GDT Cgy at Ott, Thu July 31, 6:30PM

[J5V]

I can understand CGY's O looking bad.  No qb.  2/3rds of the real RECs out.  OTT saying "no run".

But why did CGY's D look so bad?  This is still OTT they were facing.  I just don't get it.

The ToP was pretty even, so there's no "tired" excuse.  This is the CGY D that even the best teams had trouble moving the ball against.  This is the CGY D that made us a laughing stock.

So how could this D suddenly be so bad that OTT(!!) was effortlessly moving the ball for TDs (until OTT shifted to prevent-O)?  OTT!  Once again: OTT!

Yep. A complete mystery to me as well but quite a few of us (not me unfortunately) saw this RB victory coming. 

Did I hear correctly that this is something like 5 RB wins in a row against the Stamps? If true that's crazy!

[Big Daddy]

Agree and one of my peeves is due to my belief (tinfoil hat time) that the officials think it is their job to call the game ensuring a level of "parity" across the league. We've been victim of that many times in the last 5 years, IMO.

Tinfoil hat or no, it does seem that way.

Today's game seemed to fall in Ottawa's favor for calls.  Commentary didn't pick up on it (of course).  There were two intentional grounding incidents by Brown that were never even discussed.  They may not have been actual penalties, I didn't rewind to look exactly.  The first was discussed a bit and said there was someone in the area (not good enough to negate the grounding, but also not enough to overturn on replay), but the second never got mentioned at all and was probably worse.

[Throw Long Bannatyne]

Fairly impressive performance from Ottawa, Bombers can't afford to take them lightly when they show up in 2 weels as they completely shut down the Stamps run game.  Hopefully Zach is back before then. 

Dru Brown should not be left alone with an empty backfield, he needs constant protection as almost every game he gets thrown around like a rag-doll a couple of times. He plays like a very small QB, sort of reminds me of Kevin Glenn in that way.  Remember whenever Glenn was cornered he'd turtle to avoid absorbing damage, not the worst strategy if you want to remain healthy.

[dd]

As long as the ball is thrown beyond the LOS, there doesn't have to be a player in the area, and is no foul

[TecnoGenius]

There were two intentional grounding incidents by Brown that were never even discussed.

CFL will allow you to avoid IG if any eligible is anywhere even remotely around the play, especially if they're looking for the ball.

That said, the one that Dru shoveled forward really looked like IG to me.  Ya, an eligible was 5Y away, but Dru was just shoveling it to get it away from himself before the sack.  (Oh ya, and of course, it was nowhere near passing the LoS.)

I too get the impression the refs wanted to help OTT not be embarrassed again (and at home).  Every iffy thing went their way.  Every iffy thing went against CGY.  It doesn't have to be a grand conspiracy either: a couple of homer or east-biased refs could just give OTT that extra bit of leeway.

[bunker]

Obviously a rough game for PJ Walker, but I can see why Dickenson was interested in him. He's got a strong arm, and good escapability in the pocket. He needs to be more accurate with his throws and improve his reading of a defence, but he's had limited exposure to CFL defences. Be interesting to see if he develops up here or not.

[TecnoGenius]

As long as the ball is thrown beyond the LOS, there doesn't have to be a player in the area, and is no foul

The examples cited were nowhere near reaching the LoS.

[TecnoGenius]

Fairly impressive performance from Ottawa, Bombers can't afford to take them lightly when they show up in 2 weels as they completely shut down the Stamps run game.  Hopefully Zach is back before then. 

I'm not sure WPG can keep up with any team right now.  Maybe EDM.  Maybe.  OTT playing like that will eviscerate us in our current state.

And us vs a good team?   Pffft, that will be a laugh and a half!

[J5V]

I'm not sure WPG can keep up with any team right now.  Maybe EDM.  Maybe.  OTT playing like that will eviscerate us in our current state.

And us vs a good team?  Pffft, that will be a laugh and a half!

That's a pretty gloomy take on the state of our club. You could be right but I'm hoping against it. We may surprise you yet.  

[TecnoGenius]

That's a pretty gloomy take on the state of our club. You could be right but I'm hoping against it. We may surprise you yet. 

Well, the only solution is change.  And we've started that process, with lots of movement at many positions.  That's a first step.  I have total faith that enough strategic changes will get us to that cup this year.  I've listed them out elsewhere, like 2-4 guys/positions tops.

[Throw Long Bannatyne]

Obviously a rough game for PJ Walker, but I can see why Dickenson was interested in him. He's got a strong arm, and good escapability in the pocket. He needs to be more accurate with his throws and improve his reading of a defence, but he's had limited exposure to CFL defences. Be interesting to see if he develops up here or not.

The history of the CFL is littered with athletic QB prospects like PJ Walker, mobile QB's with great arms who never figure out how to read a defence properly. A bit early to write him off for sure as some eventually graduate like VA did, but most never figure it out and forever remain super athletic SY backups like Kyrie Adams, Caleb Evans, Taylor Cornelius and Dom Davis....Tre Ford??? 

[Stats Junkie]

What's going on with Paredes?

Backup long snapper
Alternating holders

Paredes is 10/15 in 5 games with Fraser Masin as holder

Paredes is 3/3 in 4 games with Mark Vassett as holder.

I think Vassett has done a better job as punter for the Stampeders.

[Stats Junkie]

Parades can't kick long, never could.

Fact check

Rene Paredes is now 68.2% from 50+ yards in his career which is the 4th best all time in CFL history

Paredes is also the only CFL kicker above 80% from the 40-49 range.

[TecnoGenius]

Fact check

By "long", I didn't mean 40-49.  Those should be automatic.

Parades was rarely hauled out to kick the huge ones.  Yes, for his whole career.  Dickenson The Greater would just punt or gamble.

How many 50-55's, 55-60's and 60+ has he attempted?  How many made?

Yes, that's not all on him, it's his HC's choice, but I'm sure the HC bases his squeamishness on Parades' capability.

Compare with how often MOS would haul out Meddie or Castillo for 50+... especially 55+... MOS hauls out for 55 like most HCs haul out for 45!!

P.S. Didn't TSN just say Maltos is 90% (overall) this season? ... or has he just been particularly unlucky with 40-49 (which should even out over the season if he's elite now)?

[Jesse]

By "long", I didn't mean 40-49.  Those should be automatic.

Parades was rarely hauled out to kick the huge ones.  Yes, for his whole career.  Dickenson The Greater would just punt or gamble.

How many 50-55's, 55-60's and 60+ has he attempted?  How many made?

Yes, that's not all on him, it's his HC's choice, but I'm sure the HC bases his squeamishness on Parades' capability.

Compare with how often MOS would haul out Meddie or Castillo for 50+... especially 55+... MOS hauls out for 55 like most HCs haul out for 45!!

P.S. Didn't TSN just say Maltos is 90% (overall) this season? ... or has he just been particularly unlucky with 40-49 (which should even out over the season if he's elite now)?

I think your expectations are a little skewed. They seem to be expecting hall of fame numbers as the norm.