CFL THIS WEEK
WINNIPEG AT TORONTO – TODAY – 5:30 PM
Drew Willy and the Winnipeg Blue Bombers will need some selective amnesia Tuesday night.
The Bombers visit the Toronto Argonauts at Rogers Centre for their second game in five nights. But considering they’re coming off a 23-17 loss to the Saskatchewan Roughriders, being forced to quickly purge the memory banks won’t necessarily be a bad thing for Willy and Co.
Saskatchewan forced six turnovers against Winnipeg, including three Willy interceptions, one which Terrell Maze returned for a touchdown. Defensive lineman John Chick had three of the Riders’ five sacks in the contest to boost his league-leading total to nine in six games.
Despite the setback, Winnipeg (5-2) remains tied with Edmonton and Calgary for top spot in the West Division, still a heady accomplishment considering the Bombers won a league-low three regular-season contests last season. And Willy has played a big role in the Blue Bombers’ resurgence as he leads the CFL in passing with 1,965 yards and twice led the club to last-second victories.
Winnipeg is still the league’s top-passing offence with 1,985 yards and its 64.7 per cent completion mark is second only to Toronto (68.5 per cent). However, Bombers quarterbacks have been sacked 23 times (tied with Hamilton for second-worst overall) and offensively the club is ranked dead last in rushing (68.6 yards per game).
Toronto (2-4) is well rested coming off the bye but its injuries continue to mount. Rookie slotback Anthony Coombs, the Argos’ first-round pick in the ’14 CFL draft, was the latest to go down, suffering a season-ending shoulder injury in a 31-5 road win over Montreal on Aug. 1. Coombs had replaced veteran slotback Andre Durie (clavicle) and also joins injured receivers Chad Owens (foot) and Jason Barnes (foot) on the sidelines.
The defence also took a hit against Montreal, with linebacker Nick Williams suffering a season-ending knee injury in that game.
The mounting injuries at receiver again forces Toronto quarterback Ricky Ray to quickly get to know the young replacements. But despite that, Ray has a league-best 68.1 per cent completion average with twice as many TD passes (eight) to interceptions (four).
This will mark the second meeting of the season between the two clubs, with Winnipeg taking a 45-21 victory at Investors Group Field on June 26 in the ’14 season opener. Willy threw four TD passes in that game, his first as the Bombers’ starter, while Nic Grigsby ran for 122 yards.
Toronto also went in cold in terms of what to expect with Winnipeg defensive co-ordinator Gary Etcheverry’s unconventional schemes and now has a more solid body of work to gameplan against. However, a key for the Argos is protecting Ray as the Bombers are third overall in sacks with 21.
Pick – Winnipeg
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EDMONTON AT OTTAWA – FRIDAY – 5:30 PM
The Eskimos (5-1) come off a 33-23 win in Montreal on Friday night. Instead of riding the strong arm of quarterback Mike Reilly, Edmonton relied on a strong ground attack as John White ran for 102 yards and a TD on just seven carries to anchor a 191-yard rushing attack.
Reilly finished 15-of-21 passing for 206 yards with two TDs and a pick while adding 21 yards rushing on four carries. The Eskimos boast the CFL’s highest-scoring offence (27.2 points per game), which is certainly bad news for Ottawa (1-5), whose defence is giving up a league-high 31.5 points per game. Edmonton’s defence is allowing just 17.8 points per game while the expansion Redblacks counter with an offence averaging just 18.5 points per contest. It all doesn’t bode well for the home team.
Pick – Edmonton.
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CALGARY AT HAMILTON – SATURDAY – 1 PM
After suffering his first loss as a CFL starter Aug 1 (25-24 to B.C.), Bo Levi Mitchell bounced back nicely in Calgary’s 38-17 victory over Ottawa on Saturday night. Mitchell, who won his first seven career starts – tying a league record – finished 26-of-36 passing for 289 yards and three TDs.
Marquay McDaniel was a favoured target with nine catches for 117 yards and a touchdown for the Stampeders (5-1). The defence – which is allowing a league-low 15.7 points per game – did its part with four sacks and two interceptions. Hamilton was close once again, losing 36-29 on Friday night to B.C. as Dan LeFevour threw for 298 yards while running for 103 and a TD. Brandon Banks also had a 97-yard punt return for the Ticats (1-5) but running back C.J. Gable suffered a foot injury. Hamilton is 0-5 versus West Division competition this year.
