OK, now I'm confused. According to the CFL website, the Riders are in the Eastern Division playoffs.
Is this a screwup, or am I missing something?
Is this a screwup, or am I missing something?
Cfl 2017
- Thread starter Tecumsehsbones
- Start date
Nope. It is CFL rules. "If the fourth-place team in division A has more points, not tied, than the third-place team in division B, the fourth-place team will cross over to division B, replace the third place team in division A, and compete against the second-place team of that division."
The Argos are playing the luckless Lions tonight and the outcome of the game will decide which Eastern team we will play next week. It is another way of trying to advance to the Cup. Meanwhile, in the West we can hope that the Bombers and the Esks beat the livin' bejaysus out of each other next week sidelining the majority of their best players until way after the Cup. Whoever emerges from those skirmishes will be battered and bloody and well softened up............putty in the hands of my Riders.
Oh, right. That's the rule right before the one about doing the hokey-pokey during timeouts.
Yes, well...........it works both ways. Eastern teams have crossed over into our division when teams in the West have had particularly bad years though Western cross-overs outnumber Eastern ones. And now that I have you completely confused, I'll bid you adieu.
www.msn.com/en-ca/news/canada/winnipeg-mayor-wants-eskimos-to-change-name
Can't help but find the timing of this more than a little suspect considering that the Esks will be in Winnipeg to play the Bombers in the Western semi-final this weekend.
Can't help but find the timing of this more than a little suspect considering that the Esks will be in Winnipeg to play the Bombers in the Western semi-final this weekend.
This kinda reminds me of when the NCAA (the college athletic organization) got all politically correct and made a rule that all member colleges must eliminate all "racist" team names, images, mascots, &c.
Well, Florida State University (the Seminoles) were not happy. Turns out, neither were the Seminoles. The NCAA received letters from the President of the Seminole Nation and the traditional chief of the Seminoles, saying, basically, "We like the name, we consider it respectful, we like Florida State, we want them to keep the name, logo, and mascot, and as the only tribe that never surrendered to the U.S. government, we DEMAND that you make an exception to your silly-ass rule for Florida State."
The NCAA, wisely in my opinion, acquiesced.
What business does a Metis have making demands on behalf of Inuit anyhow? It's like a German getting upset on behalf of the French if you name your team the Fighting Frogs. To say that this guy has an interest because "they're all natives" is like saying that a Swede can have an interest in the local doings of a Greek fishing village because "they're all Europeans."
"I think there’s an opportunity to have a more inclusive name," he said. "That's ultimately a decision for the team, though."
Really, Brian, the Edmonton Eskimos get to decide whether or not they'll keep their name? And you don't get the final say.......ah...poor you. What a twit.
That is what we are seeing more and more of in Canada, Tec. They are all brothers and sisters and all share in the same grievances.
Good on the Seminole Nation.
I wonder what the Bombers think about the dubious timing. I was going to cheer for them but have changed my mind and will support the Esks.
"In response, the Edmonton franchise changed its name to the Redskins."
-- News Item I'd Freakin' LOVE To See
Speaking of the Esquimaux...
I love the new stadium.
Hopefully I can proudly hold the cup again this fall.
From 2013:
I love the new stadium.
Hopefully I can proudly hold the cup again this fall.
From 2013:
Speaking of the Esquimaux...
I love the new stadium.
Hopefully I can proudly hold the cup again this fall.
From 2013:
Beauty.
AAAARGH! My beloved RougeBlacks vs. my formerly-beloved Roughriders!
I've got jerseys from both teams!
This is like having your ex show up at your wedding! With your best man!
I've got jerseys from both teams!
This is like having your ex show up at your wedding! With your best man!
I was so happy for the RBs when they won the Cup last year, Tec. It was great for the team and great for the league ........and best of all they whupped the Stamps who came into the game with an almost perfect season record. It was glorious and wonderful and grand.
This year it will be our turn to vie for the prize.
GO RIDERS..............GO RIDER NATION.
Breaking down the Riders and Redblacks
What can the Saskatchewan Roughriders and Ottawa Redblacks do for an encore?
The CFL teams produced a pair of down-to-the-wire games in the regular season, with each squad winning by a single point on the road.
The stakes are higher now with Riders and Redblacks to meet Sunday in Ottawa in the East Division semi-final. The winner advances to the East final on Nov. 19 against the host Toronto Argonauts.
Leading up to Sunday’s playoff opener (noon CST), here’s a position-by-position breakdown of the Riders and Redblacks:
HEAD COACHES
Sunday’s semi-final features the victorious head coaches from the 2015 and 2016 Grey Cup games. Chris Jones, now Saskatchewan’s head coach, guided the Edmonton Eskimos to a 26-20 win over the Rick Campbell-coached Redblacks in the 2015 Grey Cup game. Campbell led the Redblacks to a 39-33 overtime win over the Calgary Stampeders in the 2016 championship game.
