Lots of roster movement and player injuries across the CFL.
CFL.CA shows BC moving Couture and Knevel to 6 game IR. Stamps show 5 moved to 6 game IR. Als show 2 moved to 6 game IR.
All that after 1 game. Yikes!!!
In particular I didn't think the Lions OL played that well in game 1. Losing 2 Canadian OL for awhile is not good for them. Could be an interesting game of survivor on Saturday.
This morning CFL.CA shows those players on 1 game IR but transactions show them gone to 6 game IR? When will they get this info correct. Either way, that's an issue today for the Lions needing to change 2 OL starters. Time will tell how many games the OL miss.
Gotta cheer for all the east teams this week to help out Big Blue.
Decide game thus far. Too busy posting essays on here and need to pay more attention to the game lol.
Ref got nailed by a punt lol
Cody with a really nice run and slide. Shows he still has wheels.
Purifoy just killed a guy (clean)
19 edm nice grab
Fletcher beast
Quote from: GOLDMEMBER on June 15, 2024, 12:24:16 AMGotta cheer for all the east teams this week to help out Big Blue.
This! Go East!
Well, we can let EDM win one because a) they'll probably be basement-dwellers again, and b) I have a hate-on for MTL.
Mbt took a shot of Lemonade
Mbt throws a duck
Cody looking like he has found his deep ball but receiver dropped it
Not sure I've ever seen a ref get beaned by a punt before!
"Penalty! 15 yards for hurting me!"
Quote from: Blueforlife on June 15, 2024, 01:59:57 AMPurifoy just killed a guy (clean)
That's neural/concussion after-effects there. Doubt he returns. Ouch. Ugly. Good thing it was textbook, or command would have 15 or 25'd Purifoy like they used to Loffler.
Purifoy still has it. Many teams thought he was washed up for how many years now? I wonder if he also still has speed for returns...
Edit: wow, he came right back in!! Spotters don't care?
Quote from: TecnoGenius on June 15, 2024, 03:30:11 AMThat's neural/concussion after-effects there. Doubt he returns. Ouch. Ugly. Good thing it was textbook, or command would have 15 or 25'd Purifoy like they used to Loffler.
Purifoy still has it. Many teams thought he was washed up for how many years now? I wonder if he also still has speed for returns...
I didn't notice if he came back
Mbt floater 2nd duck
Notice how the refs have clearly been instructed to come down hard on punches? Early in the game they handed out a 15 yarder for probably the weakest punch in a few seasons. That plus the DQ in week 1 show that the league is clamping down and the standard has been changed.
I like it. I don't want my football to turn into hockey. Keep handing out 15's and DQs. Luckily, WPG is one of the most disciplined, so ya, it's self-serving... 8)
Quote from: Blueforlife on June 15, 2024, 02:04:40 AM19 edm nice grab
That's the exact catch Kenny should have made in the EZ. Sigh.
There's some great receiver talent on display in this game!
Fletcher beast run, 2nd TD, this guy moving 2x speed
not sure if I've seen a team so consistently find ways to lose in the 4th qtr as the elks
Bethel Thompson still a stiff! Lol
Mitchell brutal drop.
Quote from: Pete on June 15, 2024, 03:43:06 AMnot sure if I've seen a team so consistently find ways to lose in the 4th qtr as the elks
Quote from: Pete on June 15, 2024, 03:43:06 AMnot sure if I've seen a team so consistently find ways to lose in the 4th qtr as the elks
Agreed year in year out. Jones' teams are becoming known for this.
That Bede attempt on an onside kick was really nice footwork
Quote from: TecnoGenius on June 15, 2024, 03:30:11 AMThat's neural/concussion after-effects there. Doubt he returns. Ouch. Ugly. Good thing it was textbook, or command would have 15 or 25'd Purifoy like they used to Loffler.
Purifoy still has it. Many teams thought he was washed up for how many years now? I wonder if he also still has speed for returns...
Purifoy got booted off the Riders for having a bad attitude.
Quote from: Blueforlife on June 15, 2024, 03:38:59 AMFletcher beast run, 2nd TD, this guy moving 2x speed
Love the smaller running backs, one of my favourites was Paris Cotton, the guy could juke and scoot like no other. Sadly there isn't a place for smaller RB's in the CFL game these days, haven't quite figured out how Walter Fletcher succeeds where others fail but glad he has.
3Q8:02 EDM does a brilliant job sniffing out the fake punt and stuffing it. But it gets called back for "illegal low block". Ya, ok, technically they are correct, it's in the rule book.
But man, that penalty is almost never called on team B. I think EDM #26 thought he was tackling the ball carrier, which would be legal. The carrier and the lead blocker were running front to back with zero separation.
Tough break for EDM.
Quote from: Blueforlife on June 15, 2024, 03:55:53 AMThat Bede attempt on an onside kick was really nice footwork
That was a fantastic and novel OSK, and it almost worked! Purifoy dives for that ball instead of leaning over and he likely has it.
Our ST guys need to study that kick style. Have Shehan do it, not Castillo.
Prukop is probably league-best SY QB... but it's clear that a ton of his success in WPG was due to our OL.
EDM OL in '24 < WPG OL in '23
EDM basically lost because their OL couldn't keep MTL DL in check. Got burned on the same stunts that got us. And then EDM abandoned the run way too early in the 4th and EDM did their version of cheetah the rest of the night.
I can't blame MBT, it was the pressure in his face that caused the INTs and underthrows. Kind of like what happened to us vs MTL. The crowd (all 6 of them) calling for Tre Ford is insane. MBT was looking darn good in his return to the CFL and gives EDM a legit shot.
