The loss snaps the Riders' five game winning streak, and drops their record to 7-3, which is still good enough for first place in the overall standings.
No question, Winnipeg came to play, and the Bombers exploited Rider weaknesses on both sides of the ball. To wit:
- Sean Lucas - The Riders linebacker has looked lost for three straight games. A change is in order.
- For the second week in a row, the Riders were unable to get any sort of pressure on Bombers pivot Kevin Glenn. When the Riders blitzed, the Bombers did a stellar job of picking up the extra pass rushers, and Glenn unloaded the ball to ridiculously wide-open receivers.
- The Riders offensive line was manhandled in this game. Simple as that. Pass protection was brutal, and the running game was an afterthought.
- The officiating cost the Riders at least four big plays, including a long throw to Andy Fantuz late in the 2nd quarter that may have changed the complexion, if not the outcome, of the game. The play was ruled an incomplete pass, rather than a reception and fumble - which was recovered by Fantuz. After that, the rout was on.
3 comments:
Hi Pete - who DIDN'T see this coming??? The last three games Joseph has pulled out victories where maybe they shouldn't have won. Today he couldn't !! I said on a previous post, the poor defense was going to cost them in the near future. In the last four games their defense was actually very porous but they won three. I think they were starting to read too many of the clippings about what a great defense they WERE. Toronto, Edmonton and Winnipeg have really exploited them.
The size of this team is becoming a question mark. We couldn't get any push on the d-line because of the huge O-line of Wpg. In turn our O-line looked small and slow, something I have also previously stated. Our linebackers are small as are our DB's. We didnt smack anybody all day.
Why send blitzes when we can't break through. They should have sent three linemen and started jamming recievers coming off the line, try to disrupt patterns.
This defense built it's rep early in the season but have not lived up to it lately at all. I still think there is some need for personnel upgrades on defense and perhaps on the offense as well(o-line, reciever). Winnipeg didn't stand pat and I don't think we should either.
You know Calgary will see what the other teams are doing to us. If Burris gets on a roll, it may be a long day in cowtown. A Calgary win, and I think they may, will make this a three team race. A home game is no sure thing, let alone a Grey Cup appearance. This squad has lots of work to do, and probably some personnel changes.
I've been saying all along that Calgary was going to be a factor before the season is over. Don't look now, but they could be a point back of the Riders after this weekend!
Defense is always ahead of offenses in the early part of the season. Which might explain why the Riders "D" looked so good early on. However, offenses have identified weaknesses, and are starting to exploit them.
Now, we'll see exactly how good a coach Richie Hall is. If he can plug the holes that have developed in his ship, then he will earn the rave reviews he was getting earlier in the season. Remember early this season, when some media types were trumpeting Hall as a coach of the year candidate? Those folks are strangely quiet today.
Fortunately, Kent Austin has said all along that his team isn't the world-beaters that some people have made them out to be. Austin has talked all along about the need to keep getting better. Yesterday's game tape should be all the evidence he needs.
Pete - fantastic post..you are so right!! We are still a work in progress.
Post a Comment