49th season opener....

Last time we won a game in Regina...

.....I could still remember everything...

Tonight, offense jelled...but defense was mostly Jello....

Easy to play O, when people actually block for the QB/RB's

Drew Willy took full advantage of the situation....

....with poise, good reads and a precise short passing game.....

...to the tune of 22 of 25 325 yds and 3 tds.

Outstanding game, from Paris Cotton....100+ rush yds....

...breaking tackles, and getting YAC in the passing game....

RB Marshall has some pretty good wiggle and speed....

....for a big power back.....with 2 TDs

That 2 back system looked real good today....

....and really provides more options....in the redzone...

KR Velting showed potential....had 65 yd return called back

Rough first half for Bryant.... but was very strong down the stretch...

Good game from J. Daniels on that right side....

Chung did not look out of place....in his debut...

Overall, huge passing grade, against vaunted Rider D-line

Moore had his first TD and a productive game....

Denmark still best receiver on the team....

Durant goes down with torn Achilles tendon...ending 1st half.....

Rider's questionable depth....tested early, with multiple injuries

For most part, Bombers controlled ball and clock, with their O...

But, DC Hall's tenure...off to shaky start......

Gap cancellation almost non-existent....on D

....as Bombers victimized by 3 long TD plays

...and a number of other big gains...

Soft coverages and lack of pressure up front.....

....completed the dismal picture...

Hurl was underwhelming at MLB.....

Big jump ball INT by Adams on goal-line.....

Parts of that game....turned into flag fest...

Riders had some problems understanding new illegal contact rules.....

Back and forth game......the Bomber O took...

....and the D gave back....until the last 2 minutes.....

Bombers then managed some stops....

....and gave Riders taste of own medicine....

...as they ran the clock out to seal the win.....

And that gin..... turned out nice again......

Seems like they brought in Cronk a lot when they to the I formation

Absolutely should have been a safety, and that's a big mistake.

 

Hard to imagine the refs. and O'Shea could have missed that.  I read elsewhere that if momentum carries the player out it doesn't count as a safety but I find that hard to believe.

OShea should've challenged.

Article 3 — Safety Touch

A safety touch is scored when the ball becomes dead in the possession of a team in its own Goal Area, or touches or crosses the Dead Line or a Sideline in Goal as a result of the ball having been carried, kicked, fumbled or otherwise directed from the Field of Play into the Goal Area by the team scored against, or as a direct result of a kick from scrimmage having been blocked in the Field of Play or Goal Area.

Unless I'm blind, I don't see the word "momentum" in there.

I found this.

 

AR: Team A kicks to Team B. B1 catches the ball in the Field of Play while moving towards own Goal Line and, in the judgment of the official, the momentum carries B1 into own Goal Area. RULING — Rouge (possession deemed to have been gained in the Goal Area).

That is stupid

We should ask Kerry Fraser.

In reference to that momentum thing, it could actually be real.

Something about if, in the opinion of the ref, it wasn't a conscious decision to enter the end zone, but rather the momentum of the kicked ball that carries him thru and out of bounds, then it is not a safety.

It should be checked however..as it is a safety issue.

Ill happily come in and say Willy had a great game. Hopefully he remains consistent this year

Ill happily come in and say Willy had a great game. Hopefully he remains consistent this year

Willy is perfectly set up for a monster year. 

I found this.

 

AR: Team A kicks to Team B. B1 catches the ball in the Field of Play while moving towards own Goal Line and, in the judgment of the official, the momentum carries B1 into own Goal Area. RULING — Rouge (possession deemed to have been gained in the Goal Area).

 

Yeah, while kinda dumb, I could see how this was applied to the Demski catch.  He didn't consciously catch the ball and run into his end zone, which is what a safety is really all about.  That being said, had that been a Winnipeg player doing the exact same thing, like Veltung, I could see the Riders getting a safety, as the Bombers always seem to be on the wrong end of the grey area penalty/judgement calls.

 

I found this.

 

AR: Team A kicks to Team B. B1 catches the ball in the Field of Play while moving towards own Goal Line and, in the judgment of the official, the momentum carries B1 into own Goal Area. RULING — Rouge (possession deemed to have been gained in the Goal Area).

 

Yeah, while kinda dumb, I could see how this was applied to the Demski catch.  He didn't consciously catch the ball and run into his end zone, which is what a safety is really all about.  That being said, had that been a Winnipeg player doing the exact same thing, like Veltung, I could see the Riders getting a safety, as the Bombers always seem to be on the wrong end of the grey area penalty/judgement calls.

