CFL: Rating the teams

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WestCoastJoe
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Re: CFL: Rating the teams, after 8 games

September 15, Montreal comes to town. I can hardly wait. :thup:

Later we meet Saskatchewan three times. Calgary twice.

Each week defines more clearly who the Lions are as a team. Thus far, after 8 games, we have had mediocre offence. Our defence is pretty good statistically, but has shown vulnerability to the run, and has shown vulnerability using prevent defence.

Having to make changes in the personnel of the defence at this time, after 8 games, raises questions about decisions and judgments made earlier this year.

Having an offence, with seemingly top parts, misfiring all over the place raises questions about the coaching, and as always, about the execution. Receivers, QB and running back are supposed to be top of the line. They do not look like it. The O Line, patchwork though it is, has been decent IMO. Kudos from this fan, anyway, to Kabongo and Valli, who have made strides to resurrect their careers.

Middle of the pack thus far. Is talk of high standards by Benny just talk?

After 8 games do we not have an offence that can handle the all out blitz?

I guess Benny sometimes sits in on offensive and defensive meetings, run by the OC and DC respectively. No reason not to. He is entitled. He sets the tone for the team. Does he sit in, I wonder? Or has he delegated those Xs and Os down to the OC and DC? Hands off?

Seeing the need now to bring in NI D Line depth, doesn't one think that perhaps we should have drafted there in a year with a bumper crop of D Line talent?

We did try to address a need for NI depth at safety. But is the team now acknowledging that counting on effective play from the hard working, but overmatched J.R. LaRose was a misjudgment?

Will the team show sufficient and effective anti blitz preparation against the TiCats? I kind of wish we had back to back games with the Als. But the TiCats will do.
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notahomer
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Re: CFL: Rating the teams, after 8 games

The TSN algorithm for power rankings baffles me......

I know the power rankings are worthless, mean nothing etc.... But theirs baffle me at times.

Last week apparently they had the Riders ranked #2 but based on their fine win over the Eskimos moved back into #1

Meanwhile, the Stamps who had been #1 after losing to the Lions, slip to #2 after beating the Argos.

From there on no change in any of the rankings. BC Lions solidly in 3rd Argos 4th etc....

Based on the injuries Calgarys had okay put them in 2 but what where they doing in 1st anyway? And why give the Riders #1 based on that performance against a 1-7 team? I haven't thought the Lions deserved 3, let alone 4th.... What these rankings do show me is I hope theirs are right. Maybe the Lions are the #3 power team in the CFL..... I'd love for it to be true.....(I'm sticking with WCJ/David's versions, they seem more realistic, to me)
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WestCoastJoe
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Re: CFL: Rating the teams, after 9 games

After 9 games ...

1 Riders ... Points for #1, Points against #1, 8W, 1L --> #1 Overall.

2 Stampeders ... Points for #2, Defence good.

3 Lions ... Yea, moving up, details below ...

4 Argos ... Missing Ricky Ray, defences are slowing down Collaros, as is to be expected

5 TiCats ... This week's game will be very interesting. Took a motivated Lions team to the wire last week.

6 Alouettes ... Marsh Madness continues. The RedBlacks must be very happy with the choices they will have for QBs. No easy choices however. Marsh might be #1 in Montreal next year.

7 Eskimos ... Ahead of Winnipeg based on points for and against. Hervey's turn to blow a stack. Fire Hervey. Fire Reed. Fire the Board of Directors. This is a very sad situation. Throwing a player under the bus, as Hervey did, is unacceptable.

8 Bombers ... Fire Burke. Fire the new acting GM. Go with Bellefeuille? Why not? How many salaries can a team eat?
..............................................................

Re the Lions, as a half season review ...

Offence:

JC has shown that he can do it, when he has the humility to adapt. At other times, IMO, he wants to make his plays work, regardless of the defence, regardless of the type of QB he has, regardless of his QB's strengths, regardless of his QB's limitations, regardless of what the defence does. It would be nice if our team had such superior talent that they could execute with such an attitude. A few teams in pro football have been able to do that at times. We are not in that position. IMO ... Anti blitz has to be top level each game. TiCats coming up. Alouettes after that, and I am keen to see how well we are prepared for that one.

