Mr Dee

Edmonton was pretty lucky to even be in that game today..

CFL Game #65 Team Notes – Saskatchewan at Toronto:  Trestman vs Jones: Despite a combined 203 career regular season games as head coaches, Marc Trestman (2008-2012, 2017-18) and Chris Jones (2014-18) have faced each other only 3 times before. The 2017-18 seasons are their only common years and in all 3 meetings Jones has prevailed over Trestman with Saskatchewan defeating Toronto.  Toronto Off a Bye: The Argos have a current 3-game win streak when they are coming off a bye week - and that includes win this year over Edmonton in Week #4 (20-17), and over BC in Week #10 (24-23). With Saskatchewan being the opponent in their third post-bye week game, all three will be against West Division clubs.  Toronto scoring by half: The Argos have scored 142 of their 236 total points in the 2nd half (60% of them) compared to just 94 in the 1st half where their margin is -99 (94-193). They have trailed at the half in their last 8 games and in 10 out of 11 in 2018.  27 TDs - 44% returns: Of Saskatchewan's 27 total TDs thus far, 15 have come on offence with 12 as returns of 4 different types. That represents 44% of their team total. That is by far the highest % in all of CFL history.  8 SSK Def. TD / 12 Return TDs: Each week continues to see a growing number of touchdowns scored by the Riders' defence this year. They now have a club record 8 Def. scores and have at least one in 7 of their 11 games. The CFL record is 11 defensive TDs set by BC in 1987. The Riders also returned 2 kicks last week for scores taking their total to 12 total return TDs.  Narrow 2017-2018 Argos' games: All three Toronto wins this year have been by 3 points or less, they have 5 games overall decided by that margin including two defeats. Under Coach Trestman in 2017-18, they have had 11 of their 29 games decided by margins of 4 points or less.  SSK field position: The Riders are #2 in the CFL in drive starting point with the 37.4-yard line their average for 2018. They have started 22 times inside their opponent's half of the field.  Alexandre Gagne 13 STT: The Riders' 2nd year kick cover specialist continues to excel and has a 5-game streak with at least one Special Teams Tackle (9 STT's in that span). He is now up to 13 for the season 2 off the CFL lead. Last year he had just 1 STT.  Kyran Moore: Has a career total of only 10 punt returns in his 4 games since joining the Riders but ... has returned two of those for touchdowns in the last 3 games.  3 different players with a Kick Return TD: The Riders have gotten kick returns TDs from Kyran Moore, Marcus Thigpen and Christion Jones in 2018. That is one short of the CFL record set by Edmonton in 1986 with 4 different players with a kick return TD.  McLeod Bethel-Thompson: Is slated to make his 6th straight start for Toronto and though he has gone over 300 yards only once, he has exceeded 295 yards three times in 5 games. In his last start he threw 2 TD passes, his second multi-TD game in 5 contests. He has moved the ball well on offence directing 3 TD drives in each of the last two Argos' games.  416 yards per game allowed: Toronto ranks #8 in Net Offence allowed (416 yards per game) ahead of only Montreal (424 per game). Toronto opponents have gotten over 400 yards in 7 of the 11 games thus far.

As opposed to carrying on with the slings and arrows directed to everyone with a pulse had we lost that game? That’s who we played. That’s who we beat. It was never in doubt. Are some of you pissed that we won? Do you think anybody who beats Montreal has second thoughts because it was Montreal? No, I think they play, they win, and then they move on to the next game..like we will.

The 8-10 Calgary Stampeders with the infamous Marcus Crandell managed the game and beat the favoured Winnipeg Blue Bombers in 2001. There are other examples, but that one sticks out.

