1 00:00:02,320 --> 00:00:06,080 Hello and welcome to another edition of the Writer Ramblings podcast, 2 00:00:06,080 --> 00:00:09,520 episode 181 with Taylor Shire and Daryl Davis. 3 00:00:09,520 --> 00:00:11,800 And we're chatting about the Saskatchewan Roughriders picking 4 00:00:11,800 --> 00:00:14,540 up a not so thrilling but still a win, 5 00:00:14,540 --> 00:00:17,920 a 2013 victory over the Ottawa Redblacks on the weekend. 6 00:00:17,920 --> 00:00:20,719 Now, that sets up a sort of an interesting matchup, 7 00:00:20,719 --> 00:00:24,360 which we'll get to against the Toronto Argonauts this week. Daryl. 8 00:00:24,360 --> 00:00:25,800 Yeah, weird scheduling, I guess. 9 00:00:25,800 --> 00:00:28,700 Taylor. Right. Two eastern teams in the middle of their stretch drive. 10 00:00:28,700 --> 00:00:30,700 The two weakest teams in the league too. 11 00:00:30,700 --> 00:00:31,760 Right. And as you said, 12 00:00:31,760 --> 00:00:33,520 it wasn't a tremendous game. 13 00:00:33,520 --> 00:00:37,720 It wasn't a convincing victory by the Roughriders. It was in Ottawa. 14 00:00:37,720 --> 00:00:39,120 So it's often tough to win on the road. 15 00:00:39,120 --> 00:00:42,820 And I know they've they've won all their eastern road games which is pretty impressive. 16 00:00:42,820 --> 00:00:47,280 It wasn't they they weren't totally impressed by their their performance on offense. 17 00:00:47,280 --> 00:00:49,660 They they had some yardage. But they went what. 18 00:00:49,660 --> 00:00:52,240 As your story said I think seven straight possessions 19 00:00:52,240 --> 00:00:55,099 with ended with a punt after scoring on the first, 20 00:00:55,099 --> 00:00:57,040 uh, on their first drive. 21 00:00:57,040 --> 00:01:00,140 But the defense held them in great interceptions by the linebacking corps. 22 00:01:00,140 --> 00:01:03,760 I think that was the the the real reason why the Rough Riders won. 23 00:01:03,760 --> 00:01:06,340 And that kind of harkens back to earlier this season, doesn't it, 24 00:01:06,340 --> 00:01:09,120 with the defense holding the fort for the Rough Riders. 25 00:01:09,120 --> 00:01:13,700 Yeah. And everyone has been so hard on how slow the riders have been to start. 26 00:01:13,700 --> 00:01:17,420 I think it was before last week's game. 27 00:01:17,420 --> 00:01:22,200 They had scored six points in the first quarter of all six of their last games combined. 28 00:01:22,200 --> 00:01:26,620 So averaging 1.1. a game and then they go and score this opening drive touchdown. 29 00:01:26,620 --> 00:01:28,940 And it looks good okay. The offense is back into rhythm. 30 00:01:28,940 --> 00:01:32,460 And then all of a sudden I don't even know what happened. 31 00:01:32,460 --> 00:01:34,960 They just weren't connecting on anything. They had one okay. 32 00:01:34,960 --> 00:01:38,420 Drive. Uh but other than that it was just yeah seven straight punts. 33 00:01:38,420 --> 00:01:40,900 So everyone yeah, it was so hard on them for not starting fast. 34 00:01:40,900 --> 00:01:43,219 So they started fast, but then they kind of went to sleep, 35 00:01:43,219 --> 00:01:44,839 uh, for the, you know, 36 00:01:44,839 --> 00:01:46,220 majority of the middle half of the game. 37 00:01:46,220 --> 00:01:47,820 So went into hibernation didn't they. 38 00:01:47,820 --> 00:01:49,540 They got 84 yards on that first drive. 39 00:01:49,540 --> 00:01:53,060 It took them eight more drives to get that 84 yard to equal that 84 yards. 40 00:01:53,060 --> 00:01:55,920 So yeah strange strange game in that respect right. 41 00:01:55,920 --> 00:01:58,020 That they they weren't real sharp weird things. 42 00:01:58,020 --> 00:02:00,560 What do you think about the the the scuttlebutt. 43 00:02:00,560 --> 00:02:02,165 And you know, this is a tough one to prove. 44 00:02:02,165 --> 00:02:04,010 But all these guys are coming back, right? 45 00:02:04,010 --> 00:02:05,930 Sam is back. Joe? Joe is back. 46 00:02:05,930 --> 00:02:07,070 Keon. Shaffer Baker is back. 47 00:02:07,070 --> 00:02:09,910 The receivers they want are back in their roster, 48 00:02:09,910 --> 00:02:12,870 but they're all kind of adjusting and maybe the rhythm is off. 49 00:02:12,870 --> 00:02:15,150 I know that Trevor Harris completed a lot of passes. 50 00:02:15,150 --> 00:02:17,469 I'm still not sold on his arm as 100%, 51 00:02:17,469 --> 00:02:19,389 and I still think that it wouldn't be a bad idea 52 00:02:19,389 --> 00:02:21,510 to rest him even though he doesn't want to, obviously. 53 00:02:21,510 --> 00:02:24,469 But what do you think about that idea that maybe all these guys coming back 54 00:02:24,469 --> 00:02:27,710 is just kind of takes a little bit of adjusting for them? 55 00:02:27,710 --> 00:02:30,790 Yeah, I would say he's got chemistry with them. 56 00:02:30,790 --> 00:02:33,110 Um, but is it there right now? 57 00:02:33,110 --> 00:02:34,810 I don't think necessarily. 