2012 CFL running thread

[Stitch]

The season gets underway tomorrow with no U.S. TV deal yet, but all games will be on ESPN3.com. Winnipeg won't be able to open its new stadium this year.

Thought I'd get the ball rolling. I'd like to catch a game up in Montreal in September or October.

 

[HanSenSE]

Not even NFL Network?

 

[Stitch]

Not even NFL Network?

Nope. I've read hints NBC Sports would pick up some games after the Olympics.

 

[crimsonace]

The season gets underway tomorrow with no U.S. TV deal yet, but all games will be on ESPN3.com. Winnipeg won't be able to open its new stadium this year.

I take great advantage of ESPN3 showing games. I love the CFL.

 

[apeman33]

Roughriders are wearing white helmets for the first time ever Friday night. I guess they're just one-off specials. They'll probably be a jinx.

 

[JR]

Since my son is no longer playing for Edmonton, I can go back and cheer for my Ticats.

Tomorrow night at Ivor Wynne against Saskatchewan.

Andy Fantuz, ex Rider hero, is now wearing black and gold

Ticats have a chance this year.

 

[jr/shotglass]

Did Elliott try to land with anyone?

 

[JR]

Did Elliott try to land with anyone?

Nope. After he was released from the Riders last summer he went back to Acadia University and was one of the defensive co-ordinators on the football team that ended up going to the national semi finals but lost.

He had a good relationship with the AD at Acadia and pitched a proposal that the university accepted. He's now the strength & conditioning coach for all ten Acadia teams, women's and men.

The kid has been working ungodly hours--at least 15 a day but he loves every minute of it.

Am very proud of him.

 

[Beef03]

Since my son is no longer playing for Edmonton, I can go back and cheer for my Ticats.

Tomorrow night at Ivor Wynne against Saskatchewan.

Andy Fantuz, ex Rider hero, is now wearing black and gold

Ticats have a chance this year.

Not to rain on your parade, wouldn't count on it with Burris under centre. Still very talented but he still struggles with making stupid plays at the worst time. Very likeable guy, but he has a talent for stringing you along and getting your hopes up only to crush you. When he does keep it together for an entire season he is almost unstoppable, but those years are rare.

 

[Beef03]

Did Elliott try to land with anyone?

Nope. After he was released from the Riders last summer he went back to Acadia University and was one of the defensive co-ordinators on the football team that ended up going to the national semi finals but lost.

He had a good relationship with the AD at Acadia and pitched a proposal that the university accepted. He's now the strength & conditioning coach for all ten Acadia teams, women's and men.

The kid has been working ungodly hours--at least 15 a day but he loves every minute of it.

Am very proud of him.

Good to hear he landed on his feet. I always liked the way he played in Edmonton.

 

[Beef03]

Looks like it will be a strange year in the CFL this year with the East being the overwhelming power centre. Don't know the last time we could say that.
These are my picks

West
1 BC: Champs may actually repeat this year
2 Calgary: Big transition season for them, but a lot of talent still on the roster
3 Edmonton: I don't trust Jyles or Joeseph any further than I can throw them. Still lots of talent on the roster though, just a huge hole at QB. Wonder how quickly McNichol or even Masoli get a shot at QB.
4 Saskatchewan: Will get uglier before it gets pretty.

East
Really flipping a coin on all of these
1 Hamilton: As JR said, they are talented this year. Burris is always good in the regular season
2 Winnipeg: Huge hole at RB with Garrett going down, but RB is the easiest position to fill
3 Toronto: Ray will be their best QB since Damon Allen, but not wild about the depth of talent surrounding him.
4 Montreal: Feels weird to be putting them down here. Could be an 8-8 last place team. This is the year they regress, right?

 

[JR]

Since my son is no longer playing for Edmonton, I can go back and cheer for my Ticats.

Tomorrow night at Ivor Wynne against Saskatchewan.

Andy Fantuz, ex Rider hero, is now wearing black and gold

Ticats have a chance this year.

