Hope they had some green and white ones too, petros..............Rider fans might have needed them after that debacle. Sheesh!
2012 CFL Season
- Thread starter Mowich
- Start date
Hope they had some green and white ones too, petros..............Rider fans might have needed them after that debacle. Sheesh!
all was well, good game till near the end when the bottom fell out for lulay and the lions, bad turnover
which was ran all the way back for a TD
Edmonton's defense is very very good, gave lulay and company fits.
edmonton 27- b.c. 14
which was ran all the way back for a TD
Edmonton's defense is very very good, gave lulay and company fits.
edmonton 27- b.c. 14
In some ways it was eerily similar to the Rider vs Stamps game, talloola. When Travis threw that first interception, I thought........okay Darian you can see that it happens to the best. The second interception was the one that Geroy will see in his dreams for a couple of nights. The way Joe Burnett fly across him to grab the ball was really something to see and his return was a thing of beauty. (I wouldn't be surprised if Travis needed oxygen after tearing off down field to try and catch him - great try Travis). The first one cost the Lions 3 points, the second 7.
Yep, the Eskimo D has a well earned rep...........they were pretty solid on the night and Sherrit is a real keeper. For the offence, Joe Burnett is a monster and always a danger when on the field. Charles Hughes - ex Rider - had a great night as did Harris for the Lions. I was glad to see Steven Jyles playing a better game for the Esks. This win will give him that much more confidence and help meld the team into a cohesive unit.
Unless the Montreal vs Hamilton game is a real score-buster, this game or the Rider game will be picked for Game of the Week...............both of them are worth watching again.
Montreal @ Hamilton - Saturday
The Ticats look to build off a win Saturday night at Ivor Wynne as they'll host the Alouettes in an early battle for first in the East.
Chris Williams cemented his position as the league's human highlight reel for the third straight week, returning a punt for a touchdown and then most impressively, as the final seconds of the opening half ticked off, a missed field goal all the way for six points.
Special teams were more than special for Hamilton, but starting pivot Henry Burris also chipped in with three touchdown passes along with 48 rushing yards on five carries.
It was a total team effort in the Hammer, as the Ticat defence also had its best performance of the season, keeping Ricky Ray out of the end zone and holding him to just 232 yards passing.
Now the 'Cats will look to contest another elite quarterback, as Anthony Calvillo leads the red-hot Alouettes into town. Calvillo unleashed some late-game magic last week against the Stamps, throwing a pair of touchdown passes in the final minutes of the game to storm from behind with a 33-32 win.
AC's 325 yard, three-touchdown performance made him the league's top passer by the end of the weekend, with 942 yards and a quarterback rating of 106.3 on the season.
Calvillo and Burris duel in this one as the league's most experienced starters, with 494 games between them.
TSN CFL News & Scores | Team Standings | CFL Schedules | Highlights
Game time: 4 PM PST/7 PM EST
It won't be the Game of the Week as it looks like Rider and Stamp fans have outvoted every one else to have their game re-broadcast..........but it sure could have been.
Smilin' Hank finally, finally put his snits aside and rocked the game. Burris threw for 4 TDs, completing 27 of 30 attempts for a total of 360 yards, the best showing he has had in a very long time.
Chris Williams was once again outstanding on the night though a bit of show-boating on a missed Sean Whyte FG marred what would have been a 119-yard return for a TD. He was tackled on the 1-yard line and Chevon Walker took it over for the 6 points on the next play. Williams had 115 yards for seven catches.
Andy Fantuz had his best outing for the team on a night that saw him with 135 yards on 8 receptions and a TD. Chevon Walker scored 2 TDs with Bakari Grant and Daryl Stephenson also getting one a piece.
It was almost deja vu of last weeks' game when in the 3rd as the Ti-Cats D slacked off to allow 2 Montreal TDs. Down by 12 points at the half, Anthony came roaring back needing only two plays to get the Als to the end zone with a 32-yard strike to Brandon London for the TD and the lead was cut by 7. As the final minutes ticked down in the 3rd, Calvillo once again drove his team 92 yards down-field in 8 plays completing the drive with a 12 yard toss to the rookie from Lavalle, Lavoie for the TD.
The Hamilton offence was quick to answer early in the 4th when Henry orchestrated a 64-yard drive taking only 3 plays to find Andy in the end zone for a 26-yard TD. Once again the Ti-Cats had some breathing room leading by 15 points.
Montreal came close twice in the 4th but the Ti-Cat D held strong.
Anthony Calvillo, who was obviously still nursing a sore shoulder, threw for 3 TDs on the night but was sacked twice and threw one interception which led to one of the Hamilton TDs. He was also tackled several times and was slow to get up after a couple of really hard but very clean hits. Anthony was able to complete 24 of 39 passes for a total of 374 yards, sore shoulder and all.
Final Score: Hamilton 39 - Montreal 24
ROCK ON HAMILTON!
Smilin' Hank finally, finally put his snits aside and rocked the game. Burris threw for 4 TDs, completing 27 of 30 attempts for a total of 360 yards, the best showing he has had in a very long time.
Chris Williams was once again outstanding on the night though a bit of show-boating on a missed Sean Whyte FG marred what would have been a 119-yard return for a TD. He was tackled on the 1-yard line and Chevon Walker took it over for the 6 points on the next play. Williams had 115 yards for seven catches.
Andy Fantuz had his best outing for the team on a night that saw him with 135 yards on 8 receptions and a TD. Chevon Walker scored 2 TDs with Bakari Grant and Daryl Stephenson also getting one a piece.
It was almost deja vu of last weeks' game when in the 3rd as the Ti-Cats D slacked off to allow 2 Montreal TDs. Down by 12 points at the half, Anthony came roaring back needing only two plays to get the Als to the end zone with a 32-yard strike to Brandon London for the TD and the lead was cut by 7. As the final minutes ticked down in the 3rd, Calvillo once again drove his team 92 yards down-field in 8 plays completing the drive with a 12 yard toss to the rookie from Lavalle, Lavoie for the TD.