58 00:02:34,810 --> 00:02:40,670 Uh, I do think Dante Myers and Keyshawn Johnson have not taken, not let off at all. 59 00:02:40,670 --> 00:02:41,710 They've had great seasons. 60 00:02:41,710 --> 00:02:42,990 They're both over 1000 yards. 61 00:02:42,990 --> 00:02:45,649 But getting MLS and Shaffer Baker back, 62 00:02:45,649 --> 00:02:50,389 it does always take a game or a little bit just to get back into the rhythm, 63 00:02:50,389 --> 00:02:52,990 and for those guys to get their legs back in their hands, back and everything. 64 00:02:52,990 --> 00:02:54,629 So whether that's chemistry or whether that's 65 00:02:54,629 --> 00:02:57,229 the actual player getting used to more reps, 66 00:02:57,229 --> 00:02:58,629 I know they've been practicing for, what, 67 00:02:58,629 --> 00:03:03,210 3 or 4 weeks in a row now where they've had that time to develop that chemistry. 68 00:03:03,210 --> 00:03:04,970 So I wouldn't blame, um, 69 00:03:04,970 --> 00:03:08,130 any sort of lack of execution on on lack of chemistry. 70 00:03:08,130 --> 00:03:10,129 I just think it takes takes a little bit 71 00:03:10,129 --> 00:03:12,650 for for everyone just to get back into the rhythm. 72 00:03:12,650 --> 00:03:14,310 So a little bit of both, I guess. 73 00:03:14,310 --> 00:03:15,989 Yeah. You know what, 74 00:03:15,989 --> 00:03:17,730 uh, and we're talking about the passing game. 75 00:03:17,730 --> 00:03:18,870 How many yards they got. 76 00:03:18,870 --> 00:03:21,770 I thought the, they didn't get a lot of rushing yards, 77 00:03:21,770 --> 00:03:23,130 but they got tough rushing yards. 78 00:03:23,130 --> 00:03:27,290 And I think we got to give a lot of credit to AJ for the the type of game he had. 79 00:03:27,290 --> 00:03:30,110 He got the yards they needed when they needed them. 80 00:03:30,110 --> 00:03:34,210 Uh, lining up as a tailback or sometimes because Tommy Stevens was out, 81 00:03:34,210 --> 00:03:38,270 he had to he lined up as a short yardage quarterback and they throw the quarterback. 82 00:03:38,270 --> 00:03:40,630 They'd bring in Jake Mayer and throw him out as a receiver. 83 00:03:40,630 --> 00:03:43,890 Uh, and Oulette would get those crashing tough yards. 84 00:03:43,890 --> 00:03:45,050 So kudos to him. 85 00:03:45,050 --> 00:03:46,570 He also had three catches, 86 00:03:46,570 --> 00:03:48,349 I think, which, uh, 87 00:03:48,349 --> 00:03:50,529 some of them were short handoffs basically, 88 00:03:50,529 --> 00:03:52,710 so contributed mightily, I think. 89 00:03:52,710 --> 00:03:56,189 And the, the, one of the plays of the game was that, uh, 90 00:03:56,189 --> 00:03:57,849 I don't know why the Rough Riders, 91 00:03:57,849 --> 00:04:01,290 they moved down to the Ottawa's five yard line and they're throwing the football again. 92 00:04:01,290 --> 00:04:04,069 Sometimes they just overcoach themselves and it turns 93 00:04:04,069 --> 00:04:07,050 into a fumble that is returned by an Ottawa player. 94 00:04:07,050 --> 00:04:08,890 And you think, oh, six points, right? 95 00:04:08,890 --> 00:04:11,110 A pick six or a fumble recovery for six. 96 00:04:11,110 --> 00:04:13,690 And you look up and AJ let's just given it. 97 00:04:13,690 --> 00:04:18,450 Chasing downfield to catch Carter the defensive end and caught him saved the touchdown. 98 00:04:18,450 --> 00:04:21,710 A huge motivational play for the riders wasn't it. 99 00:04:21,710 --> 00:04:23,910 That was to me that was like the play of the game. 100 00:04:23,910 --> 00:04:26,350 And I asked Corey Mace about it after and he said that is 101 00:04:26,350 --> 00:04:29,810 exactly what we embody in the culture of this locker room, and that's what we want. 102 00:04:29,810 --> 00:04:32,029 So I know he was championed after, 103 00:04:32,029 --> 00:04:34,070 I think is the word he used. Uh. 104 00:04:34,070 --> 00:04:35,210 He also swore. 105 00:04:35,210 --> 00:04:36,429 Yeah. I was going to say, yeah, 106 00:04:36,429 --> 00:04:38,330 he also had a curse word in there, but. 107 00:04:38,330 --> 00:04:40,430 He says he doesn't swear. I always get a kick out of that. 108 00:04:40,430 --> 00:04:42,790 And then he then his eyes kind of sparkle when he says that. 109 00:04:42,790 --> 00:04:44,570 Yeah. So that to me, um, 110 00:04:44,570 --> 00:04:47,270 along with the, say, Dante Myers touchdown. 111 00:04:47,270 --> 00:04:49,490 That was like the play of the game where it said like, okay. 112 00:04:49,490 --> 00:04:51,690 Like this team is still we're you know, 113 00:04:51,690 --> 00:04:54,169 we're not folding it in just because they potentially had 114 00:04:54,169 --> 00:04:56,870 a I mean that didn't that wouldn't have lost them the game. 115 00:04:56,870 --> 00:04:58,470 It saved them four points. They still. 116 00:04:58,470 --> 00:05:00,290 It might have turned things around though because. 117 00:05:00,290 --> 00:05:02,270 Yes you never know about the momentum right. 