Pick – Calgary
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MONTREAL AT SASKATCHEWAN – SATURDAY – 5 PM
The offensive issues continue for Montreal and starter Troy Smith, who was 20-of-45 passing for 231 yards with a TD and interception last weekend against Edmonton. Granted, the Eskimos’ defence has posed many issues for most opponents this season, but the Riders’ unit isn’t exactly chopped liver, with a CFL-high 26 sacks.
What’s more, the Alouettes (1-5) are averaging a league-low 16.3 points per game and Smith, a former Heisman Trophy winner, has completed just 47.7 per cent of his passes so it wouldn’t be surprising if backup Alex Brink either starts or sees significant playing time against Saskatchewan (4-2). This could be a trap game for the Riders, but their front seven has been so dominant this season that it’s hard to Montreal’s offence having a breakout performance.
Pick – Riders.
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BC AT TORONTO – SUNDAY – 5:30 PM
A tough completion to the week for Toronto. The good news is at least it’s at home. The bad news is it’s against a team whose quarterback threw for over 400 yards last week. B.C.’s Kevin Glenn had 407 yards passing against Hamilton with both Shawn Gore (five catches for 117 yards) and Emmanuel Arceneaux (four catches for 103 yards and a TD) both going over the 100-yard mark.
Lions’ running back Andrew Harris leads the CFL in rushing (410 yards) and is fourth in receiving (25 catches for 371 yards and three TDs) but finished the contest versus the Ticats on the bench with an ice pack taped to his ankle. But if Harris can’t play versus Toronto, shifty Stefan Logan (4.5-yard average on 51 carries) is a more than capable replacement. Injuries have plagued Toronto (2-4) this season and playing twice in five days certainly won’t help that issue.
Pick – B.C.
Last week – 3-1.
Overall record – 13-11
(Canadian Press)
The EAST will quite likely lose five games this week.
I've been a diehard fan of the CFL for a long, long time and over the past several years haven't missed too many snaps every week. Until this year. I can't remember switching channels before half time so many times as I have the past month or so. The disparity between East and West is so huge that the games are the worst in memory. I feel bad for TSN who made an incredible investment in the CFL this year and this is what the league serves up for them. There are many theories as to why this has happened… Read more »
@Clarkenstein, I too am a diehard regarding the CFL. The big reason the season has been dismal so far would be similar to when Ottawa was in the league the last time. The more I've been around the CFL, the formula for success never changes. It's always going to come down to the QB, Canadians, and Kicking Game. Look at the East – other than Ricky Ray (Toronto has injuries that's there excuse), there is not a QB in the bunch and that has screwed those teams royally. Their special teams stink and can't make FGs, and they don't have… Read more »
Why am I agreeing with Obama? Yick.
Obama; Blaming Canadians for the debacle that is the East is just trying to stir the pot so you can get abrasive with whoever replies. That's just your caustic personality. In reality, Hamilton is real close and with a break or two could be 3-3. Due to injuries Toronto is playing with a second rate receiving core. Chad Owens is a big time game changer and Andre Durie is in the Jon Cornish / Andrew Harris category in homegrown talent. Montreal is in their mess because they never had an 'after Calvillo' strategy. Nothing to do with Canadians. Ottawa is… Read more »
get rid of the ratio and that is the end of Canadians playing – US coaches have a US bias and that will never change. The "that is an import position" attitude has prevailed for years and would only be enhanced when not having to employ Canadian players. It is the Canadians along with the better rules than make our game better in so many ways.
US coaches have a bias? BC and Winnipeg, and Ottawa employ Canadian Head Coaches. It's about can they win, and can they organize. Canadians will not quit playing football. They love football, and kids that play the game do it because they enjoy it. It's the parents that sit and think because their kids are big High School football stars at Winston Knoll they will play professionally. The best players play. If Canadians want to develop they need to step up. I would settle for a ratio going from 7-4 just for optics and just to appease for those "patriots"… Read more »
When the NHL starting allowing Euros/Russians into the league did Canadians quit playing hockey? What about when the NBA started taking players from Europe and China? MLB takes players from all over the world…including Canada yet Americans haven't quit baseball.
It's typical Canadian/Saskatchewan aggrieved entitlement. You think you're owed and entitled a spot on a CFL team. That's an interesting way of looking at life.
