DAYTONA HOMES FRIDAY RODSERVATIONS

– Week 4 of the 2014 CFL season opened Thursday night in Winnipeg with the Edmonton Eskimos flexing their muscles in a 26-3 rout of the Blue Bombers.  It established Edmonton as the CFL’s best team at 4-0 and dropped Willypeg to 3-1.

– #swaggerville

– Edmonton may not be the CFL’s best defensive team statistically but they looked ferocious in the win at Winnipeg.  TSN’s Chris Schultz says Eskimos’ defensive ends Odell Willis and Marcus Howard are the most-feared tandem in the league.  Odell returned a Pick Six Thursday night and was promptly penalized for “Excessive Celebration” for launching Winnipeg’s ball into the endzone stands.  I was listening to the Bomber radio broadcast on the way home from the Regina Red Sox game and colour commentator Doug Brown said Odell’s interception return was reminiscent of the one he dropped in the 2011 Grey Cup which would have turned the game around at a crucial time.  “This game is far less important,” Brown smirked.

– Edmonton’s record will assuredly perch them atop CFL.ca’s Power Rankings next week however for now, the Calgary Stampeders are #1 according to the league office.  Interestingly the top four teams, in order, are: Calgary, Edmonton, Winnipeg and Saskatchewan.  If you notice, they are all four of the CFL’s prairie teams or as we like to call it, “The Heartland”.

– From the Canadian Press Wire — Veteran CFL receiver Arland Bruce has launched a suit alleging the league failed to protect him from the adverse effects of a concussion.

The lawsuit, filed Wednesday in the Supreme Court of British Columbia, stems from a head injury that Bruce suffered Sept. 29, 2012, while playing for the B.C. Lions against the Saskatchewan Roughriders at Mosaic Stadium in Regina. The suit says Bruce was knocked unconscious for “several minutes” after being hit by Saskatchewan’s Milt Collins.

The statement of claim, which was posted on theconcussionblog.com, contends the CFL failed to provide adequate care for Bruce and misrepresented the dangers that he faced in returning to action, even though — it says — the league was aware, or ought to have been aware, that repeat blows to the head can lead to long-term brain injury, including memory loss and chronic traumatic encephalopathy.

The statement of claim – which names CFL commissioner Mark Cohon and all CFL teams, among others – contains allegations that have not been proven in court.

– Week 4 continues Friday night with a doubleheader beginning in Ottawa with the RedBlacks home to the Toronto Argonauts.  It will be the first sellout of the season in the CFL.

– Ottawa and Toronto have met more times than any other two CFL rival teams.  Friday night marks the 242nd meeting between the two clubs dating back to 1907 and the series is split pretty much 50/50.

– Friday night will be the 189th consecutive start for RedBlacks quarterback Henry Burris.  Hennnnnnry is 100-85-3 all-time.

– Ottawa has outscored its opponents 21-8 in first quarters this season but are 0-2.  Conversely the Saskatchewan Roughriders have been outscored 40-0 in fourth quarters in 2014.

– The RedBlacks lead the CFL in Roughing-The-Passer penalties with five.

– Toronto quarterback Ricky Ray is 5-0 all-time against Ottawa teams dating back to his days in Edmonton.  He’s also never been intercepted against Ottawa, throwing 189 passes without a giveaway.

– Toronto is #1 in offense in the CFL but #9 on defense.

– There have been 12 Coach’s Challenges by video review so far this season with five plays being overturned.

– Saskatchewan quarterback Darian Durant is 87 passing yards away from surpassing Danny Barrett for #21 all-time.

– Why is Keith Toston not rushing the ball for the Saskatchewan Roughriders?  The simplest answer is that it’s a Coach’s Decision.

– Some have asked what the chances are of Geroy Simon coming out of retirement.  I’ve asked the CFL’s receiving king and his answer is: “No chance”.  He said he doesn’t miss the games and certainly doesn’t miss practice.  Geroy thought he would, but he doesn’t.

– Later Friday night the Calgary Stampeders host the Hamilton Tiger-Cats.  The Stampeders have allowed only one sack in two games thus far and of their league-low 21 penalties, only one has been on offense.

– Penalties are up 36% in the CFL this season which has certainly dragged the games on in length.  Last week’s Winnipeg-Montreal encounter lasted 3:34.  The average NHL game lasts 2:20.

– Hamilton has started 0-2 for the past five straight seasons but haven’t gone 0-3 since 2007.

