They Learned This Week: TiCats starting to be scary good!

After each week we recap the week that was in the CFL with a key lesson each team did (or at least I would hope they did) learn from the week that was…

BC - They still need to work on moving the ball just one yard forward.  – Another goal line offensive stand and another blown play as Lions QB Jarious Jackson threw up an INT early in the first quarter.  This was the third game in a row that the Lions have been on the goal line with three cracks at getting the ball into the end zone and yet walk away with nothing.  Jackson isn’t the answer for that kind of play.  The sooner Wally Buno realizes that, the better.

Calgary - Mike Bishop isn’t *that* good a QB. -  I’d kinda like to know what Stamps defensive coordinator Chris Jones was thinking by flaring his two defensive ends wider than normal against the Bombers.  Sure it was probably done in an effort to contain the scrambling ability of  Winnipeg QB Mike Bishop, but it left the defensive line way too venerable to the run as was demonstrated in the second half by Fred Reid and the Bombers offensive line.  Chances are, unless you’re playing the Eskimos, you’re going to be facing a mobile QB, so Jones would be wise not to make such a dramatic shift to his line next time.

Edmonton - You were beat by a good Tiger Cats team, no need to panic.  – I’m sure the fact the Eskimos opened up with a 12 point lead and blew it shortly after the second quarter started is a bit concerning, but the Eskimos could have easily walked away with the win had it not been for a couple of breaks that went Hamilton’s way.  Ricky Ray was very good and the two INTs he threw up were a result of him being hit.  They had a nice mix of running and passing in the game…  Prefontane was automatic…  Maybe the only area they need to work on is defense, but that will come in time as their young secondary gets better.

Hamilton – We may only be seeing just the beginning of a dominant TiCats offense.  – They have one of the best duos in the CFL with Arland Bruce and Prechae Rodrieguez…  Add DeAndra’ Cobb out of the backfield and Dave Stala as a third wide out option for QB Quinton Porter to throw to and you have the makings of a very scary offense that will be hard to stop.

Montreal – It’s not going to be as easy as it was against Toronto  - So how does a team that had it’s perfect run ended last week respond?  By having a nearly perfect game the next week!  Calvillo was five yards away from 400 passing, three Als wide outs had 80+ yards receiving, seven sacks on defense and of course the shutout – the first in the CFL in three seasons.  All of it would be impressive as hell if it wasn’t for the fact it came against Toronto.  Do that against Hamilton or Calgary or… well hell, any of the six other CFL teams, and then we’d be impressed!

Saskatchewan – Wes Cates isn’t quite 100% yet. – 11 carries for 38 yards.  That was the line for Cates on Friday night against the Lions.  Steven Jyles only had three rushes and yet still managed to out run him by 36 yards.  Now granted the Lions D was flying in that game and running against them was a huge chore, but you have to believe that Cates isn’t quite 100% yet.

Toronto – The offense this year isn’t any better than it was last year, in fact it may be worse!  – The Argos only have one offensive touchdown in their last two games.  The lone bright spot for the team has been the play of running back Jamal Robertson, but with no pass game and a bad offensive line that allowed seven sacks against Montreal there is no way he can carry the offense.  Unlike last year they don’t have a go-to weapon like Arland Bruce at wide out..  Speaking of Bruce, maybe he had a point about the coach needing to get the QB back on track huh?

Winnipeg - Fred Reid should really get the ball more in the first quarter.  – Reid only had four touches of the ball in the first half and rattled off runs of 4, 2, 8 and 3 yards.  Now part of that was due to the fact the Bombers were 2 and out in the first five drives they had, but can you imagine what would have been for that team has Reid been given a chance to run with the ball a little more in the first half?

Stamps hang on barely for win against Bombers

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The recap from TSN.ca

The Turning Point: The first half was a disaster for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, but it could have ended on a bright note had they just made two key plays.  Firstly, with 1:57  left in the half and the Stamps with 2nd and 27 on their own 5 yard line, the Bomber defense wasn’t able to stop Stamps QB Henry Burris from hooking up with Nik Lewis for a 27 yard pass allowing the Stamps to get out of the shadow of their end zone and possibly having to give up a safety on 3rd down.  That drive ended with a Joffrey Reynolds 17 yard catch and run (and amazing dive) for a touchdown to make it 23-3.  The Bombers got the ball back with 36 seconds left and managed to get the ball down into field goal range, but on the last play of the half Mike Bishop completed a pass to Terrence Edwards, but Edwards failed to get down onto the turf right away or out of bounds before time ran out to help set up a field goal.  The Bombers walked away with no points and instead of being down by 10 points or less at the half, they were down by 20 and it was just too big a hole for them to climb out of in the second half.

The game ball goes to: Bombers running back Fred Reid was amazing once Bombers head coach Mike Kelly realized he was allowed to use the running back more than twice in a half (more on that in the random game thoughts).  167 yards on 17 carries and added 2 touchdowns.  He also caught three passes out of the backfield for 23 yards.

Random game thoughts: Stamps wideout Nik Lewis passed the 6,000 yard mark and also slid into 6th all-time on the Stamps receiving list.  …  Bombers didn’t get a pass completed until halfway into the 2nd quarter.  They also didn’t have a first down until that same time until the Stamps handed them one with a penalty.  Bombers had only five first downs in the 1st half, three of them as a result of Calgary penalties  …  Winnipeg started the game with four straight ’2 and outs’  …  Bombers have lost their last seven games they’ve played in Calgary  …  Last six games for Calgary has seen them rack up penalty calls of 80 yards or more.  Calgary’s secondary was responsible for 79 yards off of 3 pass interference / illegal contact calls and 1 objectionable conduct call  …  Bombers kicker Alexis Serna was 3 for 3 in field goals – one of them was from 54 yards out, the longest so far in the CFL this season  …   Reid’s numbers for the game are even more amazing when you consider he only had four carries in the first half for a total of 17 yards  …  It was a battle of brothers in this game featuring the Ralph brothers (Brett for Calgary and Brock for Winnipeg) as well as the Johnson brothers (Teyo for Calgary and Riall for Winnipeg)

Final grades

This was a game of two different halves…  Calgary completely owned the first half, but the Bombers made some great adjustments and played very well in the second half despite the eventual loss.   As such, we’re going to give the teams two different grades… One for the first half and one for the second half!

Bombers Offense: 1st half D / 2nd half A
Bombers Defense: 1st half C- / 2nd half A-
Bombers Special Teams: 1st half C / 2nd half B

Stamps Offense: 1st half A / 2nd half D
Stamps Defense: 1st half A / 2nd half F
Stamps Special Teams: 1st half B+ / 2nd half C-