Way Too Early Power Rankings (by 3rd DownNation)

[dd]

Ya, you're right, but I don't hide it.  I'm a Cody anti-fan, just like I was a BLM anti-fan.  I watched Cody linger and wither on other teams as #3 and #2 for so many years, always looking meh every time he got some garbage time or the odd injury relief.  He's kind of like Prukop... he really never was star #1 material.  He'll win you some games like Arbuckle or Dane, but he won't win you the post-season consistently.  And he's never had, and will never have, a deep ball.

To me the GC win doesn't change too much.  Their D won vs TOR, and you could argue their D won vs WPG, by stopping Buck & Zach on our final (real) drive, where 2 first downs seals the game even if we don't score.

I fully understand Cody is moving up in many people's eyes, and my stance may be starting to look irrational.  But it's just the way I see it and it'll take more than a fluke end-of-season streak to change my mind.  Does Cody deserve a chance to start?  Heck ya, he's probably the 5th-6th best QB in the CFL because the pickins' are slim.  But I wouldn't want him as my #1 guy.

As for 2019 post doink... everyone gets this wrong: they were a goal post away from TYING.  Who knows if SSK beats us in OT that game.  HAM didn't beat us in OT in the next GC...  Too bad we didn't get OT in the MTL GC (as it should have been after the 3rd down conversion).

Your hatred for Fajardo is irrational but whatever turns your crank. I give the guy full credit for coming back from the dead and leading this team to a GC win. He made the plays to win it...Full marks to him. And full marks to Austin Mack for making the big plays he did throughout the game.

Fajardo always belly aches his receivers don?t fight hard enough for 50/50 balls, well he?s got a gamer in Mack!!

If the Als keep their core offensive and defensive players in tact, I don't see why they won't be at the top of the league competing for the GC again

[TecnoGenius]

Your hatred for Fajardo is irrational but whatever turns your crank. I give the guy full credit for coming back from the dead and leading this team to a GC win. He made the plays to win it...Full marks to him. And full marks to Austin Mack for making the big plays he did throughout the game.

Fajardo always belly aches his receivers don?t fight hard enough for 50/50 balls, well he?s got a gamer in Mack!!

If the Als keep their core offensive and defensive players in tact, I don't see why they won't be at the top of the league competing for the GC again

How about we look at it this way... Many people here have always been hard on Matt Nichols, even when he was winning lots of games for us.  Lots of people thought he was a middling to bad QB.  (Not me, but roll with me for a sec...)  Now many people here are saying Cody is a good QB (since his WDF appearances).  On average I'd say more people have said good things here about Cody since 2019 than they did about Nichols in 2018 to mid-2019.  So does that mean the average fan here thinks Cody is a better QB than Nichols was?

I think Nichols was a much better QB: had a deep ball that looked real sweet up until he got Lemonated out of the league, and could catch receivers in stride.  But even if you're a Cody lover and Nichols hater, you have to agree they are somewhat similar in terms of "game manager", "not gonna win it all on their own".  I think Matty has a better win% and probably more yards.  (And I think Matty wins that 2019 GC if he hadn't been IRd, because Zach really didn't do much that game either.)

My point is I'm not really sure why WPG fans are gung-ho on Cody.  He was the Evil Enemy (green) team QB: that's where he got his chops.  And now he just stuck a dagger through our hearts ruining our dynasty.  I really don't get the fanboy love for him.  I can understand why people don't hate him, he's fairly likeable in pressers, but I really don't get the rabid defense of him.  It's kind of weird for this forum.  BLM sure never got this kind of love here.  The enemy QBs rarely do (except maybe Rourke).

As for MTL being good in 2024: I attribute a ton of their success to Calvillo and Thorpe.  Those guys know how to ball, especially impressive given their limited, rookie-laden roster.  They outperformed our Buck/Hall.  If they can keep it up, maybe MTL will be good.  I won't bet money on it (because: Cody), but it could happen.  The E would be a better division if TOR could lose 2 or 3 to MTL in the regular season.

Ah, 2023 will always be the GC Result That Shouldn't Have Happened.  And it will always make Cody seem better than he really was.