The Hamilton offence was quick to answer early in the 4th when Henry orchestrated a 64-yard drive taking only 3 plays to find Andy in the end zone for a 26-yard TD. Once again the Ti-Cats had some breathing room leading by 15 points.
Montreal came close twice in the 4th but the Ti-Cat D held strong.
Anthony Calvillo, who was obviously still nursing a sore shoulder, threw for 3 TDs on the night but was sacked twice and threw one interception which led to one of the Hamilton TDs. He was also tackled several times and was slow to get up after a couple of really hard but very clean hits. Anthony was able to complete 24 of 39 passes for a total of 374 yards, sore shoulder and all.
Final Score: Hamilton 39 - Montreal 24
ROCK ON HAMILTON!
CFL SUSPENDS LIONS' MITCHELL TWO GAMES FOR INJURING OPPONENT
TORONTO - The CFL has suspended Khalif Mitchell for two games without pay after the B.C. Lions defensive tackle hyperextended the arm of Edmonton offensive lineman Simeon Rottier on Friday night.
The league announced the disciplinary action Monday evening after CFL commissioner Mark Cohon held a hearing via telephone with Mitchell and a representative of the CFL Players' Association. They discussed the incident which happened during the Eskimos' 27-14 win.
The suspension is significant by CFL standards because it's the longest issued by Cohon. In fact, only three players have ever served a one-game ban since Cohon succeeded Tom Wright as commissioner in 2007.
"This type of behaviour has no place in our game and will not be tolerated," Cohon said in a statement. "Any play that unnecessarily puts one of our players at risk of serious injury will be met with discipline."
Late in the first half, Rottier's right arm became lodged between Mitchell's arm and body. The six-foot-five, 316-pound defensive tackle violently pulled on Rottier's arm, bending it grotesquely in an unnatural fashion that resulted in the joint being hyperextended.
Rottier immediately dropped to his knee, in obvious pain, and required medical attention. The six-foot-six, 295-pound Rottier, a native of Westlock, Alta., in his first season with Edmonton, left the game and although he returned in the second half, he remained on the sidelines for the rest of the contest.
No penalty was called on the play.
Under terms of the collective bargaining agreement between the CFL and its players, Mitchell can appeal the league's decision.
Following Friday's game, Eskimos offensive lineman Greg Wotj took to social media to express his feeling Mitchell tried to hurt Rottier.
"That was bush league by Khalif Mitchell. Intentionally trying to injure a player .NoClass," Wojt tweeted.
Others followed suit.
"Hope my brother Sim Rottier is OK," Eskimos receiver Tyler Scott tweeted. "No room for dirty players in OUR LEAGUE."
"Khalif Mitchell's snapping of Simeon Rottier's Arm! UNCALLED 4, UNNECESSARY, UNFATHOMABLE, UNFAIR, UNBELIEVABLE & UNQUESTIONABLY DELIBERATE," tweeted TSN football analyst Matt Dunigan, a former CFL player and Canadian Football Hall of Fame member.
"this is football not WWF I could see if it was a hit he intentionally hurt that guy almost broke his elbow!," Winnipeg Blue Bomber Jovon Johnson, the CFL's top defensive player last year, added on his Twitter account.
"So a little tap on a guy's face mask gets you kicked out of the game but breaking a guy's arm intentionally goes without a flag?!?" Hamilton Tiger-Cats offensive lineman Peter Dyakowski also tweeted.
Rottier had X-rays on his arm and the results came back negative Sunday. And while he's not expected to suit up Thursday night in Winnipeg, Rottier has forgiven Mitchell and moved on.
"I knew right away what he was doing . . . it's just an unfortunate thing," Rottier told reporters Sunday. "For myself, I've just forgiven and moving on and I don't want this kind of incident to take away from all the good things we had out there.
"The way it looked it the way it happened, it sure didn't feel good."
CFL suspends Lions' Mitchell two games for injuring opponent
........................................................................................
Players of the Week for Week 4:
Offence
Henry Burris - completed 27 of 30 passes for 360 yards and 4 TDs. Hank tied Jason Maas for the 5th best single-game mark in completion percentage (90%) in CFL history and the highest completion percentage in history with at least 30 attempts.
Defence
Joe Burnett - the Eskimo's CBintercepted BC Lions QB Travis Lulay – twice – including a 108-yard return for a TD in the 4th Q. He also had 3 tackles on the night.
Special Teams
Justin Palardy -had a perfect 5 for 5 FGs on the night and an extra point on a punt to the end zone. Justin had 16 of the Bombers 22 points in their loss to the Argos.
Canadian of the Week
Andy Fantuz (Rock on Andy :smile
-had a game-high 135 yards and 1 TD on 8 receptions during the Ti-Cat win over the Alouettes. The TD he scored in the 4th Q was a crucial turning point for the Hamilton in their bid to stop the Als momentum in the 2nd half.
Games of Week 5
Thursday: Edmonton vs Winnipeg 5:30 PM PST/8:30 PM EST
Friday: Toronto vs Montreal 4:30 PM PST/ 7:30 PM EST
Saturday: Hamilton vs Saskatchewan 4:00 PM PST/ 6:00 PM EST
Saturday: BC vs Calgary 6:00 PM PST/ 9:00 PM EST
TORONTO - The CFL has suspended Khalif Mitchell for two games without pay after the B.C. Lions defensive tackle hyperextended the arm of Edmonton offensive lineman Simeon Rottier on Friday night.
The league announced the disciplinary action Monday evening after CFL commissioner Mark Cohon held a hearing via telephone with Mitchell and a representative of the CFL Players' Association. They discussed the incident which happened during the Eskimos' 27-14 win.
The suspension is significant by CFL standards because it's the longest issued by Cohon. In fact, only three players have ever served a one-game ban since Cohon succeeded Tom Wright as commissioner in 2007.
"This type of behaviour has no place in our game and will not be tolerated," Cohon said in a statement. "Any play that unnecessarily puts one of our players at risk of serious injury will be met with discipline."
Late in the first half, Rottier's right arm became lodged between Mitchell's arm and body. The six-foot-five, 316-pound defensive tackle violently pulled on Rottier's arm, bending it grotesquely in an unnatural fashion that resulted in the joint being hyperextended.
