Season Opener – a Quick Look
Published: Thursday, Jun 22nd 2017, 2:06pm
By: Stephen Safinuk (@Safimod)
Readers… This is my favourite time of year. Summer has just begun, and with it comes the true start of football season in Canada. Starting today, fans across this great country of ours are going to be tossing on their jerseys, throwing on their face paint, grabbing a 6er of their favourite brewski, and heading out to cheer on their team. It’s that time of year when fans across the league have hope that their team has what it takes to raise the Grey Cup at the end of the season. This year is no different. Even Rider fans have a little hope going in to this season, with an improved offensive line, outstanding receiving corps and a steady veteran behind center. Let’s take a quick look at a position by position break down of who has the edge going into tonight’s CFL season opener
QB
Darian Durant
Vs
Kevin Glenn
Edge Montreal
WR
Jackson/Cunningham/Pierzchalski/Nik Lewis
Vs
Carter/Roosevelt/Holley/Demski/Grant
Duron Carter and Naaman Roosevelt are right up there in the league with the best One Two punch in the CFL.
Edge Saskatchewan
OLINE
Olafioye/Blake/Brodeur-Jourdain/Matte/Simmons
Vs
Dennis/Labatte/Clark/Dyakowski/Coleman
One of the biggest improvements the Riders made from 2016 to 2017 is at offensive line. Adding the Most Outstanding Lineman (Dennis) and a great veteran (Dyakowski).
Edge Saskatchewan
DB
Hawkins/Hollins/Ackie/Henderson/Mincy
Vs
Rodgers/Gainey/Hecht/Lyles/Johnson
Let’s be completely honest right now. Neither of these units strikes any kind of fear (right now) in their oppositions offense.
Edge: Nobody
DL
Jefferson/Steele/Minter/Leonard
Vs
Knapton/Shologan/Westerman/Bowman
Both teams are strong along the Defensive Line, but the Alouettes front 4 is much more consistently proven. The Riders have the better individual DL (Jefferson) but the DL as a unit for Montreal is stronger.
Edge: Montreal
OVERALL
In this year’s battle of last season’s basement dwellers, I must give the slight edge to:
Edge – Riders
PREDICTION: Riders 31 Montreal 27
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