Not to rain on your parade, wouldn't count on it with Burris under centre. Still very talented but he still struggles with making stupid plays at the worst time. Very likeable guy, but he has a talent for stringing you along and getting your hopes up only to crush you. When he does keep it together for an entire season he is almost unstoppable, but those years are rare.

You're right about Burris but did I tell you I'm a Hamilton looser fanboi?

I'm probably more emotionally involved with them than the Leafs

 

[JR]

Did Elliott try to land with anyone?

Nope. After he was released from the Riders last summer he went back to Acadia University and was one of the defensive co-ordinators on the football team that ended up going to the national semi finals but lost.

He had a good relationship with the AD at Acadia and pitched a proposal that the university accepted. He's now the strength & conditioning coach for all ten Acadia teams, women's and men.

The kid has been working ungodly hours--at least 15 a day but he loves every minute of it.

Am very proud of him.

Good to hear he landed on his feet. I always liked the way he played in Edmonton.

Hard to be objective about your kid but he was a terrific on play reads.

His weakness (which he admitted) was one on one coverage. It didn't help that the new coaches didn't want to play a Canadian at FS any longer

He had two good years and now he's moved on. .

The CFL is inscrutable sometimes. Talent is only one part of the equation.

 

[JR]

Looks like it will be a strange year in the CFL this year with the East being the overwhelming power centre. Don't know the last time we could say that.
These are my picks

West
1 BC: Champs may actually repeat this year
2 Calgary: Big transition season for them, but a lot of talent still on the roster
3 Edmonton: I don't trust Jyles or Joeseph any further than I can throw them. Still lots of talent on the roster though, just a huge hole at QB. Wonder how quickly McNichol or even Masoli get a shot at QB.
4 Saskatchewan: Will get uglier before it gets pretty.

East
Really flipping a coin on all of these
1 Hamilton: As JR said, they are talented this year. Burris is always good in the regular season
2 Winnipeg: Huge hole at RB with Garrett going down, but RB is the easiest position to fill
3 Toronto: Ray will be their best QB since Damon Allen, but not wild about the depth of talent surrounding him.
4 Montreal: Feels weird to be putting them down here. Could be an 8-8 last place team. This is the year they regress, right?

Ray will have a problem in Toronto. The o-line sucks big time according to my kid.

 

[Beef03]

Looks like it will be a strange year in the CFL this year with the East being the overwhelming power centre. Don't know the last time we could say that.
These are my picks

West
1 BC: Champs may actually repeat this year
2 Calgary: Big transition season for them, but a lot of talent still on the roster
3 Edmonton: I don't trust Jyles or Joeseph any further than I can throw them. Still lots of talent on the roster though, just a huge hole at QB. Wonder how quickly McNichol or even Masoli get a shot at QB.
4 Saskatchewan: Will get uglier before it gets pretty.

East
Really flipping a coin on all of these
1 Hamilton: As JR said, they are talented this year. Burris is always good in the regular season
2 Winnipeg: Huge hole at RB with Garrett going down, but RB is the easiest position to fill
3 Toronto: Ray will be their best QB since Damon Allen, but not wild about the depth of talent surrounding him.
4 Montreal: Feels weird to be putting them down here. Could be an 8-8 last place team. This is the year they regress, right?

Ray will have a problem in Toronto. The o-line sucks big time according to my kid.

He's used to that. The Eskimos haven't had an offensive line for the better part of the last seven or eight years.

 

[Gomer]

I'll be in Calgary Sunday to watch the ageless Calvillo shred the Stampeders. But, uh, go Stamps. Sigh.

JR, they should rename your team the ex-Stamps. A lot of familiar names there. Burris is motivated this year, I honestly think they'll win the whole damn thing. Sigh.

I had tickets to the 100th Grey Cup, but our family is (finally) growing, so had to bow out. I imagine it'll be a great one though, anyone going?

 

[JR]

I'll be in Calgary Sunday to watch the ageless Calvillo shred the Stampeders. But, uh, go Stamps. Sigh.

JR, they should rename your team the ex-Stamps. A lot of familiar names there. Burris is motivated this year, I honestly think they'll win the whole damn thing. Sigh.

I had tickets to the 100th Grey Cup, but our family is (finally) growing, so had to bow out. I imagine it'll be a great one though, anyone going?