Rottier immediately dropped to his knee, in obvious pain, and required medical attention. The six-foot-six, 295-pound Rottier, a native of Westlock, Alta., in his first season with Edmonton, left the game and although he returned in the second half, he remained on the sidelines for the rest of the contest.
No penalty was called on the play.
Under terms of the collective bargaining agreement between the CFL and its players, Mitchell can appeal the league's decision.
Following Friday's game, Eskimos offensive lineman Greg Wotj took to social media to express his feeling Mitchell tried to hurt Rottier.
"That was bush league by Khalif Mitchell. Intentionally trying to injure a player .NoClass," Wojt tweeted.
Others followed suit.
"Hope my brother Sim Rottier is OK," Eskimos receiver Tyler Scott tweeted. "No room for dirty players in OUR LEAGUE."
"Khalif Mitchell's snapping of Simeon Rottier's Arm! UNCALLED 4, UNNECESSARY, UNFATHOMABLE, UNFAIR, UNBELIEVABLE & UNQUESTIONABLY DELIBERATE," tweeted TSN football analyst Matt Dunigan, a former CFL player and Canadian Football Hall of Fame member.
"this is football not WWF I could see if it was a hit he intentionally hurt that guy almost broke his elbow!," Winnipeg Blue Bomber Jovon Johnson, the CFL's top defensive player last year, added on his Twitter account.
"So a little tap on a guy's face mask gets you kicked out of the game but breaking a guy's arm intentionally goes without a flag?!?" Hamilton Tiger-Cats offensive lineman Peter Dyakowski also tweeted.
Rottier had X-rays on his arm and the results came back negative Sunday. And while he's not expected to suit up Thursday night in Winnipeg, Rottier has forgiven Mitchell and moved on.
"I knew right away what he was doing . . . it's just an unfortunate thing," Rottier told reporters Sunday. "For myself, I've just forgiven and moving on and I don't want this kind of incident to take away from all the good things we had out there.
"The way it looked it the way it happened, it sure didn't feel good."
CFL suspends Lions' Mitchell two games for injuring opponent
........................................................................................
Players of the Week for Week 4:
Offence
Henry Burris - completed 27 of 30 passes for 360 yards and 4 TDs. Hank tied Jason Maas for the 5th best single-game mark in completion percentage (90%) in CFL history and the highest completion percentage in history with at least 30 attempts.
Defence
Joe Burnett - the Eskimo's CBintercepted BC Lions QB Travis Lulay – twice – including a 108-yard return for a TD in the 4th Q. He also had 3 tackles on the night.
Special Teams
Justin Palardy -had a perfect 5 for 5 FGs on the night and an extra point on a punt to the end zone. Justin had 16 of the Bombers 22 points in their loss to the Argos.
Canadian of the Week
Andy Fantuz (Rock on Andy :smile
-had a game-high 135 yards and 1 TD on 8 receptions during the Ti-Cat win over the Alouettes. The TD he scored in the 4th Q was a crucial turning point for the Hamilton in their bid to stop the Als momentum in the 2nd half. Games of Week 5
Thursday: Edmonton vs Winnipeg 5:30 PM PST/8:30 PM EST
Friday: Toronto vs Montreal 4:30 PM PST/ 7:30 PM EST
Saturday: Hamilton vs Saskatchewan 4:00 PM PST/ 6:00 PM EST
Saturday: BC vs Calgary 6:00 PM PST/ 9:00 PM EST
ROCK ON RIDERS..............GO TEAM GO!
He deserves the suspension, that was tacky and totally uncalled for, he could have broken his arm.
I do believe it was a one-time, heat-of-the-moment action on Mitchell's part, talloola........not making excuses........just that Mitchell does not have a history of such nastiness. I am sure this will send a very firm message to the rest of the players. Good on Mark Cohon for his decision.
Mitchell opts to appeal two game suspension
Posted: July 23, 2012 07:00 PM
Updated: July 24, 2012 02:19 PM
CFL.ca Staff
TORONTO - The Canadian Football League announced today that BC Lions defensive tackle Khalif Mitchell has been suspended for two games.
The discipline is in response to a play in which Mitchell performed an unnecessary, reckless act on Edmonton Eskimo offensive lineman Simeon Rottier during the second quarter of Friday night’s game in Vancouver.
CFL Commissioner Mark Cohon held a hearing late today with Mitchell and a representative of the Canadian Football League Players’ Association via telephone.
“This type of behaviour has no place in our game and will not be tolerated,” Cohon said. “Any play that unnecessarily puts one of our players at risk of serious injury will be met with discipline.”
Mitchell has recorded 4 defensive tackles in as many game so far this season and is coming off a career year in 2011 where he recorded 33 tackles and 6 quarterback sacks.
UPDATE: July 24, 2012 - 2:13pm ET
The Canadian Football League has been informed that British Columbia Lion Khalif Mitchell will be appealing the Commissioner's decision to impose upon him a two game suspension for his actions during a game against the Edmonton Eskimos on Friday, July 20th.
Under the Collective Bargaining Agreement between the CFL and the Canadian Football League Players Association, any player facing league discipline is entitled to appeal to an independent arbitrator.
Best efforts have been made to expedite the process and convene a hearing as soon as possible. But the scheduling of this matter requires the coordination of dates with the arbitrator and the parties involved. The hearing will be scheduled during the week of August 6.
Both parties have agreed to stay the suspension until the conclusion of the hearing, declaring Mitchell eligible to play for the Lions until an arbitrator has delivered his decision.
Out of respect for the process prescribed in the Collective Bargaining Agreement, the Commissioner and the Canadian Football League will have no further public comment on this matter until a hearing has been held and an arbitrator's ruling has been made.
http://www.tsn.ca/cfl/
Edmonton @ Winnipeg - Thursday
By Jeff Krever
Alex Brink will get another crack at showing he can fill in for Buck Pierce as the Bombers are set to play their first home game of 2012 in a grudge match against the Edmonton Eskimos.
The Esks cruised to a 42-10 win in the last meeting, as the Bombers were hit with multiple injuries at running back, quarterback, and in the secondary, but this time around Edmonton should expect to be facing a refocused Bombers squad.
