Well, while we still got 4 days to go till we kick our game off, we save the best for last.  Meantime, Thursday night should be a good one to kickoff the 2019 season.

The subplots: The TiCats for obvious reasons are the favorites to win the east, and with the return of Steinhauer, the high hopes they got on Masoli and what looks to be a rock solid roster, there's many reasons the optimism is high.

For the Riders, the questions will be whether or not Craig Dickenson will prove to be their O'Shea, and whether or not they can protect Collaros.  A lot of changes have come to the roster with several former BC Lions including Arceneaux and Elimimian now there as well as former Colts WR Moncrief.

All that to say, while Steinhauer built his reputation on running an aggressive defense for Kent Austin, I seen some experts on the CFL site expressing concerns about June Jones no longer being there to be the guider for Masoli.  So will the TiCats offense get a high level of play under a defensive HC?

And the Riders will be a very different team than what we saw under Chris Jones, a guy who could win but had a toxic attitude at times and brought in cancers like Duron Carter.  Question is will this change be for the better or the worse for them?  Can't wait to see what this year of change is going to be.

I am ok with masoli being trash. Guy should never be mentioned among the top QBs.

Well, unlike last year, when Saskatchewan benefited from ‘gifted’ TDs, they failed with their first chance this year..

But it wasn’t because Hamilton outplayed them, it was they got a better return on a Williams investment.

You know what, Hamilton playing a lousy game BUT beating the Riders is like eating bad pizza. Its not good but I still enjoy it.

12 minutes ago, Bomber_fanaddict said:

And if they had switched to 2 QBs this year Harker would be flipping fries right now.

Flipping fries? Is that a thing in Winnipeg? 

25 minutes ago, Bomber_fanaddict said:

Not sold on Harker yet. Reminds me of a lot of third stringers who come in and the defence has no idea his throwing motions or reads. Could end up being a good QB in time but could be a bust.

And then he throws a pick. 

He has some decent touch, but I definitely knew he was no Streveler

2 minutes ago, lyin' guy said:

Flipping fries? Is that a thing in Winnipeg? 

Lol. My mind said flipping burgers or salting fries, my fingers typed flipping fries. It's been a long day.

3 minutes ago, lyin' guy said:

Flipping fries? Is that a thing in Winnipeg? 

We gave up on fruit shakes.....

4 minutes ago, lyin' guy said:

Flipping fries? Is that a thing in Winnipeg? 

Harker likes Superfries.

3 minutes ago, lyin' guy said:

Flipping fries? Is that a thing in Winnipeg? 

Cutting kielbasa

Surprised at how little Thigpen is used.  Not primary KR you'd think he'd get a lot more touches in a game where you get down to your 3rd QB since he's a guy who is pretty low risk to get the ball to and capable of big plays.

Riders have a few imports who bring nothing to their roster, won't be hard to find a spot for a OL.

Ahem.

Player safety demands that Lawrence be suspended.

Right?

 

4 minutes ago, Mr Dee said:

Ahem.

Player safety demands that Lawrence be suspended.

Right?

 

I am disgusted.  gonna take some time off from all this. How can we have a serious professional football league and allow this to happen. Don't care that we lost, that happens. Head shot against Rider QB's is becoming a joke. Unacceptable, no excuse for this

49 minutes ago, 17to85 said:

I am ok with masoli being trash. Guy should never be mentioned among the top QBs.

Suitor said he was right up their with Reilly and Mitchell during the 3rd quarter!

I think tonight was the first time ever TSN didn't drool and show Hughes and his goofy picture and blabbed about how great he is (was).    That guy was completely invisible all night long. 

I also thought that the Riders o-line fell apart the moment Bladek went out of the game.  If Powell gets hurt then yikes that team will be in for a long season.

 

8 minutes ago, Ripper said:

I am disgusted.  gonna take some time off from all this. How can we have a serious professional football league and allow this to happen. Don't care that we lost, that happens. Head shot against Rider QB's is becoming a joke. Unacceptable, no excuse for this

You can't stop plays from happening. You can deal with them after the fact. 

16 minutes ago, Ripper said:

I am disgusted.  gonna take some time off from all this. How can we have a serious professional football league and allow this to happen. Don't care that we lost, that happens. Head shot against Rider QB's is becoming a joke. Unacceptable, no excuse for this

"Against Rider QB's" seems a bit dramatic. Each team deals with cheap shots. When the Riders stop, then complain. 

Not to be heartless but Collaros scrambling was really a panic move because he’s shellshocked - he wouldn’t have lasted the game with or without Lawrence... 

 

16 minutes ago, Ripper said:

I am disgusted.  gonna take some time off from all this. How can we have a serious professional football league and allow this to happen. Don't care that we lost, that happens. Head shot against Rider QB's is becoming a joke. Unacceptable, no excuse for this

I do recall laughing and poking fun from Rider fans when Buck constantly got his noggin smacked. 

It's not just Rider QBs. It's a league wide problem. 

1 hour ago, Ripper said:

I am disgusted.  gonna take some time off from all this. How can we have a serious professional football league and allow this to happen. Don't care that we lost, that happens. Head shot against Rider QB's is becoming a joke. Unacceptable, no excuse for this

Only Rider QBs eh? 

1 hour ago, Bomber_fanaddict said:

I do recall laughing and poking fun from Rider fans when Buck constantly got his noggin smacked. 

It's not just Rider QBs. It's a league wide problem. 

They actively cheered for it to happen.

2 hours ago, lyin' guy said:

Flipping fries? Is that a thing in Winnipeg? 

It's a job for people who can't be trusted to flip burgers yet 

Wow so the Riders lost and may have lost 3 starters in the process. Just about the worst way you could start a season

I wonder in Bladek pushed the recovery period a little aggressively.

Is it the same knee/leg? 

I do feel like adjustments need to be made to rtp. 

 Maybe all rtp plays should be reviewed by the command center and if a hit is deemed malicious the offending player is immediately ejected and suspended pending review for length. 

I think it'd have to be a finite type of play to qualify, long after the ball leave qbs hand (think Ed philion hitting khari late) and hook sliding on a run. No excuse to hit a qb or any one in that kind of circumstance. 

FYI there is a thread on RF.com dedicated to celebrating Hamilton injuries right now.

2 minutes ago, wbbfan said:

I do feel like adjustments need to be made to rtp. 

 Maybe all rtp plays should be reviewed by the command center and if a hit is deemed malicious the offending player is immediately ejected and suspended pending review for length. 

I think it'd have to be a finite type of play to qualify, long after the ball leave qbs hand (think Ed philion hitting khari late) and hook sliding on a run. No excuse to hit a qb or any one in that kind of circumstance. 

Sounds like targetting in the NCAA.

I like it