Winnipeg at Hamilton Pre GDT

[Blue In BC]

Before we get too down on ourselves sometimes you just have to give the other team credit for playing a great game, which they did. Their D made stops and on O they caught everything thrown at them and their QB got the ball out very quickly. I give Hammy full marks for the win. We had a "tiger" by the tail all game. Hamilton is probably peaking right now as they've managed to beat some very good football teams of late. Kudos to them.

If you look at our losses and the subsequent rematches, we have done very well. After losing to Ottawa, BC, and Sask, we came back in the rematch to destroy those teams. THAT is a pattern and that is why this team is feared and respected across the league. No one has been able to beat us twice in a row. We make adjustments and kick ***. I'd expect to beat Hamilton in a rematch. We are not inferior to them.

Not making excuses but we're a little nicked up right now and we just came off a game where we completely drubbed our opponent. I wasn't surprised that we failed to match Hamilton's intensity. Football players are only human, including ours. Let's cut this team some slack and realize that the sky isn't falling. We have plenty of time to make adjustments and get on a roll heading into the playoffs. I remain optimistic.

Ti Cats lost 3 starters on defence and have 7 players that I count that would normally be on their AR. Their starting QB was # 3 to start the season and he's only started about 6 games.

I'd say our only critical injuries are Grant and Jeffcoat with a small shout out for Gauthier and Miller.

Ti Cats did play a good game and seemed to want it more.

The sky isn't falling but it is just excuses for repeatedly losing to teams with new QB's and an injury filled roster. We did just lose 2 of our last 3 games to bad teams.

[Pigskin]

Ti Cats lost 3 starters on defence and have 7 players that I count that would normally be on their AR. Their starting QB was # 3 to start the season and he's only started about 6 games.

I'd say our only critical injuries are Grant and Jeffcoat with a small shout out for Gauthier and Miller.

Ti Cats did play a good game and seemed to want it more.

The sky isn't falling but it is just excuses for repeatedly losing to teams with new QB's and an injury filled roster. We did just lose 2 of our last 3 games to bad teams.

Our D had was terrible for the first 35 minutes of the game.

[Throw Long Bannatyne]

Ti Cats lost 3 starters on defence and have 7 players that I count that would normally be on their AR. Their starting QB was # 3 to start the season and he's only started about 6 games.

I'd say our only critical injuries are Grant and Jeffcoat with a small shout out for Gauthier and Miller.

Ti Cats did play a good game and seemed to want it more.

The sky isn't falling but it is just excuses for repeatedly losing to teams with new QB's and an injury filled roster. We did just lose 2 of our last 3 games to bad teams.

I don't recall raw QB's ever having this much success in their first few starts, they've usually been disasters, little more than trembling quivering wrecks, frankly I don't understand what has changed.  Not sure the CFL has a QB crisis with the emergence of Crum, Dolegala, Ford, and Powell, all look to have the potential to emerge as future starters.

[J5V]

Their starting QB was # 3 to start the season and he's only started about 6 games.

Yes but he was throwing darts and dropping dimes all over the field. Guy played amazing.

Ti Cats did play a good game and seemed to want it more.

Agree 100% That may have been their Grey Cup performance for this year. I can't imagine them playing better than they did yesterday. We are the team everyone gets up for and measures themselves against. We are the gold standard.

The sky isn't falling but it is just excuses for repeatedly losing to teams with new QB's and an injury filled roster. We did just lose 2 of our last 3 games to bad teams.

Yes but if we are going to go through a swoon I'd rather do it now while we still have time to turn it around and get on a roll. In 2019 we lost some stinkers during the regular season but came together down the stretch and were unbeatable in the Grey Cup. I'd like to repeat that and this team is capable.

[TecnoGenius]

I don't recall raw QB's ever having this much success in their first few starts, they've usually been disasters, little more than trembling quivering wrecks, frankly I don't understand what has changed.  Not sure the CFL has a QB crisis with the emergence of Crum, Dolegala, Ford, and Powell, all look to have the potential to emerge as future starters.

Ya it's really weird.  And it wasn't the #2's for the most part showing up, it's the #3's (or worse) that got unexpectedly thrust into the limelight.  In fact, the best #2 surprise so far this season has been Dru.  But guys like Fine, Schiltz, D.Evans, etc have looked pretty bad.

Crum was the first I think, and he's tapered off a bit.  Dolegala, Ford and Powell are a bit newer starting and maybe haven't reached that peak yet.  It used to be a noob gets 1 or 2 starts where they can surprise because no one knows how to play them, and then they turn into Brohm.  But now it seems to take 3-5 starts.