Wow, it's amazing how much better your DBs look when you have a stout DL getting pressure. Wow, it's amazing to think we had that just a year+ ago.
At the end, the game was won in the heads of the players. MTL thought they'd win. EDM, by the 4th, thought they'd lose. Thus the outcome.
The Elks game was entertaining. Fletcher was outstanding for the Als. I knew that onside kick was going right after the false start. No idea he'd manage that footwork and still control the distance and placement. WOW.
MBT is still a turnover machine, however he does pile up the yardage.
Edmonton played the Als way better than we did. They were in the game until there was 2 minutes left in the game.
Teams with 2 good QB's, (EDM, WPG, OTT) need packages for the second QB to change things up and keep the D off balance.
So much 6 game IR movement signals again that TC / preseason is far too short.
Quote from: theaardvark on June 15, 2024, 04:08:56 PMTeams with 2 good QB's, (EDM, WPG, OTT) need packages for the second QB to change things up and keep the D off balance.
So much 6 game IR movement signals again that TC / preseason is far too short.
Many players were injured in TC and in pre season as well so I don't know that shows pre season is too short.
I'd be more inclined to add another week to TC perhaps to ease into game speed / conditioning etc?
I'm not sure why we haven't moved TC two or three weeks earlier, add a third PS game, and the GC a week or two earlier... the more we can avoid the NFL, then better. And its not like the spring leagues are competition.
Quote from: theaardvark on June 15, 2024, 05:11:05 PMI'm not sure why we haven't moved TC two or three weeks earlier, add a third PS game, and the GC a week or two earlier... the more we can avoid the NFL, then better. And its not like the spring leagues are competition.
No problem with an earlier TC start but weather could be an issue in some cities. PS games don't generate as much revenue. It's why we moved from a 4 pre season 16 game schedule to a 2 game 18 regular season game format.
The NFL dropped 1 pre season game and were discussing dropping another in favour of regular season games.
The other issue is any additional game ( as you suggested ) creates another risk for injuries. More than that players would want more money to play additional games.
Heck I'd like the old playoff formats of best 2 of 3 in the west or 2 game total point in the east. Again, that adds between 2 ( in the east ) and 4 ( in the west ) more games.
Remember those old western playoffs with 2 games in 3 days or 3 games in a week with only a day or two in between?
Quote from: Blue In BC on June 15, 2024, 04:38:24 PMI'd be more inclined to add another week to TC perhaps to ease into game speed / conditioning etc?
Ya, but that does nothing when most of your vets/superstars don't show to TC. They are above plebe/ELC nonsense like that, dontchaknow.
Quote from: Blue In BC on June 15, 2024, 06:28:56 PMNo problem with an earlier TC start but weather could be an issue in some cities. PS games don't generate as much revenue. It's why we moved from a 4 pre season 16 game schedule to a 2 game 18 regular season game format.
I watched every PS game, and paid close attention to crowd sizes, and they were smaller than I can remember in a long time. Even SSK had almost no one in the stands. And PAS was pretty deserted too. I don't mean compared to a reg season game, I mean compared to past PSs.
Quote from: Blue In BC on June 15, 2024, 06:28:56 PMHeck I'd like the old playoff formats of best 2 of 3 in the west or 2 game total point in the east. Again, that adds between 2 ( in the east ) and 4 ( in the west ) more games.
Meh, then we become hockey and baseball. Often you'll just get what we're seeing with this Stanley cup, where one team just gets ultra embarrassed over and over and over again.
The old formats do have merit but I think in football we've all become accustomed to sudden death one&done format. Not to mention football players really need a week to recover, and that makes any sort of series impossible due to time constraints. It's kind of like old F1 qualifying vs new quali. I much preferred the old way of one shot, make it count.
BC oline swiss cheese
Ugh, my PVR screwed up the channel change and I missed the 50c show. And I know from experience they won't reshow it when they replay the game all night long.
Not that I like 50c or anything, but I really like to see what the CFL is doing to bring people in, and I like to see happy crowds. Plus watching the panel make goofs of themselves like pre-teens is always fun.
Those of you who caught the show, how was it? Better than the LL one?
Now on to the REAL show: football!
Quote from: Blueforlife on June 15, 2024, 11:34:28 PMBC oline swiss cheese
Most OLs are looking swiss cheesy this first couple of weeks! Not just us. I think I've seen 1 or 2 OLs looking stout so far.
watching the returners in the bc/calgary game. its that first quick move that Mitchel just doesn't have, makes a huge difference
Calgary and Maier look very good. I remember at least one expert on here claiming Maier was a terrible QB. Nice to see him having success.
Quote from: TecnoGenius on June 15, 2024, 11:36:45 PMMost OLs are looking swiss cheesy this first couple of weeks! Not just us. I think I've seen 1 or 2 OLs looking stout so far.
BC struggled last week, they made changes this week, centre is starting 1st game. This is processed swiss.
that was a beautiful td paas play...three guys on one side close together. the outside reciever cuts underneath the other two...td!
Quote from: Pete on June 15, 2024, 11:41:53 PMwatching the returners in the bc/calgary game. its that first quick move that Mitchel just doesn't have, makes a huge difference
Sample size too small to make that conclusion imo. Give him time, he is a fresh rookie and will build technique and confidence if he has the skills.
Quote from: Pete on June 15, 2024, 11:50:38 PMthat was a beautiful td paas play...three guys on one side close together. the outside reciever cuts underneath the other two...td!