Do we have the best O Line? Patchwork O LIne might be good enough. Kabongo and Valli doing pretty well IMO. Valli still taking procedure calls. Waddayagonnado? Throw him under the bus as the Esks did to Rottier?

Receivers, running back, QB good enough to compete for all the marbles IMO. Our passing game showed some of its potential last game. Can we perform as well under the kind of pressure the Als will bring in two weeks? Our running game is not that good at creating holes for Andrew Harris IMO. How often do we see Harris get a 5 yard running start before contact? He is gang tackled almost at once. He has to fight hard for every yard.

Our QB has been MOP and MVP. He might be able to reach that level again. Last game looked a lot like 2011 to me. Is he better than Durant at this time? Or Ricky Ray the way he was playing? A number of QBs are playing sensational football.

Is our running game the best in the league? Don't think so. And I don't put it on Andrew Harris.

Do we have the most dynamic group of receivers? With Manny, Shawn, and Courtney, we are right there. But Moore has been inconsistent. Iannuzzi gets a vote from me as being underutilized, for his level of talent. As good as our guys are, could one say they are better than Calgary's? Or Regina's?

Defence:

Stubler has a system that works. Not all that aggressive compared to some. Bend but don't break would seem to be the idea. Prevent, rather than force the issue.

We have an issue at safety. If Reid can sub well enough for Westerman, I would not be surprised to see us move Phillips to safety.

In Stubler's system, he might be satisfied with Brandon Jordan at tackle. We will see if we bring in an NFL cut. The thing is we have Michael Cosgrove on the PR. He is a 300 pound defensive tackle. Would some new guy move ahead of him?

Do we have the most dynamic defensive line? I don't think so.

Do we have the best group of DBs? Marsh and Parks are right there. Phillips coverage is right there, not his tackling.

Our LBs might be the best.

..........

Coaching:

IMO, we might still have coaching issues. Since JC has been an OC, we have seen an influx of very top level offensive coaches: Austin, Hufnagel, Trestman, Milanovich, Cortez. The bar has risen. A lot.

On defence I am not sure Stubler's style is the best when facing dynamic passing attacks. The statistics look good, but I have a hunch a more aggressive approach might be needed in the playoffs.

STs ... A mixed bag. Up. Down. Coverage. Returns good lately.

IMO our middle of the pack standing is pretty much where we belong. The upcoming games will tell us what we need to know about our chances in the playoffs.

IMO our offence is not the best. Our running game is not the best. Our defence is not the best. Our pass rush is not the best. Our run defence is vulnerable.

IMO talent doesn't rule the CFL. IMO the talent is evenly distributed. IMO coaching rules the CFL.

The league is very tough from 1 through 6. Even Edmonton and Winnipeg are capable, IMO, of getting some wins, if they can deal with the chaos in their organizations.

With good game plans, I am sure we can compete. Playoff favourite? At this time, IMO, no.
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Re: CFL: Rating the teams, after 9 games, with review of Li

Cal - getting it done no matter who is in the lineup. 4th qtr letdown not the real stamps
Sask - IN reality, barely beat wpg until wpg handed them their last 17 pts
BC - who else
Als - only one of the rest to beat a top 3 team, as well as the first team in the east, for now
Ticats - better than the rest
Argos - beat up and beat up
edm - better than their record, but until they prove it.....
Every day that passes is one you can't get back
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Re: CFL: Rating the teams, after 9 games, with review of Li

http://www.tsn.ca/cfl/story/?id=431119
Angus Reid's injury among a number of health issues for Lions

SURREY, B.C. -- Angus Reid's season -- and career -- continued to hang in limbo Tuesday.

The veteran B.C. centre will miss his 10th straight game Saturday due to a back injury as the Lions visit the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in the second game of a home-and-home series.

Reid, a 36-year-old Richmond, B.C., native who has yet to snap the ball in his 13th CFL season, is scheduled to come off the nine-game injured list. But he expects to go back on it, pending a decision that coach Mike Benevides and general manager Wally Buono have yet to make.

"I'm not ready to play right now," said Reid after limited participation in a practice. "It'll still take some time. I don't know how long that's going to be."

