Game Thread - Week 6 - Saskatchewan at Hamilton - Thursday July 19th

[jerrym]

Hamilton will be playing at home and seeking revenge for its close loss to the Riders two weeks ago, while Masoli will be going for a record tenth consecutive 300+ yard passing game in an effort to make up for the mistakes that helped cost the Ticats the last game, so I'll go with Hamilton.

[jerrym]

Below is the Riders' depth chart:

Your #Riders depth chart, as we take on the @Ticats tomorrow night from Hamilton.#TNF #RiderPride pic.twitter.com/zzwRBT370c

— Saskatchewan Roughriders (@sskroughriders) July 18, 2018

[jerrym]

Here's is the Tiger Cats' depth chart:

📋: Here's how we'll line up in tomorrow night’s #TNF rematch 🆚 @sskroughriders.

#HamiltonProud | #Ticats | #MahindraOntario pic.twitter.com/nohuK3ynQh

— Hamilton Tiger-Cats (@Ticats) July 18, 2018

[gilthethrill]

Always take the team coming off of a bye week.

[PullTogether73]

Always take the team coming off of a bye week.

[halifaxguy]

It's strange that both teams coming off a bye and both give their players a week off and then they don't return to practice until the Sunday before a Thursday night game.

[argolio]

It's strange that both teams coming off a bye and both give their players a week off and then they don't return to practice until the Sunday before a Thursday night game.

No practices during bye-weeks is CBA mandated. Same in the NFL.

[jerrym]

At half-time Messam appears washed up, going 7/18 yards for a 2.6 game average and a 3.4 season average, but most important, going down on the first hit.

Chris Jones continues to alternate QBs between Bridge and Watford, as he did in the last game when he alternated QBs six times, the most ever in the CFL since they started keeping records for this. Bridge has had some long completions while Watford has only thrown dump passes so far. I hope against hope that Jones will let Bridge stay in for the entire second half, because even Hall of Fame former QBs like Dunigan and Burris have complained that QBs need continuity of play to develop a rhythm for the game.

[OV Argo]

Riders beat Ticats again, basically courtesy of 2 big plays again - punt return TD and an 80 yard romp by Thigpen.

Credit to a tough Rider D, but maybe the shine has come off the June Jones run & shoot offence: cowardice to throw the ball downfield in favor of just dink & dunk passing, and run game not working much (and i predicted that Canadian backs Timmis & Erlington - who showed very good stuff earlier - would be replaced by any import back that would become available there - John White is a good back, but Timmis has better big gainer / home run hitting ability, and he got zero carries; typical GOB thinking and looks good on June-boy in the loss). Jerry Glanville maybe showing he doesn't fully get the CFL game now too ? - but i guess getting beat by a couple of big plays is really not on their D ?

Brandon Bridge helps win the game with a solid performance - will ego-Jones now trust him to be the starter ?

[gilthethrill]

Someone please explain to me how Charlton Hughes got credited for a sack when Masoli was tackled at the line of scrimmage? Should that not be a tackle for no gain?

[Will]

I left the game at the half with the Ticats up 17-7 because I was cranky and tired.

You're welcome Rider fans.

Sorry, not sorry Ticat fans.

[PullTogether73]

Ticats looked awful all around IMO.

Punt return TD.
Thigpen up the gut run, UNTOUCHED for a TD.
Bridge pass to the end zone to a COMPLETELY UNCOVERED receiver.
First series of the game, third and inches at THEIR OWN 35 yard line, failed unprotected sneak by Masoli. Gift three points to the Riders.
Failed third down quick kick.

Btw, Masoli's and June Jones record since taking over from Collaros and Austin last season is 8-7.
Change the coach?
Change the QB?

[argolio]

Bad look for Masoli losing back-to-back to a team that got arguably one good half of quarterbacking.

I predict Manziel starts next game.

[jerrym]

After going down as soon as he was hit in the first half and going 7/17, Messam went 8/53 in the second half showing, like most RBs, he gets better with more carries. However, will the wear and tear of the season wear him out as it did last season, demonstrating that time is catching up with him? HIs 3.8 yards/carry seasonal average already suggests significant slippage in performance.

When Jones finally allowed Bridge to play continuously in the second half, he was able to develop some rhythm and stop looking over his shoulder to see he was going to be pulled again. It remains to be seen whether Jones will continue this or not.

[Foxhound]

I think Jerome Messam is done. It's time for him to ride off into the sunset.

But here Marcus Thigpen had ten carries for 64 yards going into yesterday evening's game, and he ran for eighty yards and a touchdown on his sole carry yesterday. Why would the Roughriders' brain trust not opted to have him rush with the ball a few more times after that scamper? If it's working, why go away from it?

[paulwoods13]

But but but Messam should be part of our 3-back attack along with Wilder and Cross.

[OV Argo]

But but but Messam should be part of our 3-back attack along with Wilder and Cross.

We'll see how Wilder does next game and the rest of the season; so far he has been ultra un-impressive this season IMO; but he got rewarded for his off-season cry-baby act with a new contract; he should start earning it. I'd take Messam in his prime anyday, but those days seem over; he still had some solid runs late in the game to seal the deal for the Riders.

[halifaxguy]

No practices during bye-weeks is CBA mandated. Same in the NFL.

Didn't know that