118 00:05:02,270 --> 00:05:03,470 And the momentum changes. 119 00:05:03,470 --> 00:05:07,030 So he essentially saved them four points with that tackle. 120 00:05:07,030 --> 00:05:09,049 But who knows? Yeah, like you said, 121 00:05:09,049 --> 00:05:11,010 all about the momentum of that, that game. 122 00:05:11,010 --> 00:05:13,370 I thought that was one of the best plays of the year. 123 00:05:13,370 --> 00:05:15,930 Yeah, yeah, you could see that. And uh oh. 124 00:05:15,930 --> 00:05:18,830 Let's talk quite a bit to you and me about his conditioning. 125 00:05:18,830 --> 00:05:22,049 How in the off season he he's slimmer this year and it's, 126 00:05:22,049 --> 00:05:25,250 and he's stayed healthy all year and he's faster and quicker. 127 00:05:25,250 --> 00:05:27,950 And when he was Carter's a pretty good runner but 128 00:05:27,950 --> 00:05:31,290 oh caught him you know in a 40 yard dash. 129 00:05:31,290 --> 00:05:34,650 They might be about the same. But over the that was about 60 yards. They were running. 130 00:05:34,650 --> 00:05:37,770 And it just kept gaining and gaining on him at the end as Carter was wearing down. 131 00:05:37,770 --> 00:05:41,010 So good sign of conditioning by you and and determination. 132 00:05:41,010 --> 00:05:44,390 Right. That's the one that you're right the players will be talking about. 133 00:05:44,390 --> 00:05:47,350 They'll show that one on film a few times and pat him on the back. 134 00:05:47,350 --> 00:05:49,090 And he always plays hard, man. 135 00:05:49,090 --> 00:05:52,130 He's just he's a real warrior out in the out in the field. 136 00:05:52,130 --> 00:05:56,949 And I think now as the games get colder and you need the running game more and more, 137 00:05:56,949 --> 00:05:58,710 he's really proving his worth. 138 00:05:58,710 --> 00:06:00,529 Yeah, I think it was about 80 yards, 139 00:06:00,529 --> 00:06:02,830 maybe 81 because they haven't shortened the field yet. 140 00:06:02,830 --> 00:06:03,430 Uh. 141 00:06:03,430 --> 00:06:05,559 So wait until a couple of years when the field shortened, 142 00:06:05,559 --> 00:06:06,880 then it'll be a 60 yard. 143 00:06:06,880 --> 00:06:08,360 Would have been a touchdown, probably. 144 00:06:08,360 --> 00:06:10,100 Yeah, he he would have already been there. 145 00:06:10,100 --> 00:06:12,200 Exactly. The shortened field. 146 00:06:12,200 --> 00:06:15,159 Um, I and going back to the short yardage, 147 00:06:15,159 --> 00:06:17,500 I, I think he handled everything successfully. 148 00:06:17,500 --> 00:06:20,780 Mace kind of criticized him after for always wanting to jump over the pile. 149 00:06:20,780 --> 00:06:22,920 And sometimes that works, sometimes it doesn't. 150 00:06:22,920 --> 00:06:24,860 He protected the ball. He got the job done. 151 00:06:24,860 --> 00:06:29,240 I don't think you want him as your full time short yardage player. 152 00:06:29,240 --> 00:06:34,060 I think he's it just adds more hits and gets him more banged up, gets some more tired. 153 00:06:34,060 --> 00:06:36,380 I think you save him for wanting to run the ball. 154 00:06:36,380 --> 00:06:39,180 So it would be nice for the writers to get Tommy Stevens back, 155 00:06:39,180 --> 00:06:41,020 but in a pinch, it certainly worked. 156 00:06:41,020 --> 00:06:46,520 And probably more effective than Jake Mayer or Jack Cohen, I guess. 157 00:06:46,520 --> 00:06:48,580 Um, just because they haven't got a lot of reps. 158 00:06:48,580 --> 00:06:50,620 So put him in. 159 00:06:50,620 --> 00:06:52,720 And we've seen that throughout the year where they've 160 00:06:52,720 --> 00:06:54,860 tried to use AJ in those short yardage packages. 161 00:06:54,860 --> 00:06:57,660 Then all of a sudden it was all the time he's handling them all. 162 00:06:57,660 --> 00:07:00,220 So I wouldn't want to do it over an 18 game season. 163 00:07:00,220 --> 00:07:02,120 But in a pinch I think it's fine. 164 00:07:02,120 --> 00:07:04,860 Yeah, down the stretch now and it's a nice little change up. 165 00:07:04,860 --> 00:07:07,139 If Tommy Stevens is healthy, then you can, you know, 166 00:07:07,139 --> 00:07:10,680 they they key all week the opposing team's key all week to stop Tommy Stevens. 167 00:07:10,680 --> 00:07:12,160 And then all of a sudden AJ outlets there. 168 00:07:12,160 --> 00:07:13,600 And you have to think a little bit differently. 169 00:07:13,600 --> 00:07:14,940 So uh, yeah. 170 00:07:14,940 --> 00:07:17,759 Interesting. Uh, that's one of the things that they've added 171 00:07:17,759 --> 00:07:20,600 to their offense that probably helps it in the long run. 172 00:07:20,600 --> 00:07:22,999 So because we've been quite critical of the offense the last few games, 173 00:07:22,999 --> 00:07:24,860 but, uh, I think that was a, 174 00:07:24,860 --> 00:07:27,519 uh, it wasn't a great offensive performance, 175 00:07:27,519 --> 00:07:30,180 but it got done what it needed to get done. 176 00:07:30,180 --> 00:07:32,360 Yeah. Opening drive touchdown sputtered. 