Last week in a close loss to the Argos, the Bombers appeared to have gained some of their swagger back on defence, shutting down league’s rushing leader Cory Boyd and holding the dangerous attack of Ricky Ray out of the end zone through most of the second half.
The Bombers also got a major boost on offence, as running back Chad Simpson made his long-awaited debut after he was forced to sit out the first three games of the season with an injury. Simpson was electric when he touched the ball, on his way to 122 yards from scrimmage on 16 touches.
Winnipeg will need to continue that success this week, as the Eskimos invade town looking to sweep the season series after winning back at Commonwealth two weeks ago.
The Esks boast the league’s stingiest defence heading into Week 5, led by rising star Joe Burnett, who picked Travis Lulay off twice in a surprise win against BC last weekend to send Edmonton to 3-1 on the season.
Expect this game to come down to which offence can protect the football better, as two tough defences are set to square off for the second time.
CFL Field Pass - Game of the Week
Game Time: 5 PM PST/ 8 PM EST
Posted: July 23, 2012 07:00 PM
Updated: July 24, 2012 02:19 PM
CFL.ca Staff
TORONTO - The Canadian Football League announced today that BC Lions defensive tackle Khalif Mitchell has been suspended for two games.
The discipline is in response to a play in which Mitchell performed an unnecessary, reckless act on Edmonton Eskimo offensive lineman Simeon Rottier during the second quarter of Friday night’s game in Vancouver.
CFL Commissioner Mark Cohon held a hearing late today with Mitchell and a representative of the Canadian Football League Players’ Association via telephone.
“This type of behaviour has no place in our game and will not be tolerated,” Cohon said. “Any play that unnecessarily puts one of our players at risk of serious injury will be met with discipline.”
Mitchell has recorded 4 defensive tackles in as many game so far this season and is coming off a career year in 2011 where he recorded 33 tackles and 6 quarterback sacks.
UPDATE: July 24, 2012 - 2:13pm ET
The Canadian Football League has been informed that British Columbia Lion Khalif Mitchell will be appealing the Commissioner's decision to impose upon him a two game suspension for his actions during a game against the Edmonton Eskimos on Friday, July 20th.
Under the Collective Bargaining Agreement between the CFL and the Canadian Football League Players Association, any player facing league discipline is entitled to appeal to an independent arbitrator.
Best efforts have been made to expedite the process and convene a hearing as soon as possible. But the scheduling of this matter requires the coordination of dates with the arbitrator and the parties involved. The hearing will be scheduled during the week of August 6.
Both parties have agreed to stay the suspension until the conclusion of the hearing, declaring Mitchell eligible to play for the Lions until an arbitrator has delivered his decision.
Out of respect for the process prescribed in the Collective Bargaining Agreement, the Commissioner and the Canadian Football League will have no further public comment on this matter until a hearing has been held and an arbitrator's ruling has been made.
http://www.tsn.ca/cfl/
..........................................................................
Edmonton @ Winnipeg - Thursday
By Jeff Krever
Alex Brink will get another crack at showing he can fill in for Buck Pierce as the Bombers are set to play their first home game of 2012 in a grudge match against the Edmonton Eskimos.
The Esks cruised to a 42-10 win in the last meeting, as the Bombers were hit with multiple injuries at running back, quarterback, and in the secondary, but this time around Edmonton should expect to be facing a refocused Bombers squad.
Last week in a close loss to the Argos, the Bombers appeared to have gained some of their swagger back on defence, shutting down league’s rushing leader Cory Boyd and holding the dangerous attack of Ricky Ray out of the end zone through most of the second half.
The Bombers also got a major boost on offence, as running back Chad Simpson made his long-awaited debut after he was forced to sit out the first three games of the season with an injury. Simpson was electric when he touched the ball, on his way to 122 yards from scrimmage on 16 touches.
Winnipeg will need to continue that success this week, as the Eskimos invade town looking to sweep the season series after winning back at Commonwealth two weeks ago.
The Esks boast the league’s stingiest defence heading into Week 5, led by rising star Joe Burnett, who picked Travis Lulay off twice in a surprise win against BC last weekend to send Edmonton to 3-1 on the season.
Expect this game to come down to which offence can protect the football better, as two tough defences are set to square off for the second time.
CFL Field Pass - Game of the Week
Game Time: 5 PM PST/ 8 PM EST
.................................................................
http://www.tsn.ca/cfl/CFL Power Rankings for Week 4
Matthew Cauz| CFL.ca Columnist
Holy lord what a start to the 2012 season! A bunch of shootouts, tons of feuds with QBs and coaches switching sides and so many return touchdowns!
On top of that, for better or worse, this year feels like it will be a season of parity. Personally, I like when each division has one power house, two "more-than-capable" to "very good" teams and two laughing stocks for us to giggle at. But considering the action so far I will not complain.
On to the rankings:
Saskatchewan (3-1)
Despite the OT loss I still have to put the Roughriders atop of my standings. No offence to Edmonton (who I am about to give full props to in a moment) but the Roughriders still have a wider array of methods to beat you with their offence. Saskatchewan was a Weston Dressler-drop away from remaining undefeated.
Edmonton (3-1)
The problem with Edmonton is that we (and by "we" I mean about 90 per cent of the media and fans) really do not respect defence. Oh sure we like to throw out all the usual platitudes about how important defence is, and how we enjoy a good defensive game and how one cannot live on a steady diet of 34-31 affairs. Well you know what? We're all liars. Yes we appreciate a good hit and a dazzling interception but deep down in our heart of hearts we crave high scoring games. That's why it has been hard to take the Eskimos seriously to start the season.
Well, after Hugh Charles & Co. laid a 27-14 smackdown on the Lions I guess it is time to give the Eskimos some much needed respect. Is it wrong that I don't think they will remain this high for too much longer? Is it wrong that I want to get a giant Fat Head of JC Sherritt for my living room?
Calgary (2-2)
How much fun have the Calgary Stampeders been this season? They lose on a last-second field goal to Toronto, suffer a last-second defeat to Montreal and then hang on to a 41-38 win over Saskatchewan.
