Mark H.

I thought the OL was okay. In fact, Calvillo took quite a few more hits than Pierce did.

I thought the OL was okay. In fact, Calvillo took quite a few more hits than Pierce did.

I disagree. If teams can focus on shutting down your running game, you're toast.  

Saskatchewan Roughriders
Offense
Durant or bust
QB: 1. Darian Durant 2. Drew Willy
OL (Left to Right): Xavier Fulton; Brendan Labatte; Dominic Picard; Chris Best; Patrick Neufeld
RB: Corey Sheets FB: Neal Hughes
Receivers: Greg Carr; Robb Bagg; Weston Dressler; Chris Getzlaf; Geroy Simon; Taj Smith
Defense
Change for the better?
DL: Tearrius George (DT); John Chick (DE); Jermaine McElveen (DE); Ricky Foley (DE); Keith Shologan (DT)
DB: Craig Butler (S); Eddie Russ; Milt Collins; Dwight Anderson; Weldon Brown; Terrel Maze (CB and HB positions TBD)
LB: Tyron Brackenridge; Diamond Ferri; Renauld Williams (positions uncertain)
Special Teams
Push the kicker
Keys on the lunch bucket brigade: Aaron Hargreaves; Graeme Bell; Neal Hughes; Paul Woldu
Kickers / Punters: Brody McKnight; Ricky Schmitt; Chris Milo
LS: Cory Hucklack KR: ??
New Additions
Typical Taman
DL: John Chick; Antonio Coleman; Jermaine McElveen; Ricky Foley
DB: Dwight Anderson; Weldon Brown
LB: Renauld Williams
K: Brody McKnight
OL: Kyle Hill; Jose Valdez
R: Rod Harper; Kierrie Johnson; Geroy Simon
Subtractions
No great losses
Lost to FA: Odell Willis (DE)
Released: Tristan Jackson (DB); Jay Alford (DL); Joe Lobendahn (LB)
Draft
Heavy on Hogs
Corey Watman (OL); Matt Vork (OL); Eric Armitage (OL); Alex Anthony ®; Levi Steinhauer (DL); Spencer Moore (FB); Thomas Spo (LB)
On the Bubble:
Key Green Battles
Chris Best (RG): can he hold on to his right guard spot…or will Ben Heenan unseat him? Heenan started 12 games as a rookie. With a stable of younger OL waiting in the wings, does Best get released if Heenan replaces him?
Rob Bagg ®: after two injury plagued seasons…can he return to form as an effective possession receiver?
Chris Milo (K): Brody McKnight was clearly brought in to push the incumbent
Last Season
Up and Down
• Finished 3rd in the West
• Lost to Calgary in the West-semi, on a long TD with 20 seconds left
2013 Outlook and Prediction
Paper Punch??
Durant can be an effective QB, but he is inconsistent. He relies on his receivers to make outstanding plays on balls thrown up for grabs. Ball control offense is not his forte. Will Drew Willy see more playing time?
The offensive line looks solid. Some of the incumbents will be pushed in camp. Tackles were a problem at times last year, but players have been signed to push those positions. Sheets is an effective RB with plenty of upside
The receiver corps should be good, especially if Bagg stays healthy and Simon still has some gas in the tank (which I suspect he does).
Tons of change on defense. The secondary is almost completely overhauled and there will be new players at the defensive end spots. These areas needed to be addressed…but how much change is too much? Did they over-react after giving up that TD in the West semi? The LB corps is decent, particularly Brackenridge. Ferri and Williams have attitude issues…but coaching could be the key there. Personally, I’m not sold on their LB corps.
Three things:
1. How long will it take the new defensive players to gel?
2. Can Durant be more consistent and high-percentage?
3. Will the new acquisitions known to be locker room cancers…be cancerous?
Finally: they could make a push for second, but I dare say they’ll finish third in West again. Too much change on their defense…and BC / Calgary are better at QB.
It looks like they’re building a team to win THIS YEAR…but I don’t think they’re that good. It’s going to be a long rebuild if this doesn’t work.

