"Maurice Lloyd may not be a low priority free agent. However, if he starts asking for too much money, then Eric Tillman may let him become a free agent, knowing that the team has other options"

A closer inspection of all phases of the game 

With the holiday season upon us, it will be a time for us all to relax. Though this also holds true for Roughriders manager Eric Tillman, let us hope that as he lies down to bed, dreams of Saskatchewan’s potential free agents will dance in his head. As it stands, the Riders have 10 potential free agents, which will become available to other teams if they are not re-signed by February. Some of the free agents are high priority, others lower and some perhaps expendable.

Offensive Lineman tops the list of potential free agents with four. Mike Abou Mechrek, Steve Morely, Belton Johnson and the veteran Gene Makowsky could all become free agents if not re-signed. Joining them are linebackers Anton Mackenzie, Sean Lucas, and Maurice Lloyd. Other potential free agents are slot back DJ Flick, safety Scott Gordon and full back Neal Hughes.

So with February fast approaching, and salary cap issues to keep in mind, whom will Eric Tillman rush to re-sign? With four offensive lineman topping the list, will Tillman look to sure up that area? Will he look to bring back the Riders starting linebackers? Or will he perhaps hurry to sign local product, Neal Hughes? When contemplating this, Tillman may be wise to look at who is high priority, low priority or just plain expendable.

It is time for: Rider Report Card

“Defense wins championships, and if this is to hold true for the Riders, they will need a good defensive coordinator.” 

A closer inspection of all phases of the game 

Eight years, and plenty of missed opportunities later and Richie Hall has finally moved to the head coaching ranks. The Edmonton Eskimos signed Richie Hall as their new head coach to replace Danny Maciocia, who will be taking a new role with the team. Hall has undoubtedly left his legacy with the Saskatchewan Roughriders, known for his tough defenses and smart schemes.  

Hall’s departure now leaves a void in the Riders coaching staff that Eric Tillman will have to fill. Saskatchewan still has a lot of defensive talent, from their solid linebackers to their potent defensive backs. Tillman would be wise to pick a coordinator that will be able to take the defensive to the next level.

Defense wins championships, and if this is to hold true for the Riders, they will need a good defensive coordinator. So who will get the nod? Will the Riders look to promote from the inside, or will they look to other sources. Perhaps they will hire someone with a proven track record. 

“The inside combination of Jason Clermont, Weston Dressler and Andy Fantuz will strike fear in the hearts of even the greatest defensive backs.”

It took six years, and a stop in Vancouver, but Jason Clermont is finally coming home. The Riders finally locked up the highly sought after free agent on Thursday, beating out potential suitors in Calgary and Toronto. A homegrown boy, the signing definitely comes as a relief to Clermont, and the fans.

The addition of Clermont will only improve the Riders and bump the Riders higher on the list of Grey Cup contenders. A two time Most Outstanding Canadian and one time Grey Cup Most Outstanding Canadian, Clermont boasts an impressive resume. He has accumulated 428 catches, amassed 5,917 yards, and caught 37 touchdown passes. Of course Clermont’s greatest attribute is his strength and iron will. Clermont is not afraid to catch the ball in traffic and his on field presence will greatly help the Riders.

A closer inspection of all phases of the game

It didn’t take for Eric Tillman to leave his mark on the Roughriders after he arrived. Through a bevy of trades, Tillman transformed a Rider team that hadn’t been able to win the big game into champions. Tillman made his mark quickly by trading Rocky Butler to Hamilton for Wayne Smith and DJ Flick. While both Flick and Smith have contributed for the Roughriders, Rocky Butler didn’t even make Hamilton’s team! By adding a number of players including: Wes Cates, Glenn January and Chris Getlzaf, Tillman solidified a veteran roster.

The Riders had a successful season, and when not riddled by injured had arguably the most talented roster. There will still be questions facing the Riders going into next season, and if free agency does not prove successful, Tillman may have to look to the trade. Here is a look at some potential trades the Riders could make this off-season, some possible, others comical.

With the conclusion of the Grey Cup Classic, we now put another CFL season to rest. The Calgary Stampeders captured the Grey Cup by beating the Montreal Alouttes 22-14, and Henry Burris (sigh) proved his critics wrong. The game capped off a rather intriguing year, in which teams were riddled by injuries, rookie head coaches made their marks, and fans came to expect the unexpected. 