Reid's injury among a number of health issues that the Lions (6-3) are dealing with as they attempt to post their second straight win over the Ticats (4-5) in their temporary home of Guelph, Ont. Middle linebacker Solomon Elimimian (thigh) and defensive back Ryan Phillips (groin) are questionable after getting hurt in B.C.'s 29-26 victory last Friday.

"(A return to the nine-game injured list is) probable, because they could still take me off later (before nine games are up), so I think it might just be a better scenario to do that than to go week to week without any knowledge of how long that might be," said Reid.

He said the injury, which has raised questions about whether he will be able to continue his career, will likely require surgery after the season.

"Ideally, I'd like to be (playing) football," he said. "I want the pain alleviated. ... For now, I'm doing everything I can to make sure I can play if I'm needed and be able to put up with whatever pain there is without doing any more harm. It, hopefully, does get better, but so far it hasn't on its own."

Reid has three herniated discs in his lower back, and one is pressing against the sciatic nerve.

"I'm trying to get it off, because it doesn't allow a lot of movement without pain. ... I'm trying my best, every treatment I can to alleviate some of the pain so if need be, if I need to play, I can get it done," he said. "It's not a great scenario, but we're working at it."

Reid donned his full pads with his teammates Tuesday, but could only participate in limited activity. Still, it was more than he has done in quite some time. He was sidelined early in training camp when years of bending over backward for his team caught up to him.

"I'm doing all the drills again," said Reid, who has stayed home from road trips. "I did a lot of scout team work (Monday). I didn't do much (Tuesday) with the pads, just because I want to ease into the pounding and want to make sure I can handle it. I don't want to regress."

Quarterback Travis Lulay said Reid has still played an important role in the team's progress this season by contributing in team meetings and teaching sessions with other offensive linemen. Reid has put on "a brave face" in light of his own ordeal while attempting to help the team succeed.

"He's still a very respected voice in the locker-room," said Lulay. "I'm sure he has his struggles, but he does a good job when he's around the team."

Lulay also praised second-year pro Matt Norman, whose transition to centre from guard, planned for Reid's anticipated retirement a few years from now, was accelerated by the veteran snapper's injury.

"(Norman) is getting better every single week," said Lulay. "The more looks he sees, the more different scenarios come up in a game, the better he gets. He's a smart guy. You're always looking for a guy who doesn't make the same mistake twice, and he's pretty good about that. He's pretty good about fixing his mistakes and moving along."

Benevides said he still does not know what decision he will make regarding Reid, but was encouraged by his work with the scout team a day earlier. Meanwhile, the coach listed both Elimimian and Phillips as day to day.

Elimimian was sidelined in the first half Friday while playing on special teams, but hopes to play Saturday.

"It's making progress," said Elimimian. "I'm feeling better day to day."

Pending Elimimian's availability, linebacker Yaser Elqutub, a 25-year-old Katy, Tex., native out of Northwestern State, has a chance to make his CFL debut. Elqutub has been on the practice roster since signing with the Lions on July 1.

"He's been here for a while, he's been preparing and he's been good," said Benevides. "Now, we'll see if we have to activate him or not."

Phillips was hurt in the second quarter against Hamilton, as he tried to get going on coverage of a receiver on a deep route. But he was able to complete the game, and took part in limited drills in practice.

"It's getting better," said Phillips. "I'm still a little sore and things like that. I didn't try to do anything too much (Tuesday) , to try to pull it or try to run full speed or anything like that."

While the defence adapts to possible personnel changes and efforts to prevent Hamilton from staging another late rally, Lulay expects both clubs to throw some wrinkles into their offences. He passed for more than 300 yards for the first time this season Friday, but the B.C. running game still needs to get untracked. Tailback Andrew Harris was held under 100 yards for the third straight game -- and he has yet to gain more than 50 in the past two.

"It's been a struggle the last couple games," said Harris. "Obviously, teams are keying on me a little bit more now, and it's making things difficult. But in the same vent, we need to be more productive."

