Mr. Perfect

Fantastic...Set a new mark for the biggest blown lead in CFL playoff history, make one of the dumbest decisions in CFL playoff history, and sing kumbaya by the fire with everyone after the fact for the foreseeable future.

I want to disagree and say this is an irrational perspective but I just can't. How anyone, nevermind a professional coach could think that was the right decision in that situation is beyond me.

The 89 Eskimos were 16-2.

Life of a GM. You're not always going to bat 1.000. That's just the nature of the beast. That said despite the occasional miss I think most of us would agree we are miles ahead today than three years ago in overall Canadian talent, Canadian depth, and overall roster talent and roster depth. That's all you can ask, especially after the dumpster fire Mack left.

A few quick thoughts. Hope to chim in with more when my time permits: - FINALLY!! - Lapo gonna Lapo - Poor Tyler Crapinga. Seriously. Knowing how Rider fans are and what they did to Paul McCallum, I can only imagine what that kid will be subjected to.

I couldn't love this post more if I tried. 100 per cent truth right there.

"CASEYMANIA!!"

Damn that offensive line excuse to hell ?

Alouettes set to release Vaughn Martin according to Justin Dunk

Him and Goossen. It helps when the guy beside you can be counted on to do his job (Bond). Don't have to over compensate for someone's ineptitude.

The man, the myth, the legend. Simply the Vin Scully of CFL football.

Random thoughts in no particular order… - Truthfully I was nervous heading into this game. Having momentum after two wins, and on the road facing a back up QB – It would have been “so Bombers” to have gone into Toronto and lose that football game. - As Milt Stegall has said time and again, “It’s not how you start, it’s how you finish.” - Not a lot going the Bombers way early on. No pressure, offensive line struggles, no run game, dropped passes, and bad throws and decisions with the ball. - Over the final 30 minutes different story…Pressure leads to sacks and turnovers, the offensive line starts making holes for Harris and buying Nichols time, and Nichols in turn starts making better decisions and more accurate throws. - Sticking with Nichols, he’s obviously playing the best football of his career right now. His career stats aren’t pretty. Neither was his performance last season down the stretch. That said, whether it’s scheme fit (which in my personal opinion it is), or having a chip on his shoulder – His numbers over the last three games speak for themselves, even if he does have a few dangerous throws a game the puts your heart in your throat. - It’s funny in hindsight how Clarence Denmark was perceived as not good enough to be a member of this football club this year. Even more amusing is how he was perceived to not be good enough for the Riders this year or their four practice squads… - It really is amazing how Travis Bond has helped solidify this offensive line. Not only has his work been outstanding, but his ability to do his job (and do it well) has allowed Mathias Goossen to have a strong last few games as well. - Speaking of Goossen, loved seeing him help Andrew Harris get those final few yards on that TD run which looked to be headed for disaster as he broke it outside. - Despite limited reps, Shayon Green still taking bad penalties. - For all the hype he’s gotten at various points in his young career, Jace Davis just isn’t getting it done, especially at a time when almost everyone else is stepping up with others going down. - A defensive secondary with Adams, Fogg, Loffler, Johnson, and Randle…Pick your poison. Hope to see our two regular corners back after the bye (nothing against Frederick – Roberts clearly the weakest of the current bunch). - Quite the difference in playcalling over the past few weeks versus the earlier stages of the year. Gone are the five hitch passes a game which everyone sees coming. Here now is play-action passes which attack the opposing secondary in a variety of ways. - Kevin Fogg – Not sure what can be said that’s any different from the glowing endorsements he’s received. He’s a gamer. - Euclid Cummings quietly had a good game. Was often collapsing the middle of the pocket. - I’ve really been impressed with the discipline shown by our DB’s as of late. How many illegal contact penalties have we had over the last month? - Special teams in all facets has been really impressive lately. Not just the returns and lack of penalties, but also limiting the return game of other clubs. - For all the questioning about his punting ability, I’d say Justin Medlock has done quite well lately, especially when it comes to directional punting. - At the end of the day, football is not a science. Protect the ball, and win the battles on both sides of the line of scrimmage – Something we’ve done very, very well over the past three weeks.

