Mr Dee

This is exactly what Bob Wylie was tying to explain a couple of years ago. ALL sacks are not on the O-Line. As already commented on, Matt Nichols chooses to pull the ball down and take the sack. It's not the worse thing to do in a lot of the cases.

That would be Westfor Dressler...

We have 3, that's THREE linemen on the O-Line being considered All Star material. Bryant, Bond and Goosen. What a change from yesteryear.

MID-SEASON ALL-STAR Guesses/placings. - CFL.ca Writers Cauz Ferguson Landry Morris Nye Steinberg QB Mike Reilly Mike Reilly Mike Reilly Mike Reilly Mike Reilly Matt Nichols RB Andrew Harris Jerome Messam Andrew Harris Jerome Messam Andrew Harris Jerome Messam T Travis Bond Spencer Wilson Thaddeus Coleman Dan Federkeil Stanley Bryant Spencer Wilson For the rest of the list - https://www.cfl.ca/2017/08/29/harris-ellingson-lead-cfl-ca-mid-season-stars/ CFL.ca Mid-Season All-Star Team With each writer’s votes taken into account, here’s how the CFL.ca Mid-Season All-Star team shakes out: POSITION PLAYER OFFENCE Quarterback Mike Reilly Running Back Jerome Messam, Andrew Harris Receiver Greg Ellingson, S.J. Green, Bryan Burnham, Brad Sinopoli Offensive Tackle Spencer Wilson, Stanley Bryant Offensive Guard Travis Bond, Brad Erdos Centre Matthias Goossen* DEFENCE Defensive End Odell Willis, Victor Butler Defensive Tackle Micah Johnson, Almondo Sewell Linebacker Solomon Elimimian, Alex Singleton, Kenny Ladler* Cornerback Chris Randle, Ronnie Yell Halfback Jamar Wall, T.J. Heath Safety Antoine Pruneau SPECIAL TEAMS Punter Rob Maver Kicker Justin Medlock Kick Returner Roy Finch

#Ticats coach June Jones says Jeremiah Masoli will start at QB vs. #Argos in Labour Day Classic. #CFL ?‍?No word on whether the CFL and Randy Ambrosie will step in and have a talk with the Ticats on this...

Eric M - With an 88.9 score, #Bombers' QB Matt Nichols is now the CFL's top-ranked QB in QUAR. #CFL QUAR, SMUAR. We don't need no stinking rating system to tell us how well he's doing. (But we do like it anyways)

The Diversity is Strength campaign was coming to the CFL, only it was slated for later in the year. The fact that the CFL 'jumped' in early was a marketing opportunity. You don't just ignore an opportunity when one presents itself. It was/is not a bad thing, in fact, it shows an awareness that the CFL seems to have been missing for years. The League is in good hands.

Here is the quote from Scott Mitchell on how the CFL "knew" about Art Briles... Question - Was the league aware of the hiring of Art Briles before you announced it? Answer - "They were." "I spoke to the league about it as a potential concept and had a good discussion about it, a good deliberation about it." At the end of the day, it comes down to whether a person deserves a second chance. In no way, shape or form can you diminish the clearly institutional, horrific issues that went on at Baylor. But Art was exonerated by his own university, he certainly had nothing to do with no criminal discussions or proceedings. That doesn’t excuse what went on there by any stretch or the horrific experiences that some young women went through. But as an organization we have to decide whether we’re going to give people a second chance and judge them for their own character, morality, and ethics. I can tell you there wasn’t one single person that we spoke to who knows Art Briles that didn’t think he deserved an opportunity to work in football. I don't know. This does not sound like an endorsement to me. Potential concept? A good deliberation? What does that even mean? I mean, this didn't hang around for awhile. This was cut off. The CFL ended it. That's what we're talking about.