Note: B.C. linebacker Anton McKenzie is slated to play with a cast on his right thumb for the second straight game after undergoing minor surgery last week.
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notahomer
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Re: CFL: Rating the teams, after 9 games, with review of Li

KnowItAll wrote:Cal - getting it done no matter who is in the lineup. 4th qtr letdown not the real stamps
Sask - IN reality, barely beat wpg until wpg handed them their last 17 pts
BC - who else
Als - only one of the rest to beat a top 3 team, as well as the first team in the east, for now
Ticats - better than the rest
Argos - beat up and beat up
edm - better than their record, but until they prove it.....
Your rankings make sense (with the Bombers obviously #8, I assume?). I have not been that impressed with the Riders the past few weeks including their loss but in some ways wonder if its that successful malaise than can creep in. I'm sure a more focussed, fiece and watchable Riders version will come to play when they have to play a meaningful divisional game again. 8-1 and clearly doing enough to win but IMO, SHOULD HAVE DOMINATED, and instead did enough to win. The Stamps really have fought, struggled through injuries and maintained pace. And the Lions have certainly struggled the same way I feel the Riders have, the only difference being we lost games where, IMO, the Riders would have squeaked out a win. The Al's game hurt but the Argos dominated, IMO.
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WestCoastJoe
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Re: CFL: Rating the teams, after 10 games, with review of L

1 Calgary ... 3 QBs that can play. Great coaching. Top flight personnel. Outstanding Xs and Os.

2 Regina ... Humble pie today. Durant must not have liked the blitz. Solid team with players and coaching. Good defence. 8 and 2.

3 Toronto ... Collaros OK. Defence pretty good. Milanovich very good at the Xs and Os. 6 and 4.

4 B.C. ... Issues. Personnel. Coaching. Anti blitz. Coaching. Lack of execution (j/k). Not up to speed on the Xs and Os?

5 Hamilton ... On the rise. Austin pretty dayum good at the Xs and Os. Team highly motivated. Burris flying high. And Austin not afraid to sit him down when he flies too close to the Sun.

6 Montreal ... The Hawkins nightmare over. Respectability returning. Nice blitzing culture. The TiCats like it too. Hello, next week. 4 and 6.

7 Winnipeg ... Good win for the people of Winnipeg. Nice stadium. Now get some solid guys behind the desks. 2 and 8.

8 Edmonton ... Start over. You still have fans. Fire just about everybody who is not a football player.
............

Lions ...

Coaching issues on O and D. Personnel issues. Complacent thinking at the coaching and GM level? Wally complacent with familiiar and comfortable coaches? Coaches complacent with playbooks, game planning and play calling? Players absorbing the complacency, reading the pre season press clippings?

Near crisis level, Wally. Near. Not there yet. Would crisis be scraping into the playoffs, and getting ousted quickly? Have we identified the problems yet? Still in the complacent cloud?
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notahomer
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Re: CFL: Rating the teams, after 10 games, with review of L

My perspective, is close to yours (who KNOWS what the TSN algorithm will spit out :cool: ) except I'd rate the Flying Wildcats, er, Ticats, #4, and the Lions #5.

The Riders have had some stumbles and now that they have lost, look for a bounceback game for them. I see them taking over ranking #1 again in the next few weeks. Calgary has done well but those injuries will take some of their edge off. I guess we'll see if the Lions continue to tread water or are they deciding to join the party? The east division is really starting to crowd on up and I'm hoping the west will tighten up due to some Lions victories too....
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Re: CFL: Rating the teams, after 10 games, with review of L

Sorry WCJ but after recent losses to Hamilton and Montreal, no answer for the blitz, a stubborn and arrogant OC who resists change, and a team that has an away record of 1-4 that is equal to Esks and Bombers, I have to rate the Lions at #6.
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WestCoastJoe
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Re: CFL: Rating the teams, after 10 games, with review of L

notahomer wrote:My perspective, is close to yours (who KNOWS what the TSN algorithm will spit out :cool: ) except I'd rate the Flying Wildcats, er, Ticats, #4, and the Lions #5.
Yup. I have to go with the wins however.
DanoT wrote:Sorry WCJ but after recent losses to Hamilton and Montreal, no answer for the blitz, a stubborn and arrogant OC who resists change, and a team that has an away record of 1-4 that is equal to Esks and Bombers, I have to rate the Lions at #6.
Yup. But I am stuck with the wins. Just for these ratings. TiCats rising. Lions in some turmoil.
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notahomer
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Re: CFL: Rating the teams, after 10 games, with review of L

