Official Game Day Thread - Calgary at Winnipeg, July 12, 2024

[ModAdmin]

Another important game (yes, they all are!)

But building on a win streak after 4 consecutive losses is pretty crucial for the standings, players' confidence and the fans.

Of the 9 players on the July 10, 2024 Injury Report, only one - Tyjaun Garbutt - is listed "out" for the Calgary game.  While the other 8 - including Zach Collaros and Brady Oliviera - are listed as "questionable", all 8 have participated fully in recent practice sessions.

The 48-Hour Primer by Ed Tait on this game is here!

Of note...

"I love the way Redha plays football, his passion for the game. And he's got that ability to be a *****, and that's a good thing on the football field."

Asked today to expand a bit further on the '*****' component, O'Shea added this: "It's a term of endearment from me. When that gets that bestowed upon him, that's very positive. It's just that edge — not the penalty — just the edge, the desire to win your one-on-one and beat your opponent all the time and no quarter. You just want to beat them."

Yes, let's be clear here before we go any further, the praise had nothing to do with the penalty O'Shea referred to — Kramdi's poor decision to level former teammate Dru Brown as the Ottawa RedBlacks quarterback was sliding in last week's game and a shot that caused the quarterback to exit the game and be in concussion protocol this week.

More on the game will be forthcoming but, in the meantime, you game comments can be posted here.

Remember the Tailgate prior to the game...

$5.00 355ml cans of Coors Original, Coors Light Beer – Available until Kickoff
$3.50 Fountain Drinks – Available until Kickoff
$3.50 Hot Dogs – Available all game

[TecnoGenius]

Asked today to expand a bit further on the '*****' component, O'Shea added this: "It's a term of endearment from me. When that gets that bestowed upon him, that's very positive. It's just that edge — not the penalty — just the edge, the desire to win your one-on-one and beat your opponent all the time and no quarter. You just want to beat them."

Yes, let's be clear here before we go any further, the praise had nothing to do with the penalty O'Shea referred to — Kramdi's poor decision to level former teammate Dru Brown as the Ottawa RedBlacks quarterback was sliding in last week's game and a shot that caused the quarterback to exit the game and be in concussion protocol this week.

Ya, I agree with both, that's the way I took them too.  It's just MOS idioms.  We've gotten used to them over the (many) years.  I find them amusing.  Hey, maybe MOS is a bit of a <asterisks> too!  And I bet he'd agree and be happy.     

[TecnoGenius]

After rewatching the OTT@WPG game and reflecting, I worry we may be reading too much into the win -- maybe getting a bit too excited.

Did we all lose sight of the fact that OTT was missing their "star" QB for over one half of the game?  Instead of a capable pocket passer they had to roll with a can't-throw almost-noob... who directly cost them two turnovers!  We need to keep this in focus.  Just because of the Crumback on us in 2023, it doesn't mean Crum is any good.

Maier isn't the best, but he is a far better passer than Crum.  And he's been coached to the max on how to not make his famous mistakes.  Dickenson The Remaining desperately wants to turn him into Matt "Manager" Nichols.

I like the positive headspace the last win gives our players, and I like the momo (which does carry over into the next week: see MTL); but we need to be realistic.  CGY is far better this season than last, and their previous game showed they are focusing on playing slobberknocker ball.  It would be easy for us to get out-physicaled (or worse).

It may all rest on Zach: did the time off watching from the sidelines help to clear up his (lackluster this season) headspace?  Maybe!  Since his modus operandi wasn't working up to that point, I don't see how the extra reflecting-on-the-sideline time could hurt.

[Blueforlife]

Play major error free football and run the ball well and we win.  We are ready for this.  Time to stomp the throat.

[Pete]

keys to the game
1. oline needs to give Zac time
2. keep Maier off balance
3. spread the ball around. Can't just throw to Demski/Wolitarski

[Throw Long Bannatyne]

After rewatching the OTT@WPG game and reflecting, I worry we may be reading too much into the win -- maybe getting a bit too excited.

Did we all lose sight of the fact that OTT was missing their "star" QB for over one half of the game?  Instead of a capable pocket passer they had to roll with a can't-throw almost-noob... who directly cost them two turnovers!  We need to keep this in focus.  Just because of the Crumback on us in 2023, it doesn't mean Crum is any good.

Maier isn't the best, but he is a far better passer than Crum.  And he's been coached to the max on how to not make his famous mistakes.  Dickenson The Remaining desperately wants to turn him into Matt "Manager" Nichols.

I like the positive headspace the last win gives our players, and I like the momo (which does carry over into the next week: see MTL); but we need to be realistic.  CGY is far better this season than last, and their previous game showed they are focusing on playing slobberknocker ball.  It would be easy for us to get out-physicaled (or worse).

It may all rest on Zach: did the time off watching from the sidelines help to clear up his (lackluster this season) headspace?  Maybe!  Since his modus operandi wasn't working up to that point, I don't see how the extra reflecting-on-the-sideline time could hurt.

The last game doesn't mean much if Zach is starting, the best we can hope for is Zach coming back with a vengeance like he did in games after a loss last season on numerous occasions and lighting it up.  Not sure he can pull that off without a full complement of receivers he is very familiar with.