Monday, August 28, 2017 — TORONTO (August 28, 2017) -- The Canadian Football League (CFL) and the Hamilton Tiger-Cats have released the following statement: Randy! Randy! Randy for Commissioner! A firestorm of anxiety and never ending finger pointing has been averted. Earlier today a cross country shytestorm wind blew through all the provinces like the unpredictable winds at Tim Horton's field on this hiring controversy, but to the delight of all, the CFL, although wind blown, comes out on the right end of this decision. Nevermind Diversity is Strength, how about the strength shown in leadership today? Well done!

IN RESPONSE...

One of the greatest coaches I've been fortunate enough to know!!! Welcome to the #CFL -Willie Jefferson III Why am I not surprised?

?‍?Matt Nichols was credited with moving the ball over 6400 yards today! Well, that was golfing..but still.

This is exactly what you would expect to hear if you were to expect hearing anything in response. The Ticats are taking a chance on hiring this guy and putting forth their good reputation on the integrity of a man who doesn't seem to possess any. Having just recaptured the fan base in Hamilton, this losing season already grates on the nerves of many. Now, there will be many more.. I'm all for second chances but going all in before testing the mood seems kinda backward.

And here I thought I had burned every available copy of that nightmare. And yes @Noeller, I distinctly remember that interception that skipped off the ground in that game. Snake bitten, I tell you, by vermin.

Obviously, this cannot be condoned. You cannot have that mentality that winning supersedes everything else, especially criminal behaviour.

Yes, that was from the CFL site and BEFORE the 2 point conversions. They will revise the. stats befor Week 11. And I'm pretty sure OT stats would be added if they were detected early enough.

