5 lessons for the Roughriders from the 2014 season

There will be no Grey Cup repeat in 2014 for Rider Nation. An 18-10 loss to the Edmonton Eskimos means the Roughriders have started looking towards next year.

Here are five lessons the team can take away from the 2014 season.

1. The importance of a backup quarterback

The value of quarterback Darian Durant was made clear when the veteran was hurt in week 11 against Winnipeg. With Durant gone for the season with an elbow injury, neither Tino Sunseri or Seth Doege were able to lead the offence consistently. 

The top CFL teams, such as Calgary, have two quality quarterbacks that can win games. Management and the coaching staff has to make finding a good quarterback and developing him a priority for next season.

2. Get your star players the ball

This year's Rider team lacked the star power on offence it had in 2013. Playmakers like Kory Sheets and Geroy Simon were missed in an offence that could not come up with big plays.

One player who is capable of making those plays, Weston Dressler, was not given enough opportunities to do so. In nine games, Dressler made just 27 catches. His biggest impact was felt on special teams, where he returned two punts for touchdowns.

If Dressler re-signs with Saskatchewan, the offence has to find ways to get him the ball more.

3. Finding the right kind of player

Rider Coach Corey Chamblin preached throughout the season about finding the right kind of player for his team. That player needed to show intensity every single play and not let a bad play or two mess with their focus. In Chamblin's opinion, he was still missing that kind of energy in the playoffs. 

"We just weren't good enough this year," he said. "What I mean by that is we weren't strong enough, whether it was youth or whatever. I thought we lacked some fire. I thought they did a good job of fighting through adversity, but we just weren't good enough to be champs this year."

4. Special teams should be special

There are three phases in a football game. Offence, defence often grab the headlines, but special teams can be the turning point in a game. That was certainly the case in the West semi-final when the Riders gave up an 88-yard punt return touchdown to Edmonton's Kendial Lawrence.

The Riders lacked the Canadian talent and athleticism to properly cover kickoffs and punt returns in 2014. Punter Josh Bartel was not able to find his all-star form of 2013, and kicker Chris Milo was good on just 71 per cent of his field goals.

Expect changes to be made when it comes to special teams.

5. Time for an injection of youth

The core of the Riders — Darian Durant, Weston Dressler, Rob Bagg, Chris Getzlaf, John Chick, and Ricky Foley — is all over the age of 30. The team needs to acquire and develop some younger talent, especially Canadian talent. A veteran core like the Riders have can serve as mentors, but someone like 23-year-old running back John White from Edmonton is exactly what the Riders need.

The organization's plan in 2013 was to load up on veterans in hopes of winning a championship at home. It was successful, but now it's time to bring in some young guns.

Perhaps University of Regina Rams receiver Addison Richards would be a good place to start. This year's CFL Draft will be crucial to fulfilling this need.