GDT Ham at Ssk, Sat Aug 16, 2:00PM

[dd]

Weird, another KO off-sides in this game.  3 on the year so far?  The stupid thing is, the refs let guys be a bit off-side on every KO, and have for ages.  You really have to go waaay over before they flag it.  Either people are going way over now, or refs are, for whatever reason, tightening up on this rule.

I don't know why they are letting it go, its pretty easy to call....look down the line at the ball and if someone crosses your line of vision before its kicked, throw the flag, and if they can't pickup the guys running offside, they shouldn't be doing the game. The CFL is always trying to develop/bring new officials along, trouble is, stuff like this happens and it compromises the integrity of all officials.

[TecnoGenius]

I am thinking the easiest way to the Grey Cup is getting the cross over spot in the East. Ottawa and Toronto shouldn't make the playoffs/they don't deserve it. I don't think Kelly can come back and make them a playoff team, 2 wins to date, yeesh.

Hey, maybe that was Mafia/MOS's plan the whole time!  Suck a bit, but not too much to not make the crossover     

That said, beating MTL when Alexander is back (if they get 1/both of Ento/Dequoy back too) will be darn hard.

And beating HAM will be hard if we let BLM play his O properly.

But ya, may be easier than beating SSK in Mosaic!  (I'm not scared of VAJ, he sucks in the cold and big game.)

[TecnoGenius]

I'd never say that but it confirmed the Ti-Cats fall apart fairly easily and shouldn't be too hard to beat.

HAM's D has always been suspect.  They rely on BLM putting up 40+ pts.  They rely on Kenny and K.Smith making plays.  SSK didn't fall for the "Kenny as decoy" thing, and they didn't even bother to double-team him.  Didn't need to when BLM has less time than Zach usually does!

[TecnoGenius]

I didn't see the game today. For those that did, what it enough to crown Sask the CFL's best team?

CGY is better.  But SSK is clicking on all cylinders and they have the magic confidence, morale and momentum going in their favor.

Their D can get constant pressure against anything but the best OL.  We're in a heap of trouble with our weak RT and sometimes-changing LG.

Their DBs aren't great on one side, but can make plays because of all the pressure.

T.Harris still relies on the short/quick game for most of it.  RECs still aren't that good, but when they have all day they can make deep plays.

If we can't get pressure, we will have to play match coverage mostly.  Zone will get shredded.

The good thing is SSK's O talent & scheme is basically identical to 2024.  And we beat them then.  Just keep doing what we did.  We can all see how their weaknesses, like the picks and almost-picks in this game.

The question will be: can our O put up any points on that D?  If we magically can, then they are beatable.

[TecnoGenius]

I don't know why they are letting it go, its pretty easy to call

Because I don't think anyone really cares unless it's egregious.  It's not like being 0.75Y over the line gives you any advantage 65Y away.

I freeze frame most plays for off-sides looks, especially if I detect something, or Riderforum complains about it (which they inevitably do).

I estimate they allow, on KOs, under 1Y offside to slide (no flags).  Over that and it starts to get really noticeable in real time.

I posit it's much harder to judge OS on KOs than on normal O snaps.  Is it when the foot touches the ball?  When the ball goes up an inch?  Or a whole few feet?

I would love to know if there's been an internal memo and standard change this season.  Otherwise I can't explain why they are getting anal about it.

[TecnoGenius]

SSK lining up 5 DL a lot this game, and bringing all 5.  Very strange 2-1-2 alignment to double up outside rushers on each tackle, and leave the guards with nothing to do.

Very unorthodox.  Have to make sure we counter it.

The key to beating SSK is stopping that DL.  Play calls, run game (which HAM does have BTW), sweeps/screens/hitches, quick passes, will all be important to keep that DL in check.

To stop T.Harris need to get in the lanes, jump routes (like HAM did) when you have help over the top (unlike what HAM did).  Lots of LB and DE drops for batdowns and zone roving.  DBs play match coverage, as we usually do.  Don't play much full zone, as I don't think we'll get much pressure.

No idea who the SSK OL coach is, but he's earned his pay, making that hodgepodge injured OL an impenetrable wall.  Why do they have so much OL depth that losing guys doesn't matter?  Johnson, Mcewen, Tate, Gagnon all injured!  Their OL IR is better than our OL AR!!  How did we let ourselves get this low?  Shameful, KW!

Is SSK way over cap?  Or did they save all their money with their budget RECs?  Or both?

[TecnoGenius]

Around 3 min left T.Harris massive hit, he's concussed.  Tried to act all cool like he wasn't, but he was wobbly and had no real control over his body and actions.  Like he's drunk.  He almost hits Mace in the head as he walks off!

That might be the biggest non-RTP hit on a QB this season.  Ouch.  He's pasted by a full speed heavy D as he's climbing the pocket to throw.  Big Tyme.  (Bad joke no one will get.)

We'll see what the word is this week.  LDC coming up!...

Haha, Maier is the #2 but Mace goes with Stevens after the Trevor injury.  SSK is heaps of trouble if Trevor is out for a while.