Beauty
Calgary sending the HOUSE
Bc self imploding penalties after play
Adams magic trick escapes pressure
Starback beast mode activated
Quote from: Blueforlife on June 15, 2024, 11:52:19 PMSample size too small to make that conclusion imo. Give him time, he is a fresh rookie and will build technique and confidence if he has the skills.
thats what we said about McCrae and Parker last year. From what I've seen impact returners show escape abilty early
Have to like how Adams/bc react to high pressure. Going to the short quick passes.
Quote from: Pete on June 15, 2024, 11:50:38 PMthat was a beautiful td paas play...three guys on one side close together. the outside reciever cuts underneath the other two...td!
Ya, but CGY is playing BC correctly: you need to harass VAJ early and often and get his head rattled. We set the VAJ-destruction template in the '23 WDF. If CGY can keep it up, they have a shot.
CGY winning helps us. BC is the fave to win the W, so any team that can steal 2 points from them is a good thing. Even though I picked BC to win...
Boy it's nice seeing BC Place full!! What a good thing for the CFL. You can even see the players (on both teams) responding to the atmosphere.
Very weird, that CGY challenge was a not-enough-evidence IMHO. If that one angle they showed 3 times is the only angle then you cannot see enough to overturn. Weird.
My opinion is he got possession at the exact same moment the foot touched the SL, but that's from inference on when the catch would be made. You can't actually see it on camera. Thus if it was me I'd say go with what the on-field refs saw.
Weird
Quote from: Pete on June 16, 2024, 12:02:32 AMthats what we said about McCrae and Parker last year. From what I've seen impact returners show escape abilty early
Yup, all the star returners in the last few years basically do something big in their first couple of games. They don't plod along for half a season then suddenly become Janarion. They flash the "it factor" almost immediately.
That's why I think we were all excited about Smith in PS.
Wow, what's it with top-level receivers doing the dropsies on mega-deep feathered-in catchable sure-TD passes when they are wide open? Tons of that in week 1 and 2!! Makes me thankful Demski made that deep catch for us in week 2.
That one Mitchell 17 dropped for EDM last night was inexcusable: would have won the game probably.
Quote from: Pete on June 16, 2024, 12:02:32 AMthats what we said about McCrae and Parker last year. From what I've seen impact returners show escape abilty early
You could be right, I'm willing to wait to find out. A special gift it is to be good at that position.
Mills deep pass nice play
Sick catch Reggie
Sick throw
Calgary at BC putting on a classic CFL show here. Just a dog fight.
Hate to say it but the Bombers aren't playing to these teams level yet.
Quote from: Blueforlife on June 16, 2024, 01:10:00 AMSick catch Reggie
Sick throw
That was insane. I knew 100% that was going to be an overthrow. Begelton did the impossible.
Argh, yet again, that's the catch Kenny was supposed to make in our week 1!!
Props to Begelton. But Mills stumbling 5Y out cost me 6 in fantasy, grrrr.
Quote from: GOLDMEMBER on June 16, 2024, 01:41:32 AMHate to say it but the Bombers aren't playing to these teams level yet.
No kidding. Not even remotely close. We're more on the same level as the Elks. But we've had it too good for too long, things go in cycles, our turn to struggle, and struggle we will.
I would be curious to know if all teams have the same or similar hours of practice between games?
Bombers look like they are just cold and disorganized compared to the other teams I have watched.
Clearly incomplete
Game over - bc coming here on Friday is going to be a battle
Quote from: dd on June 16, 2024, 01:49:39 AMNo kidding. Not even remotely close. We're more on the same level as the Elks. But we've had it too good for too long, things go in cycles, our turn to struggle, and struggle we will.
Disagree that we will struggle. Slow start yes, struggle nope. We shall turn it around. We didn't have it too good, we were dominant because of team culture, talent and management. All those things are still here. Just nicked up and need to pick ourselves off the mat. Your predictions pre dynasty were similar to your sentiment today. Things worked out back then and will this year. We will be decent.
On the blocked PAT after the VAJ sneak TD in the 4th... isn't that an illegal overloaded kick formation by CGY? Inside the box they have 5 guys on the right side, 1 on the left.
Pretty sure they made that illegal after the TOR GC win vs us with an overloaded line.
My only question is did they make it illegal for PATs too, or just FGs?? Pretty sure all kick plays. So what gives??
Quote from: Blueforlife on June 16, 2024, 03:48:35 AMDisagree that we will struggle. Slow start yes, struggle nope. We shall turn it around. We didn't have it too good, we were dominant because of team culture, talent and management. All those things are still here. Just nicked up and need to pick ourselves off the mat. Your predictions pre dynasty were similar to your sentiment today. Things worked out back then and will this year. We will be decent.
We were ok the 7 bloody yard line with the game on the line and we couldn't get it done. In my world, that's struggling. You can live in whatever dream world you want, but I prefer to deal with reality and not live in denial
The DPI 4Q4:18 really really looked like Tucker selling it. Maybe he put his foot out a little wide and it collided with BC D, in which case at worst it should be accidental PI.
BC D guy's hand had nothing to do with anything. I think this was a bad call. Campbell still had a challenge... why not give it a try? 10Y is a lot better than 45Y.
Quote from: dd on June 16, 2024, 04:39:34 AMWe were ok the 7 bloody yard line with the game on the line and we couldn't get it done. In my world, that's struggling. You can live in whatever dream world you want, but I prefer to deal with reality and not live in denial
I was speaking about the team in general not three cracks at a TD in one game. Yes we should have scored. Reality is you dreamed numerous negative outcomes / scenarios pre dynasty that were proven wrong and never happened. History has a way of repeating itself. 2 games have been played. Give it time. Patience might pay off (again).