For the Saskatchewan Roughriders, their bid to defend their Grey Cup victory of a year ago came up short. Then again, some critics believed they would have no success following the departure of key players in the off-season. Kent Austin left to coach at his Alma matter, Kerry Joseph was traded away to Toronto, Fred Perry and Reggie Hunt both changed teams, and rookie head coach Ken Miller was taking on his first head coaching job in the CFL.  

Following an improbable 6-0 start, that included wins against teams such as BC and Montreal, times were good in Riderville. What was more impressive was the fact that the Riders were winning with injuries to key players. Coincidentally, these injuries would come back to haunt the Riders. The Riders ended up finishing 12-6 and narrowly earned a home playoff game against the BC Lions. This mark was not reached without controversy. Saskatchewan had to endure a quarterback carousel that included the likes of, Michael Bishop, Marcus Crandell, Darian Durant and Steven Jyles. Bishop would be the quarterback to get the start in the home playoff game against the BC Lions, and unfortunately, the rest is history. Bishop gave a poor outing along with the rest of the team as the Riders were embarrassed 33-12. 

With the season over, it is time to reflect on the season that was for the Saskatchewan Roughriders. In a year that ended with such disappointment, there is much reason to celebrate. Weston Dressler and Adarius Bowman emerged as solid players. Wes Cates had another dominant season. Home products, Neal Hughes and Chris Getzlaf were successful. Overall, looking back at the season, there were a lot of positives.  

A closer inspection of all phases of the game

            Among the many traditions of Grey Cup weekend, the CFL Player Awards will once again kick off the excitement. Though it of course may not compare to the Grey Cup itself, the Player Awards give us a chance to celebrate the game of football and the players who accomplished so much in the regular season.

           In this year’s edition of the 2008 Gibson Finest CFL Player Awards, every team has a representative. It was a rather successful season for many individual players. A number of rookie receivers stepped up and were among the leaders on their team in receiving. Some veteran players showed that they could still compete at a high level, and some defense players flat-out dominated. With that being said, it should make for an interesting show.

A closer inspection of all phases of the game 

Doug Berry’s ‘reign of terror’ in Winnipeg is over. Following a disappointing season, that ended last Saturday with a playoff lost at home to the Eskimos, the Bombers were quick in firing their head coach. Expectations were rightfully high after the Bombers were only four points away from winning the Grey Cup last season.

The Bombers season was disappointing on many levels. They finished under five hundred, but thanks to a weak division, finished second place. The team was plagued by inconsistent play from their receivers, offensive line, running backs and the defense. Kevin Glenn, who had an all-star season in 2007, did not live up to expectations this year.

How much can be blamed on the players? The coach? Or, the general manager? Though I may not go as far to call Doug Berry a scapegoat, there were more factors then coaching that led to the Bombers downfall.

A closer inspection of all phases of the game

The 2009 starting quarterback of the Roughriders is…

Not long after Saskatchewan’s 33-12 loss to the BC Lions, questions were already raised about who would hold the starters reign in 2009, questions that will continue to rage on through the long off-season. For while a quarterback can enjoy all of the praise after a win, they can just as easily shoulder the blame following a loss.

In the regular season, the Riders starting pivots were about as consistent as the weather in Saskatchewan. All three quarterbacks enjoyed tremendous highs, each orchestrating a win for their team. However, Bishop, Jyles and Durant also played so poorly at times, that Rider fans were left scratching their heads. Ultimately the Riders were not able to cement a solid starter heading into the postseason. Though the Riders got some solid play out of their quarterbacks, they were still lacking a Ricky Ray or Anthony Calvillo caliber quarterback. This is hardly a surprise, for besides Kerry Joseph, who was still not a true pocket passer; the Riders have not had a true all-star quarterback for some time.

Though there are a thousand different opinions on how the quarterback situation should be handled, it is really up to one person, Eric Tillman. He will have to sit down, think about the pros and cons of each quarterback, and decide what will be best for the Saskatchewan Roughriders going forward. So, what are the pros and cons of Michael Bishop, Darian Durant, and Steven Jyles?