Quality of the CFL season

[notahomer]

I think both PRO football leagues (NFL & CFL) show some courage in admitting they NEVER have a purrfect game. If a team becomes adept at something other teams do try to copy. If its something that can be adapted via rule changes, WHY NOT, IMO?

I really disliked two changes by the NFL, the tweaking of the kickoff and movement of the umpire BUT IN REALITY, I think those changes were for the good of the game. I think safety should be paramount whether its the officials or players.

I know I'm going to sound crazy here but maybe at some point the leagues should institute working hours for the coaches. The hours those guys put in are INSANE!?!?! For the health/well-being of the coaches maybe they should have limits? Just my

[sj-roc]

I think both PRO football leagues (NFL & CFL) show some courage in admitting they NEVER have a purrfect game. If a team becomes adept at something other teams do try to copy. If its something that can be adapted via rule changes, WHY NOT, IMO?

I really disliked two changes by the NFL, the tweaking of the kickoff and movement of the umpire BUT IN REALITY, I think those changes were for the good of the game. I think safety should be paramount whether its the officials or players.

I know I'm going to sound crazy here but maybe at some point the leagues should institute working hours for the coaches. The hours those guys put in are INSANE!?!?! For the health/well-being of the coaches maybe they should have limits? Just my

It'll probably take a serious health problem demonstrably related to those long hours — perhaps even several of them — before it comes to that, and how would you enforce it? I could be wrong but I don't recall this being a talking point when Richard Harris suffered a fatal heart attack in his Bombers office two days before his team's next kickoff.

[notahomer]

I think both PRO football leagues (NFL & CFL) show some courage in admitting they NEVER have a purrfect game. If a team becomes adept at something other teams do try to copy. If its something that can be adapted via rule changes, WHY NOT, IMO?

I really disliked two changes by the NFL, the tweaking of the kickoff and movement of the umpire BUT IN REALITY, I think those changes were for the good of the game. I think safety should be paramount whether its the officials or players.

I know I'm going to sound crazy here but maybe at some point the leagues should institute working hours for the coaches. The hours those guys put in are INSANE!?!?! For the health/well-being of the coaches maybe they should have limits? Just my

It'll probably take a serious health problem demonstrably related to those long hours — perhaps even several of them — before it comes to that, and how would you enforce it? I could be wrong but I don't recall this being a talking point when Richard Harris suffered a fatal heart attack in his Bombers office two days before his team's next kickoff.

Nope, you are right, I don't think it was a talking point. And it would be hard to enforce especially since technology can be brought anywhere. In fact, coming back from Ottawa, I kept seeing positional coaches (especially Jones/Dorazio) digging through the overheard luggage getting laptops/ipads. They'd look at something and then take it to the other coach and have him look at it. Those guys were working most of the flight home!!! No question its the players whose bodies take a physical toll but those coaches bodies are having tolls taken too. Problem is I doubt many coaches would be very happy if there were rules saying "You can only put in 60 hours per week". IN FACT, NONE would probably be happy.....

[sj-roc]

I think both PRO football leagues (NFL & CFL) show some courage in admitting they NEVER have a purrfect game. If a team becomes adept at something other teams do try to copy. If its something that can be adapted via rule changes, WHY NOT, IMO?

I really disliked two changes by the NFL, the tweaking of the kickoff and movement of the umpire BUT IN REALITY, I think those changes were for the good of the game. I think safety should be paramount whether its the officials or players.

I know I'm going to sound crazy here but maybe at some point the leagues should institute working hours for the coaches. The hours those guys put in are INSANE!?!?! For the health/well-being of the coaches maybe they should have limits? Just my

It'll probably take a serious health problem demonstrably related to those long hours — perhaps even several of them — before it comes to that, and how would you enforce it? I could be wrong but I don't recall this being a talking point when Richard Harris suffered a fatal heart attack in his Bombers office two days before his team's next kickoff.

Nope, you are right, I don't think it was a talking point. And it would be hard to enforce especially since technology can be brought anywhere. In fact, coming back from Ottawa, I kept seeing positional coaches (especially Jones/Dorazio) digging through the overheard luggage getting laptops/ipads. They'd look at something and then take it to the other coach and have him look at it. Those guys were working most of the flight home!!! No question its the players whose bodies take a physical toll but those coaches bodies are having tolls taken too. Problem is I doubt many coaches would be very happy if there were rules saying "You can only put in 60 hours per week". IN FACT, NONE would probably be happy.....

