Saturday, August 12, 2006

Running in quicksand

Well, the Saskatchewan Roughriders have devolved from potential Grey Cup champs, to the cure for what ails other teams. For the second straight week, the Riders' opponents snapped a three-game losing skid by beating the hapless green gang.

This week, the Edmonton Eskimos were the recipients of some uninspired play from the Riders (and some questionable calls from the officials) on the way to a 24-18 victory.

Here's the poop:

1) Kerry Joseph threw the ball with all the accuracy of Nealon Greene. Is there some reason Marcus Crandell couldn't take over for a clearly injured (and clearly ineffective) starting quarterback?
2) The defense couldn't shut down the Eskimos when the game was on the line in the fourth quarter. Troy Davis rumbled for a series of key first downs en route to a game-clinching field goal.
3) Luca Congi's punting wouldn't be good enough for some high school teams. But apparently it's adequate for a CFL team. Go figure.
4) Dwan Epps. Make a play. Just one. Please.

So now the Riders and Schmoes are tied for third (or last) in the West with identical 3-5 records. Next up - the struggling Hamilton Tiger Cats invade Mosaic Stadium. Methinks the fans will have short fuses Saturday night. Don't be surprised to hear the home team booed enthusiastically if the green gang continues to stumble around like a wino on a three-day bender.

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