Moving on: Can the Saskatchewan Roughriders survive the NFL departures?
Right after Damon Duval’s second chance field goal went through the uprights at McMahon Stadium in last season’s Grey Cup game, the Rider Nation started to anticipate getting revenge for its 100th season.
Defensive end Stevie Baggs departed for the NFL's Arizona Cardinals after the 2009 season.
Talks of a dynasty were all over the league’s most passionate and, well, delusional market. It was justified, as it was their second Grey Cup appearance in three years.
After all, the Riders had the league’s best defence and a wide receiving core that even with its injury problems was the best in the league. Things were looking good in Saskatchewan.
Then the vultures from the NFL showed up, taking away the Riders’ two best defensive players in John Chick and Stevie Baggs. Then Graham Harrell, who I thought could be the next Doug Flutie, was inexplicably released and signed with the Packers shortly after.
This has changed expectations considerably heading into their Grey Cup rematch on July 1st, kicking off the season. But should it? Were the Riders so far ahead of the other teams in the West that losing two of their players, albeit NFL quality ones, will be such a huge blow to their Grey Cup chances?
I say yes and no. Yes, the Riders offence will be just as strong as last year, with Weston Dressler coming back from an injury plagued campaign and their young running backs and receivers will have another year with Darian Durant and will be much sharper.
Defensive end John Chick was signed by the NFL's Indianapolis Colts shortly after the 2009 season.
But the defence that smothered teams all last season may have lost a step and young players will have to replace veteran players quick if the Riders want to succeed. Look for first overall pick Shomari Williams to come up big in his rookie season replacing Chick at the defensive end position.
Williams, who spent time in both the CIS and the NCAA looks like an extremely talented prospect and should ease the sting of losing a fan favourite like Chick, but obviously will experience growing pains throughout his rookie campaign. He should be aided by having a great defensive scheme in place and having a veteran roster helping him out along the way.
Expect early season struggles, but if the new starters can learn on the fly, the Riders will once again be in the position to win their fourth Grey Cup. Only time will tell if the vultures of the NFL will cost the Riders thier potential dynasty, or if they can overcome it.
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Good points, Chase.
As a Rider fan, two Grey Cup victories in three years would have been close to a dynasty for me. The loss was painful last season, especially since we could have had the potential to win two years in a row this season.
I don't think the Riders won't be able to get over the NFL depatures. Though, the preseason game against Calgary wasn't promising. Hopefully that was just preseason rust.