If I was in charge I would have the Stamps as the team du jour for every game broadcast in the States. By the way is there a quarterback with less of a memory than Kevin Glenn? The guy is like Guy Pearce from 'Memento'.
I saw a couple deep out throws that must have traveled about 40 yards across the field; the ball was in the air for about seven minutes and just looked so dangerous. After his game-ending pick to Montreal the week before you may have thought Glenn would have shied away from certain throws. Instead he put up 385 yards and four touchdowns in a classic bounce-back game.
Hamilton (2-2)
Henry Burris' numbers against Montreal are beyond anything I have seen in a regular season game in years. Seriously. Between Chevon Walker, Chris Williams and Andy Fantuz and a shaky defence that has not hit its stride may I recommend you bet the OVER for every Tiger-Cat game?
BC (2-2)
Sorry BC, I have given you the benefit of the doubt long enough. Beyond some individual acts of excellence you guys have not played well as a team. It is now two games in a row where BC piled up the yards but not the points. That is a contrast to the first two weeks where they scored a lot of points without the offence generating a ton of yardage. We are pased the point of wondering if it is a fluke and now we are on the borders of "what is wrong with Lulay and his offence" territory.
Toronto (2-2)
I'm not going to put much stock in just how ugly that 25-22 win over Winnipeg was. Both teams were coming off short weeks and it showed with the number of penalties and turnovers. Considering all the adversity facing the Bombers, Toronto should have won this game by a much healthier margin. Good to finally see Ricky Ray and Jason Barnes get on the same page. I was a big fan of Barnes in his Edmonton days, especially when Fred Stamps went down with injuries.
Montreal (2-2)
I would be concerned right now if I was an Alouettes fan. Their defence is atrocious, the run game isn't there and the team has yet to register a convincing win. The Alouettes have always been a fast out of the gate kind of a team but their two wins so far have come against Winnipeg and a last second win over Calgary that was ... well I don't want to say "lucky" so let's just say they stole that one ... wait that sounds negative as well ... I'm going with it was a "gutsy" win and of course everyone knows that "gutsy" is code for lucky or a stolen victory.
Winnipeg (0-4)
I am sitting at my cottage enjoying a small glass of wine while overlooking the lake as I write this, thus I am in far too good a mood to make any more snarky comments about a team with a bunch of really good athletes but without the cohesion needed to win. At the very least, Winnipeg gets to play a home regular season game, something they haven't done since before Halloween of last year. Remember the halcyon days of October 2011? No one even knew what the hell a "Carly Rae Jepsen" was. Yeah I'm old.
Matthew Cauz| CFL.ca Columnist
Holy lord what a start to the 2012 season! A bunch of shootouts, tons of feuds with QBs and coaches switching sides and so many return touchdowns!
On top of that, for better or worse, this year feels like it will be a season of parity. Personally, I like when each division has one power house, two "more-than-capable" to "very good" teams and two laughing stocks for us to giggle at. But considering the action so far I will not complain.
On to the rankings:
Saskatchewan (3-1)
Despite the OT loss I still have to put the Roughriders atop of my standings. No offence to Edmonton (who I am about to give full props to in a moment) but the Roughriders still have a wider array of methods to beat you with their offence. Saskatchewan was a Weston Dressler-drop away from remaining undefeated.
Edmonton (3-1)
The problem with Edmonton is that we (and by "we" I mean about 90 per cent of the media and fans) really do not respect defence. Oh sure we like to throw out all the usual platitudes about how important defence is, and how we enjoy a good defensive game and how one cannot live on a steady diet of 34-31 affairs. Well you know what? We're all liars. Yes we appreciate a good hit and a dazzling interception but deep down in our heart of hearts we crave high scoring games. That's why it has been hard to take the Eskimos seriously to start the season.
Well, after Hugh Charles & Co. laid a 27-14 smackdown on the Lions I guess it is time to give the Eskimos some much needed respect. Is it wrong that I don't think they will remain this high for too much longer? Is it wrong that I want to get a giant Fat Head of JC Sherritt for my living room?
Calgary (2-2)
How much fun have the Calgary Stampeders been this season? They lose on a last-second field goal to Toronto, suffer a last-second defeat to Montreal and then hang on to a 41-38 win over Saskatchewan.
If I was in charge I would have the Stamps as the team du jour for every game broadcast in the States. By the way is there a quarterback with less of a memory than Kevin Glenn? The guy is like Guy Pearce from 'Memento'.
I saw a couple deep out throws that must have traveled about 40 yards across the field; the ball was in the air for about seven minutes and just looked so dangerous. After his game-ending pick to Montreal the week before you may have thought Glenn would have shied away from certain throws. Instead he put up 385 yards and four touchdowns in a classic bounce-back game.
Hamilton (2-2)
Henry Burris' numbers against Montreal are beyond anything I have seen in a regular season game in years. Seriously. Between Chevon Walker, Chris Williams and Andy Fantuz and a shaky defence that has not hit its stride may I recommend you bet the OVER for every Tiger-Cat game?
BC (2-2)
Sorry BC, I have given you the benefit of the doubt long enough. Beyond some individual acts of excellence you guys have not played well as a team. It is now two games in a row where BC piled up the yards but not the points. That is a contrast to the first two weeks where they scored a lot of points without the offence generating a ton of yardage. We are pased the point of wondering if it is a fluke and now we are on the borders of "what is wrong with Lulay and his offence" territory.
Toronto (2-2)
I'm not going to put much stock in just how ugly that 25-22 win over Winnipeg was. Both teams were coming off short weeks and it showed with the number of penalties and turnovers. Considering all the adversity facing the Bombers, Toronto should have won this game by a much healthier margin. Good to finally see Ricky Ray and Jason Barnes get on the same page. I was a big fan of Barnes in his Edmonton days, especially when Fred Stamps went down with injuries.
Montreal (2-2)
I would be concerned right now if I was an Alouettes fan. Their defence is atrocious, the run game isn't there and the team has yet to register a convincing win. The Alouettes have always been a fast out of the gate kind of a team but their two wins so far have come against Winnipeg and a last second win over Calgary that was ... well I don't want to say "lucky" so let's just say they stole that one ... wait that sounds negative as well ... I'm going with it was a "gutsy" win and of course everyone knows that "gutsy" is code for lucky or a stolen victory.