Grey Cup is completely sold out. Would love to have gone. Ticats will be there. May have to drive to The Hammer this weekend and pick my Fantuz jersey. And a Burris for HC

 

[apeman33]

Looks like it will be a strange year in the CFL this year with the East being the overwhelming power centre. Don't know the last time we could say that.
These are my picks

West
1 BC: Champs may actually repeat this year
2 Calgary: Big transition season for them, but a lot of talent still on the roster
3 Edmonton: I don't trust Jyles or Joeseph any further than I can throw them. Still lots of talent on the roster though, just a huge hole at QB. Wonder how quickly McNichol or even Masoli get a shot at QB.
4 Saskatchewan: Will get uglier before it gets pretty.

East
Really flipping a coin on all of these
1 Hamilton: As JR said, they are talented this year. Burris is always good in the regular season
2 Winnipeg: Huge hole at RB with Garrett going down, but RB is the easiest position to fill
3 Toronto: Ray will be their best QB since Damon Allen, but not wild about the depth of talent surrounding him.
4 Montreal: Feels weird to be putting them down here. Could be an 8-8 last place team. This is the year they regress, right?

I could see the No. 4 East team crossing over and reaching the West final.

 

[Beef03]

Looks like it will be a strange year in the CFL this year with the East being the overwhelming power centre. Don't know the last time we could say that.
These are my picks

West
1 BC: Champs may actually repeat this year
2 Calgary: Big transition season for them, but a lot of talent still on the roster
3 Edmonton: I don't trust Jyles or Joeseph any further than I can throw them. Still lots of talent on the roster though, just a huge hole at QB. Wonder how quickly McNichol or even Masoli get a shot at QB.
4 Saskatchewan: Will get uglier before it gets pretty.

East
Really flipping a coin on all of these
1 Hamilton: As JR said, they are talented this year. Burris is always good in the regular season
2 Winnipeg: Huge hole at RB with Garrett going down, but RB is the easiest position to fill
3 Toronto: Ray will be their best QB since Damon Allen, but not wild about the depth of talent surrounding him.
4 Montreal: Feels weird to be putting them down here. Could be an 8-8 last place team. This is the year they regress, right?

I could see the No. 4 East team crossing over and reaching the West final.

Would not surprise me in the least. Trying to remember, but I don't think there has ever been an east crossover. It's always been out of the west.

My biggest question is, will anybody in Toronto really care, will they average more than 20,000 a game?

http://twelvemenonthefield.blogspot.ca/2011/06/cfl-attendance-tracker-2011.html

 

[Huggy]

Looks like it will be a strange year in the CFL this year with the East being the overwhelming power centre. Don't know the last time we could say that.
These are my picks

West
1 BC: Champs may actually repeat this year
2 Calgary: Big transition season for them, but a lot of talent still on the roster
3 Edmonton: I don't trust Jyles or Joeseph any further than I can throw them. Still lots of talent on the roster though, just a huge hole at QB. Wonder how quickly McNichol or even Masoli get a shot at QB.
4 Saskatchewan: Will get uglier before it gets pretty.

East
Really flipping a coin on all of these
1 Hamilton: As JR said, they are talented this year. Burris is always good in the regular season
2 Winnipeg: Huge hole at RB with Garrett going down, but RB is the easiest position to fill
3 Toronto: Ray will be their best QB since Damon Allen, but not wild about the depth of talent surrounding him.
4 Montreal: Feels weird to be putting them down here. Could be an 8-8 last place team. This is the year they regress, right?

I could see the No. 4 East team crossing over and reaching the West final.

Would not surprise me in the least. Trying to remember, but I don't think there has ever been an east crossover. It's always been out of the west.

My biggest question is, will anybody in Toronto really care, will they average more than 20,000 a game?

http://twelvemenonthefield.blogspot.ca/2011/06/cfl-attendance-tracker-2011.html

Nobody will give a **** here. Even the Grey Cup will be a non-event as far as Torontonians are concerned. And as someone who grew up a huge Argo fan in the 70's (suck it, JR!) that's too bad.