STEELE: “IT’S BEEN PRETTY UGLY IN EDMONTON”
By: Andrew Benson
RP Show Intern
The Edmonton Elks have been one of the most disappointing teams in the CFL this year. In so many ways, they have under performed and with less than half the season left, there is not a ton of space for improvement.
On Friday’s The Rod Pedersen Show, Eddie Steele, a first year Edmonton Elks analyst and former Grey Cup Champion, stopped by to talk about the Elks and the struggles they have had this season.
“There has been a lot to analyze but not for the good though,” said Steele. “It’s been pretty ugly in Edmonton.”
When fans look at the roster of the Elks, it is hard to decipher why the team has struggled this year with star players like Trevor Harris and Greg Ellingson.
“On paper, talent wise, you wouldn’t think they are as bad as they are,” said Steele. “But it goes deeper than just the guys in the locker room. I think there is a major division amongst the players in the locker room.”
For Steele, he said he feels the division really began earlier this year when the Elks had a COVID-19 outbreak. They are the only team to have had a major problem with the virus this year. The divide between players is not all because of play on the field, however.
“It starts from the top down,” said Steele. “Their GM Brock Sunderland, I think there’s some issues there with him and the way he conducts himself and does business. It’s a trickle down effect through the organization. I think he’s a major factor why the Elks are in the situation they are in right now.”
With only two wins and five losses, the Elks are a ways from a playoff spot, and have some of the toughest games in the league left on the schedule.
“The Elks are staring down the pipe at a home and home with Winnipeg,” said Steele. “The Bombers are the best team in the league and the Elks aren’t going to win those games. Then they have a couple tough games against Saskatchewan and then to finish the year the Elks have three games in seven days.”
If the Elks aren’t out of the playoff picture by that point, the three games in seven days could be a back breaker for Edmonton.
“I think at that point, the players are just going to be showing up just to collect the cheque,” said Steele. “I don’t think their heart is going to be in it and let’s see if their physical bodies are in it because that’s unprecedented to play three games in seven days in pro football. The Elks don’t have a shot in my opinion.”
The Elks have a lot of work to do to get back to form, and if it doesn’t happen this season, there could be some changes in the offseason. While potentially a long shot, now that Chris Jones is back in the CFL, could the Elks look at bringing the former coach back to Edmonton?
“You never know in this league what could happen in the off season,” said Steele. “It wouldn’t be a bad thing for the organization. He’s a winner, but it would take a lot of change, and I don’t know if the Elks have it in them to make a move like that. It’s a gutsy move organizationally but stranger things have happened.”
Sighhh … how we long for the day of CFL legend Jon Cornish. You know, he once shut up riderville who were sitting in the east stands at old Taylor Field, dead silence it was. Mr Cornish … he mooned ole riderville, lol. That was historic. Thanks for the memories Jon, there will never be a Great Football Player like you again, a unbelievable CFL SUPER STAR.
Prophetically quoted his own demise along with the guy who hired him. Time for Elizondo and clueless Brock to hit the road to the unemployment line. They both didn’t fit the cultural team agenda up in Edmonton with the Elks.
Jim Popp will be running the show in Edmonton. Divide is putting it mildly. Professionals must know from the top it is Grey Cup or bust. This vaccination issue is an all or nothing. When the GM all but effected payday nobody is getting past that. He is all but gone. Comparitively you see the Provincial government drop an MLA who was not with the program. The Elks put themselves in this spot and truth be told good. It used to be once an Eskimo always an Eskimo. Well Elk season is about to open and Elk are a food… Read more »
Eddie speaks his mind and offers his opinion. How can you fire a guy for that? Sounds like a case of yes we know you are right but don’t want to do anything about it.