Nye: Rider players taking matters into their own hands

Patience is wearing thin in Riderville.  But three things jump out at me over the last few days surrounding the Saskatchewan Roughriders.

There was a rant, a players only meeting and a mini-airlift of talent in and out of Saskatchewan.

On Saturday afternoon against the Stampeders, the Riders were getting bulldozed early as Calgary jumped out to a 14-0 lead. Defensive end Brent Hawkins admitted on the radio Tuesday that even he was surprised at the lack of pride the team showed.

He got fired up at his teammates and so did his coach. Corey Chamblin lit up the defence to the point that TSN had footage of the rant but couldn’t air the tirade because the bleep button would have needed repair.

The crowd even applauded behind the Rider bench, after likely using the same language after seeing another crossing pattern by the opposition end up in the end zone.

Chamblin has had enough. His post game address to the team also rattled the walls.

While the head coach continues to stress that this is a ‘good’ football team, he needs to start seeing more.

The defence responded, giving up just three points following the rant in the 45 minutes that followed.

Now how will the rest of the team respond?

Well there was a players only meeting just two days later. It was quite a public display as Darian Durant gathered the team at centre field in front of fans and media to talk to the team as the coaches stood on the sidelines having their own conversation.

Durant says he didn’t want ‘any extra ears around’. What was said, we don’t know. But some of the players hinted it was more to do with sticking together and taking more responsibility for what is happening on the football field.

It’s a needed jolt to have peers address some of the problems and how to not only fix them but conduct yourself as a pro.

Lets remember. This is one of the youngest and inexperienced teams in the league and need some guidance through more adversity.

Yelling and screaming can help in a short term, heat of the moment way but too much and the players start tuning out.
Durant’s players only meeting, from 40-yards away where I was standing, appeared to be a very calm and business like gathering.

But you couldn’t help but notice the shadow looming. It was Joe Lobendahn’s first day in Regina before being medically cleared and signed by the team. A day later, another CFL veteran linebacker joined the team with Diamond Ferri now on the practice roster. On the other hand, receiver Efrem Hill and running back Louis Rankin were shown the door.

Improvement need to be made to the roster and they’re coming at a time when the team needs another message. Shape up or ship out.

Following the Calgary loss, Chamblin said there are some players who need to reconsider if this is the profession for them.

A harsh but honest comment.

It’s look in the mirror time for the Riders and these three things have been done to relay that message.

Will it work?

It seems I’ve asked that question over the last five weeks when the team has been trying to find answers to the questions that have come after every loss.

No better time for the Labour Day Weekend Classic against Winnipeg, who have their own issues, to ratchet up the urgency for two teams in desperate need to start gaining ground with only half the season left.