177 00:07:32,360 --> 00:07:35,060 But then honestly that pass to Dante Myers, 178 00:07:35,060 --> 00:07:37,080 that and the tackle were one of the plays of the game. 179 00:07:37,080 --> 00:07:39,160 He made that catch, broke a tackle. 180 00:07:39,160 --> 00:07:41,480 And then there was four guys kind of closing in on him 181 00:07:41,480 --> 00:07:43,940 and that speed and that separation that he got. 182 00:07:43,940 --> 00:07:46,040 You know in his first three strides after that, 183 00:07:46,040 --> 00:07:48,260 breaking that tackle was I mean, 184 00:07:48,260 --> 00:07:51,800 you'd be you put up him up against the fastest guy in the league and he'd be up there. 185 00:07:51,800 --> 00:07:53,680 Maybe not Tavon Campbell's speed necessarily. 186 00:07:53,680 --> 00:07:54,140 But. 187 00:07:54,140 --> 00:07:56,780 He's one of the fastest receivers. 188 00:07:56,780 --> 00:07:58,620 Yeah. The amazing burst. You're right. 189 00:07:58,620 --> 00:08:01,280 Uh, Tavon Campbell I think may be the fastest guy in the league. 190 00:08:01,280 --> 00:08:03,320 Still, they miss him though don't they. 191 00:08:03,320 --> 00:08:06,779 They've had to juggle their roster not having their starting all star, 192 00:08:06,779 --> 00:08:09,180 probably all star defensive corner. 193 00:08:09,180 --> 00:08:13,060 And he's a Canadian. So it shuffled it and made them put CJ Reavis back at safety. 194 00:08:13,060 --> 00:08:15,359 Because they cut Kosi Onyeka without 195 00:08:15,359 --> 00:08:18,140 obviously breaking team rules that they don't want to talk about obviously. 196 00:08:18,140 --> 00:08:22,980 But that's something that really a bold move to to maintain the culture. 197 00:08:22,980 --> 00:08:28,040 But it ends up making them adjust their defense and the adjustments worked out okay. 198 00:08:28,040 --> 00:08:30,440 Reavis looked pretty good at safety and they moved 199 00:08:30,440 --> 00:08:34,260 Antoine Brooks junior to Reavis old spot at outside linebacker, 200 00:08:34,260 --> 00:08:37,660 gets an interception and returns it 85 yards for a touchdown. 201 00:08:37,660 --> 00:08:40,500 So, uh, Brooks has worked pretty hard all season. 202 00:08:40,500 --> 00:08:43,280 They haven't really relied on him in the secondary very much. 203 00:08:43,280 --> 00:08:45,340 They've even tried him out as a running back because they love 204 00:08:45,340 --> 00:08:47,420 his enthusiasm. Uh, it was good. 205 00:08:47,420 --> 00:08:50,919 Nice of him to see him contribute all the work he's done and to 206 00:08:50,919 --> 00:08:54,900 show that the the juggling didn't really disrupt the Roughriders defense. 207 00:08:54,900 --> 00:08:56,879 Yeah. Brooks started at corner what 208 00:08:56,879 --> 00:08:59,220 week it was earlier in the season right against Calgary. 209 00:08:59,220 --> 00:09:01,700 And he was okay. It wasn't an outstanding game. 210 00:09:01,700 --> 00:09:03,740 Um, then they went you know took him out. 211 00:09:03,740 --> 00:09:07,750 So when Sales and Campbell got hurt a couple of weeks ago. 212 00:09:07,750 --> 00:09:10,670 I was sort of surprised that they didn't try out there again. 213 00:09:10,670 --> 00:09:12,470 They went with Exum and Sapp, 214 00:09:12,470 --> 00:09:17,230 and we saw how one of those players fared in that one performance. 215 00:09:17,230 --> 00:09:19,309 But Sapp has continued to play out there, 216 00:09:19,309 --> 00:09:22,470 but so I was sort of surprised that Brooks didn't get a second opportunity. 217 00:09:22,470 --> 00:09:24,469 But then he comes in and plays Sam linebacker, 218 00:09:24,469 --> 00:09:26,830 and I think that's more suited to his style of game. 219 00:09:26,830 --> 00:09:28,830 And I mean great interception. 220 00:09:28,830 --> 00:09:32,010 Made a made an outstanding play and returned it all the way for a touchdown. 221 00:09:32,010 --> 00:09:34,870 That really made up for a lot of 222 00:09:34,870 --> 00:09:37,930 the lack of offense when they were able to build up that lead. 223 00:09:37,930 --> 00:09:39,590 Had they only been leading by what, seven? 224 00:09:39,590 --> 00:09:41,190 Nothing. I think Ottawa would have had 225 00:09:41,190 --> 00:09:43,430 a little bit more momentum and potentially got back into the game. 226 00:09:43,430 --> 00:09:47,110 But, um, yeah, Drew Brown just didn't look right. 227 00:09:47,110 --> 00:09:51,470 He almost threw a a pick right earlier to to Sapp to who almost came down with that. 228 00:09:51,470 --> 00:09:55,390 So basically had four interceptions in the first little bit of the game. 229 00:09:55,390 --> 00:10:01,390 So uh good on you know Brooks Thurman Allen for capitalizing on those plays. 230 00:10:01,390 --> 00:10:04,470 And yeah coming down with him and and yanking Brown from the game. 231 00:10:04,470 --> 00:10:07,800 Yeah. Not often your three linebackers get the yeah that was weird right. 