Rider Schedule is Intriguing

Its great to see the Rider schedule released earlier than usual because it gives all the rail birds who are cooped up in their warm confines something to think about and mull over for the next four months.

It is safe to say that the schedule is indeed an intriguing one and when you take into consideration the changes made to date by this club with more expected you begin to realize how important the first eight games of the Saskatchewan schedule are..

The Riders open in Montreal against Anthony Calvillo and company on Friday June 29th followed up with their home opener nine days later later against Henry Burris and the Calgary Stampeders and five days later entertain Dave Dickenson and the Grey Cup champion BC Lions.

The concern of course is how will the Riders newly constructed defense hold up particularly the secondary against three of the best signal callers in the league who are masters at picking apart a rookie laden or inexperienced secondary.and if there is not much pressure put on these three veteran pivots from the Rider defensive line they will have a field day.

There is no question that the events of the last four weeks have greatly changed the complexion of the Riders second best defense in the league last year leaving what could be classified as gaping holes at defensive tackle with the loss of Nate Davis and in the secondary with the departure of cornerback deluxe Omar Morgan and defensive back Davin Bush who had his best year as a Rider last year.

The situation does not get much better in the next two weeks as the team meets the igloo dwellers in back to back situations in the Alberta capital on July 20th and back here in the friendly confines of Mosaic Stadium on Saturday July 28th at 1.30.and it is generally conceded that Ricky Ray is the best overall man behind the center in the entire league.because of his accuracy and smarts.

The Prairie Dwellers then head west again five days later to lotus land for their second meeting of the season with the Leos on Thursday August 2nd. Then eight days later visit the Argonauts in Toronto and come home for their eighth game again against the Eskimos who they will play for the third time in four weeks.They play the Northern Alberta crew four times during the season with the fourth contest scheduled for Commonwealth Stadium om October 26th. I cant ever recall in Rider history the team meeting another opponent three times in a one month period and it makes you wonder why oh why would this have to happen ?

At any rate that's how the Green Machines first eight games play out with a break occurring after the Eskimo game on the 18th of August.

Herin lies the rub .Will the Riders secondary hold up in these critical first eight games to allow the team to win enough to be in the playoff race for the remaining ten.?

The Civil War with Manitoba begins on the Labour Day weekend with the Bombers in town for the annual classic on Sunday September 2nd.at 2.00 pm.followed up with the return match in cold hostile Winnipeg the next Sunday at 2.00pm. The Bombers ariel attack should be greatly improved with the addition of former Rider receiver Derick Armstrong and when you add in the legendary Milt Stegall and the fleet Chis Brazell the Rider secondary will get two more strenuous workouts.

The Riders finish out September with one of two games in three weeks against Calgary
at Mcmahon stadium on September16th.The Riders then entertain then entertain BC and Montreal at home on successive Saturdays the 22nd and 29th of the month at 5.00 and 2.00pm.

They open October with a return engagement to Calgary the second in three weeks and then play back to back contests against Hamilton and wind up the season with another trip to Edmonton and for the first time in years have their final game of the season a home again against the double blue from Toronto.on Sunday November the third.

It seems rather surprising that four of the teams last six games are against Eastern opponents .
The Riders have a fan friendly home schedule with one Friday night game and an unusual five Saturday games and three Sunday games.

The Riders should be in the hunt for a playoff spot or better depending on how the defense survives the key losses from last year.and with Kent Austin as the head honcho you know the ball will be in the air at least 65% of the time and the offense will score enough points to win their share of games.The key to the entire season is how will the team come out of their first Eight games with more wins than losses.