post mortem

Riders season post mortem
QB Grade C- Did some good things this year, good depth, but don't have the elite number 1. Kerry Joseph is good, but basically just a bigger stonger Nealon. If we could put Crandell's top half on Joseph's bottom half we'd have a great QB.
RB Grade B+- KK had a good year, but off field problems, injuries, and streakiness cost him. Bracey could be a number one.
Receivers- A- Dominguez best receiver in the league. Armstead best #2, Fantuz will be the next great canadian receiver. Need another canadian option not named Grant or French. Better deliveries would have had better numbers
O-Line B+- How is Charles Thomas still getting a paycheque? Otherwise a strong veteran crew....starting to get old though, how many years will they have left? The Big Chill should come back for at least one more year.
Coaching. C- -I disagree with many things the coaches did this year. Too many half baked plays. Hitch screens are good...if your boys don't block, there is no screen, and its a hitch tackle. Joseph was not given the hook enough. Play calling too predictable at times, too conservative at other times. Szarka needs the ball!

D Line- A -Deserves much of the credit for how this defence performed all year. Tough, good pressure with only 4.
LBs -B- -Disappeared on coverage on too many second and longs.
DBs C- Too inconsistant. Played like world beater some games, couldn't cover my drunken grandma some games.
Coaching- B- -Again inconsistant. No good plans for 2nd and long. Too many big plays. Too much zone.

Special Teams D -No blocks this year, poor returns, too many penalties. FGs acceptable, punting terrible, losing the field position game every game is not a way to win.

Overall C- Like the riders record, not terrible, not great. middle of the road

Need to go:
-I'm sorry DB, but the head coach has got to go, and I think Tommy Condell has to go too.
-Charles Thomas: how many drive killing holds and missed blocks are acceptable?
-Jason French: Makes circus catches, can't catch it between the numbers
-Corey Grant: If only could perform consistantly
-Leonard: Gainer's cousin is just not the same....although the kids like him

Cornerstones for the long-term future
-Andy Fantuz: This guy needs to be a career rider, potential to be the best canadian reciever ever
-Richie Hall: Brilliant coach, but needs to tighten up the coverages. Richie is the only assistant coach that should be untouchable
-Matt Dominguez: Is pure gold
-Eric Tillman: I like him despite the troll doll like appearance, he's smart, and will bring in good young talent. He has also a proven track record as being a good evaluator of canadian talent, which was Roy Shivers' achilles heel.
-Luca Congi: Great young talent.

Keys for next year, with caveats:
-QBs...clearly Joseph will be back, to get rid of the guy we traded Corey Holmes for would be a huge indictment of the team. KJ needs to smarten up his reads, work on his mechanics, and learn to protect his health. Crandell need to be back as a back-up
-Kenton Keith: Arguably top 3 RB in league. But, needs to smarten up off the field, and show up every game
-Use the roster spot...get a good punter. American if need be, we need someone who can consistantly punt and place the ball.

This team has been on the cusp for so long. Yes it's nice to be consistently average, much better than the mediocrity of the mid to late '90s, but third every year is not going to cut it. We have a championship defence, but the offence and special teams puts too much pressure on them.