[BomberFan73]

After rewatching the OTT@WPG game and reflecting, I worry we may be reading too much into the win -- maybe getting a bit too excited.

Did we all lose sight of the fact that OTT was missing their "star" QB for over one half of the game?  Instead of a capable pocket passer they had to roll with a can't-throw almost-noob... who directly cost them two turnovers!  We need to keep this in focus.  Just because of the Crumback on us in 2023, it doesn't mean Crum is any good.

Maier isn't the best, but he is a far better passer than Crum.  And he's been coached to the max on how to not make his famous mistakes.  Dickenson The Remaining desperately wants to turn him into Matt "Manager" Nichols.

I like the positive headspace the last win gives our players, and I like the momo (which does carry over into the next week: see MTL); but we need to be realistic.  CGY is far better this season than last, and their previous game showed they are focusing on playing slobberknocker ball.  It would be easy for us to get out-physicaled (or worse).

It may all rest on Zach: did the time off watching from the sidelines help to clear up his (lackluster this season) headspace?  Maybe!  Since his modus operandi wasn't working up to that point, I don't see how the extra reflecting-on-the-sideline time could hurt.

Except Brown looked terrible, and Ott only had a sparkle of life when Crun came in.

[The Zipp]

keys to the game
1. oline needs to give Zac time
2. keep Maier off balance
3. spread the ball around. Can't just throw to Demski/Wolitarski

pretty much it - and run the ball, BO is our star player, when he gets going he is almost unstoppable.

[BomberFan73]

I'll add turnovers as a key to the game.
No surprise we won the turnover battle for the 1st time, and got our first win.

[theaardvark]

After rewatching the OTT@WPG game and reflecting, I worry we may be reading too much into the win -- maybe getting a bit too excited.

Did we all lose sight of the fact that OTT was missing their "star" QB for over one half of the game?  Instead of a capable pocket passer they had to roll with a can't-throw almost-noob... who directly cost them two turnovers!  We need to keep this in focus.  Just because of the Crumback on us in 2023, it doesn't mean Crum is any good.

Maier isn't the best, but he is a far better passer than Crum.  And he's been coached to the max on how to not make his famous mistakes.  Dickenson The Remaining desperately wants to turn him into Matt "Manager" Nichols.

I like the positive headspace the last win gives our players, and I like the momo (which does carry over into the next week: see MTL); but we need to be realistic.  CGY is far better this season than last, and their previous game showed they are focusing on playing slobberknocker ball.  It would be easy for us to get out-physicaled (or worse).

It may all rest on Zach: did the time off watching from the sidelines help to clear up his (lackluster this season) headspace?  Maybe!  Since his modus operandi wasn't working up to that point, I don't see how the extra reflecting-on-the-sideline time could hurt.

Brown is far from a "star" yet.  Sure he's a QB to hitch your wagon to, and I would not be adverse to him being our starter right now, but he is far from a "star".

Him leaving the game may actually have improved OTT's chance of winning.  Crum is a good QB with a history against us.  I do not think out win is lessened by Dru's injury.

We controlled the game in all aspects.

[Sir Blue and Gold]

Depth chart out. No Lucky. Not humble enough yet -- (probably not in game shape, more likely)! Hubert starting and Ogbevoen to back up opposite of Jefferson. Killer Kramdi in his usual spot. Collaros starting and another start for Clercius.

[Blue In BC]

Ok. 11 Canadians starting. Looking forward to seeing more of Hubert. He's looked good in his limited action so far this season.

As I mentioned I'm not sure about the 2nd global player. Maybe he's been really impressive in practice but what does this say about our import scouting and current depth.  No indication that Haba is anywhere close to clearing IR so that leaves only Garbutt as a potential addition.

This may be a this week only look after Garbutt clears the current 6 game IR. Even that doesn't mean he gets activated next week automatically. He may require more time and the direct performances at DE, good or bad, may not force a change if he's not ready to go or deemed better.

Also want to see more of Clercius. He's raw but he has some skill and plays with attitude IMO.

[Jesse]

Ok. 11 Canadians starting. Looking forward to seeing more of Hubert. He's looked good in his limited action so far this season.

As I mentioned I'm not sure about the 2nd global player. Maybe he's been really impressive in practice but what does this say about our import scouting and current depth.  No indication that Haba is anywhere close to clearing IR so that leaves only Garbutt as a potential addition.

This may be a this week only look after Garbutt clears the current 6 game IR. Even that doesn't mean he gets activated next week automatically. He may require more time and the direct performances at DE, good or bad, may not force a change if he's not ready to go or deemed better.

Also want to see more of Clercius. He's raw but he has some skill and plays with attitude IMO.

I said this in the other thread, but as much as I loved Hubert's game last week, is he and an undersized global linebacker the best we can find at DE?

[Pete]

Bring back Jeffcoat, at least til we can find someone else

[wpg#1]

keys to the game
1. oline needs to give Zac time
2. keep Maier off balance
3. spread the ball around. Can't just throw to Demski/Wolitarski

I'll add this .. stop taking stupid penalties !!