Week 10 - Bye Hamilton ?‍?Nic Lewis - in second place, all alone in receptions. That is a truly remarkable feat. Whether you like him or not, and how can you not, he is accomplishing what only one other receiver has accomplished, and that person is Gerry Simon. And soon, Lewis will bypass him. I never would have that that but, holy hanna, I clap my hands for a truly gifted athlete. Bravo Nic! #TodayInBlueBomberHistory Aug 21, 2009: RB Fred Reid rushed for 260 yds, a #Bombers record. #OnceABomberAlwaysABomber Matthew Scianitti - Marc Trestman says Anthony Coombs will have surgery on his shoulder, but coach is confident Coombs can return this season #CFL #Argos ?‍?Ha, funny twitter comment - Crap you guys I stared at the eclipse way too long and now I'm an NHL replay official. CFL Staff. - Amid the deafening roar at Investors Group Field on Thursday screeched the silence of the last remaining detractors as Matt Nichols and the Bombers took down the CFL’s top-ranked team. Nichols’ performance (390 yards, 80%, 1 TD, 0 INT) may have been the best by any quarterback this season https://www.cfl.ca/2017/08/21/quarterback-index-return-ricky-ray/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=twitter&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+QbIndexCflca+(CFL.ca-QB+Index) Blue and Gold CFL - Andrew Harris leads the CFL in YAC. He's a running back #Bombers. And it's not even close. Harris is 1st with 355 yards, 2nd is the RedBlacks Brad Sinopoli at 278 yards ?‍?O'Shea says the Bombers would be pretty well on pace for an interception total like last year but we're dropping them now instead of making the catch. (See last game 3-4?) ?‍?In case you're wondering, Dom Davis is still considered the "#2 QB" Craig T Smith - At Packers practice. Ray Nitschke Field. @ Green Bay Packers Training and Practice Fields instagram.com/p/BYHLOCUjXcg/ CFL News - Rookie TE Antony Auclair making case to stick with Bucs tampabay.com/blogs/bucs/roo… via @TB_Times #NFL #CFL #Riders - #CFL 6 game injured list count: #Esks 16 #Riders 12 #AlsMTL 12 #Argos 11 #Calstampeders 11 #Ticats 11 #Redblacks 4 #BCLions 2 #Bombers 2 ALL-TIME CANADIAN RUSHING YARDS LIST 1 Normie Kwong 9,022 yards 2 Jon Cornish 6,844 yards 3 Sean Millington 6,086 yards 4 Andrew Harris 5,728 yards 5 Ron Stewart 5,690 yards • The Stampeders have won 13 consecutive games at home – the eighth-longest home winning streak of all time in the CFL. • The streak is the second-longest run of home victories in franchise history. Calgary owns the CFL record with 27 straight wins at home from 1992-1995. Toronto leads the league with 30 sacks this season, despite missing several starters due to injury. The Argonauts have eight more sacks then the second best team (Edmonton). Winnipeg quarterback Matt Nichols had thrown 179 consecutive passes before he threw that Hail Mary interception in the last game. His personal best was 167. Justin Medlock has kicked three field goals of 50+ yards this season. The record for the most 50+ field goals in a season is nine set by Calgary’s J.T. Hay in 1986 and Baltimore’s Carlos Huerta in 1994. CFL - Last year there were 44 attempts (27 made) from 50+ yards and this year there have been only 13 attempts (eight made). • 62% of games this season have been decided in the final three minutes. • Penalties this season are down 11% compared to last season. • The second quarter this season averages the most points - 16.4 (30% of points). The first quarter averages the fewest amount of points – 10.1 (19% of points). • Winnipeg and Montreal do not yet have a successful 2-point conversion. Both teams are 0 for 2. • Teams coming off a bye week are 4-3 this season. Saskatchewan comes off a bye this week when they play Edmonton. • League-wide one-point convert percentage is 88%, down from 91% from last year. Kickers were only 12 for 16 (75%) last week. • Argonauts running back Brandon Whitaker is four carries shy of reaching 1,000 for his career. • Consistency: 11 different quarterbacks have started this season. At the same point in 2016 it was 15 and 2015 it was 14. CFL News - "We're getting great coverage down there (America). Lots of folks absolutely loving the game." - @MattDuniganTSN #CFL via @tsnmikehogan Blue Bomber Talk - After a great first preseason game, Geoff Gray graded out poorly in preseason game two. #Packers #Bombers #CFL Ted Wyman MID-TERM GRADES OFFENCE: A It’s up-tempo, it’s efficient and it’s producing the most points of any offence in the league. DEFENCE: C Too many yards allowed, too many explosion plays. Big plays aside, still a bit of an Achilles Heel SPECIAL TEAMS: A-minus Medlock is money, winning three games with last-play kicks … return game is solid too. COACHING: B-plus LaPolice has done a great job with the offence, Hall still struggling to find right formula on defence. O’Shea really coming into his own as head coach. “He’s not done … he’s not satisfied, either,” O’Shea said of Randle. “We’ve always known that he’s a top-notch guy in this league, an upper-echelon guy and the way he prepares I wouldn’t say it’s easy — he makes it look easy — but he prepares for it. When he steps on the field he’s already played the game, he’s already worked so hard in practice that he knows he’s going to make those plays. And two interceptions tonight — and some of those plays that you don’t notice, when he’s not intercepting the ball — he’s phenomenal.” Edmonton- 41,178 fans, the largest crowd in the CFL in the last four years. Mike Reilly, one of the league’s elite players, had a microscopic quarterback-efficiency rating (43.8). ?