 

 

 

I found this.

 

AR: Team A kicks to Team B. B1 catches the ball in the Field of Play while moving towards own Goal Line and, in the judgment of the official, the momentum carries B1 into own Goal Area. RULING — Rouge (possession deemed to have been gained in the Goal Area).

 

Yeah, while kinda dumb, I could see how this was applied to the Demski catch.  He didn't consciously catch the ball and run into his end zone, which is what a safety is really all about.  That being said, had that been a Winnipeg player doing the exact same thing, like Veltung, I could see the Riders getting a safety, as the Bombers always seem to be on the wrong end of the grey area penalty/judgement calls.

 

 

I guess O'Shea could not have challenged that play even if he wanted but that one pt. could have been critical in a tight game.

It's a dumb rule, he is playing the ball outside of the end zone.

I guess O'Shea could not have challenged that play even if he wanted but that one pt. could have been critical in a tight game.

I believe it would have been considered a safety (2 points) if it was considered at all.

 

I guess O'Shea could not have challenged that play even if he wanted but that one pt. could have been critical in a tight game.

I believe it would have been considered a safety (2 points) if it was considered at all.

 

 

 

2-1=1

Super happy Cotton finally got his chance to shine, I've been a big fan since TC last year and it's taken him awhile to get established.  He is very quick and shifty but he also has the unique skill of being able to play peek-a-boo hiding behind his blockers so that defenders have difficulty locating him.  Can't recall any RB since Charlie Roberts that used stealth as well as he does. 

 

I think Cotton's weakness may be his top speed as he does not seem to be able to outrun defenders when running horizontally trying to get to the outside.  He had a couple of those plays early on were he was caught in the backfield before they started running him vertically through the gaps.  Demski looks to have superior speed (longer legs) and he turned a similar play that looked like a loss into a beautiful 32 yd. gain.

Super happy Cotton finally got his chance to shine, I've been a big fan since TC last year and it's taken him awhile to get established. He is very quick and shifty but he also has the unique skill of being able to play peek-a-boo hiding behind his blockers so that defenders can not locate him. Can't recall any RB since Charlie Roberts that used stealth as well as he does.

I think Cotton's weakness may be his top speed as he does not seem to be able to outrun defenders when running horizontally trying to get to the outside. He had a couple of those plays early on were he was caught in the backfield before they started running him vertically through the gaps. Demski looks to have superior speed (longer legs) and he turned a similar play that looked like a loss into a beautiful 32 yd. gain.

Nice analysis of Paris Cotton.

Not to be a downer but remember this was just one game against one of the weaker defenses in the league....

I wouldn't say MB is a great coordinater just yet considering he's had years of mediocrity before...

Not to be a downer but remember this was just one game against one of the weaker defenses in the league....

I wouldn't say MB is a great coordinater just yet considering he's had years of mediocrity before...

Going into the game they were considered one of the better defenses in the league.

Not to be a downer but remember this was just one game against one of the weaker defenses in the league....

I wouldn't say MB is a great coordinater just yet considering he's had years of mediocrity before...

Going into the game they were considered one of the better defenses in the league.

All pre season I heard was how they lost lots of talent and were thin on depth. The d line is good but the rest for them are average at best.

Anyone catch the end of the game where Rod Black states that the Riders gotta stop the Bombers or its the game,then we take a knee

before getting hurt, Demski looked outstanding. Hope he's ok.

 

Would have been nice to see our Canadians do a bit more on offence. 

 

Marcel is obviously a lot better offensive coordinator than some people have been saying. 

 

I thought the offensive play calling was fantastic. 

 

The players played well, but, he was calling the plays. And ( I hope) it Looks like Marcel and Drew have made a solid connection.

 

 

Any opinions on the blocking by the receivers? I thought Cotton was making most of his yardage after the line of scrimmage on his own.

 

just read

 

". Middle linebacker Shea Emry left with a suspected concussion"   - See more at: http://blogs.leaderpost.com/2015/06/28/murrays-musings-on-saturdays-30-26-loss-to-the-blue-bombers/#sthash.gyYegciH.dpuf

Nick Moore made a great block for Marshall on the 2-pointer. And yes, once Cotton penetrated the LOS he was shedding tackles. Lots of complaints in Riderville about sloppy tackling by their D. But Cotton helped himself too - runs hard and he's very able at changing direction.

I found this.

 

AR: Team A kicks to Team B. B1 catches the ball in the Field of Play while moving towards own Goal Line and, in the judgment of the official, the momentum carries B1 into own Goal Area. RULING — Rouge (possession deemed to have been gained in the Goal Area).