– Jeremiah Masoli starts at QB for the Tiger-Cats Friday evening and it marks the first CFL debut for a pivot this season.  In 2013 there were eight debuts by CFL quarterbacks and they went a combined 6-2.

– The Stampeders have won four straight games against the Ticats and 8 of 9.

– The West Division is 8-2 against the East this year.

– On Saturday the BC Lions host the Montreal Alouettes in a night game.  Lions kicker Paul McCallum has made a CFL record 762 consecutive converts.

– BC linebacker Jason Arakgi is one special teams tackle away from breaking Sean Millington’s franchise record of 140.

– Saturday marks BC quarterback Kevin Glenn’s 158th career start but he’s 11-14 all-time against Montreal.

– Chad “Ocho Cinco” Johnson has three catches for 66 yards in his first CFL season and was shutout against the Lions in Week 2.  Sorry, but Ocho has failed to set the world on fire in his first CFL season.  Maybe it’s his quarterback however Troy Smith has had two 300-yard passing games so far in the young season.  I had to “unfollow” Johnson on Twitter years ago anyway because of his profanity.  So far he’s been a dud in the CFL.

– BC led the Riders for 55:49 in Week 3 at Regina and held the Riders to six consecutive 2-and-outs midway through the game.

– TSN’s Paul Lapolice was on the SportsCage this week and said he has no problem with the Riders benching tailbacks Anthony Allen and Hugh Charles due to fumbles in the last two games.  Lapolice said he backs Rider coach Corey Chamblin for this move because ball security is the #1 reason teams win (or lose) games in the CFL.  However I’m not entirely certain it was Chamblin’s call.

– We’re still scratching our heads over referee’s decision to allow the BC Lions to “change their mind” after last week’s coin toss at Mosaic Stadium.  In chess, once your take your hand of the piece, isn’t there no going back?  As one Rider coach said this week, “I didn’t know there were mulligans in football”.  That wouldn’t go over in a sandlot let alone at this level.

– After the Riders’ Saturday, August 2 game at Ottawa we will stay down east before heading to Winnipeg for a game on Thursday, August 5.  On the Wednesday, the Winnipeg Hooters will be hosting a “Saskatchewan Night” with green balloons and plenty of Pilsner.  620 CKRM’s SportsCage will be broadcast live from Hooters and we’ve been promised an appearance by Bombers alum Troy Westwood.  Hooters would like you to reserve your spot on their Park ‘N Rider shuttle by calling 204-774-9464.

– Wednesday was a “dead spot” on the sporting calendar with no pro games being played across the calendar (the only such night all year long).  Many media types have scoffed that the CFL dropped the ball by not scheduling a game that evening.  But hey – why would you need one when we can be delighted by NBA Summer League highlights on the evening sports shows?  Groan.

– The Regina Pats should be announcing their new head coach soon.  With pro coaches Bob Woods (Saskatoon), Troy Ward (Vancouver) and Tim Hunter (Moose Jaw) all being hired recently, the bar has certainly been raised for Pats GM Chad Lang.  The one name which keeps being floated is Jim Hiller, who was dumped by Tri-City this spring.  The rumour of Lorne Molleken joining the Pats won’t go away but it’s not coming from Lorne.  In fact his nephew Dustin Molleken, a pitcher with the AAA Nashville Sounders, texted the Monday Morning Goalie this week asking, “Is Uncle Lorne coming to the Pats?”  I simply don’t know.  However there should be some news soon with training camps just five weeks away.

Photo courtesy Global’s Kent Morrison

– The Regina Red Sox are in the midst of a three game homestand having gone 1-1 so far including a 12-2 rout of Okotoks on Thursday.  Things got a little heated there last night late in the game.  In the photo to the right, Red Sox skipper Scottie Douglas had to be restrained by an umpire.  Last week Scottie told us he’s “not as fiery” as he reaches his late-40’s.   RIGHT!

– We’ve broadcast the SportsCage from Currie Field throughout the homestand and that will continue for Four Seasons Football Friday on 620 CKRM today.

– Lastly Avonlea is hosting their annual Slo-Pitch tourney on August Long Weekend at Dunnet Regional Park.  They’re looking for teams with a $150 entry fee and a three game guarantee.  It’s always a grand time!  If you’d like to enter, email Alex Getzlaf at tarpco@sasktel.net.

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THAT’S ALL! HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND
RP
@sportscage