Quote from: The Zipp on June 16, 2024, 01:56:02 AMI would be curious to know if all teams have the same or similar hours of practice between games?
Bombers look like they are just cold and disorganized compared to the other teams I have watched.
Totally this. Vets dodging TC. Vets not playing in PS. Whispers of really puny practice hours. League already sets laughably low limits to practices, padded, etc, and we seem to want to take it down 10 more notches.
I really think we've all gotten lazy. The teams that are clearly dominating out of the gate, which right now is basically TOR and MTL, and maybe SSK, look like they are all (players and coaches) practicing extra time, scheming extra time, planning extra time. I bet those coaches are doing film and schemes every waking hour during the week. And the players are probably all putting in their own time in the film room and probably getting together at the local park to practice.
It's pretty clear we haven't done that since 2019, I'd argue. We climbed to the top and we don't need to put in the time anymore, or so they thought.
The hungry teams have seen that to beat WPG/BC/TOR/MTL you have to go way above and beyond. They always have great opponent-specific schemes, and new plays/tricks. Their playbooks look 3X the size of ours.
But, this lays the blueprint for how we can catch back up: spend more time! Every player and coach should be @PAS or whatever practice facility from dawn till dusk. Cutesy time is over. First in, last out should be everyone. Maybe you get a day on the weekend off. Until we start winning, this should be the plan... unless we just want to keep losing. This falls on MOS/Buck/Younger/Miller the most!!
Quote from: TecnoGenius on June 15, 2024, 11:35:35 PMUgh, my PVR screwed up the channel change and I missed the 50c show. And I know from experience they won't reshow it when they replay the game all night long.
Not that I like 50c or anything, but I really like to see what the CFL is doing to bring people in, and I like to see happy crowds. Plus watching the panel make goofs of themselves like pre-teens is always fun.
Those of you who caught the show, how was it? Better than the LL one?
Now on to the REAL show: football!
I would not part with even a half dollar to see 50 cents!! :D No clue of even one of his songs. Not my scene.
Calgary kind of gave that game away. Many chances to score and came away with nothing. Bad sack, a turnover or brain farts. More of a collective loss than on any one Stamps player it seemed to me. Calgary seems to be on the way up this season. Will see them vs the Bombers in Cowtown end of the month. By then I expect the BLUE to be in full stride again and we shall see what they are made of.
Excuses have to end, time to put up or shut up or go home whimpering like a little whupped puppy as they used to say in the grand ol' WWA wrestling days with Verne & son Greg Gagne, jumping Jim brunzell, early Hulkster, Jessie "the body" Ventura and Mean Gene the "dancing machine"! :D Throw in old timers Mad Dog Vachon, Baron von Rashke (the claw), Scrap Iron Kadaski, punching bag Kenny "the sod buster" Jaye!! More comical and amateurish was "pro" wrestling in the late 70's and early to mid 80's, but was more hilarious with over acting and less money involved. Can't say I've watched any wrestling for over 2 decades or more now really. Now just a crazy BAD soap opera! ;)
Quote from: ichabod_crane on June 16, 2024, 06:44:50 AMCalgary kind of gave that game away. Many chances to score and came away with nothing. Bad sack, a turnover or brain farts. More of a collective loss than on any one Stamps player it seemed to me. Calgary seems to be on the way up this season. Will see them vs the Bombers in Cowtown end of the month. By then I expect the BLUE to be in full stride again and we shall see what they are made of.
Ya, it was really nice to see Dickenson The Remaining having his usual meltdowns again on the sidelines. Those oopsies, and drops and TOs were driving him nuts! Especially the had-to-have-it whiffs. Great fun for this ABC guy!
He even did a headset-ripping-off, but stopped himself before he went "full Maas". Never go full Maas!
CGY will be very difficult for us this season. Not only do we see them soon in CGY, but 2 weeks later we get CGY here! Yowzers!
And that's a boatload of wrestlers you bring up. I know 25% of them, the rest are just before my time. Fun days.
It was nice to see almost everyone stay after the concert for the 1st half. But at least half left at halftime. And it was a steady stream out up to halfway through the 4th Q. I'd say they were left with 30% of the crowd by that time?
So that's maybe 16k-20k still around? What does BC normally draw? 12k?
But even if they didn't stay for the whole thing, the Lions gave them some TDs to cheer at, and in the end a win. The keys is making impressions on the marginal buyer to hopefully entice them to come back. I'm optimistic. Time will tell.
BC showed again if you win the TOP against them and keep VAJ off the field, when he does get on he is outta sink and takes a few plays to get his rhythm, giving your defence a chance to get him off.
On the flip side as soon as your offence stops grinding out the clock and giving the ball back, VAJ gets in a groove and the air show starts.
If that happens its almost always lights out for the other team
Based off of our offence in the last two weeks I am not optimistic
Quote from: TecnoGenius on June 16, 2024, 05:22:57 AMTotally this. Vets dodging TC. Vets not playing in PS. Whispers of really puny practice hours. League already sets laughably low limits to practices, padded, etc, and we seem to want to take it down 10 more notches.
I really think we've all gotten lazy.
Possibly players are feeling too safe, taking advantage of the famed MOS loyalty and his lenient days off policies for proven vets.
What I think would benefit us on the coaching side, if we could find someone capable, is to bring in an OUTSIDE consultant. They could provide a new look at what we do and some ideas of what other teams notice about us and our tendencies. I feel like we've been doing the same thing so long, so successfully that we are too reluctant to change.
The lions and the stamps game was great. Back and forth. Single score until the last couple of minutes. Maier has finally learned to eat the ball instead of throw the bad pick to lose the game. Both of these teams will be tough to play.