There's still time for all the noobs to go down Suckage Lane, or to prove to be adequate game managers, but yes it does look like the current crop will produce 1-2 legit multi-season starters.

It's good for the league, though, otherwise it would be a lot of 50-3 games in the CFL this season.

[TecnoGenius]

Yes but he was throwing darts and dropping dimes all over the field. Guy played amazing.

Yes Powell played like a star.  But no good deep shots.  It was all short pass, hitch screens, sweeps and wide outs.  Granted, the wide outs are often hard throws in the CFL, and many QBs turf it without the arm strength.  Powell was probably told just practice wide outs all week since that was all he had to throw vs WPG to win. 

But Powell's pass-depth/area heat map (for completions) would look pretty pathetic if someone were to whip one up.

He didn't get phased or pressured at all because we had no time to bring the heat.  Loosing all balls before 2s expires is a winning strategy against a soft D giving up everything underneath.

Hand a lot to Milanovich too: he's miles and away better than Condell (and Orlondo IMHO) and probably 90% responsible for this scheme.

[TecnoGenius]

One thing's for sure: I don't want to see us scheduled for an @HAM game after the LDC/BB next season!!

[J5V]

...

Hand a lot to Milanovich too: he's miles and away better than Condell (and Orlondo IMHO) and probably 90% responsible for this scheme.

Agree. They took what we gave them and made every throw count and didn't turn the ball over. I kept waiting for a pick or fumble to help us switch the momentum to our side but it didn't happen. I think they started FG TD FG TD or something like that and we never recovered. They played as close to a perfect game as they could and their level of execution was very high. On that day they played better than we did.

[Throw Long Bannatyne]

Yes Powell played like a star.  But no good deep shots.  It was all short pass, hitch screens, sweeps and wide outs.  Granted, the wide outs are often hard throws in the CFL, and many QBs turf it without the arm strength.  Powell was probably told just practice wide outs all week since that was all he had to throw vs WPG to win. 

But Powell's pass-depth/area heat map (for completions) would look pretty pathetic if someone were to whip one up.

He didn't get phased or pressured at all because we had no time to bring the heat.  Loosing all balls before 2s expires is a winning strategy against a soft D giving up everything underneath.

Hand a lot to Milanovich too: he's miles and away better than Condell (and Orlondo IMHO) and probably 90% responsible for this scheme.

Milanovich has basically saved Steinauers job, but I can't see him sticking with the Cats long if all he can be is OC.  Maybe Orlando stays GM and makes Milanovich HC just to keep him in the organization, otherwise he immediately rises to the top of the HC/GM list in Sask., Ottawa or anywhere else considering a rebuild.

[dd]

I can't believe Ottawa hasn't brought in Milanovich YEARS ago.

[J5V]

Milanovich has basically saved Steinauers job, but I can't see him sticking with the Cats long if all he can be is OC.  Maybe Orlando stays GM and makes Milanovich HC just to keep him in the organization, otherwise he immediately rises to the top of the HC/GM list in Sask., Ottawa or anywhere else considering a rebuild.

This makes a lot of sense and sounds like it should be the natural order of things. He was some happy dude to beat his old pal, O'Shea. I can definitely see Milanovich coaching the Tabbies next year.

[TecnoGenius]

I can't believe Ottawa hasn't brought in Milanovich YEARS ago.

Well Milanovich was a huge member of the evil hated competition: The Argos.  It'd be like SSK hiring Buck or Lapo or MOS: might be a smart move but there's a lot of fan hatred there.  But winning can overcome all other emotions...

You guys show great insight and I agree with all.  Isn't this Coach O's final contract year?  He's been fairly ineffective since his GC appearances, which you might be able to attribute more to June Jones than Coach O.

[Blue In BC]

Well Milanovich was a huge member of the evil hated competition: The Argos.  It'd be like SSK hiring Buck or Lapo or MOS: might be a smart move but there's a lot of fan hatred there.  But winning can overcome all other emotions...

You guys show great insight and I agree with all.  Isn't this Coach O's final contract year?  He's been fairly ineffective since his GC appearances, which you might be able to attribute more to June Jones than Coach O.

O'Shea got extended. Walters has not been yet but I suspect will be done in good order.

[ModAdmin]

Hopefully Kyle Walters does sign a new contract with the Bombers.  I believe Rick LeLacheur is the interim President of the Elks and it can't be ruled out that Walters could end with the Elks when his contract expires here.  I hope not.

[Sir Blue and Gold]

Hopefully Kyle Walters does sign a new contract with the Bombers.  I believe Rick LeLacheur is the interim President of the Elks and it can't be ruled out that Walters could end with the Elks when his contract expires here.  I hope not.

Something's got to give eventually.