Y'er Welcome
Obama
Obama..Leason was a fine Canadian QB not only in Junior but also for University of Regina.He ranked in the top 5 as follows.Most total offense yards gained 2. 537yards, Darryl Leason; at Manitoba; Nov 11, 2000 (121 rush,416 pass) 4. 497 yards, Darryl Leason; at Calgary; Nov 03, 2000 (57 rush,440 pass)5. 477 yards, Darryl Leason; Manitoba; Sep 01, 2001 (30 rush,447 pass) Garbage? I think not. Denied a valid try out? Perhaps. I find it amazing that you feel only American receivers (aka skill positions)should be considered. You remind me more of a "granddaddy" in your thinking than the… Read more »
Okay let's talk about this. Darryl Leason – agreed for the level he played at he was fine. Throwing passes to white kids from the suburbs he excelled at it and the numbers show it. Teale Orban and Marc Mueller were outstanding CIS QBs too. I also think for Leason being a 26/27 year old QB in the CIS also assisted with his stats. So a 9 year career of amateur football he should have been good. This is the same discussion I had with Woz regarding players from the past. I said we'll tryout 3 guys: John Chick, Elfrid… Read more »
Without the Canadian content rules there would be virtually no Canadians playing – anywhere. I overheard Roy Shivers say once he could easily replace every Canadian on the team with a better American. I believe him.
However it's our game, played on our turf. We should have dibs on the jobs. Unless you also advocate Evraz firing everybody in the plant and replacing them with Filipinos because they work harder for less money.
I don't care one iota about having better players, I want Canadians.
The ratio rules are the same for everyone East or West. Change them and they'll still be the same for all teams. Therefore, generally the best front office wins although injuries do play a big part in it. But, you can change all the rules you want but that won't stop unfortunate injuries.
@Rondo the Riderfan, Great job being an example of a Xenophobe and an Agrieved Entitled angry white man all in one posting. 1) Xenophobia – Evraz owns the work, you process it. There is no such thing as "my job", and the sooner you know that the better. The job is exactly what the marketplace says it's worth. Mind you Evraz is under the Steelworkers contract so they negotiated wages on behalf of the employees. You pointing out Filipinos just makes you a racist. 2) "This is our game, played on our turf." Actuall no it isn't. You are taking… Read more »
Problem solvers are alike. They ingratiate themselves with half witted solutions leaving someone else to work on the consequences and typically the new problems that are more complex than the original problem. Ticket prices in a gate driven league are fair market value kept relatively low by the national ratio. Decrease the ratio and the cost of international players goes up. Finding skilled international players is difficult, if it were not so all teams would have a Chick and replacing Dresslers and wide outs would be easy. Ticket prices would rise (have they ever decreased with change?) but the problem… Read more »
I dont even know where to start with this. Reducing the ratio will have no overall effect on player salaries. Its called a salrlary cap for a reason.
You're wrong. Major League Baseball game this summer where salaries are multimillion even for the league minimum. Coors Field – $25. Tickets in certain sections – $15. The most affordable family entertainment you can get for a sporting event.
My feelings remain the same. I make no apologies for being a radical Canadian. I'm not a racist, nor do I attack messengers by flinging the accusation around so freely.
The game is ours. It doesn't belong to the team owners or the league in general. I don't care if Americans play it too but Canadians have to be playing it.
You sure managed to stick an awful lot of irrelevant subjects into your retort. I won't call it a response because it contains nothing of substance.
obama is actually close to the mark on this one. Its simple supply and demand. the current ratio is too high for the supply of cdn talent. Ive been saying it for years. give me the canadians that belong at this level, not obligatory roster fillers. eliminate the ratio? no. adjust it to match the actual talent supply. It should actually increase competition amongst top prospects, and trickle down through the ranks, and thats the best thing for football in canada, pro ot pee wee.
Well if it's yours then call up David Braley and offer to help pay the bills over there.
Radical Canadian? What does that mean? Is it about putting First Nations people in residential schools to assymilate them into being Canadian? Is it about supporting Quebec's charter to make sure people can't wear their various religious garb?
Sounds fishy to me. Are you a support the troops guy too? Maybe go an enlist instead of talking about it.
Obama hasn't been as big a prig as he ususally is. He rambles but my guess is he is just advocating for fair competition and the players who can play at this level should. The ratio is to high for the talent required but it would trickle down. Right now if you are a Canadian kid just having fun in RMF you just want to play. If you start to grow like that Labatte kid did then a guy like that will and should get a shot. It breeds competition.
And we all know that MLB is a gate driven league with a defined ratio of players and no defined minor league.