[bomb squad]

How about we look at it this way... Many people here have always been hard on Matt Nichols, even when he was winning lots of games for us.  Lots of people thought he was a middling to bad QB.  (Not me, but roll with me for a sec...)  Now many people here are saying Cody is a good QB (since his WDF appearances).  On average I'd say more people have said good things here about Cody since 2019 than they did about Nichols in 2018 to mid-2019.  So does that mean the average fan here thinks Cody is a better QB than Nichols was?

I think Nichols was a much better QB: had a deep ball that looked real sweet up until he got Lemonated out of the league, and could catch receivers in stride.  But even if you're a Cody lover and Nichols hater, you have to agree they are somewhat similar in terms of "game manager", "not gonna win it all on their own".  I think Matty has a better win% and probably more yards.  (And I think Matty wins that 2019 GC if he hadn't been IRd, because Zach really didn't do much that game either.)

My point is I'm not really sure why WPG fans are gung-ho on Cody.  He was the Evil Enemy (green) team QB: that's where he got his chops.  And now he just stuck a dagger through our hearts ruining our dynasty.  I really don't get the fanboy love for him.  I can understand why people don't hate him, he's fairly likeable in pressers, but I really don't get the rabid defense of him.  It's kind of weird for this forum.  BLM sure never got this kind of love here.  The enemy QBs rarely do (except maybe Rourke).

As for MTL being good in 2024: I attribute a ton of their success to Calvillo and Thorpe.  Those guys know how to ball, especially impressive given their limited, rookie-laden roster.  They outperformed our Buck/Hall.  If they can keep it up, maybe MTL will be good.  I won't bet money on it (because: Cody), but it could happen.  The E would be a better division if TOR could lose 2 or 3 to MTL in the regular season.

Ah, 2023 will always be the GC Result That Shouldn't Have Happened.  And it will always make Cody seem better than he really was.

He deserves a tip of the hat for his story this year. Sometimes people just want to park their fandom for a moment and give credit where credit's due. There's no fanboy stuff happening here with Fajardo.

[blue_gold_84]

He deserves a tip of the hat for his story this year. Sometimes people just want to park their fandom for a moment and give credit where credit's due. There's no fanboy stuff happening here with Fajardo.

Is it even about parking one's fandom? It's not some slight or doing a disservice to the Blue Bombers to pay respect or give credit to another team that just won a championship or its player(s) who contributed to make it possible. One can be - and remain - a diehard fan of this team while still acknowledging the success of another team - even if it came at the cost of seeing our team lose in heartbreaking fashion.

The Alouettes accomplished a pretty impressive feat considering how many had written them off prior to the 2023 season. That's what makes the CFL so unique and so entertaining, IMO.

Trying to lessen that accomplishment or frame a specific player as undeserving comes across as biased and pretty deranged.

[dd]

How about we look at it this way... Many people here have always been hard on Matt Nichols, even when he was winning lots of games for us.  Lots of people thought he was a middling to bad QB.  (Not me, but roll with me for a sec...)  Now many people here are saying Cody is a good QB (since his WDF appearances).  On average I'd say more people have said good things here about Cody since 2019 than they did about Nichols in 2018 to mid-2019.  So does that mean the average fan here thinks Cody is a better QB than Nichols was?

I think Nichols was a much better QB: had a deep ball that looked real sweet up until he got Lemonated out of the league, and could catch receivers in stride.  But even if you're a Cody lover and Nichols hater, you have to agree they are somewhat similar in terms of "game manager", "not gonna win it all on their own".  I think Matty has a better win% and probably more yards.  (And I think Matty wins that 2019 GC if he hadn't been IRd, because Zach really didn't do much that game either.)

My point is I'm not really sure why WPG fans are gung-ho on Cody.  He was the Evil Enemy (green) team QB: that's where he got his chops.  And now he just stuck a dagger through our hearts ruining our dynasty.  I really don't get the fanboy love for him.  I can understand why people don't hate him, he's fairly likeable in pressers, but I really don't get the rabid defense of him.  It's kind of weird for this forum.  BLM sure never got this kind of love here.  The enemy QBs rarely do (except maybe Rourke).

As for MTL being good in 2024: I attribute a ton of their success to Calvillo and Thorpe.  Those guys know how to ball, especially impressive given their limited, rookie-laden roster.  They outperformed our Buck/Hall.  If they can keep it up, maybe MTL will be good.  I won't bet money on it (because: Cody), but it could happen.  The E would be a better division if TOR could lose 2 or 3 to MTL in the regular season.

