YOUR MORTGAGE NOW: ETCH’S & O’S

BY: GARY ETCHEVERRY
FOR www.yourmortgagenow.ca

“Football is the ultimate TEAM game”.

How many times have you heard that?

Well if it’s true, why do we also hear so often that football is now more quarterback-centric than ever?

Doesn’t sound like much of a TEAM game to me.  If anything, sounds like a contradiction.

We’ve tried to consistently make a case here that of the four major north American professional sports, football is more of a coaches game than the others.

Baseball — the only one where defence has the ball — can be dominated by dominant pitching.  Difficult to score runs if you can’t hit the ball.

In basketball there are only five players on the floor at a time.  Two great ones represents 40%!  Wouldn’t you like a 40% discount everytime you purchased fuel for your vehicle?  Pretty significant.

And in hockey (ROD!) it’s hard to lose if you don’t let the puck in the net.  Read goaltending!  Now take two pucks, rub ’em together for about 4.5-minutes, and whatever that produces is what I know about hockey (although it IS our second favourite spectator sport!), or anyone of those other two, for that matter.

Here’s the functional question:  Does having the best of any one player, or a team for that matter, insure anything in football?  In a word: NO.  Pick your favourite CFL QB in the last 10 years (Doug Flutie was last in the league 16 seasons ago).  You can’t premise your organization on having Doug Flutie…

So here are a few takeaways:

— We DO agree football is the ultimate TEAM game.

— We DO agree that the game is now being played as a more quarterback-centric contest than ever before in the game’s history.

— And we DO believe that the game is the most coaching-intensive of all the major sports.

So here’s the rub:  The game IS being played more QB-centrically (was a word invented right before our eyes?) ONLY because that is the choice of COACHES in this era.  There’s nothing in the rule book that requires this.

As has been shared in this speck of the world before, which styles of play coaches employ is motivated more by just that, STYLE, than by tactical integrity or sound design.  In other words: It’s a fashion show.  Unfortunately, in our book, a whole bunch of “flip-a-coin.”

“That was P.I.!” “That wasn’t Roughing!”

The reason football is arguably the greatest metaphor for life is that it teaches dealing with adversity.  All within the context of most every contest, let alone a season, or a career.  It’s about two groups of 12 guys trying to get something positive accomplished for their TEAM.

It’s a tough game, at the pay-for-play level, played by modern-day warriors, that tests the meddle of individual players and TEAMS constantly.

Wonder why you so often hear:  “Defence wins Championships?”  Mostly BECAUSE IT’S TRUE! In fact, offences commonly UNDER-perform the closer post-season play comes.  Especially in the CFL, consistent offensive production (SCORING TOUCHDOWNS, let alone TOUCHDOWNS as a result of 6-plus-play, 65-plus-yard drives) is rare.

It’s like a beautiful Valentine’s Day in Regina:  “I remember we had one back in…”  And that ONE is talked about for a generation!

We understand that the pro leagues want to promote and market the QB position disproportionately.  But in the CFL it’s way out of whack in two ways.  A much higher percentage of the game in the CFL is coached from a QB prism (a minimum of 50%).  Whereas in the NFL, where they can pick from the world’s best, most qualified teachers and coaches of the game, less than 25% have the “quarterback’s view” foremost in their mind and/or background.

Winnipeg is a perfect example.  Everyone knows — COMING INTO THIS SEASON!!! — that the Blue Bombers had significant questions at the QB position.  Yet they fundamentally, through TWO offensive coordinators, tried to play offence the way most everyone in the league is playing offence.

No, football — regardless of the offensive or TEAM philosophy espoused by the coaches — IS 90% a game of individual and group RESPONSIBILITY, and the ultimate game of TEAMWORK.  On the parts of players, yes, BUT on the part of coaches as leaders first.

(The other 50% is CONFIDENCE [NOT Bravado]!  And for that we’ve got a statement we’re very fond of:  ‘If You think You Got It, You Got It!  If You Think You Ain’t Got It, Even if You Got-it, You Ain’t Got-It!’)

When it comes to individual responsibility we like to think about 10 two-letter words:  ‘IF IT IS TO BE, IT IS UP TO ME!’

And for group responsibility and teamwork:  ‘Some of us are better than others of us, BUT NONE OF US IS BETTER THAN ALL OF US!’

Remember:  Coaches, as leaders, First!

WINNIPEG 21 AT TORONTO 36

Another two touchdown “performance” by the Blue Bomber offence.  Everybody making a pitch for a job in 2014, and we’re not buying it here.

Enough about Winnipeg.

This is about Toronto who needs to solve only one significant piece to its puzzle moving forward into postseason play, and that is the defence.  The positive in that regard is an offensive-minded, young head coach who steadfastly will NOT micro-manage his defensive coordinator.  And who better-still will appropriately support him through ups and downs, and provide him with almost complete autonomy.

Oh, and we can’t forget the return of Ricky Ray.

Since back-to-back losses to Hamilton, the Argos have back-to-back wins versus the Blue Bombers.  Before all of that, Toronto is 2-1 against Montreal, the East Division rival that the schedule draw had them playing four times this year.  And that’s the pairing in the finale Friday night in the Big Smoke.

