to be able to observe the signs.  It takes time to learn the fundamentals and the most successful students are the people who take the time to learn them well and learn them in stages instead of rushing in to something beyond their knowledge.

The team gathers as practice concludes.

I believe the same can be said for football.  If players come into camp and spend the first days learning the new rules, learning how the CFL works & learning the playbook before actually gearing up in pads I think they will be more successful when game time comes.  This is something coach Corey Chamblin has seemed to install this training camp.  I had visited camp the first day and then I visited again last friday.  The difference I saw was huge.  On friday I saw confidence coming out and players knowing their places and just more motivation in general.

Another reason I liked this approach to camp is that it has seemed to cut down injuries.  I've heard rumblings from other teams and especially the Edmonton RB injury but there's been very little said about Rider injuries.  Players have taken days off to rest but besides the Steinhauer injury from last season I haven't seen anyone limping or damaged which means going into the beginning of the season everyone should be healthy.

Piano players don't often have piano playing related injuries.  

Piano mac daddy down!

Doesn't happen.

Last Thursday for the first time in the history of the Roughriders, they loaded up 3 buses of players and coaches and took a field trip two hours (1.25 if you drive like me) north to Prince Albert.  They held a walk through and autograph session at the Alfred Jenkins Field House.  Because I have family and grew up in PA, I know that the soccer centre has been under some scrutiny.  It cost a lot of money, tax payers were not pleased and the result was a smaller field than was in the plans but it sure seems to have shined once the Riders pulled up into the parking lot.

Handy Hank & Doubles

 My Dad turns 80 in July.  He only makes it to one game a year and it's usually a trip he takes with his brothers.  He was uncertain as to whether he'd go to the field house even though it's not even a 5 minute drive from his house.  Then he finally decided he better go because as he told me "you'd kick my butt if I didn't go."

*grin*

So he geared up and went to see the Riders.  He was thrilled and extremely glad that I persuaded him to go.  He tells me that Darian Durant is a really stand up guy and personable and really laughed when my dad told him "so you finally got that monkey off your back."

Dad's eh?

Saturday was Green and White Fan day in Saskatoon.  I've always looked forward to this day and was rather disappointed when the Roughriders didn't schedule autographs.  I don't understand the difference between this and any other training camp day if they don't offer autographs for the fans.  Apparently the sessions during the week after practices are popular.  So what was scheduled was a mock game or scrimmage.
 

Storm clouds moving off to the south-east.

It rained for 15 minutes before Hubby and myself left for Griffiths Stadium.  I grabbed my Sex and the City umbrella and we headed to the home of the Huskies.  Well, of course it rained.  I couldn't help but be reminded of 2013 when we stood in line in pouring rain for an hour to meet Dwight Anderson, Weston Dressler, Chris Getzlaf, Darian Durant, John Chick, Ricky Foley and Geroy Simon.  It felt like karma for it to rain again.

I'll be heading out to training camp again Wednesday morning but that will be it for me since I have a four day music festival to attend this weekend.  I will be in my game day green for the preseason game in Fort McMurray saturday evening. 

I'm taking Riders because that's what I do.

If you have any questions about what I've seen at Riders training camp find me on Twitter @smilingsandra