I don't think, right now, that there is a free space on the card. It's going to be tough sledding.
3rd and 3 and Bo throws on a dime
Quote from: DM83 on June 16, 2024, 07:45:48 PMBlue Bombers might be the free space on the Bingo card. OSheas country club and his inability to put the hammer down will doom us.
We are not a free card and no team ever is. MOS has created a team culture that is legendary. There is no doom just your regular gloom. History tells me you will be wrong on this. Big challenge this week.
Sterns looks like a future star
Bo has found his deep ball
Hammy looks decent
Harris lucky not to have two ducks
Interesting play Hamilton touches ball on a deep kick to avoid the single and took no yards. Might be a reasonable idea. Not sure how I feel about it.
Harris looks bad
Sask taking bad penalties
Bo on fire, is old Bo back?
Oulette not living up to hype so far
Quote from: Pete on June 17, 2024, 12:08:26 AMOulette not living up to hype so far
Nope
Sasks DBs having issues with recent changes (safety and Sayles came in).
Sasks O looks bad. Other than their one major.
Shades of 2022 with sask penalties costing them.
Leggs looks good
Sask needs pts here
Sayles didn't get many practices in Regina and the communication has been an issue. Riders don't look great and keep taking penalties.
Ajou looks good Sask Receiver
Sask OL injuried (knee likely), Blake looks bad likely out long term (guess), helped off. Too bad.
Sask looking better Sterns looks very good
Big turn over on Hammy fumble
Wow recovery by player that lost the helmet so over ruled
Bo with flee flicker and a mega bomb on a rope
Quote from: Blueforlife on June 17, 2024, 01:15:17 AMBig turn over on Hammy fumble
Wow recovery by player that lost the helmet so over ruled
No helmet negates the turnover. However illegal participation is a penalty which should have been called?
I suppose it's moot since the TiCats scored nearly immediately.
Clarification would be interesting though.
Hammy using FB (direct snap) on short yardage weird
Leggs money today
Bane already hurt and now Sterns hammered and knee looks hurt but got off
Harris lucky almost threw duck
Good catch
Great ending, Riders good 2nd half
Wow deflection and picked off. Riders got a gift.
Hamilton is the elks of the east..find a way to lose in the 4th qtr
Quote from: Pete on June 17, 2024, 02:08:26 AMHamilton is the elks of the east..find a way to lose in the 4th qtr
True
Very good ball game
I wanted OT
Riders 2 - 0 at the top of the west. Got a lucky break but might have won in OT in any case. Both teams had nearly 400 yards passing. Don't see that often either.
Riders did lose an OL and he was on crutches so that's not good. Didn't see the injury to Bane so he might be ok. Ditto for Sterns. Hamilton lost a DL that might be long term.
Injuries have been brutal across the league.
Quote from: Blueforlife on June 17, 2024, 12:00:29 AMInteresting play Hamilton touches ball on a deep kick to avoid the single and took no yards. Might be a reasonable idea. Not sure how I feel about it.
Yes, this is totally new to my eyes in terms of CFL. This needs major studying and contemplation!!
At first I thought the guy was an ex-NFL rookie thinking he needs to or is allowed to down the ball. The second guy doing the same, though, hinted that there was method to this madness.
Then, ya, the ploy coalesced in my mind, and I was like, "hey why didn't we think of that?".
So the ball was clearly going to roll into the EZ, either by design or by accident. Here are the (new) choices:
1. Let it roll in, HAM gets 1 point, SSK starts at 40. (normal action)
2. Gunner can down the ball as close to GL as possible, HAM gets 0 point, SSK starts somewhere around the 15 (the 18 in this case) after the no yards penalty.
So what does this buy the team implementing it? They give up 1 point to gain 25 yards on D. We all know teams will almost always give up the 1 point to gain the 40 yards on D. That's why we have the coffin corner kick.
In fact this play gives the same result as the old within-the-20 coffin corner rule if the ball went out between the 15 and 20. So if a team was happy a few years ago with an 18YL coffin kick, then they should be very happy to implement this tactic!!
I love it, and it's a great thing to add to the arsenal! You may not want to do it every time, but it may come in handy.
There's also very little downside in terms of "what if you fail". If you botch it and touch it in the EZ, doesn't it still come out to the 15 (or 16?), or at worst the 25?? If you stop it and the returner picks it up, I guess you're down 1 gunner in contain, so maybe the returner could get a bigger return.
Lastly, if the league doesn't like this, as it is very much against the spirit of the halo, they could simply say that a deliberate touch by kicking team no-yards is a 25 or 35 or whatever penalty. But until then, definitely need to study this play!
Hey! Drat! Guess who came up with this plan.... This is HAM... they have
Boudreau as STC now!! Either he's suddenly a genius or MOS poo-pood this idea all these years... Interesting.
Quote from: Blueforlife on June 17, 2024, 12:04:48 AMHarris looks bad
Sask taking bad penalties
Harris does seem to be remarkably dialed-out. In week 1 he was far and away the most accurate passer. He's not only throwing too hard/soft in this one (so far), but he's being inaccurate laterally! I don't remember T.Harris being one of those "good Harris, bad Harris" type QBs... but if he is now, I'll be much happier when we face him.
I also noticed SSK is totally back to their old, infamous, hold-always plan on ST. Have to watch for that when we play them: by far the dirtiest ST cheaters. I'm very pleased the refs this game are noticing and punishing SSK on nearly every return. I hope this is a new direction by the CFL (like the clearly amped up UR/punching penalties). I really really hate the ST cheating by SSK. Block honestly.
