2011 CFL thread

[JC]

Hey the Riders may soon be joined in the basement by the Eskimos if they keep playing this way. The last three weeks rivals anything they have spit out the last three years on the terrible scale.

In their defense, they are ravaged with injuries

 

[JR]

Hey the Riders may soon be joined in the basement by the Eskimos if they keep playing this way. The last three weeks rivals anything they have spit out the last three years on the terrible scale.

In their defense, they are ravaged with injuries

Perhaps but that happens to teams all teams. The Esks d was simply awful. Period. And the offensive line wasn't much better--they allowed eight sacks.

Even if half the team was on the injury list, the replacements need to act like they belong

 

[Beef03]

Hey the Riders may soon be joined in the basement by the Eskimos if they keep playing this way. The last three weeks rivals anything they have spit out the last three years on the terrible scale.

In their defense, they are ravaged with injuries

Perhaps but that happens to teams all teams. The Esks d was simply awful. Period. And the offensive line wasn't much better--they allowed eight sacks.

Even if half the team was on the injury list, the replacements need to act like they belong

This is true, but in Ray's and the WRs' defence, three of their STARTING wide receivers had just been signed that week, the other had hardly seen the field, and it was a short week after spending the last two weeks on the road. Not surprised there was little chemistry or trust there which snowballed.
The defensive and offensive lines, however, I believe most if not all of them had been there all season. So no excuses.
The coaching/play calling also was a let down. They abandoned the run all to quickly which didn't help out the O-line at all. Also the D looked like it might be OK, they were playing hard and flying to the ball, until they gave up that long touchdown in the first quarter and they lost all momentum and just looked defeated after that. A couple bright spots, but very disappointing for the most part.

 

[HC]

Cleo Lemon, buh bye.
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/football/argonauts-release-cleo-lemon/article2154648/

 

[JR]

And as always, Down Goes Brown makes me laugh:

Down Goes Brown
"Turn in your playbook!" "You mean the napkin with 'incomplete, incomplete, punt' scrawled on it?" RT @simmonssteve: Argos cut QB Cleo Lemon

The CFL's two best teams on Labour Day weekend were the Riders and my Ticats. One weekend doesn't make a series but Lord, I'd hate to see the two of them in the Grey Cup.

It would be some sort of punishment from God.

 

[jr/shotglass]

Any movement in ER's status? How much defensive field time is he getting?

 

[JR]

Any movement in ER's status? How much defensive field time is he getting?

He's on special teams right now. Kick-off and punt coverage.

 

[YankeeFan]

The most productive passer in the history of professional football is 39 years old, a Utah State alumnus, a cancer survivor and virtually anonymous to the average United States citizen. His name is Anthony Calvillo, and he has never taken a snap in the N.F.L.

On Oct. 10, Calvillo, the quarterback for the Montreal Alouettes of the Canadian Football League, eclipsed Damon Allen’s record of 72,381 yards passing when he threw a 50-yard touchdown pass to Jamel Richardson in the third quarter of a 29-19 victory over the visiting Toronto Argonauts.

The completion set off a celebration that featured taped tributes on the stadium’s video screen from Warren Moon and Dan Marino, who rank fourth and fifth on the passing list. (Brett Favre, who holds the N.F.L. record, ranks third with 71,838 yards.)

Yet the milestone moment had little resonance for those outside Canada. Who, after all, is Anthony Calvillo?

“I’ve never had an American come up to me and recognize me,” Calvillo said by telephone from Montreal. “The only people that watch the C.F.L. games are family members of players up here. That’s usually how it’s been, and I don’t blame them because when I came out of high school and college, I also didn’t know anything about it.”

Calvillo grew up near Los Angeles, played at La Puente High School, attended a local community college for two years and ended up at Utah State, one of three universities to offer him a scholarship. The others were Louisiana Tech and Southern Illinois.

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/20/sports/football/anthony-calvillo-of-the-cfl-is-pro-footballs-top-passer.html?ref=sports

 

[Elliotte Friedman]

Plaschke did a story on him in the LA Times that was very good. Know Calvillo pretty well. Super guy.

 

[JR]

Plaschke did a story on him in the LA Times that was very good. Know Calvillo pretty well. Super guy.

Great story. Here's the link

http://articles.latimes.com/2011/oct/11/sports/la-sp-1011-plaschke-anthony-calvillo-20111011

Quality of play in the CFL this year has been less than outstanding.