232 00:10:07,800 --> 00:10:09,690 So so a really nice job by them. 233 00:10:09,690 --> 00:10:11,010 And you're right Knocking Brown on the ground. 234 00:10:11,010 --> 00:10:12,690 Brown. Brown doesn't look that great lately. 235 00:10:12,690 --> 00:10:14,970 And the Redblacks aren't a great football team. 236 00:10:14,970 --> 00:10:18,390 So that's why I think we're harsh on the Roughriders a little bit. 237 00:10:18,390 --> 00:10:21,090 The Redblacks have just been fading badly and 238 00:10:21,090 --> 00:10:23,930 you think well why didn't they just pulverize the Redblacks? 239 00:10:23,930 --> 00:10:26,570 And they didn't and I think they're a little upset about it. 240 00:10:26,570 --> 00:10:30,290 But the victory ends that two game skid as we talked about. 241 00:10:30,290 --> 00:10:34,790 And I think that that that's a good starting spot for them to head down the stretch. 242 00:10:34,790 --> 00:10:39,050 Yeah yeah. You don't it's not like they lowered themselves to their opponent. 243 00:10:39,050 --> 00:10:42,350 Oftentimes you see that or you sort of bring your game down. 244 00:10:42,350 --> 00:10:46,010 This game was never going to be this emotional built up game. 245 00:10:46,010 --> 00:10:49,350 It was just another game on the road against an eastern team. 246 00:10:49,350 --> 00:10:53,189 Um, you think about the the hype and the momentum going into, 247 00:10:53,189 --> 00:10:55,210 say, the Labor Day Banjo Bowl rematch 248 00:10:55,210 --> 00:10:57,450 where you just felt it or even the Hamilton game prior, 249 00:10:57,450 --> 00:10:59,129 where you knew there was so much on the line, 250 00:10:59,129 --> 00:11:01,249 you felt some extra juice, 251 00:11:01,249 --> 00:11:02,369 as they like to say, 252 00:11:02,369 --> 00:11:05,890 this game didn't have much going in and it didn't have much during it. 253 00:11:05,890 --> 00:11:08,110 It doesn't really have much going out, but it was a win. 254 00:11:08,110 --> 00:11:11,269 They come away with two points and now they get set to come home 255 00:11:11,269 --> 00:11:14,550 and potentially wrap up or clinch first place on on Friday. 256 00:11:14,550 --> 00:11:17,769 So it didn't have all that build up and I think that sort of showed. 257 00:11:17,769 --> 00:11:19,529 Yeah. Let's see if it builds up again after 258 00:11:19,529 --> 00:11:21,750 the Toronto game is on the schedule. They got to play it. 259 00:11:21,750 --> 00:11:24,129 The Argonauts are out. Nick Arbuckle their quarterback as 260 00:11:24,129 --> 00:11:26,750 we're recording this looks doubtful for that game. 261 00:11:26,750 --> 00:11:29,810 Um or maybe for sure out for that game. 262 00:11:29,810 --> 00:11:31,230 Uh, but the two games after that, 263 00:11:31,230 --> 00:11:33,869 when you're talking about hype and build up the Winnipeg Blue Bombers going 264 00:11:33,869 --> 00:11:36,689 to Winnipeg and then the BC Lions coming here, 265 00:11:36,689 --> 00:11:38,190 BC seems to be the hottest team, 266 00:11:38,190 --> 00:11:40,350 and you wonder how that game might play out. 267 00:11:40,350 --> 00:11:43,269 They might not mean anything in the standings at that stage, 268 00:11:43,269 --> 00:11:45,590 but there are two teams ready, 269 00:11:45,590 --> 00:11:48,109 ready to rock and roll for the league championship, 270 00:11:48,109 --> 00:11:49,510 so it might be fun to watch that one. 271 00:11:49,510 --> 00:11:52,590 I don't know if they'll be hype. I don't know if they'll back off with their starters. 272 00:11:52,590 --> 00:11:53,830 Depending on on the schedule. 273 00:11:53,830 --> 00:11:55,310 That's something that we'll be watching for. 274 00:11:55,310 --> 00:11:56,750 But those games, I think, 275 00:11:56,750 --> 00:11:58,609 are a little bit circled, 276 00:11:58,609 --> 00:12:01,970 more so on the calendar than the Ottawa and the Toronto games are. 277 00:12:01,970 --> 00:12:05,350 Yeah. So riders host Toronto on Friday. 278 00:12:05,350 --> 00:12:08,310 They have a chance to clinch first place with a win. It's as easy as that. 279 00:12:08,310 --> 00:12:13,020 But if they lose and BC BC is on a by this week, right? 280 00:12:13,020 --> 00:12:17,180 Yeah. Yeah. So if they lose then BC sort of has a chance. 281 00:12:17,180 --> 00:12:19,759 BC faces Edmonton before uh, 282 00:12:19,759 --> 00:12:22,400 coming here for the final week of the season. 283 00:12:22,400 --> 00:12:24,340 So will that game mean anything? 284 00:12:24,340 --> 00:12:28,120 Could it be a potential West final preview based on how BC is playing? 285 00:12:28,120 --> 00:12:29,240 I think if you're the riders, 286 00:12:29,240 --> 00:12:33,179 you want to beat Toronto this week and take two weeks off to do whatever you want, 287 00:12:33,179 --> 00:12:34,919 and then you don't show Winnipeg anything, 288 00:12:34,919 --> 00:12:36,879 you don't show bc anything, 289 00:12:36,879 --> 00:12:38,860 you play some of the backups. 