Eastern and Western Semi Final Game Thread

[pennw]

What was with Cornish dropping his pants for so much of the time late in the game ? Was he doing that on purpose ?? The one play he walked out of the scrum for about 20 feet bare butt before pulling them up , then left them hanging low and almost falling down for most of the last part of the game . What a class act .

[Rammer]

Stamps are a solid team we will have our hands full next week

This will be a good game next week and much closer IMO than a Riders/Lions matchup would have been. The Stamps have been playing some solid football in recent weeks while the Lions have been the best team in the league until now. This is the right matchup for the West Final as is the Toronto/Montreal matchup for the East Final.

So far the playoffs are a reflection of the season, but that was a much closer game with the Stamps/Riders than it probably should have been. Tate was tossing that ball far to high for the Riders not to do some more damage of the pick six variety. If he continues to opt for those, I think that he will be playing into a strength the Lions have seldom had the opportunity to utilize this season. Cornish is the key though, stop the run game of the Stamps and force them to the air, that is a solid recipe for the Lions to take the win. Best part is that there won't be any factor of the elements to deal with from here on in, and the best teams have to only play their game now. On a personal vote, I would like the Lions to have another shot at the Argos if they make it to the GC, finally putting to an end to TO's GC domination.

[TheLionKing]

What was with Cornish dropping his pants for so much of the time late in the game ? Was he doing that on purpose ?? The one play he walked out of the scrum for about 20 feet bare butt before pulling them up , then left them hanging low and almost falling down for most of the last part of the game . What a class act .

I noticed the same thing. Seems like every time he gets tackled, his pants is falling down. He either needs a bigger pair of pants or a better belt.

[notahomer]

I saw the West game and just after halftime Tate was asked by Farhan how hard the hit was. He replied (paraphrasing) 'I don't remember it or the first half'. Then after the game he gets asked again. Sticks to his story.

The Stamps would be in trouble with the league if the concussion angle is taken seriously. If he was hurt/hit that hard, get him out of there. I won't be surprised if Tate was stretching the truth a bit there. I doubt the medical staff would let him play especially considering they have Glenn (not that it would matter to med staff).

I loved the ending to the Western Semi, further proof of how this clownish, second rate league called the CFL is nothing of the sort....

[Toppy Vann]

Kavis Reed and his mantra make NO sense:

In what Reed called "a very difficult season," the 7-11 Eskimos made the playoffs despite losing five straight and finishing the regular season on a 2-8 run.

"Their resolve, their character really showed. When we went through so many things that could have broken a football team, this football team did not fall apart," Reed said with pride. "A lot of adversity, a lot of criticism, a lot of noise around us but those men were very high-character men and they withstood a lot of the things that were bombarding our doors."

The self-inflicted wounds of the second quarter were all the more painful as a result.

But the game description today shows the opposite. They did fall apart. They were quite a few characters short of a good team today! Down the stretch and 2 and 8!!!

Players and fans need to hear HONEST accounts from their coaches. This isn't politics. 'The Eskimo way'...blah blah blah is not going to win football games nor are coaches' speeches but players tune out a coach you is just speaking nonsense and then repeats it over and over.

For the most part the LIONS new HC speaks clearly, honestly and does not try to spin team play or anything else. In this entire year only three things for me raised eyebrows from the HC and these in the overall scheme of things are pretty awesome results for a rookie HC:

1. Not ending Khalif's views of his arm twist and letting due process happen vs. saying that is not the way they want to play and get that message out on the first incident.
2. Plug and play on both O and D.
3. Closing practice up to the last 15 minutes to the media. CFL overturned these things and got out a memo to teams apparently that hold off on all this stuff and hirings/firings.

I think the Esks would do well to get Kavis Reed some off season speaking training as more of the same messaging to players won't get him a different result.

[Toppy Vann]

How is there not outrage about the Rider head shot on Drew Tate? This is inexcusable. It is the last game of the year and a player who might even be back could just be sent out to take out the opponents QB with a head shot.

NFL writers have been on the culture of the CFL recently espec. with Buck Pierce and his head injuries.

http://www.nflevolution.com/article/Han ... e?ref=2169

This stuff is incredible. There is no reason for this to be tolerated. Ejections and suspensions should be immediate and long or the long term prospects of the CFL and football will be harmed.


http://www.tsn.ca/cfl/story/?id=409366

[Buonosjanet69]

couldn't agree more, that was one of the more blatant headshots I've seen all season. That is the stuff that needs to be eliminated.... some of the other head shots had some grey area with it but not this one, in my opinion

It's as if some of these players are spitting on the CFL, disrespecting everything it stands for by doing stuff like that and the Mitchell incident(s)

CFL has to show that it is protective of its players and its image too. If it means a marquee player gets suspended, so be it.

Lastly, it's too bad the focus has turned to the concussion protocol and Tate's interview comments re first half instead of what caused all of that in the first place. Not to downplay the protocol, however, as that IS an important issue that needs to be addressed as well, but the hit has to be given more attention by everyone too