I think the problem you identify transcends football and affects all vocations now because of technology that has greatly enabled telecommuting, and will have to be solved in broader society before football ever gets around to tackling it (no pun intended). Particularly in football, I would argue the guys who go in for this highly intense, competitive lifestyle think of what they do as something they are very passionate about, first, and as work, a very distant second. So framing the matter as "putting in (working) 60 hrs/wk, max" doesn't encapsulate the issue in language they can really relate to. The solution will have to come from an entirely different psychological framing of the situation.

[Blue In BC]

I'm really against any form of dictating where NI's have to play. Teams will field their best 7 NI starters and often even then, those palyers are not good enough. Trying to " force " teams to play NI's either on offense or defense dilutes that task even further.

What's next? Saying a NI must start at MLB, CB, DB or DE?

To some degree teams have been finding non traditional NI starters at LB and RB . That's because those players have shown to be desserving to win those starting roles.

Let teams decide where and how to get the best NI's playing. If it turns out those are all on offense or all on defense. So be it.

I see zero advantage of making specific rules on where they must play.

[JohnHenry]

I think the quality of play this season is tremendous, unfortunately that doesn't always lead to better games. The quality of CFL players has dramatically improved over the past several seasons. This could be attributed to the expanded rosters, an increase in designated imports, reserve lists and expanded practice rosters. Now if teams sustain an injury, they have a trained player in reserve who can take his spot (rather than relying on a "NFL airlift" as in previous eras.) Although the number of illegal procedure and personal foul penalties this year is hard to fathom?

The coaching also has substantially improved along with player fitness, diet and lifestyles. Now most players workout in the off-seasons and come to camp ripped and ready...along with a crop of lean rookies trying to steal their jobs. There is also more awareness about the CFL down south, with NFL prospects seeing the CFL as a viable alternative (thus we get better young players).

These player advancements seem most apparent on defence. In previous decades, offences could pretty much complete passes at will in the flat. It came down to execution. Pass the ball, catch the ball, first down. Now defenders will take your head off if receivers float over the middle and jump for a high ball...with the QB running for his life being chased down by a DE with RB speed.

[Toppy Vann]

It used to be a point of honour among CFL purists that the Grey Cup was usually the better North American pro football championship game, but even this notion has taken a beating in the last little while.

How many Grey Cups in the last decade have been truly great games? I'd say the best two were the overtime 2005 game and the 2009 13th man. The first half of the 2005 game was downright pedestrian, and while the 2009 GC will be talked about for as long as there are GCs, who ever talks about anything else from that game besides the 13th man? Quick, who can tell me even one memorable play (a la Passaglia, Champion, Gabriel, Parker) from that game in the 60 mins before that penalty?

We are LONG overdue for a classic Grey Cup game, and if there were ever a year where we desperately needed one, 2014 would SURELY be it. Maybe we'll see another 1981-style game where a weak Eastern underdog will open with a huge halftime lead only for the highly-favoured Western rep to prevail and pull out a narrow, late come-from-behind victory. I fear another snoozer/blowout GC game of the type we've seen so far this year could really entrench the malaise that has gripped the CFL right now. Critics would call it the purrfect punctuation mark on a forgettable season.

It's really no wonder Cohon decided to get the hell out of Dodge.

I know Cohon is a popular guy in these here pages for his work in promoting the league, but Cohon has been selling lots of sizzle and not a lot of steak. Wonder where he got that from...

And he got personally and directly involved in kicking the crap of the Players Union and discrediting their reps and their submissions.

Normally in negotiations you'd think the Commissioner would not sully his personal reputation by too direct involvement even though he works for the franchise owners and not the players. He did his job but I very sincerely felt he should have not been involved in firing bullets and media shots with him in it that trashed the players - even though they won the PR battle decisively with the fans.

He might have been forced into that role by the owners - and if so - he's not be able to say that now. If so I'd not be as damning of him for that.

Companies who got into tough labour negotiations - in the days before unions got broken - often used hired gun negotiators to trash the union proposals so that management could keep up the relationships after bargaining was done. CFL model had team owners reps there and Cohon was high profile in the shots helping them win the media/PR fan war.

As to the QUALITY OF THE SEASON. It's a strange one and QBs falling is not helping with the product image.

Lower scoring is a factor as fans want excitement and not hockey scores. Even the TSN crews have been somewhat critical - Rod Black certainly - and unlike the NFL the broadcasters here can say it is not good and not get fired. These have been games like OTT losing where it has been hard to find any positives in dropped passes and fumbles at goal lines and drive ending penalties that make it look like a fixed match - and I'm not saying it was as I doubt it. (I just watched this CNN interview with the Singapore soccer match fixer and I'm not suggesting he's moved to football but how freaking inept can OTT get?)

Game stoppages - no answer - but that has to speed up while still doing reviews.

[KnowItAll]

And he got personally and directly involved in kicking the crap of the Players Union and discrediting their reps and their submissions.

considering how the players in general have played this yr, it seems he was right to do so.

