Robservations . . .
* Saskatchewan Roughriders head coach Ken Miller is among the targets of venom from overheated fans in the midst of his CFL team's four-game losing streak. Not to absolve Miller, but it should be remembered that he is the only man since 1976 to coach the Roughriders to first place in the West Division. So maybe, just maybe, he knows what he is doing. He hasn't turned into Bart Andrus in the past month.
* Some grumbling Riders fans do not fully appreciate what they have in Darian Durant. As a second-year starter, Durant has thrown for 5,197 yards — the third-highest total in team history. The exalted Kent Austin is the only other Roughrider to throw for more yards in a season. The Riders are blessed with a 28-year-old franchise quarterback who wants to finish his career here. What more could people want?
* For the record, the Riders' current losing streak is their longest since 2005, when they dropped five in a row (descending from 3-1 to 3-6 in the process).
* Monday's column contained an error. It was pointed out that the Riders' final drive began with 1:09 left. Wrong! Saskatchewan actually opened its last possession, way back on its nine-yard line, with 59 seconds left in Sunday's 23-17 loss to the host B.C. Lions. It is difficult to criticize others for making mistakes if your own work is erroneous. It isn't just the Riders who need to be much sharper down the stretch.
* Having said that: Could the Riders please use a shovel to bury their shovel pass? At best, it falls incomplete. At worst, it is intercepted — as it was by B.C.'s Aaron Hunt on Sunday.
* Another request: Please ashcan the handoff out of the shotgun formation on second-and-two. Why risk a loss or no gain in a short-yardage situation? If you are going to run, the defence is obligated to surrender a yard off the ball. Just try a quarterback sneak. At worst, you are facing a rudimentary third-and-one situation, as opposed to punting.
* Evidently, the Roughriders' deficiencies in the return game were not the fault of Dominique Dorsey, who was dumped in mid-September. The returns remain microscopic, for the most part, in his absence. Dorsey was jettisoned for repeatedly mishandling kicks in a Sept. 12 visit to Winnipeg. But lately, Ryan Grice-Mullen is doing the same thing. Why not take a look at Hugh Charles?
* A wish list for this weekend: A touchdown catch for Jason Clermont — his first in two years as a Roughrider. A glorified exhibition game for the Roughriders would have more meaning if Clermont were to finally hit the end zone. It would also be nice to see another classy Regina-born receiver, Chris Getzlaf, register the 88 yards he needs for 1,000.
* Warning: If the Riders start off with a shovel pass to Getzlaf, he will need 91 yards to reach 1,000.
* Erstwhile Minnesota Vikings receiver Randy Moss is the antithesis of team-oriented players such as Durant, Clermont, and Getzlaf. With that in mind, Vikings head coach Brad Childress deserves a huge bouquet for dumping Moss on Monday. Childress got fed up with football's most irritating prima donna and exclaimed, "No Moss!''Read more:
http://www.leaderpost.com/sports/Robservations+only+coach+Riders+place+West+Division+Miller/3767191/story.html#ixzz14DjdblkA
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