290 00:12:38,860 --> 00:12:42,200 Um, sure. You want to pick up two more wins to end the year on a high note, 291 00:12:42,200 --> 00:12:44,599 but then they'll enter potentially a bye week in 292 00:12:44,599 --> 00:12:47,560 the first playoff week of the season or the playoffs. 293 00:12:47,560 --> 00:12:50,940 So do you want to maybe. 294 00:12:50,940 --> 00:12:54,040 Yeah that. And then we talk about load management. 295 00:12:54,040 --> 00:12:55,840 Right. So do you want to maybe rest 296 00:12:55,840 --> 00:12:58,600 your starters for two games or one game or one and a half games. 297 00:12:58,600 --> 00:13:01,120 And then you'll have that bye into the playoffs. 298 00:13:01,120 --> 00:13:03,759 It's uh it'll be an interesting, uh, 299 00:13:03,759 --> 00:13:06,579 decision to make when it comes to how they're going to 300 00:13:06,579 --> 00:13:10,360 manage these players with that much time potentially off. 301 00:13:10,360 --> 00:13:12,900 Yeah, yeah, there's so many different ways to think about it. 302 00:13:12,900 --> 00:13:15,780 Right? Like, maybe we're getting ahead of ourselves because. 303 00:13:15,780 --> 00:13:17,840 But I'm sure they've talked about what they might do. 304 00:13:17,840 --> 00:13:19,540 You have to have those plans in place. 305 00:13:19,540 --> 00:13:24,780 But until you win or lose your next game and get your destiny assured, 306 00:13:24,780 --> 00:13:27,440 I don't think you're going to make those changes for sure. 307 00:13:27,440 --> 00:13:29,340 Who do you rest? Who needs a rest? 308 00:13:29,340 --> 00:13:30,560 Sometimes is what it comes down to, 309 00:13:30,560 --> 00:13:32,360 but you don't want to take too many games 310 00:13:32,360 --> 00:13:34,980 off at the end of the season, especially with that. 311 00:13:34,980 --> 00:13:37,380 Bye. So it's going to be fun to see 312 00:13:37,380 --> 00:13:40,020 their strategy and what they plan to do throughout it. 313 00:13:40,020 --> 00:13:43,900 Let's ask the big question what are they doing with their kicker? 314 00:13:43,900 --> 00:13:45,960 We'll see it in practice. 315 00:13:45,960 --> 00:13:50,000 Yeah, we'll we'll probably find out later today on Monday. 316 00:13:50,000 --> 00:13:51,279 Um, we're recording this. 317 00:13:51,279 --> 00:13:53,539 Okay. So we're we're we're admitting right 318 00:13:53,539 --> 00:13:55,920 now we're recording it before we see what they're doing. 319 00:13:55,920 --> 00:13:58,000 So what would you do with the kicker? 320 00:13:58,000 --> 00:13:59,740 Well, if Brett's back is okay, 321 00:13:59,740 --> 00:14:00,840 he's got to come back. 322 00:14:00,840 --> 00:14:04,440 I know he was limited or didn't practice last week. 323 00:14:04,440 --> 00:14:07,980 Um, he has to be the guy. So you give him a week off? 324 00:14:07,980 --> 00:14:09,660 Campbell fair misses those two converts, 325 00:14:09,660 --> 00:14:12,360 and they elected not even to try to melt there for a field goal, 326 00:14:12,360 --> 00:14:14,140 when they probably could have later in the game. 327 00:14:14,140 --> 00:14:18,320 Yeah. Yeah. So you just hope at this point in 328 00:14:18,320 --> 00:14:22,679 the season that Brett has found it back or some of it back and is able to be that guy, 329 00:14:22,679 --> 00:14:25,840 and that's all you can do at this point. I don't think you. 330 00:14:25,840 --> 00:14:27,800 Can do anything. Exactly. They're kind of stuck aren't they. 331 00:14:27,800 --> 00:14:29,840 I think as I wrote earlier this year, 332 00:14:29,840 --> 00:14:30,880 they've left it too late, 333 00:14:30,880 --> 00:14:32,520 I think, to make a real drastic change. 334 00:14:32,520 --> 00:14:33,880 If Campbell Fair had been excellent, 335 00:14:33,880 --> 00:14:35,279 well, maybe they would have made the change, 336 00:14:35,279 --> 00:14:38,640 but I'm still not sure that they they were planning to. 337 00:14:38,640 --> 00:14:40,640 Is Brett Lauther hurt? Well, that's the big debate. 338 00:14:40,640 --> 00:14:43,440 They put him on the injury list and and had him miss a game. 339 00:14:43,440 --> 00:14:46,800 And he gave Campbell fair that opportunity and he failed miserably at it. 340 00:14:46,800 --> 00:14:49,060 So uh, you have to go with Brett Lauther. 341 00:14:49,060 --> 00:14:51,880 They've talked all year about his career rate. 342 00:14:51,880 --> 00:14:55,360 He's an 81% kicker and he's usually been pretty good in the clutch. 343 00:14:55,360 --> 00:14:57,040 He's only cost them one game this year. 344 00:14:57,040 --> 00:15:00,340 So. So, uh, I'm pretty sure that they'll put him back in, 345 00:15:00,340 --> 00:15:02,060 see how it goes, and, uh, 346 00:15:02,060 --> 00:15:07,300 cross their fingers that he doesn't miss a crucial kick somewhere down the line. 347 00:15:07,300 --> 00:15:09,880 Yeah. Or again, it sort of goes into 348 00:15:09,880 --> 00:15:13,280 that load management where maybe you give them another week off and you try. 349 00:15:13,280 --> 00:15:17,020 Campbell Fair again this week, because to me, 350 00:15:17,020 --> 00:15:22,880 I don't see any reason why the riders won't be clinching first place. They only can get. 351 00:15:22,880 --> 00:15:24,720 They need one win in the next three. 