TBURGESS

I'll go with Bowman.

I said Randle was a great pickup when we got him and I stand by that assessment. He's the shutdown corner everyone talks about and he's playing great on special teams. Nothing more you can ask for really. If he stays healthy, he'll be an all star this year.

The things folks find to complain about.

I don't think anyone's particularly surprised. I don't think he resurfaces quickly if at all.

I like the sacks per drop back stat. Too bad hits and hurries aren't tracked. That would give an even better idea of how well the O lines are pass blocking.

Edmonton gets lots of pressure but the don't do it the same way that Montreal does. That gives them the ability to get turnovers. If we keep the turnovers down, and we have all year, we will limit their effectiveness. If we start turning the ball over, it could snowball. Reilly hasn't had any great games this year, but he can hurt you with both his arm and his running ability. Stamps and Bowman give them some serious receiving threats, but they don't run the ball very well and that's one place our D is weak. All in all Edmonton is the best team we've faced so far. It should be a great game.

Last year our O line was way below average (2nd worst in the league IMHO). As others have said sacks isn't the only indicator. For example, we gave up 4 sacks in the Montreal game, yet Willy was taking a beating and having to throw very quickly to get the ball off. The O line didn't have a good game at all, but the sack number wasn't all that bad. Replace Willy with Hall, and the number of sacks would go up dramatically, yet the O line work would be the same. I'd say our O line's in the middle of the pack this year now that Greaves is hurt.

The Riders are playing really badly right now, but that doesn't take away the fact the the Lions, who've been playing badly too, beat them last night. If the Lions can fix that O line, they can be a very dangerous team IMHO.

Actually we got 12 off them. Convert blocked and 2 point convert failed.

Talk of BC's demise was a as premature as talk that the Riders would be fine without Sheets and Dressler. I'm amazed how good Calgary looks even without Cornish, Lewis and Price. Top team in the league IMHO.

I think you might be writing Dinwiddie off a bit early, I thought he called a pretty good game for Smith in the game against BC. Played to his strengths and got just enough out of him to get the win along with the defense stepping up. Not much more a guy can do when you're handicapped by a passer that inaccurate. I think he called a terrible game for Smith against BC even though Montreal won. Smith's not AC and they shouldn't treat him like he is. Smith's strengths aren't short accurate passes or reading the defence and taking what they give you. It's run around and find a deep receiver. As I've said before, if you're going to be a 50% completion QB, you better be attacking the middle to deep zones so every catch is a first down. That's how you get by with an inaccurate passer. Montreal knew this last year so Marsh and Smith both kept throwing bombs and hoping for good results. When they completed the deep balls they won. When they didn't, they lost. and I think it was good because the guy can actually make those shorter passes more often, it's when he tries to throw deep you never know what you're going to get. Keep it simple for him, give him the easy throws and let the receivers do most of the work. That's what you do with a qb like that. You don't just ask him to pitch it deep and hope there's a receiver within the area code. Smith was pretty effective throwing the deep ball last night. His pick was a short one to the flats.

I think you might be writing Dinwiddie off a bit early, I thought he called a pretty good game for Smith in the game against BC. Played to his strengths and got just enough out of him to get the win along with the defense stepping up. Not much more a guy can do when you're handicapped by a passer that inaccurate. I think he called a terrible game for Smith against BC even though Montreal won. Smith's not AC and they shouldn't treat him like he is. Smith's strengths aren't short accurate passes or reading the defence and taking what they give you. It's run around and find a deep receiver. As I've said before, if you're going to be a 50% completion QB, you better be attacking the middle to deep zones so every catch is a first down. That's how you get by with an inaccurate passer. Montreal knew this last year so Marsh and Smith both kept throwing bombs and hoping for good results. When they completed the deep balls they won. When they didn't, they lost.

In that case I'd like to change to Grigsby!

Looking at the depth chart I see a very good defense that can get after the QB and a pretty good offence that still needs a QB and an OC to run it. This will be our biggest test of the year so far. Toronto took us for granted and weren't ready to play. Ottawa was an expansion club playing in their first game ever. Montreal isn't what they used to be, but they still have game and they won't take us for granted. I'm looking forward to a hard hitting game that's won and lost in the trenches. Not sure Montreal can beat us with their offence, but I'm pretty sure they can with their defence. Just a few more hours till I warm up the TV, put on the Jersey, and pour the wobbly pops. For the first time in years, I'm optimistic.

PLAP knows his stuff, but I still find him boring. More round table please. Matty's my favorite. Climie is articulate. The rest can be replaced IMHO.

Calgary's injuries are forcing me to change my pick.

Just because a draft is deep in OL, doesn't mean we should wait to pick one. I'd rather go with the best available OL than one in the 2nd round or later. We only have 3 starting level OL right now. 1 injury means we have to use 3rd Imp on the OL . Hopefully Goosen will be starting level by the end of the year, but if we ever want to get to 4 or even 5 starting NI's, we need to keep drafting OL as high as possible.

Goosen was consensus #2 center and that's why we drafted him when we did.

17's right about Calgary Transit. Try going NE<-->NW. It's usually quicker to go downtown and back than it is to go from point A to B.

It's the weekly Messam is a one dimensional player who's worse than Volny thread. Yawn.

Volny is cheaper, a great st player and effective in his limited.reps.. Messem is expensive, doesnt play ST and would probably not agree with the lack of touches... We would probably end up witha canadian banks scenario... Cant really explain it any better.. Your explanation is wrong on many fronts. Statistically, Messam is the better special teams player. Volny had 2 special teams tackles last year which is the same number as Messam had. Messam also had a kick return and Volny had none. Neither is a special teams ace. Volny had 3 carries for 5 yards last year. His career total is 39 yards. He's also got 48 yards in receiving and he's got fumble problems. So no, he hasn't been effective in his limited reps. Messam had 121 carries for 565 yards last year. His career total is 1882 yards. He's also got 698 yards in receiving. The difference is hugely in Messam's favour. Messam is more expensive because he's worth more than Volny. Sask/Cgy/Mtl all thought Messam was worth a look. Wpg didn't. That's the reason he's not here.

Allen

I don't agree that "QB's should get special treatment". I don't like the only hit them above the knees and below the shoulders. I don't like the "In the grasp still allows the QB to throw". You can't take the violence out of football and all players should be treated the same IMHO. All to head to head hits aren't the same. If player "A" aims at Player "B's" head then it should be a penalty and a fine. If Player "B" ducks or changes direction at the last second, what is Player "A" supposed to do? Not take the hit? Never going to happen. Willis didn't go after the QB's head. He tucked his head and aimed with the shoulder. Sure, he was trying to make Collaros pay. That's part of his job and it's part of playing football. The hit on Willy late and low should have been flagged. That was a cheap shot IMHO.

What a FusterCluck. I guess they didn't learn anything from the Winnipeg stadium situation. You know the saying: 'Those who ignore history are doomed to repeat it'.

The weekly media bash. Yawn.