I thought i would start a topic for the 2025 season discussion and news. No politics, no trolling, just
I can wait for the season to get started! I’m predicting a 12-6 season, with no reason behind that other than gut feeling. The game I’m looking most forward to is Banjo bowl, I can’t remember the last time we won that one!
I think our Defence is going to be dominant. Maybe not in points allowed because mace likes to play dangerous, but I’m excited to see what this stacked D can do!
We sure have some red woods along the Oline don’t we lol. A 6’8", 3x6’7", 6’6" and 3x6’5". If tall is the answer then Harris won’t get a tan this year
Love the confidence ABC. Going to be an even tougher div than last year though and 12 wins would make us a runaway winner in the div. Think 10 will win it.
Funny. I have a preliminary prediction on the West & East & have the Riders finishing 1st in the West with a 12-6 mark so, on that point, we agree. Won’t go into the rest of it at this time. But, unless there’s some dramatic moves I think your Riders will take the next step this year & finish 1st.
I agree, and probably for similar reasons. SSK is the only western team with continuity on its coaching staff and no really major changes up and down the roster. No new DC or OC, etc. Every other western team is breaking in some combination of new HC, OC, and/or DC.
Yes. Secondary had highs and lows last year. We need more consistency. I think it was Henderson that got busted many times last year and he’s gone. Secondary is where I think we really improved.
A schedule complaint I have is Riders and Bombers play each other three times again this year (I think we did last year as well) AND back to back on the pre season. That’s 5 total games. The 3 regular season games would be fine but I’d rather see more variety.
Believe you are correct but also believe that systems can be exploited and further believe that ours was at times. Expect our staff learned a great deal and will be better this time around.
13-5 …sorry to my bud who is a longtime BB fan, but the BB wind up 4th. The cracks in the armor started to show last year, and they have declined further. All teams are cyclical in nature, and BB are on the downside. EE rise to 3rd, Lions in 2nd, even with a suspect D…and stamps are well…stamped on!
Riders could do better than 13-5 as they have shored up the holes. Better lines O and D, better secondary, CDN. homebrews at receiver will augment their ratio. Almost forgot: Thor should be faster, and will have a better line to open holes. In short: no glaring deficiencies.
And, if Harris stays healthy, a major uptick under centre…and a better back-up. Last year was one rogue gust of wind that precluded a first-place finish, and that was with a much inferior team, led for a third of the season by a less-than-good QB. Even with all of those weaknesses, look at all the close games Riders lost. This year, expect them to be on the right side of those squeakers, and some not so squeaky.
Agreed ABC…but the confidence is the result of analytics. 5 games last year, 4 losses and a tie, would have been wins if Riders scored just one more FG, more or less. And, that was with a back-up QB for the most part. And we have improved this year. Sure, other teams like EE are also improved, but a few, like BB and Tranna, have regressed. There is so much parity among all teams, so it doesn’t take much to tip the scales.
I have to agree mostly on your take how the standings in the West flesh out BUT a lot to be decided on how the teams look going into the season - always some surprise cuts, some unfortunate injuries in pre-season etc..
I don’t see any team winning 13 games - the East is too close & has been thumping the West the last 2 years. The West, outside of the Stamps, looks really close as well. That’s essentially a 4 win improvement for the Riders who, by all accounts from even the Rider media, are looking at largely the same starters - not too many spots open. And the Lions & Elks are looking to be improved. The Elks are a much different team than the one that thumped the Riders at Mosaic last year, for instance. A 2 or at most 3 win improvement I could buy for the Riders but 4 in a more competitive West?? That’s a lot to ask for much the same team with, granted, more depth. But… we’ll see how it plays out.
sound reasoning pants…you may be right. For the most part, I explained the extra 4 wins. One would be the last game of 2024 which became a nothing game, after the freaky BB win. The other 3 are from winning 3 of the 5 mid-season very close losses with a second-rate QB. And, while you are right about the East beating the West the last 2 years, the Argos won’t dominate anyone this year…mostly due to attrition. Strong line play wins games, and Tranna isn’t the same in 2025. Conversely, the Riders have upgraded O and D line. Montreal, Hamilton, and Ottawa will beat up on each other, but only be about .500 with the West. I don’t see anyone dominating in the East…10 or 11 wins should be good for first. BTW, you are right about a more competitive West, but Riders won’t lose LD Classic and Banjo to Wpg. this year. EE will be better, but Cgy won’t be much better. Jake was blamed for their struggles, but their O-line was mostly to blame, and it doesn’t look to be much better. VA is an upgrade but can’t do it himself. BB will struggle to be at .500…maybe only 8-10. Leos may be slightly improved but Rourke can’t walk on water, and their D is not great. So, IMHO, barring major injuries, I don’t think 13-5 is a stretch.
IMO the East will be very tough & between the 4 teams could all be .500 by “exchanging wins”. BUT last year the East was 19-6-2 vs the West if you take out Hamilton who was the only club dominated by West clubs. In 2023 no Eastern team was below .500 vs the West - even the 4-14 REDBLACKS were 4-4 vs the West. Hamilton & Ottawa are probably both better, Als - like the Riders are a VG team that added some really good pieces. I don’t think the Riders or any of the other teams will have an easy time with the East.
In the West it won’t be much different with the top clubs. I don’t see much separation between the Riders, Lions & Elks this year - they’re all improved. I can’t say the same about the Bombers this year.
Never count out the Bombers & Argos. But I see the Bombers hovering around .500 as you do. The Argos? Everybody counted them out last year so, though I don’t see them winning the Division, you only need to make the playoffs & go on a run.
Teams evolve during the season due to injuries or bringing in new players when they’re losing. Good example - Justin Rankin. We’re seeing it in real time in hockey right now. Dallas is not the same team as they were in the regular season. Rantanen has helped to transform them. The Oilers didn’t have Kane & additions which went largely unnoticed like Walman, Klingberg & Frederic have changed the dynamic of the team.
Good observations pants. I think all western teams improved except BB. Ham. could make some noise if Bo can duplicate 2024, but I am guessing not. So, I don’t see the East running over the West this year…maybe back to about .500 E vs. W. The East will feast on CGY and BB, but below .500 on the rest. MTL. should shake out on top, but Tor. may fall to 3rd. behind Ham. OTT. will hold their own, but they are a quirky team: winning when expected to lose, and vice versa…sort of a wild card. Of course, as you say, things can change with a few tweaks. There is a fine line between winning and losing, and one or two players, perhaps NFL rejects, could quickly fill holes and, of course, there is the injury wild card.
Your hockey analogy is a good example of same.