352 00:15:24,720 --> 00:15:27,099 Yeah, they have sort of an easier game against 353 00:15:27,099 --> 00:15:29,860 Toronto who has been eliminated from the playoffs. Then they go into Winnipeg. 354 00:15:29,860 --> 00:15:34,360 That is a weird game and I could see them resting some players for that game. 355 00:15:34,360 --> 00:15:37,520 If BC manages to beat, 356 00:15:37,520 --> 00:15:40,019 if the riders manage to lose to Toronto and Winnipeg, 357 00:15:40,019 --> 00:15:42,940 and all of a sudden BC manages to beat Edmonton, 358 00:15:42,940 --> 00:15:46,720 then that sets up a crazy game for the last week of the season for that would be fun. 359 00:15:46,720 --> 00:15:48,440 I am looking forward to that one. 360 00:15:48,440 --> 00:15:51,540 The BC Lions are the are the hottest team in the league right now. 361 00:15:51,540 --> 00:15:52,960 They look unstoppable, right? 362 00:15:52,960 --> 00:15:56,100 And the only team that we think could stop them is the Rough Riders. 363 00:15:56,100 --> 00:15:57,900 And they haven't been playing their best. 364 00:15:57,900 --> 00:16:01,300 So yeah, that that matchup is the one that I'm looking forward to. But you're right. 365 00:16:01,300 --> 00:16:04,860 The situation might evolve so that it doesn't mean anything to either team. 366 00:16:04,860 --> 00:16:06,080 So then what do they do then? 367 00:16:06,080 --> 00:16:08,700 They might just be stashing things away for the for 368 00:16:08,700 --> 00:16:11,805 the playoff meeting that they're probably going to face. Yeah. 369 00:16:11,805 --> 00:16:15,550 Actually know that now that I think about that the riders have the season series. 370 00:16:15,550 --> 00:16:18,950 So that game wouldn't mean first place Calgary can still catch the riders. 371 00:16:18,950 --> 00:16:19,730 Yeah, but. 372 00:16:19,730 --> 00:16:20,970 BC can't catch. 373 00:16:20,970 --> 00:16:21,970 Calgary. Doesn't look like. 374 00:16:21,970 --> 00:16:25,350 BC could only finish with 11 wins and the riders already have 11. 375 00:16:25,350 --> 00:16:26,870 So that game wouldn't mean first place, 376 00:16:26,870 --> 00:16:29,450 but Calgary would need to beat Hamilton, 377 00:16:29,450 --> 00:16:32,250 Toronto and Edmonton, which is doable. 378 00:16:32,250 --> 00:16:37,710 Yeah, and then they would potentially tie the riders for first place with 11 wins. 379 00:16:37,710 --> 00:16:39,469 If the riders were to go zero and three, 380 00:16:39,469 --> 00:16:42,110 and then Calgary would win first place based on the tiebreaker. 381 00:16:42,110 --> 00:16:43,510 So that now that I think about it, 382 00:16:43,510 --> 00:16:45,930 that last game against BC wouldn't mean anything. 383 00:16:45,930 --> 00:16:46,630 Yeah. 384 00:16:46,630 --> 00:16:50,190 Unless the rider unless Calgary does their handle, handles their business. 385 00:16:50,190 --> 00:16:53,590 Alright. But still there's I mean there's lots lots to play for. 386 00:16:53,590 --> 00:16:55,290 You can't just mail it in. 387 00:16:55,290 --> 00:16:59,149 Although I do think you should potentially not mail it in on Friday but 388 00:16:59,149 --> 00:17:03,810 potentially load management decisions this Friday even though it's at home. Right. 389 00:17:03,810 --> 00:17:06,110 Hey you talk about Calgary though. Oh my goodness. 390 00:17:06,110 --> 00:17:07,250 Yeah. They've fallen off. 391 00:17:07,250 --> 00:17:08,390 What's happened to the Stampeders. 392 00:17:08,390 --> 00:17:12,230 They are. They are who we thought they were at the start of the season. 393 00:17:12,230 --> 00:17:15,390 Oh Are you? Yeah, they are who we thought they were. 394 00:17:15,390 --> 00:17:17,730 Yeah. We didn't think they were a contender. 395 00:17:17,730 --> 00:17:20,490 And then they know. And they smoked the Roughriders twice. 396 00:17:20,490 --> 00:17:22,490 And everybody go, oh what happened? 397 00:17:22,490 --> 00:17:23,790 We were the same thing. What happened? 398 00:17:23,790 --> 00:17:25,690 That defense hasn't played the same. 399 00:17:25,690 --> 00:17:29,750 Uh, the offense is just Vernon Adams throwing picks again. 400 00:17:29,750 --> 00:17:32,970 Uh, he just it seems to happen at the most inopportune times. 401 00:17:32,970 --> 00:17:35,550 And they they fall apart. People are talking. 402 00:17:35,550 --> 00:17:37,849 Uh, sorry. This is this might be unfair, 403 00:17:37,849 --> 00:17:41,209 but Craig Dickenson's their coach or one of their coaches over in Calgary, 404 00:17:41,209 --> 00:17:43,930 and everybody says, what's his record after Labor Day these days? 405 00:17:43,930 --> 00:17:46,730 Because they went in those horrible skids when he was coaching the Roughriders. 