Uh-oh, WCJ, your rankings match the TSN algorithm :rotf:

Just kidding of course. Yours/TSN's do match but I'm sure for different reasons.

http://cfl.ca/article/cflca-power-ranki ... to-the-top
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Re: CFL: Rating the teams, after 11 games, with review of L

1 Calgary. On top. 3 capable QBs. Very good O. Very good D. Great coaching.

2 Regina. Slipping. Legal troubles. Not good. Still a load to play against though.

3 Toronto. Pretty much a tossup with the Lions. Except TO did it withoud Ricky Ray, and without Chad Owens. Nice defence.

4 B.C. Good intensity. Good game prep and anti blitz by JC. Much better containment of the rookie QBs. Are we out of the woods? See below for more comments.

5 Hamilton. Rising. Very productive O. Improving D under Steinauer.

6 Montreal. Vast improvement since firing Hawkins. Rookie QBs, with all that goes with that. Very challenging D to play against.

7 Edmonton. Way to go, Reilly. And also ... way to go, Reilly.

8 Winnipeg. Nice stadium.
.............

Re B.C.

O. Nice to see Andrew Harris get some carries and some holes. Great to see anti blitz preparation. Still not functioning smoothly. Injury to Lulay? Ouch. I have high hopes for DeMarco. One wonders if we will be tested to see if we can play 3 different QBs and win. O Line satisfactory in the circumstances.

D. Nicely planned and called defensive game by Stubler. Rookie QBs though. And not really a fearsome running game. If we are lucky Sheets will be out. However Hughes looked strong as a horse. Big test coming up.

STs. McCallum looking pretty good. Tim Brown looking awesome. Coverage OK. Penalties still an issue.

Coaching. We are #3 or #4 in the league, depending on how one figures the standings. Is that a fair representation of our coaching? Our management? Our personnel work? Our game plans? Maybe. Are we contenders? Dunno at this point, but it is a concern. Can we host a playoff game? Can we get to the Cup? Can we win the Cup? Lots of challenges there. And it seems to me it won't get any easier next year.

Exciting game today. Nice result. Enough to challenge Calgary, or Regina? Dunno at this time. But we are alive and kicking.

If we get through the West, I think we can certainly challenge Toronto or Hamilton.
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Re: CFL: Rating the teams, after 11 games, with review of L

WestCoastJoe wrote:1 Calgary. On top. 3 capable QBs. Very good O. Very good D. Great coaching.

2 Regina. Slipping. Legal troubles. Not good. Still a load to play against though.

3 Toronto. Pretty much a tossup with the Lions. Except TO did it withoud Ricky Ray, and without Chad Owens. Nice defence.

4 B.C. Good intensity. Good game prep and anti blitz by JC. Much better containment of the rookie QBs. Are we out of the woods? See below for more comments.

5 Hamilton. Rising. Very productive O. Improving D under Steinauer.

6 Montreal. Vast improvement since firing Hawkins. Rookie QBs, with all that goes with that. Very challenging D to play against.

7 Edmonton. Way to go, Reilly. And also ... way to go, Reilly.

8 Winnipeg. Nice stadium.
..............
Calgary has impressed me due to the 'oh well, next up' attitude and performance due to injuries. Hate to see these guys when the starters return....

Riders looked great when their offence was pretty much hand it off to Sheets. What happens now? Durants throwing picks again.

My rankings would be the same for now. Tempted to put Ticats ahead of BC because they played on the road this week and as Buono says this team (Lions) doesn't seem to bring the same levels needed when playing on the road. But it was nice to see the defence play such a big role in a win at home especially containing a QB who emberassed them a few weeks ago.....
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Re: CFL: Rating the teams, after 11 games, with review of L

http://www.sportsnet.ca/football/cfl/cf ... ders-fall/

Perry Lefko's take ...
September 16, 2013, 1:12 PM

With seven weeks remaining in the Canadian Football League season, the Calgary Stampeders and Toronto Argonauts are leading their respective divisions. But is the West the best or is the East the beast?

The Stamps have the best record in the league and are being led by third-string quarterback Bo Levi Mitchell and making do with a depleted receiving corps, but the Argos are holding together without injured pivot Ricky Ray, all-purpose player Chad Owens and running back Chad Kackert, who suffered an injury in his first game back after a lengthy stay on the IR.