Winnipeg (0-4)
I am sitting at my cottage enjoying a small glass of wine while overlooking the lake as I write this, thus I am in far too good a mood to make any more snarky comments about a team with a bunch of really good athletes but without the cohesion needed to win. At the very least, Winnipeg gets to play a home regular season game, something they haven't done since before Halloween of last year. Remember the halcyon days of October 2011? No one even knew what the hell a "Carly Rae Jepsen" was. Yeah I'm old.
that two week period for a decision on the appeal of the suspension, to me is a joke.
just have a quick meeting of the obvious people, make a decision inside of 48 hours, contact
the player and give the answer.
of course the lions had lots to do with the decision to appeal, i'm sure they have gone over
the schedule and decided they need him 'more' for the next two games, than the following two,
hence, an appeal, otherwide they would have told him to suck it up, take his medicine and
don't do it again.
can't imagine this kind of waiting game in the NHL, shanahan would have dealt with the matter
quickly, along with other's input, and sent down the decision.
i'm not blaming the lions for this silliness, they know the rules, and have used strategy to
help the team, but this strategy shouldn't be available.
what if they were having back to back games with edmonton, he would be playing in the next game
against the team which he did he dirty deed, and received the suspension, then would be playing,
senseless.
just the way I see it.
just have a quick meeting of the obvious people, make a decision inside of 48 hours, contact
the player and give the answer.
of course the lions had lots to do with the decision to appeal, i'm sure they have gone over
the schedule and decided they need him 'more' for the next two games, than the following two,
hence, an appeal, otherwide they would have told him to suck it up, take his medicine and
don't do it again.
can't imagine this kind of waiting game in the NHL, shanahan would have dealt with the matter
quickly, along with other's input, and sent down the decision.
i'm not blaming the lions for this silliness, they know the rules, and have used strategy to
help the team, but this strategy shouldn't be available.
what if they were having back to back games with edmonton, he would be playing in the next game
against the team which he did he dirty deed, and received the suspension, then would be playing,
senseless.
just the way I see it.
Good point about the possible back-to-back games, talloola..........hadn't thought of that. I just think the player should not be allowed to play at all until a decision is made one way or another.
I guess so, but then if his appeal is successful, he will have served some games suspension when he shouldn't
have at all.
I think the decision should be prompt, before they play their next game. How hard would that be, you and I
could do it quite easily, and the move was so obvious anyway, just say no to him, and move on, and he will
serve the next two games.
The other thing they could do is say "well, you appealed and played, and were still found in the wrong, thus you get an extra game for the extra hassle".
By the narrowest of margins - a single point - the Winnipeg Blue Bombers managed to win their first game of the season over the Edmonton Eskimos while at home for the first time in Canad Inns Stadium. Forced to play their first 4 games on the road due to unfinished renos on their stadium and dogged by injuries, the Bombers and their fans finally have something to cheer about. And the 13th man came to the fore as boisterous Bomber fans cheered, yelled, banged sicks, blew horns and generally created mayhem for the Eskimo offense.
Most of the first half was a pitched battle of the defenses with neither team having much opportunity for the big score. Steven Jyles was continuously harried by the Winnipeg D and Alex Brink saw two of his throws go for interceptions after having his arm grabbed by Eskimo D-men. It was also a night that saw penalty after penalty being called and confusion on the field by the refs with flags being retrieved for no-calls and the time-clock on the field needing to be reset.
Alex Brink had 26 of 38 completions for 294 yards passing, 57 yards rushing, 2 TDs and 2 interceptions. Steven Jyles completed 16 of his 30 attempts for 244 yards and a fumble which subsequently cost the Eskimos the game. Winnipeg had 402 yards of net offence compared with 333 for the Eskimos.
Final Score: Winnipeg 23 - Edmonton 22
ROCK ON BOMBERS!
Toronto @ Montreal - Friday
By Jeff Krever
Two of the league’s best pure passers are set to meet in a game that will, at least for now, decide who moves to the top of the East Division.
Ricky Ray and Anthony Calvillo are the league’s leading passers in yards heading into this marquee Friday Night Football matchup, which means fans can expect an air show in this one.
The Alouettes are coming off a tough loss to division rival Hamilton, which may be bad news for the Argos, as the Als know how to bounce back after losing. Als fans can also take comfort in the fact that their team will be back at home this weekend, where they sit at 2-0 on the season.
While the legendary Calvillo, at 39 years old, continues to assert his dominance this season with the most passing yards in the CFL and the second-highest quarterback rating among starters, the Als are also a threat on the ground.
Brandon Whitaker was the league’s top rusher a year ago, and he’ll get a chance to regain that dominance against a team that struggled to stop the run a week ago in the Argos.
The Double Blue also have no slouch at quarterback, as Ray comes into the game just behind Calvillo in total passing yards, despite still getting acclimated with a new offence.
It doesn’t hurt that he can lean on the league’s leading rusher, Cory Boyd, who enters Friday with the most yards, most carries, and the second-highest average behind only Andrew Harris.
The focus in this one will clearly be on the two starting pivots, but the game could very well be decided on the ground, between Boyd and Whitaker.
TSN CFL News & Scores | Team Standings | CFL Schedules | Highlights
Game time: 4:30 PM PST/ 7:30 PM EST
GO, ARGOS, GO!
Most of the first half was a pitched battle of the defenses with neither team having much opportunity for the big score. Steven Jyles was continuously harried by the Winnipeg D and Alex Brink saw two of his throws go for interceptions after having his arm grabbed by Eskimo D-men. It was also a night that saw penalty after penalty being called and confusion on the field by the refs with flags being retrieved for no-calls and the time-clock on the field needing to be reset.
Alex Brink had 26 of 38 completions for 294 yards passing, 57 yards rushing, 2 TDs and 2 interceptions. Steven Jyles completed 16 of his 30 attempts for 244 yards and a fumble which subsequently cost the Eskimos the game. Winnipeg had 402 yards of net offence compared with 333 for the Eskimos.
