Moderator: Team Captains
Vanstone's right. The games so far have been almost all unrelentingly awful. Pile on the flag football insanity, and it has me, an otherwise hardcore CFL fan, finding the games next to unwatchable and wishing the days away until college football season starts.notahomer wrote:http://www2.canada.com/calgaryherald/ne ... 028eca2230
Anyway, this piece outlined that in the reporters opinion how BORING the CFL had been so far.
Schultz vs. The World: Week 5 predictions in the CFLThe Big Man finished 2-2 in Week 4, and sits at 7-9 on the season in Schultz vs. The World. Now the CFL on TSN analyst is back with his picks for Week 4, including a happy omen for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats.
Calgary at Edmonton
Bad blood game early in the season. First, Chris Jones left Calgary to be in Toronto and won a Grey Cup under suspicious circumstance and I am sure John Huffnagle resents it to this day. Second, Edmonton is 4-0 and wins a lot of football by imposing their collective will on opponents and basically wears them out. Calgary knows that, will be reminded of that and will do their best not to let it happen. And third, each team has two physical runners and a dangerous pass rusher. I figure Jon Cornish should play and will be target No. 1 for Edmonton's defence. And for Edmonton, Johnathan White has been a top and pleasant surprise as a running back. Kind of brings emotion to the position that is needed. On defence both 0dell Willis and Charleston Hughes can change a quarterback's health status quickly. Bad blood game but Calgary won't allow Mike Rielly to run for almost 100 yards like Winnipeg did. Tough one to pick. Edmonton by three.
Winnipeg at B.C.
Not a good game for the Bombers and you have to ask why. Now I don't think they were complacent as much as they let their guard down. They relaxed and became confident. Good football teams always have to play like they have to prove something to themselves or others. It is no different than any other competitive occupation. You take it for granted, you lose your competitive job. Yes, even mine. Does that mean against B.C. they win easy? Nope. The lions are better on offensive line and the defensive front seven is very good. On the road in BC place I like the Lions in a close game.
Ottawa at Hamilton at McMaster
Can't begin to tell you how disappointing it is that the Ticats new stadium is not ready. Nothing against McMaster's athletic program, but I thought for sure the traveling band of football players would find stability. Having said that, at this moment it's an advantage for the Ticats. Ottawa had 24 points last week to win and it was great. Enjoyed it a lot. But it was six field goals. Hamilton is not as bad as 0-3 and as a winless team the pressure is on and players feel it. Still, traveling to Calgary and only allowing 10 points is worthy of defensive accolades. Only scoring seven, well, self explanatory. I say this is the week. Ticats win at Mac!
Toronto at Saskatchewan
I like the Riders. With the week to re-group and retain heath, at home, I like the Riders. In Toronto last year, Dontrelle Inman was their most explosive player many times. Jason Barnes has not been healthy. John Chiles has not been explosive and in all likelihood, Chad Owens will not play. Too much. Ricky Ray completes a lot of passes but needs more big plays, game-changing plays. It will be interesting to see which running back plays and how much in Regina. And REMEMBER: it is Purolator Tackle Hunger day at Mosaic Stadium, Taylor field. Please bring your non-perishable food items to the Purolator Tackle Truck and make a difference for someone you may not know personally, but lives in your community. Riders.
All the home teams with the exception of the Eskimos, they are going to feel their first defeat.WestCoastJoe wrote:Cal @ Edm
Win @ BC
Ott @ Ham
Tor @ Sas
Gonna take the home teams.
The Esks deserved to lose with all their turnovers, the biggest of which was the unsuccessful fake punt from their own end zone with 16 seconds left in the first half. Chris Jones is a gambler but that was a long shot that cost his team the game.TheLionKing wrote:Calgary remains undefeated. Calgary 26-Edmonton 22. Stamps scored 20 points on turnovers. Bo Levi Mitchell remains undefeated as a starter 7-0
I missed the game but your point sure seems clear in the replay highlights. Apparently the Stamps mustered about 20 yards of offence in the first quarter and were leading at the end of the quarterB.C.FAN wrote:The Esks deserved to lose with all their turnovers, the biggest of which was the unsuccessful fake punt from their own end zone with 16 seconds left in the first half. Chris Jones is a gambler but that was a long shot that cost his team the game.
Did you catch Chris Jone's post game interview on that turnover before the half? He didn't have any apologies for it, and I think that he would do it again if the same scenario arose. Not sure if that is to keep the Esks future opponents on their toes or not, but he isn't about to change his gambling ways from what I garnered from it. All is fine if you win more than you lose in the gambles and of course if that translates into W's at the end of the day. If teams begin to stuff those 'risky' plays, he might slow down somewhat, even if he thinks it is about scoring on every play.B.C.FAN wrote:The Esks deserved to lose with all their turnovers, the biggest of which was the unsuccessful fake punt from their own end zone with 16 seconds left in the first half. Chris Jones is a gambler but that was a long shot that cost his team the game.TheLionKing wrote:Calgary remains undefeated. Calgary 26-Edmonton 22. Stamps scored 20 points on turnovers. Bo Levi Mitchell remains undefeated as a starter 7-0
Thanks for that. Football is an amazingly simple game. You can take away all the X's and O's, skill players and execution. Winning and losing correlates most strongly with turnover margin. Of course, the turnover battle is won by playing with intensity and discipline. That's the real secret to winning. Outhustle and outhit your opponent and good things will happen.notahomer wrote:I missed the game but your point sure seems clear in the replay highlights. Apparently the Stamps mustered about 20 yards of offence in the first quarter and were leading at the end of the quarterB.C.FAN wrote:The Esks deserved to lose with all their turnovers, the biggest of which was the unsuccessful fake punt from their own end zone with 16 seconds left in the first half. Chris Jones is a gambler but that was a long shot that cost his team the game.
BTW, Paul Lapolice has a piece on TSN.CA this week that certainly confirms what you frequently state about turnovers.....
http://www.tsn.ca/cfl/story/?id=457798