At this point, the two teams that played one another in the Grey Cup last year appear headed for another showdown. Yes, there are still many games to be played, but consistency matters.

The dramatic decline of the Saskatchewan Roughriders has suddenly made the West Division more of a guessing game. The B.C. Lions, who are undefeated at home but average on the road, have a chance to make a run for second in the West if the Riders continue to fall.

1. Calgary (9-2)
Continued to show winning ways at home, coming from behind to beat the Ticats. The defence, notably the front four, is scary. Hamilton tried to contain the defensive line but simply couldn’t do it for a full 60 minutes.

2. Toronto (7-4)
Two consecutive wins on the road and backup quarterback Zach Collaros continues to provide reason for the Ottawa RedBlacks to consider him in the expansion draft.

3. B.C. (7-4)
Didn’t look all that great beating the Als — in fact, quarterback Travis Lulay looked terrible — but at least feature running back Andrew Harris was involved more in the game plan. They’re starting to close ground on Saskatchewan in the standings.

4. Saskatchewan (8-3)
Falling fast with a record of 3-3 in their last six and two consecutive losses. Losing Kory Sheets to injury leaves a gaping hole in the lineup.

5. Hamilton (5-6)
This is a team that self-destructs far too often. Too many losses come down to penalties, turnovers or an inability to finish off drives.

6. Montreal (4-7)
Defence is having to do too much because the offence is lame. None of the quarterbacks auditioning for the starting job are making a case for themselves. Marsh Madness turned into Marsh Badness. Is it too soon to start Troy Smith?

7. Edmonton (2-9)
Won the first half of the Toilet Bowl Series with an authoritative performance against Winnipeg. For at least one week the Eskimos have silenced their critics. Will it last?

8. Winnipeg (2-9)
Perhaps the euphoria of winning one game was just too much for the Blue Bumblers. Quarterback Justin Goltz has squandered whatever opportunity to stake his claim for the starting job. But Mad Max Hall isn’t any better.
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Re: CFL: Rating the teams, after 12 games, with review of L

One fan's view of the teams ...

1 Calgary. 9 and 3. Vulnerable though. Lose to the Argos at home. Almost lose to the up and coming TiCats at home. QB depth. Coaching. But there is lots of competition in the league.

2 Toronto. Still pretty much a toss up with the Lions, but both move ahead of the Riders. Better enjoy Collaros in T.O. now, because next year he is probably in Ottawa. Good for the league. Bad for T.O.

3 B.C. DeMarco makes good. He makes believers. He has always been challenged and doubted. All of his athletic career. Full credit to him, and to Neil McAvoy and the Lions' staff for seeing his special qualities.

4 Regina. Fading. Fading. They miss Sheets so much. Durant is in a bit of a funk. Defensively, Richie Hall seems to play it conservatively. Without a running game, that is not working out so well.

5 Hamilton. Probably better then Regina at this point. Austin knows how to build a team. Fast. Xs and Os. Motivator. Pushes all the buttons.

6 Montreal. Barely ahead of Edmonton. Neiswander makes good. Attacking defence.

7 Edmonton. Reilly. Reilly. Reilly. Some good athletes. Plus the Reed and Hervey show.

8 Winnipeg. Beat the Riders. Showing some signs of life.
.............

Lions

Undersized D Line looks good vs the Riders. But the Riders did not have Sheets. DBs look good except for the one in the middle.

Running game missing in action. 7 carries for Harris for 27 yards. 4 to Brown for 20.

Protection good, although Richie Hall did not bring the house. DeMarco shows how he did so very well in college. Smart. Good arm. Decisive.

STs. McCallum back to his old self. Tim Brown very solid. Coverage pretty good.

Can we compete for all the marbles? Sure. But it won't get any easier. And we beat a struggling Regina team, beaten by the Bombers two weeks ago, and by Toronto last week, also in Regina. We can compete, but IMO we are far from a favourite against Calgary, Toronto or even Hamilton. We can compete. But the league is tough, and as I have said numerous times, the level of coaching has risen at an extremely fast rate since 2007.
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