I don't think HAM cared much about this game.  After a superb start (but without TDs) dominating the ToP, they folded after the first SSK TD.  And they don't have to care.  It would appear MTL & TOR will not get healthy soon enough to vie for 1st in E.

[Jesse]

Around 3 min left T.Harris massive hit, he's concussed.  Tried to act all cool like he wasn't, but he was wobbly and had no real control over his body and actions.  Like he's drunk.  He almost hits Mace in the head as he walks off!

That might be the biggest non-RTP hit on a QB this season.  Ouch.  He's pasted by a full speed heavy D as he's climbing the pocket to throw.  Big Tyme.  (Bad joke no one will get.)

We'll see what the word is this week.  LDC coming up!...

Haha, Maier is the #2 but Mace goes with Stevens after the Trevor injury.  SSK is heaps of trouble if Trevor is out for a while.

I don't think HAM cared much about this game.  After a superb start (but without TDs) dominating the ToP, they folded after the first SSK TD.  And they don't have to care.  It would appear MTL & TOR will not get healthy soon enough to vie for 1st in E.

His head bounced off the turf the same way Zach's did on the whiplash/neck injury. Did he leave the game at that point? I thought he still played immediately after.

Harris is such a giant {insert censored word of choice]. He reacts like a giant child when he got pulled for the night and was reportedly verbally abusive to training staff during his last concussion when they "wouldn't let" him play.

[Throw Long Bannatyne]

Around 3 min left T.Harris massive hit, he's concussed.  Tried to act all cool like he wasn't, but he was wobbly and had no real control over his body and actions.  Like he's drunk.  He almost hits Mace in the head as he walks off!

That might be the biggest non-RTP hit on a QB this season.  Ouch.  He's pasted by a full speed heavy D as he's climbing the pocket to throw.  Big Tyme.  (Bad joke no one will get.)

We'll see what the word is this week.  LDC coming up!...

Haha, Maier is the #2 but Mace goes with Stevens after the Trevor injury.  SSK is heaps of trouble if Trevor is out for a while.

I don't think HAM cared much about this game.  After a superb start (but without TDs) dominating the ToP, they folded after the first SSK TD.  And they don't have to care.  It would appear MTL & TOR will not get healthy soon enough to vie for 1st in E.

Wouldn't waste much time worrying about playing the Riders yet, they play the Stamps next WE and that game could change everything, including the playability of Trevor Harris. I expect the Stamps game plan is to hit Harris hard until he doesn't get up anymore.  Most of the Riders dirty tricks have been borrowed from the Stamps, who will stop at nothing to gain an advantage.

[theaardvark]

8-1 does not clinch a playoff spot.

There is a lot of football left to get to the post season with a 39 year young QB.

Not sure they do much post sason without Harris.  Maier is not awe inspiring and Stevens is SY gold, but as a starter?  And Jack Coan on the 1 game, is that a hiding him or actual injury?

Riders have a LOT riding on a healthy Harris.

That said, the D is shaping up well, and we know that D wins championships.  So there is that going for them.

[The Zipp]

8-1 does not clinch a playoff spot.

There is a lot of football left to get to the post season with a 39 year young QB.

Not sure they do much post sason without Harris.  Maier is not awe inspiring and Stevens is SY gold, but as a starter?  And Jack Coan on the 1 game, is that a hiding him or actual injury?

Riders have a LOT riding on a healthy Harris.

That said, the D is shaping up well, and we know that D wins championships.  So there is that going for them.

we have the same amount riding on a healthy ZC and our defence is no where the level of Sasks at this point in time.  we have a better kicker though.

[theaardvark]

we have the same amount riding on a healthy ZC and our defence is no where the level of Sasks at this point in time.  we have a better kicker though.

Oh, I KNOW we have too much on the line with a 36 year young Zach.  Maier vs. Streve might be a sawoff, I'm hoping as a player, Wilson is a better everydown QB than Stephens, and Chase > Coan.

Our D is coming into shape, DB injuries are tough to swallow, but the DL and LB's are rounding into great shape.  If Houston is anything like he was, and Allen calms down a bit at FS, this D has great potential.

Record means nothing once you make the playoffs.

One and done, we have to make sure we have the one.

[Jesse]

Let's be honest, 8-1 pretty much clinches a play-off spot.

[BBRT]

we have the same amount riding on a healthy ZC and our defence is no where the level of Sasks at this point in time.  we have a better kicker though.

I agree the only thing we have better than the Riders is our kicker. And I might add that the entire Rider team Offense and Defense across the board is better than what we have. And they may even have a better coach.

[TecnoGenius]

we have the same amount riding on a healthy ZC and our defence is no where the level of Sasks at this point in time.  we have a better kicker though.

Both WPG and SSK are 100% dependent on a healthy #1 in the post-season.  It is what it is.  The season may come down to which QB stays healthy.  Strangely enough, in the past (since becoming a Bomber) Zach has won that battle vs Trevor.  Knock wood it continues.