CFL Game #64 Team Notes – Edmonton at Ottawa:  Edmonton Off a Bye / Win Over Calgary: The Eskimos come in off their first wire-to-wire win over Calgary in 13 years (Sep 5/05) and their bye last week. They withstood a late rally by the Stamps and 491 passing yards by Bo Levi Mitchell to win one of the highest scoring one-possession games in CFL history. Off a bye week Edmonton is 8-3 since 2011.  Most TDs in a season without a return TD: The Eskimos have scored 40 touchdowns in 2018 and ALL of them have been scored by their Offence. They are the only CFL team in 2018 without a return TD, and the ONLY team since Winnipeg in 1979 to have none i.e. with all of their TDs coming on Offence. Saskatchewan in 1956 set the record at 42 TDs without any being returns. The last Edmonton team to go without any return TDs was in 1964.  48 offensive points: The 48 points put up by Edmonton's offence last week was the most by any Edmonton team in the last 14 years. They last exceeded 48 on August 29, 2004 when they rolled up 55 points vs Ottawa (7 converted offensive TDs and 2 FGs).  42 points against and WON: The 42 points given up by Edmonton last week was the most by any Edmonton team in a game that they WON in 18 years - and the 2nd-most in club history; exceeded only in their 51-49 non-OT win over Winnipeg on Jul 21/00.  Ottawa vs Edmonton: The REDBLACKS and Eskimos have made a habit of sweeping season series. From 2014 to 2017, all four series have been sweeps, three by Edmonton including last year and one by Ottawa in 2016.  Trevor Harris 300+ games: He has recorded 7 games of 300+ passing yards to date - the Ottawa record is 10 by Henry Burris in 2015 and next at 9 from Harris himself in 2017. He is on pace to equal or surpass the record this year. For total yardage Harris' pace is for 5,333 yards which would be #2 all-time for Ottawa behind Burris' 5,693 in 2015.  Mike Reilly 55 TD/ 5900+ yard Pace: Has accounted for 37 TDs this year, 26 passing/11 rushing. The CFL record for rushing TDs by a Quarterback is 14 by Doug Flutie (1991 BC) followed by Kerry Joseph (13, 2007) and Reilly himself at 12 last year. The combined pass/rush TD record is dominated by Flutie who has the 4 best years - 1994: 56 (48/8), 1993: 55 (44/11), 52 twice. Reilly is on pace for 55 combined TDs this year and a record 16 rushing TDs. His passing yard pace is for 5,914 yards.  Reilly TD pass streak / 18 games of 3+ TDs: He has an active 12-game streak and at least one in 38 of last 40 game. he threw 3 TD passes in his last game making it 18 times in his career with 3 or more TD passes in 90 career starts.  Duke Williams 8 Gms at 100+: The CFL's leading receiver has 8 games of 100+ yards this year, tied with Brandon Banks for #1. Williams is on a streak of 3 in a row and on pace to have 12 which would match the CFL record set by Jamel Richardson in 2011. The Edmonton record is 10 set by Brandon Zylstra in 2017. Next is Adarius Bowman at 9 in 2016 and Brian Kelly at 8 100's in 1983.  REDBLACKS in playoff position: Ottawa's victory over Saskatchewan put them 4 wins ahead of both Montreal and Toronto and in possession of the season series over the Als. Their 7-5 mark after 12 games is 2 wins and a tie better than in 2017 (4-7-1).  Trevor Harris: Comes in with just a 1-3 mark against Edmonton as a starter but NEITHER win came with Ottawa. His W-L record is unusual in that he and Jeremiah Masoli are the only current #1 QBs to have better road records away than at home. For Ottawa, Harris is 7-8-2 .457 at home, but 11-9 .550 on the road where he led the REDBLACKS to a win over Saskatchewan last week.  Brad Sinopoli 118: Has 79 catches to lead the CFL and is on pace (118) for an Ottawa record set by Greg Ellingson at 96 in 2017. Sinopoli has at made at least 4 catches in all but one game this year.  Greg Ellingson: Was placed on the Disabled List earlier this week - if he does not play it will be just 2nd missed game in the last 65 games for his team. That will take 66 catches and 785 yards out of Ottawa's offensive tools.  William Powell: Ran for 148 yards last week, his 5th game of 100+ this year and 11th of his career. Of the 148 yards, 110 came in the 2nd half vs Saskatchewan. In his 5 games of 100+ yards Ottawa is 4-1 this year. He leads the CFL in rushing with 994 yards, needs 6 yards for his second straight 1,000-yard season, and just 33 to surpass his career high of 1,026 yards. The last Ottawa back to have consecutive 1000-yard season was Josh Ranek in 2004-05.  Jonathan Rose: Has taken the CFL lead with 5 interceptions based on making 4 in the last 4 games (2 last week).  Boateng & Bazzie: Kwaku Boateng leads the Eskimos with 5 Sacks thus far but has not had any in his last 6 games. In fact, his 5 Sacks have all come in two games including 3 on Jul 26/18 at Montreal. Alex Bazzie has picked up the slack with 3 Sacks in his last 4 games.