[Lions4ever]

Last Saturday my wife and I went to the UW Huskies v Eastern Washington game at Husky Stadium in Seattle. It was wild. 59-52 for UW. Defences were thrown out the window but the entertainment factor was off the charts. Most fun football I've seen all year and might be hard to beat the rest of the way.

By the way, the EWU QB is absolutely sensational. Some smart CFL team better put Vernon Adams on their neg list (I'm sure one has by now). He's a senior and, obviously, he's going to want his crack at the NFL but he was not heavily recruited out of high school due to concerns about his height. Elusive, great accuracy and touch. If he's not another Russell Wilson type he would be a great fit in the CFL.

[ballhawk]

These days in the CFL there appears to be a huge difference between between watching the game on TV versus being in the stands for enjoyment/entertainment value. The commentary and camera work on TSN is very good making even a poor Lions performance (eg, Winnipeg game) look reasonable. I was in the stands for that game and it was dreadful.

Not only poor offensive play and lack of interesting or exciting plays greatly reduced the entertainment value, but also the long delays in the game (commercials, etc.) stretched at otherwise substandard game from 2 1/2 - 3 hours to over 4 hours. You can attend a CIS game or BCFC game and pretty well see the game move along from start to finish in less than 3 hours (unless the refs get into their major group consultations).

My point here is that entertainment value is very important in bringing fans into the stadium. You do not want to have lack of entertainment, in combination with losing, erode your fan base at games.

Nevertheless having said this, the CFL was at a low ebb in the 90's when I thought it was at its most exciting. Lots of negativity by many people during those times who seemed to thrive on putting the CFL down and eulogize the NFL. The inferiority complex of these people really shone then, as these Canadians seemed to distance themselves from anything Canadian and associate with their new "beloved" NFL. The 1993 Grey Cup in Toronto, and the 1994 Cup in Vancouver (featuring the Lions) were not sell-outs. Then along came the most important game in CFL history, the 1996 Grey Cup in Hamilton, played in a winter wonderland. At any rate, the CFL gradually grew again in appeal and popularity and in would be unfortunate to again have that jeopardized.

Of course, there was the 1991 Lions season. Unbelievable! Will be ever see that again.

[Robbie]

The 1993 Grey Cup in Toronto, and the 1994 Cup in Vancouver (featuring the Lions) were not sell-outs.

I believe you mean the 1992 Grey Cup in Toronto. The 1993 Grey Cup was held in Calgary and that was indeed a sellout with an attendance of 50,035 far exceeding the regular capacity limits of McMahon Stadium. The 1990 Grey Cup in Vancouver was certain far from a sellout as well.

Of course, there was the 1991 Lions season. Unbelievable! Will be ever see that again.

I stated countless times before and I'll say it again that the 1991 Lions season with a terrible defence and a 4-5 home record and often giving up huge leads was simply way too heartbreaking and disappointing to say it was a great season. I guess I'm in the minority here but I'll trade the 1991 season with the 1999 and 2000 seasons with more wins, a first place finish, and an eventual championship.

[Toppy Vann]

NHL is doing this this year. Any idea here for speeding up CFL and the need to challenge?

On video review, the "Situation Room" now has "broader discretion" when it comes to deciding on goals. The hockey operations department can give referees more "guidance" on plays that include a blown whistle or intent to blow.

[DanoT]

NHL is doing this this year. Any idea here for speeding up CFL and the need to challenge?

On video review, the "Situation Room" now has "broader discretion" when it comes to deciding on goals. The hockey operations department can give referees more "guidance" on plays that include a blown whistle or intent to blow.

When it comes to challenges, turnovers, TDs:

In the NFL the ref sees the replays on a sideline screen and consults with the guys in the stadium's booth. Then the NFL REF makes the decision.

In the CFL I'm not sure if the ref has access to a sideline video screen. He consults with the Command Centre in Toronto, who have a video screen and then it is the CFL COMMAND CENTRE that makes the decision.

[sj-roc]

NHL is doing this this year. Any idea here for speeding up CFL and the need to challenge?

On video review, the "Situation Room" now has "broader discretion" when it comes to deciding on goals. The hockey operations department can give referees more "guidance" on plays that include a blown whistle or intent to blow.

When it comes to challenges, turnovers, TDs:

In the NFL the ref sees the replays on a sideline screen and consults with the guys in the stadium's booth. Then the NFL REF makes the decision.

In the CFL I'm not sure if the ref has access to a sideline video screen. He consults with the Command Centre in Toronto, who have a video screen and then it is the CFL COMMAND CENTRE that makes the decision.

Used to, when they first enacted replay review but not anymore since they put the review on CC.