Although it seems to be on somewhat of the “Q-T,” this Argo team is bonding and binding as it slugs its way towards the playoffs, led by the even-keeled Ray.

Even though it has been detailed many times, we’re going to leave you with these mind-boggling numbers by Ray:  39 of 45 for 505-yards, for three TD’s…  AND NO INT’s!

Eight different receivers caught passes, with Chad Owens quietly leading the way with his 11-catch, 105-yard performance.

Kicker Swayze Waters was 4 of 4 on his FG’s, and punted only four times!  Just four punts because Ray was busy completing passes.

We’re still a bit apprehensive about this team.  We can’t put our finger on it.

But NO apprehension when it comes to Ray.  He’s a poised veteran who consistently completes 70-plus-percent of his passes to his teammates — 87% on this night!!! — and rarely completes any to the other side.

A recipe for good things to come, for sure.

EDMONTON 29 at BC 43

The Eskimos are much like the Blue Bombers.  Everyone’s prepping for the exit interview.  But there may not be an interview.  Definitely an exit.

The B.C. Lions are for sure the most intriguing story in the West Division, if not the whole of the eight team CFL with third place guaranteed, along with a first-round trip to Regina early next month.

The culture in the (GM) Wally Buono-era has been one of job uncertainty among the player personnel.  On the edge, in fear.  And after two one-sided outcomes on the wrong side of the ledger against Saskatchewan, both earlier this month, the Lions have made a few personnel changes.

QB Buck Pierce was actually (re-)acquired by B.C. during a Rider game.  And RB/returner Stefan Logan also returns to the fold, after last having played in the NFL.

RB Andrew Harris has been somewhat demoted, as has QB Thomas DeMarco, midway in the first half.  And now there is talk that QB Travis Lulay — the original slam-dunk starter at pivot for the Lions — is practicing (if so, DeMarco may not see the field, short of injury, the rest of this 2013 campaign).

It must be said about these Eskimos, they’ve usually got a good first half in ’em, and then commonly come on strong late.  But usually too little…

As evidenced in this one, Edmonton led 10-1 after the first quarter, and scored two majors in the game’s final period.  The Eskimos, however only scored a total of five points in the two middle quarters.

Pierce provides the spark for BC.  He is familiar with all things Lion.  And remember, he was the starter there before there was a Travis Lulay.  He became expendable after the Lions discovered Lulay.

Pierce was a highly efficient 11 of 14 for 141-yards, three TD’s, and NO INT’s.  (For his part, DeMarco was four of eight for 60-yards, and he too, NO INT’s)

Logan had 10 carries for 121-yards, with his longest a magical, cutback, 54-yarder for a TD.  Harris had 11 carries for 76 with a long of 25.

While the Eskimos play out the string, hosted by the Riders in this season’s final regular-season game on Taylor Field, the Lions host the Stamps.  Playoff positioning is complete for all six playoff entrants.

Winnipeg and Edmonton are the two non-playoff teams.  The other six go.

But going into post-season play — known for its continuity — no team has more unanswered questions than these Lions.

MONTREAL 24 AT HAMILTON 27

Well Kent Austin’s luck continues.  And Jim Popp’s doesn’t.

The best way to “beat” the “seven-up” or “one-plus” blitz is actually to not see it at all.  The fun for us was to watch Austin do it in a way that is completely outside of his comfort zone.

He deployed a three-headed monster at the quarterback position with new-to-game action Jeremiah Masoli, as well as regular starter Henry Burris, and a tiny bit of short-yardage/change-up specialist Dan LeFevour.

The Tiger-Cats deployed a very spartan version of what Chip Kelly (now head coach of the floundering Philadelphia Eagles) used to great success as recently as last season at the University of Oregon.

Massoli had played in Kelly’s offence at Oregon, but then got into some alleged legal trouble, before transferring to the University of Mississippi, both Austin and now Hamilton personnel “consultant” Eric Tillman’s alma mater.

Tillman had acquired Massoli when with Edmonton, and then a deal was arranged for the noteworthy pivot to join the Ti-Cats this season.

The last game was the opposite.  Hamilton had no answer for the Alouette blitz.  This time, although they did lead for most of the game, and especially early, Montreal had very little answers for what the Tiger-Cats were showing them.

They seemed confused in the area outside the offensive tackle, also-known-as the off-tackle area.  And this is where the plays that featured Massoli commonly attacked.

In this same area is where BOTH the Alouette AND Hamilton defences have seemed weak and confused at times throughout the season.

Now to get to the Grey Cup, Montreal will have to travel to Hamilton for the East Semi in two weeks.

Montreal QB Troy Smith’s performance was not as good as last week at home, however he continues to show major up-side.

And Alouette receiver S.J. Green is still a marvel making spectacular catches, and game-breaking plays.

This Hamilton win, at home, was far less dominant than Montreal’s victory over the Tiger-Cats the week before.

Here’s another tidbit moving forward.  Alouette running backs coach Mark Speckman is a specialist in the fly-sweep series of plays/offence.  Aspects of which Hamilton surprised Montreal with.

