17to85

Especially when you consider how well he neutered the bombers offense in the playoffs last year. No last night was just one team beating the guys across from them. It was nothing fancy just guys making plays when the opportunity presented itself.

Yeah Whitehead was overthrown by a hair or he likely runs in a touchdown. And watch the replay of the big return Nelson had... Exume was oh so close to getting the block that would have sprung a possible touchdown too.

Nichols was hands down better than Reilly last night. I said to Noeller right after the game that it was the best game Nichols has played in 2 years. I don't care that he had low yardage, he didn't need to put up big yards. He made the throws he had to, extended plays and was efficient in the redzone. Got help from the run game and just played efficiently. Reilly meanwhile just chucked bombs hoping for the best

No the bombers won because they are a well rounded team. Nichols was damned good. That deep pass to Adam's was dropped right in his hands, he was money on his endzone tosses too. Just efficient.

Given how long lapo has been both in Winnipeg and in the league how many secrets do we imagine Lapo still has?

Not to mention claybrooks

Or maybe it's just true.... I mean you get the outliers, the very best, but then a huge mean...

I don't know much, but I know the bombers defensive line is going to make life heĺl for opponents this season.

Your argument completely dismisses the sheer number of football players being churned out every year.

That's crap. The CFL is filled with guys who have enough talent to play in the NFL, hell there's tons who have done just that. But the NFL has different kinds of players that fit better, they have access to all sorts of rookies and don't need to keep guys long term just to fill out rosters. Like I said, the best players are without question superior, but the bottoms of rosters in terms of skill are very comparable. Think of it like hockey too. There's tons of bottom of the roster players in the NHL could be replaced by guys playing in Europe and you wouldn't bat an eye. Hell I'd say there are some better players in Europe than are on a lot of teams bottom rungs and are only there because of things like salary cap or not wanting to deal with the politics and all that. It's the same thing. There are lots of guys in the CFL talented enough to play in the NFL, but there are also lots of reasons they don't.

I looked at their depth chart on D and I laughed. That's not the kind of defense that gets the praise that team is getting.

Lions are going to rely on Mike Reilly to pull something out of his ass to win if you ask me. They are very over rated just because of his signing. Reilly being the best QB in the league didn't get Edmonton to the playoffs last year, I am skeptical if he can do it in BC with what I think is a worse team around him.

and what about the defense? Harris produced in Ottawa too, but lots of yards and a close game seems like he's the same guy he was in Ottawa too. Edmonton will be a middling team. Sometimes they'll look good sometimes they won't. That defense based on tonight isn't going to help them at all.

Here is the way it is with regards to talent NFL vs. CFL... The best of the NFL are very much superior, but the bottom parts of the roster? Same calibre as guys in the CFL just different fits.

Not impressed by the Edmonton defense. Like not at all. Montreal is still a sack of **** even if they made this game close. Poor Khari. I think he'll bring a lot as a head coach but man that team...

Harker has some swagger, but he's a rookie and he was staring down his targets all night, that'll be trouble if he continues to do it. Good for a rookie, see if he can take those next steps.

Fenner was here last year and played, granted not CB, but really is it that hard of a position when he knows the defense? So really we got a safety who was here last year that's "new" and Fenner who is "new" but again was here last year and then one true new player, again another CB, not the most complicated position. The halfbacks are still the same,

so what you're saying is the Montreal season is going to be:

faint praise if ever I heard it

Sayles was freaking amazing by the end of last season.

you know the world might be a more peaceful place without the Saudi regime we have now....

Other than safety I don't see it, that's a veteran group there. Sayles and Alexander came on strong last season. Agreed that the all new OL interior may lead to some hiccups but I ain't worried about any part of the defense. It will surprise a lot of people this year. Reilly likely has a high game cause that's what he does, but the D overall will be strong this year.

The BC defence looks unspectacular

well there you have it.

Riders DL was underwhelming. Too much hype for Johnson. Again, good player but as soon as the Riders sign someone in free agency they're just the best thing since sliced bread... hardly. Jefferson won the Riders some games on his own by making plays. Johnson is not going to make those same kind of big plays so their D is automatically weaker. I just see that team falling hard this year. Jones voodoo on defense is what dragged them along, but that's gone.