The similarities extend to 2017. Jones and Campbell both helped their teams rebound from slow starts and earn berths in the East Division semifinal. Campbell is a three-time winner of the Grey Cup. Jones has reached the playoffs in 15 of his 16 seasons in the CFL and won the Grey Cup four times. Jones and Campbell both have one Grey Cup victory as a head coach. Jones gives Saskatchewan the edge simply because he is also at the controls of one of the league’s better defences. Advantage: Saskatchewan.
QUARTERBACKS
The Riders will continue with Kevin Glenn starting at quarterback and Brandon Bridge coming off the bench if necessary. Bridge provides a change of pace, but lacks playoff experience. Glenn, by contrast, has started 11 playoff games over his 17-year career. Whether he’s around to finish Sunday’s game remains to be determined.
Ottawa’s Trevor Harris has been among the league’s hottest quarterbacks since returning from a shoulder injury. He has 955 passing yards and seven touchdown passes in his last three games. Sunday’s start will be his first in the playoffs, but the six-year veteran is ready to step up. Advantage: Ottawa.
RECEIVERS
Duron Carter, Naaman Roosevelt and Bakari Grant each surpassed 1,000 receiving yards and helped the Riders lead the CFL in aerial touchdowns (35). Carter has been at his best against the Redblacks, with 16 receptions for 320 yards in two games.
The loss of slotback Brad Sinopoli to a season-ending shoulder injury was a blow to the Redblacks. Greg Ellingson remains their best receiver, with a team-leading 1,459 receiving yards and 12 touchdown catches. Diontae Spencer finished with 922 receiving yards and seven touchdowns. The Riders get the advantage due to the one-two punch of Carter and Roosevelt and the overall depth.
Advantage: Saskatchewan.
RUNNING BACKS
Jones said Friday that he will start the healthiest players in Ottawa. That would seem to open the door for Marcus Thigpen to see action for the second consecutive game. The Riders’ other American tailbacks, Cameron Marshall and Trent Richardson, have battled injuries. With ratio considerations in mind, national Kienan LaFrance — who helped Ottawa win the Grey Cup last year — could also be a factor.
Ottawa’s William Powell was dominant in the Riders’ 18-17 win on Sept. 29, rushing for 187 yards. The Riders limited Powell to 10 carries for 58 yards in Ottawa’s 33-32 win at Mosaic Stadium on Oct. 13. That was largely due to Ottawa falling behind early and having to throw the ball. Powell gives Ottawa the edge. Advantage: Ottawa.
OFFENSIVE LINE
The Riders will be without Brendon LaBatte, who is sidelined with an injury to his left leg. LaBatte started 18 regular-season games and split time between guard and centre. Derek Dennis, who began the season at left tackle, is expected to start at left guard. It’s only one position switch, but the Riders will be hard pressed to replace LaBatte’s leadership.
Ottawa’s offensive line has steadily improved since allowing a league-high 30 sacks over its first 12 games. Ottawa has allowed only three sacks in its last six contests. The possible return of tackle SirVincent Rogers, the CFL’s most outstanding offensive lineman in 2015, from injury makes the offensive line even stronger. Advantage: Ottawa.
DEFENSIVE LINE
Defensive end Willie Jefferson led the Riders with eight sacks and paced the CFL with 37 quarterback pressures. He can disrupt an offence with his speed, athleticism and at, 6-foot-6, size.
Ottawa doesn’t have a disruptive force like Jefferson, but can still bring pressure. Ottawa was fourth in the CFL with 110 quarterback pressures, four more than the Riders. Jefferson can influence a game by himself and his presence tips the scales. Advantage: Saskatchewan.
LINEBACKERS
Middle linebacker Henoc Muamba led the Riders with 82 defensive tackles and added two interceptions. Injuries have contributed to changes among the outside linebackers, but Derrick Moncrief and Jeff Knox Jr. have filled in nicely.
Taylor Reed, Ottawa’s middle linebacker, led the his team with 95 defensive tackles. Jerrell Gavins, Ottawa’s strong-side linebacker, won’t play after suffering a season-ending knee injury during practice. Nick Taylor has filled in for Gavins. The Riders have another edge here due to the performances of Muamba, Knox and Moncrief down the stretch. Advantage: Saskatchewan.
DEFENSIVE BACKS
The improved performance of the Riders’ defensive backfield is connected to Ed Gainey, who leads the CFL with 10 interceptions.