Quote from: Pete on June 17, 2024, 12:08:26 AMOulette not living up to hype so far
Oullette sucking badly in green so far. Love to see it. I dislike green, I dislike Oullette: it's a win/win for me! What's his avg thru 2 weeks, 1Y?
Sask forum must be blowing up with big Oullette doubts.
I hate to offer the Greenies some advice to help them, but here's a hint: have Yoshi come around to the A or opposite B gap and be the road grader for the RB. Or use him as the sealer. But make sure the running play always swishes past Yoshi's butt.
As much grief as I now give our OL, might the massively-upgraded SSK OL still be worse?! Manna from heaven.
Wow, HAM taking the taunting by the returner before halftime. Dumb penalty. BUT, there's something new, taunting counts as a misconduct! That makes it much more dangerous, as 2 misconducts by the same player equals a DQ.
It would be really embarrassing to get ejected from a game simply for chirping at other players!
Harris for Sask, under pressure all game taking multiple sacks, loosing key receivers and oline but still has a whale of a game and gets it done.
Imagine that, mixing in a sort passing game opens up the longer throws when needed.
It can be done, the right play calling with the right QB and it works.
No more excuses, that train has left the station. Leave the happy feet at home, stop the triple clutching and move the sticks, 5 six yard passes are as good as one 30 yarder.
Sustained drives keeps Big Play VA off the field and give the D a rest.
Quote from: TecnoGenius on June 17, 2024, 06:55:56 AMYes, this is totally new to my eyes in terms of CFL. This needs major studying and contemplation!!
At first I thought the guy was an ex-NFL rookie thinking he needs to or is allowed to down the ball. The second guy doing the same, though, hinted that there was method to this madness.
Then, ya, the ploy coalesced in my mind, and I was like, "hey why didn't we think of that?".
So the ball was clearly going to roll into the EZ, either by design or by accident. Here are the (new) choices:
1. Let it roll in, HAM gets 1 point, SSK starts at 40. (normal action)
2. Gunner can down the ball as close to GL as possible, HAM gets 0 point, SSK starts somewhere around the 15 (the 18 in this case) after the no yards penalty.
So what does this buy the team implementing it? They give up 1 point to gain 25 yards on D. We all know teams will almost always give up the 1 point to gain the 40 yards on D. That's why we have the coffin corner kick.
In fact this play gives the same result as the old within-the-20 coffin corner rule if the ball went out between the 15 and 20. So if a team was happy a few years ago with an 18YL coffin kick, then they should be very happy to implement this tactic!!
I love it, and it's a great thing to add to the arsenal! You may not want to do it every time, but it may come in handy.
There's also very little downside in terms of "what if you fail". If you botch it and touch it in the EZ, doesn't it still come out to the 15 (or 16?), or at worst the 25?? If you stop it and the returner picks it up, I guess you're down 1 gunner in contain, so maybe the returner could get a bigger return.
Lastly, if the league doesn't like this, as it is very much against the spirit of the halo, they could simply say that a deliberate touch by kicking team no-yards is a 25 or 35 or whatever penalty. But until then, definitely need to study this play!
Hey! Drat! Guess who came up with this plan.... This is HAM... they have Boudreau as STC now!! Either he's suddenly a genius or MOS poo-pood this idea all these years... Interesting.
I don't think this was a "genius plan" come up with by Boudreau, I really think it was a mistake. IF the desire is to put it in play as close to the endzone as possible without taking the single, coffin corner. To get a ball to stop before the endzone to be touched is a tough kick to start with. Much easier to put it out at the corner.
Gained 22 yards at the cost of a point, not sure that is optimal. That point would have had Ham in the lead at the end and they run out the clock... rather than trying to get into FG range and throwing a pick.
If he had that idea here and MOS poo-poo'd it, good on MOS.
As far as "genius plays" I hope Boudreau comes up with more that yield results like that. Especially when they play us.
Quote from: Blue In BC on June 17, 2024, 02:16:06 AMRiders 2 - 0 at the top of the west. Got a lucky break but might have won in OT in any case. Both teams had nearly 400 yards passing. Don't see that often either.
Riders did lose an OL and he was on crutches so that's not good. Didn't see the injury to Bane so he might be ok. Ditto for Sterns. Hamilton lost a DL that might be long term.
Injuries have been brutal across the league.
Ti-Cats may have won the game if BLM could have moved the ball on their last possession instead of going 2 and out and giving it right back to Sask. to try again. Same with Zach in last years GC, whatever happened to ball controlling drives that run down the clock? It used to be a commonly used method day to starve opponents of opportunities and notch victories, used often by the Stamps and the Bombers.
Ottawa picks up McFadden. Looks like Rose is a FA again.
Quote from: Pigskin on June 17, 2024, 08:05:15 PMOttawa picks up McFadden. Looks like Rose is a FA again.
Heard he got injured, probably wasn't expecting to play and maybe wasn't in the best shape when he signed with Ottawa.
Quote from: Blueforlife on June 17, 2024, 01:47:16 AMLeggs money today
Ya, but Milanovitch hella mad at Boudreau for once again having to waste a timeout on a mundane ST play. In 2 weeks that's 3 TOs wasted on ST (or maybe one was a too many men?). In any event, Boo needs to vastly improve his management of the personnel. I'm starting to see why MOS was fine with dropping him.
Marcus Sayles sure screwing up and sucking bad for SSK in this game. How many huge gains has he given up so far? Maybe he is washed up, I wonder if SSK cuts him...
Quote from: TecnoGenius on June 17, 2024, 09:53:12 PMMarcus Sayles sure screwing up and sucking bad for SSK in this game. How many huge gains has he given up so far? Maybe he is washed up, I wonder if SSK cuts him...