Well enough. He isn’t a top QB, but he pushed the ball downfield when necessary, made some nice, accurate throws and executed the game plan to a T. Maneuverability will always be an issue for Nichols, but this time he took the sack instead of tossing those dumb panic passes. And he won..

Good things happen when... Nichols hit Adams deep, for 49 yards, before the half, to set up a TD. You get zero turnovers.. One penalty - although it was a costly one (negated a sack and TD) Brandon Alexander- solid hits, good defence. Dressler made it 121 straight games in which he’s played that he’s caught a pass. Import Kenbrill Thompkins (Mb) 94 yards on 5 catches. First 2 and out - 4:21 left in the 1st half Roh, Roh, Roh your... Paul LaPolice - as Barker said ; “textbook offensive strategy in the 1st half”; 👁‍🗨 moved the pocket around, used play action after establishing Harris, nifty toss play to the RBs that harris exploited and LaFrance scored on and good quick passes. Then...the 2nd half. WTF. Worst 2nd half play caller in the league..and we survived. The FG Drive was good however..Thompkins made 2 clutch catches on 2nd downs that closed the game off. Nichols threw some nice passes on that drive. I thought he had a solid game..playing his kind of game. Medlock - league leader for punts inside the 10...awesome.

No kidding. Medlock is the leader in putting punts inside the 10. He works at it and he works on back spins. That’s not easy to do, especially inside the 10. If he gets a couple of shorter kicks and still maintains a 45.7 avg with a better net yardage than the opposing punter...what’s wrong with that?

Unlike the Bomber game against Ottawa where the Bombers had 11 penalties and kept Ottawa’s drives going, the Bombers had 1 penalty in this game. They stuck to football. Kudos!

It was a great pass. He should get some credit..after all the flak

That DB made a great play at the right time on that ball. That definitely wasn’t a drop. Sometimes the Play is made by the other team

A metaphor for the negativity in this thread?

Medlock is an underrated punter. He’d make more of a difference if the offence could move the ball consistantly.

Except for the very fine play (some nice blocks) and catches from Thompkins

Actually, he played well.

Yeah, and Bowman is only 145 yards away from what else you told us...

We have another receiver..an import no less. Some big, big catches. Kenbrell Thompkins Manitoba!

Ugly stat - Securing the football has always been a point of pride for Nichols, who had just eight interceptions in 579 pass attempts last season. By comparison, he’s thrown the same number in just 75 pass attempts the past four weeks – all Winnipeg losses. - Dave Naylor 👁‍🗨 But - I believe Nichols will have a better game tonight..a good game. The Bombers need it, and the fan base needs it..badly. This past 2 weeks, the bye week, after a loss especially, has opened the door for a lot of negative comments and it flowed on here. It’s almost like some were itching to have their “say”. It'll abate tonight, after our win, for a while anyways, but there will be excuses either way, and like a few have said, Nichols is pretty well in a no win situation.