Safety Antoine Pruneau leads the Redblacks with four interceptions. He has been a steadying force because the Redblacks have three rookies in the secondary — Corey Tindal, Winston Rose and Sherrod Baltimore. Jonathan Rose’s only two interceptions of the season were against Glenn. Still, Saskatchewan’s experience will be the difference. Advantage: Saskatchewan.
SPECIAL TEAMS
Christion Jones was a spark for the Riders with two punt-return touchdowns (including a game-changer in Ottawa) in just nine games. Tyler Crapigna started slowly, with a crucial miss in each of the Riders’ first two games, but recovered to finish the season with an 86-per -cent success rate on field goals. The Riders’ coverage teams are led by Denzel Radford (24 special-teams tackles).
Spencer is a dynamic returner and can also break open a game. Ottawa’s coverage teams are solid and paced by Keelan Johnson, who led the CFL with 29 special-teams tackles. Brett Maher had a success rate of 82 per cent on field goals and led the CFL with a net punting average of 36.2 yards. The Riders have a slight advantage due to Crapigna’s success rate on field goals. Advantage: Saskatchewan.
INTANGIBLES
No West Division team has crossed over to the East Division for the playoffs and made the Grey Cup game since the format was installed in 1996. That could change this season because the Riders were 6-2-0 against East Division teams and swept a two-game road swing by winning in Ottawa and Toronto.
Home field hasn’t been a huge advantage for Ottawa, which is 3-5-1 at TD Place Stadium. That shouldn’t matter as the crowd will be behind the Redblacks and their quest to be the East’s representative at home in the 2017 Grey Cup game. Advantage: Ottawa.
Breaking down the Riders and Redblacks | Regina Leader-Post
Keys to the game as I see them. Establish running game early. Keep constant pressure on Trevor Harris. Have the hook ready if Glenn falters. Take advantage of TOs. With only one challenge, Jones needs to be cautious when deciding to throw the flag - he's not been very successful this year so making sure it is winnable and hopefully not early in the game will be very important.
As for the intangibles, Ed Gainey - our Ball Hawk and Christion Jones our punt-returner could be difference makers in the game. May it be so.
What can the Saskatchewan Roughriders and Ottawa Redblacks do for an encore?
The CFL teams produced a pair of down-to-the-wire games in the regular season, with each squad winning by a single point on the road.
The stakes are higher now with Riders and Redblacks to meet Sunday in Ottawa in the East Division semi-final. The winner advances to the East final on Nov. 19 against the host Toronto Argonauts.
Leading up to Sunday’s playoff opener (noon CST), here’s a position-by-position breakdown of the Riders and Redblacks:
HEAD COACHES
Sunday’s semi-final features the victorious head coaches from the 2015 and 2016 Grey Cup games. Chris Jones, now Saskatchewan’s head coach, guided the Edmonton Eskimos to a 26-20 win over the Rick Campbell-coached Redblacks in the 2015 Grey Cup game. Campbell led the Redblacks to a 39-33 overtime win over the Calgary Stampeders in the 2016 championship game.
The similarities extend to 2017. Jones and Campbell both helped their teams rebound from slow starts and earn berths in the East Division semifinal. Campbell is a three-time winner of the Grey Cup. Jones has reached the playoffs in 15 of his 16 seasons in the CFL and won the Grey Cup four times. Jones and Campbell both have one Grey Cup victory as a head coach. Jones gives Saskatchewan the edge simply because he is also at the controls of one of the league’s better defences. Advantage: Saskatchewan.
QUARTERBACKS
The Riders will continue with Kevin Glenn starting at quarterback and Brandon Bridge coming off the bench if necessary. Bridge provides a change of pace, but lacks playoff experience. Glenn, by contrast, has started 11 playoff games over his 17-year career. Whether he’s around to finish Sunday’s game remains to be determined.
Ottawa’s Trevor Harris has been among the league’s hottest quarterbacks since returning from a shoulder injury. He has 955 passing yards and seven touchdown passes in his last three games. Sunday’s start will be his first in the playoffs, but the six-year veteran is ready to step up. Advantage: Ottawa.
RECEIVERS
Duron Carter, Naaman Roosevelt and Bakari Grant each surpassed 1,000 receiving yards and helped the Riders lead the CFL in aerial touchdowns (35). Carter has been at his best against the Redblacks, with 16 receptions for 320 yards in two games.
The loss of slotback Brad Sinopoli to a season-ending shoulder injury was a blow to the Redblacks. Greg Ellingson remains their best receiver, with a team-leading 1,459 receiving yards and 12 touchdown catches. Diontae Spencer finished with 922 receiving yards and seven touchdowns. The Riders get the advantage due to the one-two punch of Carter and Roosevelt and the overall depth.
Advantage: Saskatchewan.
