 |
|
|
|
Rider Roundtable Blog |
|
|
Wednesday, Aug 08, 2007 02:46 PM CST
|
We threw some burning questions at these Rider fanatics, and got some really great stuff back - check it out!
Bloggers:
Devin Heroux - mysask.com Rider blogger
Rider Prophet - semi-finalist, Rider Prophet blog
Chris Zimmer - semi-finalist
Riley Ackerman - semi-finalist
Luke McConnell - 'Sports As Life' blogger
1. How would you grade Kerry Joseph's performance to date?
DH - Grade: B. Kerry Joseph has shown the ability in the first third of the season to be spectacular at times, and mediocre on other occasions. My past blogs have let readers know that this is an athlete who isn't going to single-handedly win football games; what he does do is protect the ball and give the Riders a chance to win. That would suggest to me that Joseph is operating at a B grade right now, and probably won't stray to far from that letter throughout the rest of the season.
CZ - Grade: C+. He is currently ranked 6th in the CFL in yards passing, but his completion percentage is a woeful 53.8% - which happens to be the lowest of any QB who has attempted more than 100 passes. Honestly, his grade would have been lower had it not been for his low number if INTs and his strong rushing numbers. He has been brilliant at times this season, but he has also been downright terrible. Luckily for us, the brilliant is far outweighing the terrible these days, hence our 4-2 record. The Riders will only go as far as KJ can take them. I think the Riders are the one team whose success (or lack their of), hinges fiercely on the play of their starting QB.
LM - Grade: C+. K-Jo, as Rod Black affectionately dubbed Joseph on Thursday night, hasn't been consistently terrible this year but he hasn't been consistently stellar either, so I think a C+ is accurate - right in that meaty part of the curve. His actual quarterbacking skills are sometimes around a D. Things like 3-hopping 10-yard outs (which I think is actually called a ?Joseph? now) and throwing the ball 5 feet over or 2 yards behind receivers on crossing routes are not helping the grade here. However, his playmaking ability is probably about a B+ based on the number of times he has made plays or kept plays alive with his legs. Incidentally, if the nickname K-Jo catches on, I'm moving - that's all there is to it.
RP - Grade: A-. Kerry Joseph's passing yards are among the lowest for starting QBs and his completion % sits at just over 50% (by no means an all-star candidate). However, those stats are as useful as a lightning fast receiver in a Bellefeuille offense when you consider that Joseph has more wins than any other QB in the league. He's controlling the ball (9 TDs to 3 INTs), he's running the ball well (246 yds, 3 TDs) and most important he's winning games.
RA - Grade: B. Through six games he has had two really impressive games (Calgary and Edmonton at home), two average games (in Montreal and BC) and two lacklustre games (BC at home and in Edmonton). Kerry is on pace to throw 27 touchdowns with only 9 interceptions. He has been able to find Matt Dominguez 24 times through the first third of the season. Kerry's success on the ground has been respectable this season with 246 yards. For Kerry to improve his grade, he must improve on his completion percentage (53.8%) and he must not miss easy throws. Overall Kerry's performance has been one of relatively few big mistakes.
2. Who has been the MVP so far?
CZ - Well, a case can be made for several players - KJ, Dominguez, DJ Flick or even Wes Cates. All of those guys have played well and have proven to be very valuable to the Riders, but my vote goes to Fred Perry. Freakshow Freddy has been "A Nightmare on Elm Street" for opposing offenses all year long (wow, that was a bad joke -- I apologize for that). He has been insane this year, and it goes so much further than just statistics. Perry does rank 5th in tackles and is tied for 3rd in sacks, but his mere defensive presence is what makes him the MVP. Teams have to scheme for him, and yet he still finds a way to disrupt numerous plays during a game.
RA - The Rider defence has held their opponents to 16.0 points and 54.4 rush yards per game. They have also amassed a league leading 20 sacks; much of this due to the play of all-star defensive end Fred Perry. Perry has 4 sacks, 4 pass knockdowns, leads the team with 30 tackles with 5 of them being for losses. Perry has provided outstanding pressure coupled with incredible smart play through the first six games.