CFL.ca  Winnipeg 4-1 Off a Bye Week: The Blue Bombers come into this game off a bye week, their second of the seasons n. Since 2016, Winnipeg is 4-1 after a bye compared to 0-4 across 2013-2015.  Sacks Made Since Week #9: Through Week #9 Winnipeg led the CFL and was #1 with QB 21 Sacks. Since Week #9, here are the CFL rankings with Winnipeg tied for #8 with just 3 Sacks in the-r 4 games. BC 18, Sask. 13, Calgary, Ottawa 11, Montreal 9, Edmonton 7, Toronto 6, Wpg And Ham. 3  Winnipeg's TD drive production #2 in CFL: The Bombers are the only CFL team to have scored at least twice on Offence in every game this season to date. They have produced 36 offensive TD drives in 173 chances for a 21% rate - #2 in the CFL.  Last week vs BC: The Alouettes allowed 7 Sacks last week to the Lions - that is the most by any team in the CFL this season.  Bombers 1-10 w/o Dressler: In 2018 the Bombers are 5-3 with Weston Dressler in the lineup, and 0-4 when he has not played. Across 2017-18, Dressler has missed 11 games due to injury and the Bombers have gone just 1-10 vs 11-6 .647 when he plays.  Blocked kick TD: Chip Cox blocked a Ty Long field goal last week which Tevaughn Campbell returned 87 yards for a touchdown. The last time that Montreal had a return TD off a blocked FG was 45 years ago on September 30, 1973 - Junior Ah You blocked a Gerry Organ attempt and Dickie Harris ran the loose ball back 57 yards for a TD.  Dominating Eastern rivals: In 2018 the Bombers are 4-2 vs East Division clubs and have been outstanding since 2015. Over these last 3 seasons, Winnipeg is a combined 16-6 .727 vs the East and 12-14 .462 vs the West.  2nd down conversion chances: Over the 4-game losing streak, Winnipeg has had just 10 of their 92 second down conversion situations be in 2nd-&-3 or less (11%). Of those 92 opportunities, 54 of them have been in 2nd-&-long (59% of the total).  Chip Cox 10 DT: Recorded 10 tackles last week and has 34 in his last 5 games. The 10+ tackle game last week was the 9th time he has reached double figures in a game (career high 13 in 2012). He enters this game with 945 career tackles, just 10 short the #4 spot all-time held by Barrin Simpson (955).  Turnovers matter: Since 2016, The Bombers are 27-3 when making fewer Turnovers; and 0-14 when making more. Montreal's equivalent numbers are similar at 9-7 .563 with less, and 2-22 .083 with more T/Os.  Johnny Manziel: Will make his 3rd career start in this week's game having been backup to Antonio Pipkin for the last two weeks. He is 0-2 thus far as a starter with a game-high of 168 passing yards, 0 TDs and 4 interceptions. This game will mark Manziel's first action against as West Division team.  Matt Nichols: Will play career game #100 and is scheduled to make his 60th regular season start. He is 33-26 overall and more specifically 27-19 in 46 starts for Winnipeg. The current 4-game losing streak he rides is the longest of his career and he has not won since Aug 10/18 vs Hamilton. He has now gone 14 starts without reaching 300 yards passing and with 15 TDs and 13 INTs. Over his last 3 games he has thrown 7 INTs.  47 straight for Medlock: Since the 2015 move of the 1-point convert kick out to 32 yards, the league-wide % made since then has tracked as follows prior to 2018: 2015: 85% 2016: 91% 2017: 91%. In 2018, CFL kickers are a remarkable 93% and none better than Justin Medlock. He is a perfect 38-of-38 in 2018 and has now made a record 47 in a row from 32 yards.  Montreal on the road: The Alouettes snapped a 3-game road losing streak in their last game away from Molson Stadium and actually better road (2-4) than home (1-5) this year. That has occurred just once since 1984 - in 2016 at 4-5 vs 3-6 at home.  Avoiding 3 in a row / 5 in a row: Winnipeg comes into this game having lost their last two at home. They have not had a 3-game home losing streak since the start of 2016. Overall, the Bombers have not lost 5 straight games since an 8-game run near the end of the 2014 season.  Andrew Harris 11,718 yards: Harris needs 16 yards to reach 1,000 rushing for the 4th time in his career and in 8 years as a regular starter. Of late it has been highs and lows with a 158-yard game vs SSK and two others with a combined 17 carries for 34 yards (CGY, SSK). He has 4 games of 100+ yards but just one in the last 6 contests. Harris ranks #12 all-time with 7,252 yards, and #21 all-time with 11,718 yards from scrimmage. With 25 more yards he can enter the all-time Top 20 in yards gained passing Arland Bruce III (11,742).  MTL week-to-week starting QB changes: The change back to Johnny Manziel this week will make it 6 times that the Alouettes will be changing their QB starter from the previous game. That is the most in any year since 1999 for Montreal.  Last 11 meetings: The Bombers are 9-2 vs the Alouettes since July 2013 and have won the last 4 head-to-head meetings. Their 46-point win on Jun 22/18 (56-10) was their 2nd-largest ever over Montreal and they outgained Montreal 588 yards to 128.  Tony Washington 100: Will play his 100th career game this week, all but none of which has been a start (99 GP, 98 starts).  Bighill at 100 DT pace: With 70, Adam Bighill is on pace for 100+ defensive stops this year. He would be the first Winnipeg player to reach 100 since Kahlil Bass in 2015 (102). A CFL.ca simulation currently gives them (Bombers) a 0.77% shot of winning the Grey Cup. - Wpg. Sun How important are turnovers? Since 2016, the Bombers are 27-3 in games in which they commit fewer turnovers than the opposition and are 0-14 when they commit more. The Alouettes are 9-7 with less and 2-22 with more …Ted Wyman 👁‍🗨 so, who throws a lot of short passes? .

