Week 18: Riders Lose Again:(

Yes the Saskatchewan Roughriders lost their fourth game in a row. There is a very real chance that the team could end their season on a 6-game losing streak. What I want to know is what is being done about it? In the Kent Austin era (one year is a short era, but an era nonetheless) there was team first attitude and very real sense of commitment and accountability. If a player made a bad play, he felt as if he let his team down, and took responsibility. On this team, noone seems to want to take responsibility for anything. If a player makes a bad play, the attitude just seems to be well, I won't do it next time. You know what? If that is your attitude then you will do it the next time, and the time after that. Everyone seems to be looking for answers, and the coaches don't seem to be providing any leadership. The players don't seem upset enough after losing. I know there is a sense of community among the players, but do they really have to look so happy after a loss? You had a job and you failed at it! Shake hands and get off the field.

Expectations were high for this team this year, maybe too high. A hot start sent those expectations spiralling up out of control. Clearly, this team has big issues on the offensive and defensive lines. We in the media have to take some of the responsibility of unrealistic expectations. That being said, for a football program that prides itself on building a winning mentality, finishing the season 9-9 is not acceptable. There have been too many uninspired performances, and too many games left on the field. This begins at the top. The GM has to give the coaches enough talent to compete at a high level. The coaches have to instill the right attitude in their players and gameplan effectively against their opposition. Have these things been done? At this point in the season, my answer would have to be no. At least not to an acceptable level. Now everyone remembers we were 9-9 in 1989, and had a decent end to the season. There were questions about the defence in 2007, and the defence played their best 3 games of the year in the playoffs. The season is not over by any means, but I'm not seeing the signs that I would like to that would signal a turnaround. Please prove me wrong Roughriders, because I'm sure I'm not the only one hearing the alarm bells.