DH - While I feel that the defense as a whole has been the Riders bread and butter, the MVP, without a doubt, is Fred Perry. This is a guy that has quietly, and sometimes not so quietly, gone about his business in a respectable manner. Perhaps his biggest play came when he knocked Dave Dickenson out for as long as he has, changing the complexion of a superior Lions team. Fred Perry is a man among boys on the football field right now, and his ability to track quarterbacks and the like down is admirable. Something tells me he will be the Riders MVP for a while.
LM - Fred Perry has got to be the MVP so far this year doesn't he? When he's at his best Perry is an absolute destroyer of men. He is one of the few CFL players I would go out of my way to watch - Jesse Lumsden is on that list, so are Joe Smith and Brent Johnson, and...that's about it. Following in the tradition of the Bobby Jurasin Bandana, I think the Roughriders need to start marketing "Fred Perry Grillz". They could be made out of plastic and be done up in either gold or green and white - and retail for $14.99. I guarantee it'll be the next big thing. I want 10%.
RP - One thing I've noticed so far this season is that when you think of the Riders there is no one name that jumps to mind. The season so far has been a total team effort. No one player has had to carry the team on their back and that has been the key to this team's success. With that in mind my nominee for MVP is - Kent Austin. The team's performance so far is a direct result of Austin's work ethic and coaching abilities. This may seem like a cop out since Austin isn't a player, but I disagree. Players like Perry and Dominguez regularly turn in great performances but all the credit for our current record should go to Kent Austin. Besides, I bet BC and Toronto would gladly bring Austin in as a player given their current QB crises.
3. Who has been the top newcomer for the Riders?
LM - Lots of potential candidates. I have to go with Wes Cates though. No disrespect to Henri "Jackie" Childs but Cates actually gives the Roughriders a viable option in the backfield. He's a mini version of Maurice Jones-Drew of the Jacksonville Jaguars - a bowling ball with legs. It's just too bad that he only touches the ball about 10 times a game. I think Wes needs a nickname though - I'm thinking Wes "Pearly" Cates, although that might be too easy. Honourable mention to Jamie Boreham, who's giving punters some street cred. I admire his enthusiasm for contact, he's one bad tackle away from a separated shoulder - and then we're back to Luca Congi hammering those 32 yard punts again.
RP - Many questioned whether Tillman would have Shivers-like success when it came to bringing in talent, but the contributions of players such as Flick, Justin and Boreham have helped alleviate such concerns. Ti-Cats fire sale aside, the newcomer that has been head and shoulders above the rest has been Wes Cates. Coming into this season we were looking at replacing a starting RB who was also our offensive MVP. With Cates on the field we still have a solid running attack (all of you fanatics who thought Austin would neglect the run game can go back to petitioning Tillman to bring Nate back). Honourable mention to Airabin Justin - you hear his name about as often as you hear Rod Black provide intelligent football commentary, and for a DB that's a good thing.
RA - The Riders' top newcomer has been running back Wes Cates. Cates has provided the Riders with a formidable running game, something which appeared to be lacking through the first few weeks prior to his acquisition. Cates has incredible hands and speed, and blocking. Cates is second in all purpose yards on the Riders with 515 yards in just five games played. Cates has eased the loss of all-star running back Kenton Keith and has added a valuable dimension to the Riders' offensive attack.
DH - It's as simple as the name - Wes Cates. To think that the Riders and Eric Tillman only had to give up a backup offensive lineman for this true difference maker is incredible. I don't know if any of you were as worried about our running attack as I was at the beginning of the season, an attack that had been so potent over the years, but it was a definite concern. After an over 100-yard night in B.C. last weekend, I think it is safe to say that we have our #1 guy in Cates. He is not only going to make it tough on opposing defenses to shut down the run, which will set-up the pass, he is going to take a lot of pressure off Kerry Joseph at the same time. Cates will be the unsung hero of this team this year.
CZ - I really wanted to make a case for Wes Cates here, as he is looking like a suitable replacement for Keith, but this honor has to go to DJ Flick. His stellar play has really made a difference in our offense, as it gives Joseph another option outside of Dominguez. I really didn't think he would make a difference at all, but he has really played well. Granted, his play has looked even more fantastic thanks to the mighty struggles of our other slot receiver, but he was really fit in well. The season is still young, and Cates could ultimately prove to be the better newcomer, but as it stands right now, the sure-handed Flick is the clear choice.
Click 'Roundtable Blog II' in the drop-down below for the second half of the discussion
|
|
|
|
Edit Ad