 27 TDs - 44% returns: Of Saskatchewan's 27 total TDs thus far, 15 have come on offence with 12 as returns of 4 different types. That represents 44% of their team total. That is by far the highest % in all of CFL history:  CFL-wide defensive TD / Pick 6's: There have been 27 defensive touchdowns already this season and that is on pace for 41. Here is the recent trend - 2018: 41 TD (pace) 2017: 35 TD 2016: 24 TD. Interception return TDs have been prominent with 15 already this season and 1 in every 7 brought back for a TD. BL Mitchell has a 0.38% Of his ints returned for a TD Kevin Glenn is at 0.41%. Matt Nichols is at .0.31% behind R Ray’s 0.35% 👁‍🗨 The leader? Drew Willy 0.52%. (Between 2013-2018) Jeremiah Masoli and Mike Reilly ate the best in this category.  4 Kick Return TDs on September 15th - a CFL record: Prior to last weekend there had been only 8 kick return TDs in 2018. Last Saturday, 4 kicks were returned for a TD on that day alone - the most kick returns on any one day in all of CFL history and matched only once before. The only other time the CFL had 4 in one day was on July 8, 2005.  First Play K/O Return TD: The Riders' Marcus Thigpen returned the opening kickoff for a TD last week taking just 0:13 to register the game's first scoring play. It was just the 7th time in CFL history that the opening kickoff was returned for a touchdown: 👁‍🗨 Out of those 7 times, a Bomber was involved in 3  8 SSK Def. TD / 12 Return TDs: Each week continues to see a growing number of touchdowns scored by the Riders' defence this year. They now have a club record 8 Def. scores and have at least one in 7 of their 11 games. The CFL record is 11 defensive TDs set by BC in 1987. The Riders also returned 2 kicks last week for scores taking their total to 12 total return TDs.  8 punt return TDs: Calgary returned yet another punt for a TD last week and now have 3 this season. However that continues their two-year record of taking punts back for scores. They have 8 punt return TDs across 2017-18, one short of the most in CFL history over a two-year span.  Cross-over potential: Through Week #14 this remains high to occur for a record third year in a row. All 5 West Division teams are ahead of the #3 spot in the East at 3-8 and now by at least two wins. Calgary playoff potential: With a loss/tie by Toronto this week the Stampeders will clinch a playoff spot for the 14th consecutive season. That would tie Ottawa (1956-69) for the 6th-longest streak in league history and set a new Calgary club record.  Lewis Ward 97%: Ward began his career with a 3-for-4 FG performance in the season opener and since then has not missed a FG attempt (though he did miss one conversion). Ward is now 33-for-34 97% with a streak of 30 makes in a row, the longest streak ever made by a 1st Year player and has included 11 makes from 40+ yards.  Mike Reilly 55 TD Pace: Has accounted for 37 touchdowns this year, 26 passing and 11 rushing. The CFL record for rushing TDs by a Quarterback is 14 by Doug Flutie (1991 BC) followed by Kerry Joseph at 13 (2007) and Reilly himself at 12 last year. The combined pass/rush record is dominated by Flutie who has the four best years - 1994: 56 (48/8), 1993: 55 (44/11), 52 twice. Reilly is on pace for 55 combined TDs this year and 16 rushing TDs.