Ah, 2023 will always be the GC Result That Shouldn't Have Happened.  And it will always make Cody seem better than he really was.

I m not gung ho on him, just saying he played very well to beat both Argos and us, so hey, he ain't that bad and he certainly wasn't the problem in Riderville. Hats off to him, now onto the next season and we'd better beat him this time!!!

[bomb squad]

I m not gung ho on him, just saying he played very well to beat both Argos and us, so hey, he ain't that bad and he certainly wasn't the problem in Riderville. Hats off to him, now onto the next season and we'd better beat him this time!!!

Yeah, and that makes 2 quarterbacks in a row the Riders gave up on that went on to win Grey Cups the year after.

[dd]

Yeah, and that makes 2 quarterbacks in a row the Riders gave up on that went on to win Grey Cups the year after.

Interesting stat

Buuuuuurrrrrn!!!

[TecnoGenius]

I m not gung ho on him, just saying he played very well to beat both Argos and us, so hey, he ain't that bad and he certainly wasn't the problem in Riderville. Hats off to him, now onto the next season and we'd better beat him this time!!!

Well that was the truth.  And neither was Maas, strangely enough.  That's the best part about all of this, is watching greenie heads explode.  It's funny how many of the Riderfans forum now pretend that they weren't wishing bad things upon Cody/Maas like most were when they first started in MTL.  They are still coming to terms with (in the GC) having to either cheer for Cody/Maas (and admit the horrible mistake JOD made) or cheer for WPG.

Ya, on to next season, and on the bright side we'll most likely get our rematch in 2024, whether with TOR or MTL.  And we better play it bold this time!!

[TecnoGenius]

Yeah, and that makes 2 quarterbacks in a row the Riders gave up on that went on to win Grey Cups the year after.

And superstars Yoshi, Neufeld, Demski, Jefferson... the list goes on as Riders cry in their beer.

[dd]

Ya, O'Day's collar got alot tighter when the Als won, as the Offensive Coordinator and Qb he and Dickenson canned hoisted the Grey Cup

[blue_gold_84]

It's the CFL. The degrees of separation are minimal.

[Throw Long Bannatyne]

Ya, O'Day's collar got alot tighter when the Als won, as the Offensive Coordinator and Qb he and Dickenson canned hoisted the Grey Cup

Rider fans can't really complain about O'Day getting rid of Fajardo, Maas, or Dickenson, as they created immense pressure on him to make those moves.  As usual they have no one to blame but themselves for the **** show they endure year after year, which is born from a lack of patience.  I predict if Mace is not well over .500 in year two, there will be plenty of calls to remove him as well.

[blue_or_die]

Rider fans can't really complain about O'Day getting rid of Fajardo, Maas, or Dickenson, as they created immense pressure on him to make those moves.  As usual they have no one to blame but themselves for the **** show they endure year after year, which is born from a lack of patience.  I predict if Mace is not well over .500 in year two, there will be plenty of calls to remove him as well.

In all fairness, I would demand a .500 record in the CFL in year 2 of a new coaching regime, too.

[TecnoGenius]

I think SSK fans will demand they make the playoffs in Mace Year 1.  Because nothing changed at GM the fans will just see this as a continuation of the same regime, and won't have the patience for 3 years of failure with a promise of future success.

No matter what, Mace won't have the kind of time to fail for years like MOS did when he first arrived.  And if for some strange reason Mace turns into Claybrooks, he may not even last 2 seasons.  If both Mace and JOD suck really badly in year 1 maybe the fans will run the whole lot out of town early; the coach cap be darned.  I'm not predicting that, but it would be incredibly amusing.

[blue_or_die]

I think SSK fans will demand they make the playoffs in Mace Year 1.  Because nothing changed at GM the fans will just see this as a continuation of the same regime, and won't have the patience for 3 years of failure with a promise of future success.

No matter what, Mace won't have the kind of time to fail for years like MOS did when he first arrived.  And if for some strange reason Mace turns into Claybrooks, he may not even last 2 seasons.  If both Mace and JOD suck really badly in year 1 maybe the fans will run the whole lot out of town early; the coach cap be darned.  I'm not predicting that, but it would be incredibly amusing.

I am predicting that.