Bowman

Quality rebuttal. Hopefully you didn't strain yourself thinking it up. I'm sorry understanding the game and WHY things happen (or don't happen) isn't your strong suit. Here's why it's an awful trade, and would prompt Desjardins to laugh in your face: - You're proposing Ottawa leave themselves with a 41 year old QB and a rookie with 3 quarters of playing experience as their top two pivots. What happens if Burris gets hurt again? Unfortunately for Brock Jensen, you don't get to play Saskatchewan every week. - Anyone with half a brain (obviously not yourself) knows that if you have two quality, capable quarterbacks that you hang onto them as long as possible. - What does Ottawa do when Burris likely retires after the 2017 season? They already have their answer in Harris. Why get rid of it? Now given the fact that you've already demonstrated your astute football knowledge asking why we don't we bring back Troy Stoudermire (research before you post - friendly advice) I wouldn't be surprised if this post completely flew over your head (nevermind the likes my original comment got versus your weak rebuttal), so really nothing more needs to be said. ☺

Mechanics will be key. His accuracy and completion percentage were at the bottom of the league last year. If his mechanics are off (or are rushed by our joke of an OLine) then there will be errant balls for sure. Also when he does go deep, the ball can't hang up all day as his deep passes have a tendency to. I'd highly recommend people watch Derek Taylor's piece he did last night on the change. It really puts things in perspective and shows how laughable some comments have been about Nichols when you consider his numbers.

This Madden PS4 trade logic is laughable.

Proven to be very mediocre at the best of times. Especially awful against the run. There is absolutely nothing solid whatsoever about his game.

If you truly think he is getting more time this year. You have no idea what you're watching. I'd highly encourage you, regardless of who starts on Thursday to watch Goossen and Neufeld. They are awful. Hell, even Stanley Bryant is looking pretty awful these days. If you want to pretend the line isn't a problem, watch Andrew Harris running the football. I don't think anyone is saying Willy isn't struggling. He is. Big time. That said, there's reasons for it that go well beyond "he isn't a good quarterback" or anything along that line of thinking.

No one was saying that when he marched the length of the field to win games against Hamilton and Montreal on the road. No one was saying that last year, or the year before when we started 5-1. You have to know what you're watching. Willy is no doubt struggling this year. The picks (especially in the situations) against Edmonton and Calgary are inexcusable. That said he has shown before that he is very capable of being a starting QB in this league.

What this team has done (Lapo more specifically) has put shackles on Willy so that his first read is so basic that it's always a short, high percentage completion pass. The problem with that is, other teams obviously know this and are playing extremely tight on the receivers (the exception being Hamilton for who knows what reason) so when that first read is gone, Willy is essentially a sitting duck because he more often than not has five receivers all within ten yards of the LOS (of course the opposing defence plays a different style when they're up multiple scores late in games, which is why things open up in garbage time). The team needs, whether it's Willy or Nichols is to just let them play football. Yes our offensive line is a joke but they need to have options to throw the ball down field - and if they get hurt then that's just the risk you take. The QB is going to take shots and get hit. Gale did the same tonight. We're playing scared offensively and every defence in the league knows it. I'd much rather lose, and risk our quarterbacks while playing to win instead of watching boring, vanilla football and losing playing scared.

The issue unfortunately isn't the rules or how they're written. They aren't complicated and it's not rocket science. It's just poor officials who are not capable of CONSISTENTLY enforcing the rules as they are written.

Chris Williams

My fear, regardless if it's a mid season change or next season change is that Lapo is named the team's next head coach. I can hardly wait (sarcasm) to hear stories again of how he'd make players stand up in the locker room and confess to their penalties on the field and talk about how it hurt that team - as though that's supposed to be some sort of deterrent. That and hitch passes four times a game that go for negative yardage.

Because it's worked out oh so wonderfully the last time we've fired coaches mid season (Ritchie/Daley, Lapo/Burke) Who are we going to replace him with, hypothetically if we do? Lapo? Hall? With their "pristine" head coaching records, give me a break. IF this season ends up being another dismal one, then relax - O'Shea won't be back and everyone knows it. That said firing him at ANY point during the season accomplishes NOTHING BENEFICIAL whatsoever.

That sound you hear is DJD laughing and hanging up.