 

Yeah, while kinda dumb, I could see how this was applied to the Demski catch.  He didn't consciously catch the ball and run into his end zone, which is what a safety is really all about.  That being said, had that been a Winnipeg player doing the exact same thing, like Veltung, I could see the Riders getting a safety, as the Bombers always seem to be on the wrong end of the grey area penalty/judgement calls.

 

I found this.

 

AR: Team A kicks to Team B. B1 catches the ball in the Field of Play while moving towards own Goal Line and, in the judgment of the official, the momentum carries B1 into own Goal Area. RULING — Rouge (possession deemed to have been gained in the Goal Area).

 

Yeah, while kinda dumb, I could see how this was applied to the Demski catch.  He didn't consciously catch the ball and run into his end zone, which is what a safety is really all about.  That being said, had that been a Winnipeg player doing the exact same thing, like Veltung, I could see the Riders getting a safety, as the Bombers always seem to be on the wrong end of the grey area penalty/judgement calls.

 

I guess O'Shea could not have challenged that play even if he wanted but that one pt. could have been critical in a tight game.

What was more critical was that if it had been a safety, the Riders would have had to kick off. Instead they got the ball and a few plays later scored a TD. Should not have happened.

 

before getting hurt, Demski looked outstanding. Hope he's ok.

 

Would have been nice to see our Canadians do a bit more on offence. 

 

Marcel is obviously a lot better offensive coordinator than some people have been saying. 

 

I thought the offensive play calling was fantastic. 

 

The players played well, but, he was calling the plays. And ( I hope) it Looks like Marcel and Drew have made a solid connection.

 

 

Any opinions on the blocking by the receivers? I thought Cotton was making most of his yardage after the line of scrimmage on his own.

 

just read

 

". Middle linebacker Shea Emry left with a suspected concussion"   - See more at: http://blogs.leaderpost.com/2015/06/28/murrays-musings-on-saturdays-30-26-loss-to-the-blue-bombers/#sthash.gyYegciH.dpuf

Nick Moore made a great block for Marshall on the 2-pointer. And yes, once Cotton penetrated the LOS he was shedding tackles. Lots of complaints in Riderville about sloppy tackling by their D. But Cotton helped himself too - runs hard and he's very able at changing direction.

 

 

Sounds like a good way for Moore to re-injure himself.  I'd be happy if he and Denmark just flap their arms and make seagull noises to distract the villains.

 

I found this.

 

AR: Team A kicks to Team B. B1 catches the ball in the Field of Play while moving towards own Goal Line and, in the judgment of the official, the momentum carries B1 into own Goal Area. RULING — Rouge (possession deemed to have been gained in the Goal Area).

 

Yeah, while kinda dumb, I could see how this was applied to the Demski catch.  He didn't consciously catch the ball and run into his end zone, which is what a safety is really all about.  That being said, had that been a Winnipeg player doing the exact same thing, like Veltung, I could see the Riders getting a safety, as the Bombers always seem to be on the wrong end of the grey area penalty/judgement calls.

 

Watched the game tonight. The Demski play as a safety didn't really register with me at the time, but now I would say it was definitely a safety. He caught the ball and saw that his momentum was going to take him out at the 1, so he tiptoed around the pylon, deliberately changing his direction before going out in the end zone. Should have been called a safety based on the change in direction.

 

As for the Adams interception, his knee touched down at the one yard line. Had he been untouched I'll bet they would have allowed his momentum to consider it an end zone INT and placed the ball at the 25, but the 'Rider player had contact when his knee hit. Correct call there.

 

As for the Bombers "always" getting the wrong side of the close calls, that's pure just homerism talking - I hope you don't really believe that. Refs will miss calls, make calls, and make judgements you may not agree with, but they aren't deliberately biased against your team, whatever team your team is. Saskatchewan could have argued that the "close" non-pass interference challenge that didn't go their way was unfair (they'd be wrong, it was good defence) or that the rough play call on the Denmark hit was bogus (they'd have a case there, good shoulder to chest hit there, the lack of wrapping up the tackle with the arms probably cost him the benefit of the doubt). These plays exist in every game and will balance out in the long run.

 

One play I'm curious about was the Willy fumble that Chick ran back for a TD (penalty wiped out the whole play, so not sure how that might have been ruled without the penalty). I know Willy went head first, and the broadcasters said he was touched (not sure about that part), but isn't the play always blown dead once the QB deliberately hits the ground, even if head first? Could have been a big turning point.