RUNNING BACKS
Jones said Friday that he will start the healthiest players in Ottawa. That would seem to open the door for Marcus Thigpen to see action for the second consecutive game. The Riders’ other American tailbacks, Cameron Marshall and Trent Richardson, have battled injuries. With ratio considerations in mind, national Kienan LaFrance — who helped Ottawa win the Grey Cup last year — could also be a factor.
Ottawa’s William Powell was dominant in the Riders’ 18-17 win on Sept. 29, rushing for 187 yards. The Riders limited Powell to 10 carries for 58 yards in Ottawa’s 33-32 win at Mosaic Stadium on Oct. 13. That was largely due to Ottawa falling behind early and having to throw the ball. Powell gives Ottawa the edge. Advantage: Ottawa.
OFFENSIVE LINE
The Riders will be without Brendon LaBatte, who is sidelined with an injury to his left leg. LaBatte started 18 regular-season games and split time between guard and centre. Derek Dennis, who began the season at left tackle, is expected to start at left guard. It’s only one position switch, but the Riders will be hard pressed to replace LaBatte’s leadership.
Ottawa’s offensive line has steadily improved since allowing a league-high 30 sacks over its first 12 games. Ottawa has allowed only three sacks in its last six contests. The possible return of tackle SirVincent Rogers, the CFL’s most outstanding offensive lineman in 2015, from injury makes the offensive line even stronger. Advantage: Ottawa.
DEFENSIVE LINE
Defensive end Willie Jefferson led the Riders with eight sacks and paced the CFL with 37 quarterback pressures. He can disrupt an offence with his speed, athleticism and at, 6-foot-6, size.
Ottawa doesn’t have a disruptive force like Jefferson, but can still bring pressure. Ottawa was fourth in the CFL with 110 quarterback pressures, four more than the Riders. Jefferson can influence a game by himself and his presence tips the scales. Advantage: Saskatchewan.
LINEBACKERS
Middle linebacker Henoc Muamba led the Riders with 82 defensive tackles and added two interceptions. Injuries have contributed to changes among the outside linebackers, but Derrick Moncrief and Jeff Knox Jr. have filled in nicely.
Taylor Reed, Ottawa’s middle linebacker, led the his team with 95 defensive tackles. Jerrell Gavins, Ottawa’s strong-side linebacker, won’t play after suffering a season-ending knee injury during practice. Nick Taylor has filled in for Gavins. The Riders have another edge here due to the performances of Muamba, Knox and Moncrief down the stretch. Advantage: Saskatchewan.
DEFENSIVE BACKS
The improved performance of the Riders’ defensive backfield is connected to Ed Gainey, who leads the CFL with 10 interceptions.
Safety Antoine Pruneau leads the Redblacks with four interceptions. He has been a steadying force because the Redblacks have three rookies in the secondary — Corey Tindal, Winston Rose and Sherrod Baltimore. Jonathan Rose’s only two interceptions of the season were against Glenn. Still, Saskatchewan’s experience will be the difference. Advantage: Saskatchewan.
SPECIAL TEAMS
Christion Jones was a spark for the Riders with two punt-return touchdowns (including a game-changer in Ottawa) in just nine games. Tyler Crapigna started slowly, with a crucial miss in each of the Riders’ first two games, but recovered to finish the season with an 86-per -cent success rate on field goals. The Riders’ coverage teams are led by Denzel Radford (24 special-teams tackles).
Spencer is a dynamic returner and can also break open a game. Ottawa’s coverage teams are solid and paced by Keelan Johnson, who led the CFL with 29 special-teams tackles. Brett Maher had a success rate of 82 per cent on field goals and led the CFL with a net punting average of 36.2 yards. The Riders have a slight advantage due to Crapigna’s success rate on field goals. Advantage: Saskatchewan.
INTANGIBLES
No West Division team has crossed over to the East Division for the playoffs and made the Grey Cup game since the format was installed in 1996. That could change this season because the Riders were 6-2-0 against East Division teams and swept a two-game road swing by winning in Ottawa and Toronto.
Home field hasn’t been a huge advantage for Ottawa, which is 3-5-1 at TD Place Stadium. That shouldn’t matter as the crowd will be behind the Redblacks and their quest to be the East’s representative at home in the 2017 Grey Cup game. Advantage: Ottawa.
Breaking down the Riders and Redblacks | Regina Leader-Post
Keys to the game as I see them. Establish running game early. Keep constant pressure on Trevor Harris. Have the hook ready if Glenn falters. Take advantage of TOs. With only one challenge, Jones needs to be cautious when deciding to throw the flag - he's not been very successful this year so making sure it is winnable and hopefully not early in the game will be very important.
As for the intangibles, Ed Gainey - our Ball Hawk and Christion Jones our punt-returner could be difference makers in the game. May it be so.
I forgot to pick up some green face paint so thought I would just use guacamole. LOL