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?

Lions win crazy game that sees a little bit of everything!

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The recap from TSN.ca

The turning point: It’s easily the craziest play you’ll see all season and it’s a play that can only happen in the CFL…  With the Riders up 14-12 with 52 seconds left in the first half and about to get the ball back after a Lions two and out.  Lions kicker Sean Whyte punts the ball from his own 25 yard line but kicks it out of bounds causing a penalty and a re-kick situation.  On the re-kick Saskatchewan kick returner Gerran Walker attempts to field the ball but it hits him in the knee and bounces away.  In the scramble for the ball, Lions linebacker James Yurichuk alertly kicks the ball further down field and keeps it in-bounds.  O’Niel Wilson then sprints ahead of the pack to scoop up the loose ball on a hop and runs into the endzone.  Kicking the ball forward like that is a completely legal play in the CFL and instead of a two point (or more) lead at the half, the Riders are down by seven.

The game ball goes to: Quite a few Lions had great games, but my game ball in this game goes to Barron Miles who made one of the most amazingly athletic plays with perfect timing I’ve ever seen.  The Riders had just scored a touchdown on a Chris Szarka one yard run to bring the Riders within eight points of the Lions.  The Riders were most likely thinking ahead to attempting an onside kick to get the ball back with just less than a minute left on the clock, but on the extra point attempt Miles timed the snap perfectly, leapt over the center and had an easy block to keep the Lions lead at eight.   It was Miles record setting 13th career blocked EP/FG kick.  Granted the Riders failed to recover the following onside kick and the Lions quickly put the game away with yet another TD shortly after, but Miles block turned what would have been an unlikely but still doable situation for the Riders into a near impossible situation.  QB Buck Pierce had a great game, as did running back Martell Mallett with 99 yards rushing and a TD.  Sean Whyte was a perfect four for four on field goal attempts and defensive end Brent Johnson had three sacks and a forced fumble.  For my money though, Miles athletic play on special teams gets the nod from me for game ball.

Random game thoughts: The Riders again played both QBs, although Steven Jyles didn’t see action until about the ten minute mark of the 4th quarter.  Darian Durant went 10 of 19 passing with 189 yards, 2 TDs and 2 INTs.  Jyles was 7 for 13, 96 yards and 1 INT  …  The game started off as a disaster for the Lions as three of their first four possessions ended in turnovers (two interceptions and a lost fumble)  …  Their play on special teams didn’t start much better either as four of the first five special teams play saw the Lions taking a penalty  …  After a 2 TD and 100+ yard receiving game last week, Riders wideout Chris Getzlaf had only one catch for 13 yards – a catch that came with 13 seconds left in the game  …  Canadian Rob Bagg had a great game for the Riders getting 120 yards receiving off of 5 catches, 2 of them for TDs  …  Jason Clermont in his return to BC as a member of the visiting team caught his first pass early in the 2nd half, a catch that put him over 6000 yards receiving in his career.  The Lions fans gave him a very warm reception with that catch.

Final grades
Riders Offense: C+
Riders Defense: C-
Riders Special Teams: C

Lions Offense: B+
Lions Defense: A
Lions Special Teams: A

Riders strike late and hang on for last minute win

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The recap from TSN.ca

The turning point: The Stampeders had a six point lead and the ball at about midfield with a little over two minutes to go and could have easily locked up the game with a first down to either kill more time or get kicker Sandro DeAngelis closer for a field goal that would have given the Stamps a nine point lead.  Coach John Hufnagel though called two very conservative running plays that gained all of four yards.  Sandro – who was a perfect nine for nine on the season in FG attempts up to that point – then lined up on the right hash mark for a 49 yard field goal attempt that was somewhat wind aided, but pushed it wide left.  The Riders Weston Dressler ran it out of the endzone and to the Stamps 45 yard line giving them excellent field position.  Two plays later Sask QB Darrian Durant hit Chris Getzlaf with a 65 yard TD pass and run to put the Riders up by one with a little over a minute left in the game.  Calgary couldn’t muster a first down in the next two drives they were given and it was game over.

The game ball goes to: Before the game Roughriders coach Ken Miller said that unless it was obvious that QB Durant had a hot hand, he was going to put in backup QB Steven Jyles in after four or five series and despite an early TD pass from Durant he did just that, but Jyles was mostly ineffective in the second quarter and Durant was put back in at the start of the second half. Good call by Miller as Durant went 17 of 28 passing for three touchdowns and one INT.

Random game thoughts: Stamps linebacker Odell Willis picked up another sack for his league leading 7th of the season. Amazing when you consider he wasn’t even in the lineup for week one  …  Riders WR Andy Fantuz was a late scratch forcing Chris Getzlaf into the starting lineup, obviously Chris stepped up big time with five catches for a total of 101 yards and 2 TDs  …  Joffrey Reynolds ran for 112 yards off of 14 rushing attempts.

Final grades
Riders Offense: B-
Riders Defense: B
Riders Special Teams: C

Stamps Offense: B-
Stamps Defense: B-
Stamps Special Teams: C+