Other than the Als and Winnipeg, teams have been either mediocre (Hamilton, BC,) or flat out awful (Toronto, Saskatchewan)

I figure it's another Montreal Grey Cup

 

[albert77]

Just found out last week that one of the best high school tailbacks this area ever produced is playing for Hamilton in the CFL. Going to try to hook up a phone interview within the next week or so.

 

[JR]

Just found out last week that one of the best high school tailbacks this area ever produced is playing for Hamilton in the CFL. Going to try to hook up a phone interview within the next week or so.

And he is......?

 

[JC]

Plaschke did a story on him in the LA Times that was very good. Know Calvillo pretty well. Super guy.

Great story. Here's the link

http://articles.latimes.com/2011/oct/11/sports/la-sp-1011-plaschke-anthony-calvillo-20111011

Quality of play in the CFL this year has been less than outstanding.

Other than the Als and Winnipeg, teams have been either mediocre (Hamilton, BC,) or flat out awful (Toronto, Saskatchewan)

I figure it's another Montreal Grey Cup

I'll take the Lions over the Als, the Lions have won won 8 straight.

 

[albert77]

Just found out last week that one of the best high school tailbacks this area ever produced is playing for Hamilton in the CFL. Going to try to hook up a phone interview within the next week or so.

And he is......?

Terry Grant. Played sparingly behind Mark Ingram and Trent Richardson at Alabama. Has an 89-yd TD run in spot duty for the Tiger-Cats so far this season. May actually have a future up there.

 

[Double J]

The Argos have indeed been terrible, but one of them will almost certainly become the first player in pro football history to gain 3,000 yards in consecutive seasons.

http://www.thestar.com/sports/football/article/1073543--argos-3-000-yard-man-ready-to-fly

 

[Double J]

The playoffs are off to a rip-roaring start as Hamilton beats Montreal in a tight defensive struggle.

Final score - 52-44 in overtime.

That means we'll have a new Grey Cup champion this year, which is cause for celebration regardless of who wins.

Meanwhile, the Esks win the Battle of Alberta 33-19 over the Stamps.

So next weekend it'll be the Ti-Cats at Winnipeg in the East Final and Edmonton at B.C. in the West Final.

 

[JR]

And in CIS news, Acadia plays McMaster in the Uteck Bowl next Friday. Winner of that game plays either Calgary or Laval in the Vanier Cup in Vancouver the Friday of Grey Cup weekend

Acadia beat up St. Mary's yesterday 39-20 in the Loney Bowl. My kid GR, a DB for the Axemen, had one interception that he took back for 55 yards but couldn't put it in the end zone.

I have nieces and nephews who went to McMaster so the trash talking has already started in my family. Fun stuff.

6:30 EST next Friday (Nov 18) on TSN.

The Cats/Als game was a freakin' shootout. I think it's safe to say that Montreal's dynasty has ended. Wouldn't be surprised to see Calvillo retire this year.

 

[mb]

Blue Bombers FTW

 

[spurtswriter]

And in CIS news, Acadia plays McMaster in the Uteck Bowl next Friday. Winner of that game plays either Calgary or Laval in the Vanier Cup in Vancouver the Friday of Grey Cup weekend

Acadia beat up St. Mary's yesterday 39-20 in the Loney Bowl. My kid GR, a DB for the Axemen, had one interception that he took back for 55 yards but couldn't put it in the end zone.

I have nieces and nephews who went to McMaster so the trash talking has already started in my family. Fun stuff.

6:30 EST next Friday (Nov 18) on TSN.

The Cats/Als game was a freakin' shootout. I think it's safe to say that Montreal's dynasty has ended. Wouldn't be surprised to see Calvillo retire this year.

AC threw for 513 yards Sunday, so he wasn't the reason MTL lost. Looks like his skills haven't diminished, although he was getting hit more this year, so retirement isn't out of the question. If he stays relatively healthy, I'd love to see him play another year or two. Guy's magic when he's on.

 

[JR]

Talked to ER today about the Axemen/McMaster national semi-final The coaches had just finished studying film.

Me: "Mac seems to have a pretty good passing game"

ER: "Yeah, but it's easy to have a good passing game when there's no coverage on the other side. GR (DB) will be busy".

Me: "Who's favoured in this game?|"

ER, "Doesn't matter. We're going to win"

Ah, the brash confidence of youth.