Final Score: Winnipeg 23 - Edmonton 22
ROCK ON BOMBERS!
Toronto @ Montreal - Friday
By Jeff Krever
Two of the league’s best pure passers are set to meet in a game that will, at least for now, decide who moves to the top of the East Division.
Ricky Ray and Anthony Calvillo are the league’s leading passers in yards heading into this marquee Friday Night Football matchup, which means fans can expect an air show in this one.
The Alouettes are coming off a tough loss to division rival Hamilton, which may be bad news for the Argos, as the Als know how to bounce back after losing. Als fans can also take comfort in the fact that their team will be back at home this weekend, where they sit at 2-0 on the season.
While the legendary Calvillo, at 39 years old, continues to assert his dominance this season with the most passing yards in the CFL and the second-highest quarterback rating among starters, the Als are also a threat on the ground.
Brandon Whitaker was the league’s top rusher a year ago, and he’ll get a chance to regain that dominance against a team that struggled to stop the run a week ago in the Argos.
The Double Blue also have no slouch at quarterback, as Ray comes into the game just behind Calvillo in total passing yards, despite still getting acclimated with a new offence.
It doesn’t hurt that he can lean on the league’s leading rusher, Cory Boyd, who enters Friday with the most yards, most carries, and the second-highest average behind only Andrew Harris.
The focus in this one will clearly be on the two starting pivots, but the game could very well be decided on the ground, between Boyd and Whitaker.
TSN CFL News & Scores | Team Standings | CFL Schedules | Highlights
Game time: 4:30 PM PST/ 7:30 PM EST
GO, ARGOS, GO!
It was Scott Milanovich’s first trip back to Montreal as the new head coach for the Toronto Argonauts..........and he will come away with happy memories and another win under his belt.
Rickie Ray has found a home with the Argonauts – he played like the Ray of old tonight......calm, decisive and showing a masterful display of passing ability. Ray had 20 receptions for 280 yards and 2 TDs. His best play of the night came early in the 1rst after Montreal’s Sean Whyte put 3 on the board for the Als. It took Rickie just two plays to get the Argo's there via a 38 yard pass to Dontrelle Inman followed by a 32 yard strike to Chad Owens for the TD.
Chad Owens had a special night of his own while helping his team to the 23 to 20 win over the Montreal Alouettes. Owens had 97-yards on seven-receptions for two touchdowns.
Cory Boyd, Spencer Watt, Dontrelle Inman, Jason Barnes and Chandler Williams (who had a spectacular 54-yard grab), also had catches on the night for the Argos.
I don’t know what to say about Swayze Waters.........the guy is simply outstanding. His first kick from the 15 was child’s play for the young kicker who went on to boot a 54 yarder and a 50 yarder.
Anthony Calvillo connected for large gains on several of his passes but also overthrew his receivers on several occasions. The entire Montreal O seemed to be off at times with miscues in the backfield. The Montreal defence played much better than on previous outings ......but it took 2 quarters for them to do so.
Brandon Whittaker had his best game of the season before an injury took him to the dressing room. He would return early in the 3rd but his first catch would result in a fumble/turn-over for the Argos.
Brandon London, SJ Green, Jamal Richardson, Diedrick (replacing Whittaker), Lavoie, and Anderson also had touches on the night for the Als.
Penalties again played far too big a role in the outcome of the game especially those taken when the opposing team was set to punt the ball. Both teams were guilty of taking 10 to 15 yarders – everything from objectionable conduct, roughing the passer, illegal blocks to unnecessary roughness............and those were only the ones the refs caught. As was witnessed on replays during the game.......each side got away with a couple that could have cost them dearly.
After the defensive slug-fest of the Bomber vs Edmonton game, it was refreshing to see the offence come to the fore. There were several displays of aerial agility which had fans gasping in delight.
Rickie Ray has found a home with the Argonauts – he played like the Ray of old tonight......calm, decisive and showing a masterful display of passing ability. Ray had 20 receptions for 280 yards and 2 TDs. His best play of the night came early in the 1rst after Montreal’s Sean Whyte put 3 on the board for the Als. It took Rickie just two plays to get the Argo's there via a 38 yard pass to Dontrelle Inman followed by a 32 yard strike to Chad Owens for the TD.
Chad Owens had a special night of his own while helping his team to the 23 to 20 win over the Montreal Alouettes. Owens had 97-yards on seven-receptions for two touchdowns.
Cory Boyd, Spencer Watt, Dontrelle Inman, Jason Barnes and Chandler Williams (who had a spectacular 54-yard grab), also had catches on the night for the Argos.
I don’t know what to say about Swayze Waters.........the guy is simply outstanding. His first kick from the 15 was child’s play for the young kicker who went on to boot a 54 yarder and a 50 yarder.
Anthony Calvillo connected for large gains on several of his passes but also overthrew his receivers on several occasions. The entire Montreal O seemed to be off at times with miscues in the backfield. The Montreal defence played much better than on previous outings ......but it took 2 quarters for them to do so.
Brandon Whittaker had his best game of the season before an injury took him to the dressing room. He would return early in the 3rd but his first catch would result in a fumble/turn-over for the Argos.
Brandon London, SJ Green, Jamal Richardson, Diedrick (replacing Whittaker), Lavoie, and Anderson also had touches on the night for the Als.
Penalties again played far too big a role in the outcome of the game especially those taken when the opposing team was set to punt the ball. Both teams were guilty of taking 10 to 15 yarders – everything from objectionable conduct, roughing the passer, illegal blocks to unnecessary roughness............and those were only the ones the refs caught. As was witnessed on replays during the game.......each side got away with a couple that could have cost them dearly.
After the defensive slug-fest of the Bomber vs Edmonton game, it was refreshing to see the offence come to the fore. There were several displays of aerial agility which had fans gasping in delight.
Rock on Argos...............way to go Scott!
I was glad to see winnipeg hang on to get the win, now they're on the board with points, good for them.