Saskatchewan Roughriders
Offense
Durant or bust
QB: 1. Darian Durant 2. Drew Willy
OL (Left to Right): Xavier Fulton; Brendan Labatte; Dominic Picard; Chris Best; Patrick Neufeld
RB: Corey Sheets FB: Neal Hughes
Receivers: Greg Carr; Robb Bagg; Weston Dressler; Chris Getzlaf; Geroy Simon; Taj Smith
Defense
Change for the better?
DL: Tearrius George (DT); John Chick (DE); Jermaine McElveen (DE); Ricky Foley (DE); Keith Shologan (DT)
DB: Craig Butler (S); Eddie Russ; Milt Collins; Dwight Anderson; Weldon Brown; Terrel Maze (CB and HB positions TBD)
LB: Tyron Brackenridge; Diamond Ferri; Renauld Williams (positions uncertain)
Special Teams
Push the kicker
Keys on the lunch bucket brigade: Aaron Hargreaves; Graeme Bell; Neal Hughes; Paul Woldu
Kickers / Punters: Brody McKnight; Ricky Schmitt; Chris Milo
LS: Cory Hucklack KR: ??
New Additions
Typical Taman
DL: John Chick; Antonio Coleman; Jermaine McElveen; Ricky Foley
DB: Dwight Anderson; Weldon Brown
LB: Renauld Williams
K: Brody McKnight
OL: Kyle Hill; Jose Valdez
R: Rod Harper; Kierrie Johnson; Geroy Simon
Subtractions
No great losses
Lost to FA: Odell Willis (DE)
Released: Tristan Jackson (DB); Jay Alford (DL); Joe Lobendahn (LB)
Draft
Heavy on Hogs
Corey Watman (OL); Matt Vork (OL); Eric Armitage (OL); Alex Anthony ®; Levi Steinhauer (DL); Spencer Moore (FB); Thomas Spo (LB)
On the Bubble:
Key Green Battles
Chris Best (RG): can he hold on to his right guard spot…or will Ben Heenan unseat him? Heenan started 12 games as a rookie. With a stable of younger OL waiting in the wings, does Best get released if Heenan replaces him?
Rob Bagg ®: after two injury plagued seasons…can he return to form as an effective possession receiver?
Chris Milo (K): Brody McKnight was clearly brought in to push the incumbent
Last Season
Up and Down
• Finished 3rd in the West
• Lost to Calgary in the West-semi, on a long TD with 20 seconds left
2013 Outlook and Prediction
Paper Punch??
Durant can be an effective QB, but he is inconsistent. He relies on his receivers to make outstanding plays on balls thrown up for grabs. Ball control offense is not his forte. Will Drew Willy see more playing time?
The offensive line looks solid. Some of the incumbents will be pushed in camp. Tackles were a problem at times last year, but players have been signed to push those positions. Sheets is an effective RB with plenty of upside
The receiver corps should be good, especially if Bagg stays healthy and Simon still has some gas in the tank (which I suspect he does).
Tons of change on defense. The secondary is almost completely overhauled and there will be new players at the defensive end spots. These areas needed to be addressed…but how much change is too much? Did they over-react after giving up that TD in the West semi? The LB corps is decent, particularly Brackenridge. Ferri and Williams have attitude issues…but coaching could be the key there. Personally, I’m not sold on their LB corps.
Three things:
1. How long will it take the new defensive players to gel?
2. Can Durant be more consistent and high-percentage?
3. Will the new acquisitions known to be locker room cancers…be cancerous?
Finally: they could make a push for second, but I dare say they’ll finish third in West again. Too much change on their defense…and BC / Calgary are better at QB.
It looks like they’re building a team to win THIS YEAR…but I don’t think they’re that good. It’s going to be a long rebuild if this doesn’t work.