First game in a new system with new teammates. I'd cut him some slack. I saw a few of those plays, and it wasn't like he was standing around, lost. It looked like he was he was covering, and ended up chasing a player that wasn't his man. That player getting open might have been on him, missed assignments and such, but I don't remember seeing any play where the man he was covering undressed him.
Quote from: Blueforlife on June 17, 2024, 02:10:43 AMVery good ball game
I wanted OT
As someone who picked HAM, who massively out-played SSK, I feel robbed. At least I had BLM in fantasy, I bet he went over 400 on the night with maybe 3 TD in the air?
Strange that neither team got a run game going, and both have very strong RBs. RBs having trouble league-wide (except Fletcher in MTL). What is going on? Is there a dearth of OL talent in the CFL? Even worse than recent years?
Quote from: Blue In BC on June 17, 2024, 02:16:06 AMRiders 2 - 0 at the top of the west. Got a lucky break but might have won in OT in any case. Both teams had nearly 400 yards passing. Don't see that often either.
Riders 2-0 is really bad news for us. They kind of lucked into this win, and they had a ton of luck in week 1 too. They've looked good, but also vulnerable. It's more that the other teams have botched it worse than them.
However, for us to have any hope of finishing high in the W we need parity and suckage across the west. HAM really screwed this up for us. Thanks a lot Scott M.
Quote from: theaardvark on June 17, 2024, 04:17:12 PMI don't think this was a "genius plan" come up with by Boudreau, I really think it was a mistake. IF the desire is to put it in play as close to the endzone as possible without taking the single, coffin corner. To get a ball to stop before the endzone to be touched is a tough kick to start with. Much easier to put it out at the corner.
Watch again, and read what I wrote. One guy batting it back from the GL is a mistake, 2nd guy coming in to continue the "plan" is clearly a plan. If it was an accident, the 2nd guy likely panics and leaves it for the returner: we have seen that before.
Quote from: theaardvark on June 17, 2024, 04:17:12 PMGained 22 yards at the cost of a point, not sure that is optimal.
SSK started at the 18 after a punt from around midfield. Think back 5 years ago when you could coffin within the 20. Every ST would consider a coffin kick to the 18 a total win. If it was a win then, then it must be a win now.
Look at it from a percent-to-TD standpoint. From the 40 the % is X. From the 18 it is X-25% probably. Most HCs would take that trade-off, as they used to when they could coffin it at the 18.
I still think this is something that should be examined and copied. Now that we've seen it, other teams will start thinking about it.
Quote from: theaardvark on June 17, 2024, 04:17:12 PMTo get a ball to stop before the endzone to be touched is a tough kick to start with. Much easier to put it out at the corner.
Except that that kick is done in the NFL on like 50%+ of the punts. The P arcs it mega-high and the speedster gunners get to the ball before it hits the ground. The returner signals fair catch and the gunners down it before it goes EZ.
Not only is it very doable, a proven down south, but every IMP player already has practice with it!!
And since the rule change making the coffin in the 15 rather than the 20 punters have had a much harder time hitting it. In fact, many don't try much anymore. How many within-15 have we seen this week? Heck, I don't think there was a single one!! That's a massive change from the old 20 rule where you'd see it a couple/few times a game.
Quote from: theaardvark on June 17, 2024, 10:06:55 PMFirst game in a new system with new teammates. I'd cut him some slack. I saw a few of those plays, and it wasn't like he was standing around, lost. It looked like he was he was covering, and ended up chasing a player that wasn't his man. That player getting open might have been on him, missed assignments and such, but I don't remember seeing any play where the man he was covering undressed him.
Is that any better? In my book I might consider brain failure to be worse than being out-athleted. The former usually leads to a 60+ yarder and TD. The latter you can usually still get there for the tackle.
Neither is good. Sayles was only doing so-so in BC, and that's why they let him go. The longevity of a DB is very short.
White does his little tantrum in FA saying HAM has to pay him his outrageous ask. Makes a big stink around the whole league.
HAM gives him pretty much his ask, so that HAM will have a game-breaker play-maker to win games for them.
So what does he do? Not only whiffs on a catchable ball at a critical time, but does the cardinal sin of knocking it up in the air. Simply horrendous, rookie level stuff, and should make everyone question his huge salary.
Kind of like Kenny in the EZ in week 1... except at least Kenny didn't tip it for an INT, so it's not nearly as bad.
Bottom line, the $300k receivers need to look like NFL receivers out there, not middling talents. White cost them a 50/50 chance, or better, of winning. Period. I wonder what that locker room was like post-game... not much happy chat going his way, I bet. It's bad enough if you're low-paid Leggs blowing the game... but the $300k receiver doing it?? Yikes.
Quote from: TecnoGenius on June 18, 2024, 02:14:52 AMAs someone who picked HAM, who massively out-played SSK, I feel robbed. At least I had BLM in fantasy, I bet he went over 400 on the night with maybe 3 TD in the air?
Strange that neither team got a run game going, and both have very strong RBs. RBs having trouble league-wide (except Fletcher in MTL). What is going on? Is there a dearth of OL talent in the CFL? Even worse than recent years?
I picked Hammy too
Quote from: Blueforlife on June 18, 2024, 03:10:25 AMI picked Hammy too
After my GC visit to HAM and chatting and getting chummy with a lot of different HAM fans, I feel for them. Here they have BLM actually doing a really good job, and they're still losing games. All they hoped for was that BLM could actually not be washed up. So now the rest of the team is letting them down.