The most important game of the season for each squad is coming up in less than two weeks, on Alumni Field in Guelph.  It will be interesting to see if Alouette defensive coordinator Noel Thorpe can get with Speckman and devise a plan that allows the Als to continue to blitz, but still have answers to Hamilton’s perimeter attack.

Fascinating stuff!

SASKATCHEWAN 25 AT CALGARY 29

In one game, anything can happen.

As stated here before, to invoke a World Series of Poker analogy, Daniel Negreanu (if the name is not familiar, Google him) can be beaten once or twice by anyone of the “fellas” who congregate down in the basement on the second Tuesday of the month, with plenty of chips and salsa.

But over time … not likely.

Here are the dreaded facts:  In 2011 the Riders were 0-10 versus the West Division (a feat Edmonton may match this weekend), that included 0-4 against the Stampeders;  In 2012 Sask was 1-2 versus the Stamps, and 0-1 in the playoffs (the one victory coming in game 12, at home, 30-25 over Calgary), 1-3 overall against the Stamps last year;  and this season the Riders are now 1-2, with the lone victory coming at Mosaic in week two, the last time Calgary was .500 in 2013.

No matter how you slice it, the John Hufnagel-led Stamps — since back-to-back Grey Cup appearances by Saskatchewan — have owned the Riders.  He’s 9-2 since.  Current Sask head coach Corey Chamblin is well aware of this because in 2009 and 2010, he was a defensive back coach for those same Stamps with NFL-calibre personnel.

And he “knows” it was the Saskatchewan defence that kept Calgary from the Grey Cup, not the Rider offence versus his supremely talented defenders.  (In 2009, it should be noted, Sask defeated the Stamps in the regular season finale 30-14, and then, two weeks later, the Riders prevailed 27-17 in the West Final, both contests on Taylor Field.  And George Cortez was the Calgary offensive coordinator.)

(In 2010 the Riders were 1-2 versus the Stamps, with the last game in the regular season between the two, part of Saskatchewan’s four-game losing streak from games 14-to-16.  But then in the West Final, this time in Calgary, with that season’s Most Outstanding Player, QB Henry Burris at the helm, the Stamps were defeated by the Riders 20-16, with Calgary’s lone TD coming late in the first quarter.)

All true competitors have egos.  But what’s important is to have a strong one.  One that’s in-check.  As a leader, an ego that’s focused on improvement and continually searching for the technology that will provide a durable, sustainable advantage over the competition is a winning ego.

Chamblin is now 2-5 when facing Hufnagel, his old boss.

In the game on Saturday, having benefited from four (that’s right, FOUR!) early turnovers, Saskatchewan should have won.  However it would have masked where they are at this point in time.

Now the Riders are being benefited by a clearer picture of where they are in comparison to the Stamps.  The bad news is NOT REALLY CLOSE.

If it stings for you to hear it, imagine how it hits Chamblin’s ears.

But it’s really quite simple, and clear.  Saskatchewan’s kicking game has been consistent.  Especially the Rider kickers themselves — Chris Milo was four-for-four (that was fun), and punter Ricky Schmitt had eight for an average of more than 43-yards per — have both been reliable.

Now this is where the comparisons really begin and end.  Because you won’t find many personnel folks in the league that would take the Rider pair over Calgary’s punter Rob Maver, who had five punts for 49-plus-yards, and the highly celebrated Stamp FG kicker Rene Paredes, who was himself perfect on the night, three-for-three (not as much fun).

Saskatchewan’s offence continues to be relatively non-productive in the TD-scoring department.  And aside from some backed-up ball control situations, and far-fewer clock-control/clock-kill situations, aren’t offenses paid to score TD’s?

This is not about two running backs talking about who is better than the other.  This is not about the Riders having the benefit of a relatively healthy QB, and a relatively healthy receiving corps, and a relatively — definitely in comparison to the Stamps — healthy offensive line.

It’s about a more disciplined team that doesn’t dwell on injury woes, production challenges from the QB position, or bad calls against it from the inconsistent CFL officiating.  Inconsistent officiating is not new in this 2013 season.

Tell me a team in this average/weaker 2013 season, that when playing one of three or fewer quality opponents, would surrender four early turnovers AND change QB’s at the half AND trail with less than five minutes in a game they led only once before, and prevail victorious?

Which brings us to the Saskatchewan defence, coach Chamblin’s baby.  This is where he will really be challenged to critically analyse where this unit is.  Including himself, this coaching staff includes five (5) defensive back coaches!

The one “front” (defensive line and linebackers) coach, Todd Howard, with a decidedly impressive coaching vita, is a CFL newbie.

And with defensive linemen Tearrius George and John Chick, and most of the rest of the defence playing mostly outstanding football, the reality is they are not stopping opposing, inconsistent offenses from scoring late in games.  And that fact doesn’t show up in the stat sheet.

There are lots of distractions ahead:  namely Edmonton, in the season finale;  B.C., in Regina for the West Semi; and MAYBE these same Stamps, in Calgary on 17-November.

Anything can happen in any one game.  But that’s not much of a plan.

(Follow Gary Etcheverry on Twitter at @coachETCH)