Hamilton @ Saskatchewan - Saturday
By Jeff Krever
As Andy Fantuz gets set to play his first game back at Mosaic Stadium in a Ticats uniform, the Hamilton Tiger-Cats will look to return the favour this weekend to the Roughriders who took the first contest between these two in Week 1.
The Riders, of course, will be ready though, especially after letting a shot at a 4-0 record against Calgary last weekend slip through their fingers. Saskatchewan did all the right things for the majority of the game, looking poised to continue their hot start to the season.
This week it’ll be about playing the full 60 minutes, as the Riders boast possibly the league’s most complete, balanced team through four games.
It wasn’t until Week 4 that the Green Riders turned the ball over for the very first time, and it was a late interception by Durant that wound up forcing the game to overtime.
The Ticats, meanwhile, are led by the hottest quarterback in the league right now, Henry Burris.
Burris had a rough go against the Riders in Week 1, but last week had the performance of a lifetime, completing 27 of 30 passing attempts for 360 yards and four touchdowns. That makes him the league’s highest-rated starter, with a passer rating of 113.9.
One thing’s for sure, both teams have all the tools to be successful on offence, which means Week 5’s grudge match could shape up to be a classic.
http://image.exct.net/lib/feec17767d6d0d/m/1/gow_725.html
The second game of the double-header:
BC @ Calgary - Saturday
By Jeff Krever
It’s been quite a rollercoaster ride for both the Lions and Stampeders this season, and regardless of the result on Saturday, it seems as though that will continue.
Both teams are 2-2 coming in, although they’ve taken quite different routes to get there. The Lions started 2-0 with high-scoring home wins over Winnipeg and Hamilton, before falling on the road to Saskatchewan and then losing their first home game to Edmonton since moving into a renovated BC Place.
The Stamps, meanwhile, fell to 1-2 after losing Drew Tate to a shoulder injury that will seemingly keep him out for most of the season, but bounced back last week in super impressive fashion by erasing a 17-point fourth quarter deficit to topple the league’s only remaining undefeated team in overtime.
For BC, having success on Saturday will depend on getting the offence back on track, which has been held at bay in back to back weeks for the first time since last year’s Grey Cup run. The defence has been and should continue to be strong for the Lions, meaning it’ll be up to last year’s Most Outstanding Player Travis Lulay to right the ship.
The Stamps, meanwhile, are now led by veteran quarterback Kevin Glenn, who enters Saturday with 191 CFL games under his belt. The 33-year-old, in his first season with the Stamps, showed that veteran savvy last weekend, after engineering a fourth-quarter comeback that Stamps fans will likely never forget.
This weekend, Calgary will hope to catch more of that magic, with two big points up for grabs in the standings.
http://image.exct.net/lib/feec17767d6d0d/m/1/gow_725.html
Game times are:
Hamilton @ Sask - 3 PM PST/ 6 PM EST
BC @ Calgary 6 PM PST/ 9 PM EST
ROCK ON RIDERS............GO, TEAM, GO!
By Jeff Krever
As Andy Fantuz gets set to play his first game back at Mosaic Stadium in a Ticats uniform, the Hamilton Tiger-Cats will look to return the favour this weekend to the Roughriders who took the first contest between these two in Week 1.
The Riders, of course, will be ready though, especially after letting a shot at a 4-0 record against Calgary last weekend slip through their fingers. Saskatchewan did all the right things for the majority of the game, looking poised to continue their hot start to the season.
This week it’ll be about playing the full 60 minutes, as the Riders boast possibly the league’s most complete, balanced team through four games.
It wasn’t until Week 4 that the Green Riders turned the ball over for the very first time, and it was a late interception by Durant that wound up forcing the game to overtime.
The Ticats, meanwhile, are led by the hottest quarterback in the league right now, Henry Burris.
Burris had a rough go against the Riders in Week 1, but last week had the performance of a lifetime, completing 27 of 30 passing attempts for 360 yards and four touchdowns. That makes him the league’s highest-rated starter, with a passer rating of 113.9.
One thing’s for sure, both teams have all the tools to be successful on offence, which means Week 5’s grudge match could shape up to be a classic.
http://image.exct.net/lib/feec17767d6d0d/m/1/gow_725.html
The second game of the double-header:
BC @ Calgary - Saturday
By Jeff Krever
It’s been quite a rollercoaster ride for both the Lions and Stampeders this season, and regardless of the result on Saturday, it seems as though that will continue.
Both teams are 2-2 coming in, although they’ve taken quite different routes to get there. The Lions started 2-0 with high-scoring home wins over Winnipeg and Hamilton, before falling on the road to Saskatchewan and then losing their first home game to Edmonton since moving into a renovated BC Place.
The Stamps, meanwhile, fell to 1-2 after losing Drew Tate to a shoulder injury that will seemingly keep him out for most of the season, but bounced back last week in super impressive fashion by erasing a 17-point fourth quarter deficit to topple the league’s only remaining undefeated team in overtime.
For BC, having success on Saturday will depend on getting the offence back on track, which has been held at bay in back to back weeks for the first time since last year’s Grey Cup run. The defence has been and should continue to be strong for the Lions, meaning it’ll be up to last year’s Most Outstanding Player Travis Lulay to right the ship.
The Stamps, meanwhile, are now led by veteran quarterback Kevin Glenn, who enters Saturday with 191 CFL games under his belt. The 33-year-old, in his first season with the Stamps, showed that veteran savvy last weekend, after engineering a fourth-quarter comeback that Stamps fans will likely never forget.
This weekend, Calgary will hope to catch more of that magic, with two big points up for grabs in the standings.
http://image.exct.net/lib/feec17767d6d0d/m/1/gow_725.html
Game times are:
Hamilton @ Sask - 3 PM PST/ 6 PM EST
BC @ Calgary 6 PM PST/ 9 PM EST
ROCK ON RIDERS............GO, TEAM, GO!
Came home to see the last two minutes of the sask/ham game, sask missed a field goal, and hamilton hung
on to take the win by one, another one goal game, pretty exciting, but not for sask.
go lions go
lions ahead of calgary at the half - 13-5
on to take the win by one, another one goal game, pretty exciting, but not for sask.
go lions go
lions ahead of calgary at the half - 13-5