Gotta stop SSK's streak or they're going to be like us in 2023 "lucking" into so many early wins -- they'll start expecting to win and thinking they are invincible, which is dangerous. Better they think they suck.
https://www.riderfans.com/forum/forum/main-forum/1123026-no-yards-downing-the-ball
Rider fans see the 3YL punt-downing as a deliberate move and are already discussing rule changes to stop it.
This isn't a dig on any one poster here, and I mean no disrespect, but sometimes the Rider forum seems to be more cerebral, or willing to explore things in a deeper way. Which is really saying something since most of their posters can't type more than 2 sentences in a post, nor have good grammar/spelling. Come on guys/gals, we're so much better than the Greenies!! Debate the new CFL wrinkles!
(I gave a long diatribe on this play earlier in the thread)
Quote from: TecnoGenius on June 18, 2024, 08:14:00 AMhttps://www.riderfans.com/forum/forum/main-forum/1123026-no-yards-downing-the-ball
Rider fans see the 3YL punt-downing as a deliberate move and are already discussing rule changes to stop it.
This isn't a dig on any one poster here, and I mean no disrespect, but sometimes the Rider forum seems to be more cerebral, or willing to explore things in a deeper way. Which is really saying something since most of their posters can't type more than 2 sentences in a post, nor have good grammar/spelling. Come on guys/gals, we're so much better than the Greenies!! Debate the new CFL wrinkles!
(I gave a long diatribe on this play earlier in the thread)
It was definitely an intentional downing of the ball by the kicking team. I understood quickly why they did it (as did many others I'm sure). Of note is that the announcers did not. Rod Smith: "More of an NFL decision there to touch it before it went into the end zone". Then they went to commercial and never discussed it again.
I never saw it before and thought it was a brilliant strategy. It comes into play because of the rule change in 2022 changing the ball placement to the 40 yard line from the 35. The now 20-25 yard deep zone change in field position in exchange for a point is worth it. I kind of like it and it forces the receiving teams to now start thinking about fielding the ball instead of letting it roll into the endzone.
Now, do I think there should be any rule changes around it? I get the argument there shouldn't be an advantage to taking a penalty. And they could also run into the returner going after the ball. But I think there would be an additional rouging penalty to deal with that. I don't know, I have to mull it over some more and read what others think about it.
I have no problem with downing the ball inside the 5 on a punt if you can. If you want to pin them, that's one way, but no matter how good you do it, you'll never get them inside the 16. Coffin corner, you can put them to the 1.
Getting a punt to stop short of the goal line vs. kicking it out of bounds inside the 15, well, one is a lot safer, If you have a good directional punter.
The far better play is to drop it short of goal, and let the returner pick it up, yielding the 5 yards, and then dropping him. Then you can get them inside the 5... if your punter is good enough to make the ball trickle into the endzone slow enough for the cover team to down it, he can get it to stop short...
Quote from: Blueforlife on June 17, 2024, 12:24:10 AMLeggs looks good
Leggs might be the new Robo Kicker!! ;) Bombers maybe gave up on him too early. We shall see, only 2 games into the season....long way to go yet.
Quote from: ichabod_crane on June 18, 2024, 08:10:57 PMLeggs might be the new Robo Kicker!! ;) Bombers maybe gave up on him too early. We shall see, only 2 games into the season....long way to go yet.
I always liked Leggs but understood the situation. We have a long history of giving up on kickers too early....
That said, Leggs needs two solid seasons to know if we missed the boat on him. I think he will retire an average kicker.
Quote from: theaardvark on June 18, 2024, 06:24:00 PMThe far better play is to drop it short of goal, and let the returner pick it up, yielding the 5 yards, and then dropping him. Then you can get them inside the 5... if your punter is good enough to make the ball trickle into the endzone slow enough for the cover team to down it, he can get it to stop short...
The beauty of all this downing-the-ball talk is we don't ever have to worry about seeing this out of the WFC because we don't have a punter who can high-arc long-hang-time boom it! It only works if you have an NFL-style punter that can guarantee it'll hang up long enough for the cover guys to be under the ball. We haven't had that in a loooong time.
I think the ball-downing will be stopped by the league if it starts becoming common. And I think it would require some rule changes.
This could possibly be dangerous to returners. In this case it was when the returner was far away. What if it's tried when there's 2 returners and/or a returner is right there, maybe letting it roll by but staying close in case they need to field it because it doesn't roll as expected?
1. The halo rule won't stop this because the downers are deliberately trying to take the no-yards penalty.
2. The no-hovering rule won't stop this as no one is hovering.
3. Is there any specific penalty for colliding or battling with a returner before he has the ball? Not UR blowing up mind you, just 2 guys trying to play the ball, but the returner takes a big collision because he's not expecting a guy inside the halo?
Does anyone know the CFL stats of TDs starting at the 40 vs the 20? I'd love to quantify how much saving that point and pushing them back actually buys you.
Some have noted that we don't want CFL punts to turn into NFL punts where it's all effectively a fair catch and a downing.
Making "purposely touching a punt by the kicking team" a 25-yarder would instantly stop this. Accidental hits-your-helmet stuff can still stay a 5 yarder.
Montreal signs Titus Wall
Quote from: Pigskin on June 19, 2024, 03:36:35 AMMontreal signs Titus Wall
I'm starting to think every other team is signing guys just to make sure WPG can't sign anyone. Hahaha, jokes on them! We'd never sign anyone anyway! ;D ;D ;D
Parker and maybe Nichols out and looking at a 3-rookie DB corps? Nah, we don't need no stinking quality vets! Roll in the 10th stringer!! :P :P :P