David wrote: ↑Mon Sep 18, 2017 2:17 pm
Not to mention the emergence of Micah ("Owie") Awe. Say what you want about his hitting style in Calgary, he's going to definitely have the attention of players and coaches now. Guys are going to have their head on a swivel when catching a ball on his side of the field. He and Solly are the Nigerian Assassins.
The hit on Roy Finch was particularly ferocious. I think he's capable of just lowering his shoulder and inflicting punishment.
DH
Finally, our Leos are getting the right pieces in place, with Awe starting and also moving Facault to right tackle..both moves I suggested much earlier this season.
When I look at our lineup now, we are really only one offensive lineman away from having the talent to win a Grey Cup. This was a talented team to begin this season and we only needed to bring in good personnel to play rush end and outside linebacker.
Wally really blew the free agent scenario this off-season. Of all the free agents signed, only Chris Williams is a starter and Wally's free agent signings cost us Olifioye.
On defense, with Bazzie, Brooks, Luke, and Roh, with Menard, Forde we have a defensive line now that can get the job done. Our linebacking corps is excellent with Sol E, Awe, and I like our defensive backfield with Yell, Purifoy, and Gaitor, and Thompson is coming on.
Ofensively we have a very good receving crew with Burnham, Manny, Moore, Williams, and Shaq Johnson and there is National depth in Vandervoot and Iannuzzi.
With Jeremiah Johnson and Chris Rainey in the backfield, along with Lumbala for blocking, our backfield is top caliber. Jonathan Jennings showed last season, that he has all the tools. He just needs better protection and a less predictable passing game to execute and his confidence would return.
That brings us to our offensive line. I believe our best offensive lineup would be Steward at left tackle, Vaillencourt at left guard, Husband at center, Fabian at right guard, and Faucault at right tackle. Neither Johnson nor Palmer are good enough. Last season we used had Olifioye, Steward, Husband, Fabian, and Johnson. The only starter missing from last season's offensive line is Olifioye. There is no good reason why our offensive line play has receded so badly.
We have a punter who is leading the league in punting and is providing us with solid field goal kicking. Chris Rainey is the best punt returner in the CFL and Chris Williams adds depth. There is no excuse why our Leos have gone from having the best punt return average in the CFL this serason and there is no good reason why our Leos have gone from protecting our quarterback quite well last season to being worst in the CFL.
Bazzie will bring heat from the outside and force quarterbacks to step up more, givng our defensive tackles better shots inside.
The talent is there on our Leos. Most CFL coaches would love to have this talent. We certainly are not playing to potential on offence or defense or special teams in terms of our return game. Its a shame to think that this team might not even make the playoffs.
Thank goodness this is Wally's last season.