Here are the Saskatchewan Roughriders losses in 2010.
VP Football Operations/General Manager Eric Tillman, Offensive Coordinator/Receivers Coach Paul LaPolice, Offensive Line Coach Bob Wylie, Defensive Player of the Year John Chick, CFL All-Star Stevie Baggs and Director of Player Personnel Joe Womack is still pondering a job offer.
Ouch! is an understatement... and it's only February!!!
Everyone is going to be expecting the worst out of the West Division Champions in 2010 and right now I can't blame you. The Roughriders loss of Eric Tillman, though many agree the right decision, depletes the Riders american scouting power and it will take a further hit if Joe Womack turns down the Riders after being overlooked to replace Tillman.
Tillman brought in players like John Chick and Stevie Baggs and now the Riders need Brendan Taman to step up and flex his scouting muscle or the Riders will be playing catch-up all season.
Paul LaPolice's departure to Winnipeg is a tremendous blow. LaPolice has not only been the offensive coordinator of the Riders the last two seasons, he's also been the receivers coach the last three and look at what he's done with Andy Fantuz, Rob Bagg, Chris Getzlaf and Weston Dressler. Oh yeah, and Darian Durant turned into an all-star calibre quarterback under his watch.
There's a reason LaPolice got the head coaching job in Winnipeg, he's another Kent Austin, smart, detailed, organized and confident. If I was a General Manager, he would have been the first guy I would have interviewed.
But with LaPolice leaving and Bob Wylie off to the NFL the Riders are looking for a coordinator, offensive line coach and receivers coach and need to finalize the coaching staff quickly.
Feeling squeamish? Well here's some good news.
The Roughriders were in a similar position last year on the defensive side of the ball with no line coach, no coordinator and no secondary coach. Gary Etcheverry, Nelson Martin and Mike Scheper did a bang up job replacing Richie Hall and Ron Estay.
The Roughriders offensive structure is in place with Ken Miller still the boss and the roster is fairly set on that side of the ball for 2010.
Does that make you feel better?
If not, it is only February!
Comments
riders
no one is indispensible we have found that out for years
No one is indespensible but
No one is indespensible but enough is enough. Seems like the Riders are needing to rebuild every offseason. Something has got to give eventually. You can't consistantly lose key players, key coaches and your GM and expect the same success on the field. Can it be done? Absolutely, but this is getting old.
Our problem is that we're
Our problem is that we're too good. Everyone that comes here is inspired by the support the team receives, they become awesome in response, then have to move on to bigger and better things when we can't afford to keep them. Maybe if we try cheering a little quieter this year the team won't be as motivated to get better and then we can all stay one big happy family!
Rider's in big trouble
The Rider's have lost too many key people to contend this year. I see them as a fourth place team in the West. Perhaps the Riders wll be lucky and cross over into the East for a playoff spot.
Will be a forgettable season.
Re-Rider's in big trouble
"GET A GRIP BUDDY" !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The Riders will be fighting for first place the same as they did last year.
Oh, pardon me as I am wrong.
They will have first place locked up with two, or maybe even three games left in the season.
People like yourself & all of your negativity really makes one wonder what team you have been watching?
Stick to "TIDDLIE-WINKS" as that seems more like your kind of a sport.
By the time the season starts everything will be in place without any doubt @ all.
"GO-GETTTEM-RIDERS" !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Rider's losses
The give away in last years Grey Cup becomes even more magnified in the light of all these losses. The Riders had a great team on the field in 2009, a team that will never be back together again, a to take a stupid ridiculous penalty like that still makes me sick to my stomach.