That decision was questionable and was the object of what O’Shea said he’d do again. They gambled because of the stats on those kind of gambles. I believe the Bombers were 25 out of 26 on 3rd down gambles. The gamble wasn’t really the problem. The play selection or execution did matter. Or maybe BC actually defended it well. BUT, in the previous example, don’t forget, the yardage needed was 4 yards on 3rd down, SO, which decision was more correct? If I remember correctly, the example you cited was not called by O’Shea, but was a Medlock decision..

CFL News - etc. Don Unamba - fined for head butting. 👁‍🗨Bombers - ranked 7th in power standings. Seems right. 👁‍🗨Travis Lully thinks he can play again this year. Will he? Should he? Expectation is he will play again this year..The Lions did not put him on the 6 game I.R. ”I can deal with shoulder rehab in my sleep” Travis Lully 👁‍🗨J. Jennings is now the QB. Can he do enough this weekend to beat Hamilton? With that defence, at home, yes. 👁‍🗨Eskimos are treating the last 6 games like they’re playoffs. So should the Bombers. Bombers Marcus Sayles is not a golfer, but he is looking better and better on defence. “When we won four games, we weren’t coming in and telling our players how good we are,” Jones said. “And right now, after losing a football game, we’re not coming in and telling our players how bad we are. We need to play good, consistent football and trust the process.” - isn’t this the same thing O’Shea has been saying and gets roasted for? Worth noting - Saskatchewan enters that game with a league-low 15 offensive touchdowns and a red-zone percentage of 32.0, which is easily the worst in the CFL. 👁‍🗨MISTAKES - capitalized, because they cost the Bombers, what? 3 wins this season? Milt - TSN asks...whose leash is shorter in Friday’s game - Nichols or Manziel? True or false? - “We’re a better defence now than we were at the beginning of the year and we want to continue that progression going forward,” Hall said. - Wpg. Sun It’s possible one of the newcomers — receivers Charles Nelson and Kenny Lawler, or defensive back Boobie Hobbs — will get in the lineup as a primary returner this week. “We do have the guys, we just need to have it work for us once,” O’Shea said. Nichols has a quarterback-efficiency rating of 78.9; last year he led the CFL in that department with a rating of 103.8. Andrew Harris lost the CFL rushing lead during the bye week to Ottawa’s William Powell, who had 148 yards along the ground in the RedBlacks win over Saskatchewan. Powell now leads Harris by 10 yards, at 994 to 984 with both players having six games left this season. - Ed Tait