406 00:17:46,730 --> 00:17:48,849 So I don't know what happens to but, 407 00:17:48,849 --> 00:17:51,290 uh, and it's probably not his fault, but, uh, 408 00:17:51,290 --> 00:17:53,970 it's just strange to see the Calgary Stampeders falter so 409 00:17:53,970 --> 00:17:57,090 badly as the season has been getting more and more important. 410 00:17:57,090 --> 00:17:59,290 Yeah, and I mean, we all know it. 411 00:17:59,290 --> 00:18:02,170 Trevor Harris has said it a hundred times this year alone. 412 00:18:02,170 --> 00:18:03,790 It doesn't matter how you start, 413 00:18:03,790 --> 00:18:06,410 you always got to feel good heading into the playoffs. 414 00:18:06,410 --> 00:18:08,950 The BC Lions are probably feeling the best 415 00:18:08,950 --> 00:18:12,050 that of any team heading into the the stretch run. 416 00:18:12,050 --> 00:18:16,050 Here they are. They are going to be a tough out in the playoffs, whoever faces them. 417 00:18:16,050 --> 00:18:20,390 Yeah. Um, it to me it looks like they're going to be hosting the West semi-final. 418 00:18:20,390 --> 00:18:21,510 Will that be against Calgary? 419 00:18:21,510 --> 00:18:24,030 Will that be against Winnipeg? 420 00:18:24,030 --> 00:18:26,850 Who's going to head east to the crossover to face Montreal? 421 00:18:26,850 --> 00:18:28,970 Who is going to be a tough team. 422 00:18:28,970 --> 00:18:33,210 Um, very very enticing semifinal matchups for sure. 423 00:18:33,210 --> 00:18:34,350 Looking at the schedule. 424 00:18:34,350 --> 00:18:36,810 They always are and who's ready who's healthy. And you're right. 425 00:18:36,810 --> 00:18:39,010 And uh, we've seen 9 to 9 teams, 426 00:18:39,010 --> 00:18:41,390 uh, the Rough Riders in 89 or 9 and nine team. 427 00:18:41,390 --> 00:18:43,349 So you can if you get hot at 428 00:18:43,349 --> 00:18:46,630 the end of the season and put things together with the Rough Riders in 89, 429 00:18:46,630 --> 00:18:49,050 got all their injured players back was the big thing. 430 00:18:49,050 --> 00:18:51,710 And you know the Rough Riders are getting their guys back now. 431 00:18:51,710 --> 00:18:54,950 And I think that's a huge part of of this team's potential. 432 00:18:54,950 --> 00:18:57,770 So if they get everybody back who they need, 433 00:18:57,770 --> 00:18:59,550 they've pieced things together pretty well. 434 00:18:59,550 --> 00:19:03,810 But getting everybody in place is going to be a huge part of that of the playoffs. 435 00:19:03,810 --> 00:19:07,310 Interesting. Um, so I was just looking at the standings again. 436 00:19:07,310 --> 00:19:10,370 Technically three teams could finish with 11 wins, right? 437 00:19:10,370 --> 00:19:14,735 Yeah. So then that sets up a different tiebreaker. 438 00:19:14,735 --> 00:19:17,660 Yep. I think in that case. 439 00:19:17,660 --> 00:19:19,440 Because BC doesn't play Calgary anymore. 440 00:19:19,440 --> 00:19:22,880 So BC, Calgary and. 441 00:19:22,920 --> 00:19:25,520 Winnipeg, could they finish with 11? 442 00:19:25,520 --> 00:19:26,940 There's a lot of tiebreaking formulas. 443 00:19:26,940 --> 00:19:28,620 Listen we'll worry about that. 444 00:19:28,620 --> 00:19:31,300 It's like trying to explain the designated import. 445 00:19:31,300 --> 00:19:34,160 One week at a time. One. And oh they just want to go one and oh this week. 446 00:19:34,160 --> 00:19:36,240 And we just want to record one podcast at 447 00:19:36,240 --> 00:19:38,680 a time and do it right and not worry about the standings. 448 00:19:38,680 --> 00:19:41,840 So let's just figure out what it is this week and then figure it out next week. 449 00:19:41,840 --> 00:19:45,320 They can clinch with a win this week. As easy as that. 450 00:19:45,320 --> 00:19:47,860 I like your focus. That's way easier Taylor. Yeah good job. 451 00:19:47,860 --> 00:19:49,940 Yeah I started looking down the rabbit hole of okay, 452 00:19:49,940 --> 00:19:52,480 if this happens then this happens, then this happens. 453 00:19:52,480 --> 00:19:54,720 Well then if this happens, then that happens. 454 00:19:54,720 --> 00:19:57,040 So one week at a time they can 455 00:19:57,040 --> 00:19:59,920 clinch first with a win and we'll leave it at that. How about. 456 00:19:59,920 --> 00:20:01,100 That. Sounds good to me. 457 00:20:01,100 --> 00:20:02,440 All right. Practice. 458 00:20:02,440 --> 00:20:03,760 All right. Enjoy the weekend. 459 00:20:03,760 --> 00:20:06,520 Uh, we'll record the next episode of the podcast next week. 460 00:20:06,520 --> 00:20:08,440 And we'll talk about all those scenarios next week. 461 00:20:08,440 --> 00:20:09,580 We'll leave it at this week. 462 00:20:09,580 --> 00:20:10,720 Uh, appreciate the time, Darryl. 463 00:20:10,720 --> 00:20:12,800 And have a great week.