Re: So far, who is best
- From: Glen <ghallick@xxxxxxx>
- Date: Sun, 12 Aug 2007 07:44:05 -0700
On Aug 12, 1:03 am, dsci...@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx wrote:
Team reviews:
Saskatchewan - sure, first in the West now but note, they blew an
easy, easy win in Edmonton and got squashed by a beat-up B.C. squad.
Beating Toronto, with a QB in only his second week with the team, and
B.C. with their third string QB, is no big whoop. D looks good, O OK,
but their record is a bit deceiving given how easy they've had it
lately. Beat a healthy B.C. and a healthy Toronto AND a healthy
Winnipeg, then talk big. They've only had one stinker so far so
that's encouraging. If they get overconfident they could pull a
Calgary in the playoffs, though.
They are running an offence that I did not expect...one that isn't
overly pass happy. There is a good mix of pass and run plays from the
'Riders. Their defence is the foundation of the team despite all of
the off season departures. A good offence with a great defence should
keep them in the running throughout the season. Here's hoping they
finish in first place after not doing so since 1976.
B.C. - not a healthy club or they'd be undefeated still. They have a
very good D, maybe the league's best (though Sask and TO would beg to
differ). Healthy they are the team to beat, but health is not a given
or fair in football, ever. Still, the D line can be awesome and they
have a very good coaching staff. The DB's get maligned but they don't
hurt the club (who's dropped 50 points on them, after all?) One
weakness: the kicking game.
Buono-Ball, Wally-Ball, whatever you want to call it. Kudos to Buono
and staff for a 5-2 record with all of the injuries the team is
suffering. However the offence needs to throw more to Geroy Simon.
Winnipeg - no, I'm not ranking these teams in any order, just
talking. Winnipeg is a smart, secure team that isn't great but can
beat anyone. Least likely team to get blown out. Solid all over the
field. Beast of the East with room to spare. Glenn has been the
league's best QB so far. They fight for each other and push the other
team around, so big plays aren't their weakest point. They play a
team game and pick each other up, so rarely does one guy stand out as
a sore point. They make it hard for any opponent. Depth at QB could
haunt them.
As good as their record is, there are three GLARING faults. One is the
defence is not play as well as they did last year. Two is the return
game is lackustre, and the kicking game is very sub-par. Here is a
team with the offence carrying the rest. Glenn likely can't keep up
the pace he has been for the last 3-4 weeks.
Montreal - coming together. They are learning to play as a team and
play smarter. Beatable, though, as their D is not that fast and on O
they don't have many weapons, plus they have trouble with the deep
ball. If they play safe they'll do alright, they aren't good enough
to do more. They need the other team's QB to screw up to be fair, if
he doesn't they're in trouble.
They are definately not the dominating Als of a few years ago, but the
improvements I've seen leads me to think they are no worse than a .500
team. In Alouette land I guess this is a re-building year for them.
Toronto - D can't do it all. And yes, the D isn't that great. A QB
who runs and throws deep scares them. All those QB mishaps have hurt
big time. Still, like Montreal is they play small ball they'll do OK,
even with Butler. Another team looking for stability, safety.
The Argo offence has been largely a sputtering offence ever since
Damon Allen joined the team. The ground game is mediocre at best and
the passing game has more moments of futility than execution. A QB
merry go round is not good for the long term.
Hamilton - OK, sure, they got ripped off in Edmonton and should've won
the game easily. Home field calls in Edmonton a surprise?? The 'Cats
should've done more in the 1st half. Still, like all the eastern
teams they have improved and come together on both sides of the ball.
Montreal, Toronto, Hamilton, it may not look like a tight race but it
is, if Hamilton stays healthy. Maas is gaining strength but his
mobility is a big problem. Good thing they have Lumsden and a solid D
line. By game 10 the East should look a lot clearer. Really, who
knows how things will wind up out East, the coaches are improving and
the players are getting in synch, the West may fall behind this year.
Not the same team they were in week 1. They have dramatically improved
and are in their games. Perhaps they still lack some confidence and
discipline, but they are good enough to win another 5-6 games of those
left in the season. The playoffs isn't out of the question for the
Tabbies.
Edmonton - two fluke wins just show that luck matters. This is a
mixed-up team, not too bright though their D coach is. The players
have brain cramps a lot, just like Macoccia. Is he the worst head
coach in the league? He certainly makes a lot of boner play calls and
mixes up the lineup on occasion. Their linebacking and running backs
make positional errors way too often. 3rd is the best they can hope
for unless injuries swallow B.C. and Saskatchewan.
And I maintain that Ricky Ray is very much an overrated QB. Far, far
too dependent on the short pass. However it is rather nice to see the
once mighty powerhouse to be struggling. Jacques Chapdelaine may
sensed that going to the Esks would be his best shot at finally
becoming a head coach.
Calgary - if Macoccia isn't the dumbest head coach then Higgins is.
Flip a coin. His poor decision-making on game day has cost Calgary at
least one win. Why didn't he challenge the Thelwell catch in
Montreal? Poor decision-making. Burris is still having trouble
reading defences. Against Edmonton he plays smart, mixes it up, runs
the ball on occasion, a win. Against Montreal they punt, punt, punt.
Why didn't Burris run a bit? Why didn't he hand the ball off 20
times?? Blame the O coordinator if you like but Burris is the play
caller, he can change any call in the huddle or at the line if he
chooses. And 50% of his passes aren't dropped, they go astray. This
team has improved at every position except QB as the season has gone
along, even at DB surprisingly. The injuries to the D line have been
devestating (not many teams could lose 3 starters in 2 games and still
win). Still, fighting it out for last is not smart.
Is it possible to have a team with too much talent? That is as
talented the players the Stamps have, especially in the receiver
corps, that they are having trouble gelling? An good analogy might be
they are the Raiders of the CFL, in that the Raiders have long been a
group of individuals rather than a team.
What to expect? Winnipeg to stay confident, the other three to fight
all the way for playoff spots, B.C. and Saskatchewan to rule the West,
Calgary to get more frustrated unless Burris gets consistent (don't
hold out hope for Smith, try Nealy), and Edmonton to play wildly
inconsistent all year long, hoping Calgary falls apart more often than
they do.
The Bombers will go as far as Glenn can take them. Unless the defence
and special teams improve that might be too much of a task for Glenn
to handle. Should he get hurt then the Bomber season is over.
As the Tabbies improve they should challenge for a play-off spot in
one of the divisions. The Argos are about glitz, not substance, and
down they go. The Als should hold their own.
I hate to see what the Lions will be like when players "desert" the
injury list. The Riders are the only real challenger to the Leo's
dominance in the West. The Stamps and Esks will wobble they ways
throughout the rest of the season being frustratingly inconsistent.
I see only 3 teams as legitimate GC contenders: Lions, Riders, and
Bombers.
Glen
.
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