‍?Hugh O'Neil P/K gets the lackadaisical player of the week award. Blocked punt for a TD, missed/blocked convert, illegal Kickoff. He got the trifecta CFL on TSN .@MattDuniganTSN: 'Reilly took a butt kicking tonight'. VIDEO: tsn.ca/cfl/video/duni… #CFLGameDay Gary Lawless - Very likely @Wpg_BlueBombers and @sskroughriders split Labor Day/Banjo. But both teams are hot and whoever wins opener plays with house cash Kevin Dickie - Heard #Riders Call-In Show. Sounds like all Fans have been patient with squad & supported Chris Jones since day one. I love it! #Bandwagon CFL News - The Jason Maas-coached team went from being in a fender bender in Wpg last weekend to being in a total train wreck. - @byterryjones #CFL Less than 1,500 tickets remain for the Banjo Bowl. You should probably be there. ?‍?Jonathon Jennings- 7 123/194 63% 1425 yards TD passes 9 interceptions. CFL News - Seems abundantly clear some players are frustrated w/ play-calling of offensive coordinator Khari Jones lately. - @FifthQtr #CFL #BCLions ?‍?The Eskimos ‘next man up’ mantra has disintegrated into ‘next loss up’ Herb Zurkowsky- #Als have added Canadian receiver Scott MacDonell, late of Ottawa and Saskatchewan Buono acknowledged the position switch represents potentially a major swing with the Lions’ salary cap in the future but had to make the move to salvage a season suddenly looking as if it could spin out of control. He previously restructured Jennings' current contract to give him an NFL option-year window after this season and would make CFL starting pivot money, a reported $300,000 if he comes back in 2018 to the Lions. Lulay, on the other hand, has a salary edge on Jennings at present but is a free agent at the end of the season. It’s a radical shift from a few weeks ago, when Jennings’ shoulder injury and previous collarbone issue wasn’t seen as a problem. http://www.tsn.ca/lions-switch-to-coach-lulay-at-qb-1.840571 ?‍?Check out this punter's coolness... ?‍?Was the performance of Saskatchewan over the Eskimos that good, or do the net 30 point turnover difference play a factor? You decide. Western Division Games only: Edmonton beat BC, beat BC, lost to Winnipeg, Saskatchewan 2-2 WPG beat Saskatchewan, Edmonton lost to Calgary, BC 2-2 Calgary beat Saskatchewan, beat BC, beat Winnipeg 3-0 BC beat Sask, beat Wpg, lost To Sask, lost to Calgary,lost to Edmonton twice 2-4 Saskatchewan beat Edmonton, lost to Winnipeg, Calgary, BC 1-3 Standings Week 11 Winnipeg plays Sask. - Edm plays Cal - Bye BC Week 12 Montreal at BC - Sask. at Winnipeg - Calgary at Edmonton Week 13 Sask at Hamilton- Edmonton at Toronto- BC at Calgary Bye Winnipeg Week 14 Ottawa at Winnipeg- Hamilton at BC - Calgary at Sask Bye Edmonton Week 15 Sask at Ottawa - Montreal at Calgary- Winnipeg at Edmonton Bye BC Week 16 Ham at WPG- Sask at Tor.- Ottawa at BC - Edm. at Montreal Bye Calgary Week 17 Calgary at Ham - Ottawa at Sask. - BC at WPG. - Tor. At Edm. Week 18 Sask. at Calgary - WPG. At Tor. - Edm. At BC - Week 19 Mtl at Sask. - BC at WPG. - Cal at Edm. Week 20 WPG at Cal - Edm. At Sask. - Tor at BC Week 11 Ottawa at Montreal - Thursday WPG. at Sask - Sunday Edm. at Calgary- Monday Toronto at Hamilton- Monday Bye BC

He's credited with a sack in the last game...on his own QB! I'll try and find the clip.

I guess it's time to run the Lawless article from July 2015 regarding Hurl...(slinginsammy @ TEP) https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/sports/football/bombers/The-Cowboy-Formation-318470931.html (Paywall) On the post game show D Brown did acknowledge that Hurl was the "weakest link" on this D. It is what it is...If we're starting Thomas at D Tackle instead of Johnson on a go forward basis, we don't need to continue starting a Nat at MLB...but this scheme doesn't expect the MLB to be a playmaker...here's the content of the Lawless article (July 24 2015) Aards refers to above... "Future Hall of Famer and Blue Bombers head coach Mike O'Shea, who played middle linebacker in the CFL for 16 years, should know something about the position. He and defensive co-ordinator Richie Hall keep starting Sam Hurl in this critical spot despite a mounting wave of public criticism. So, who is right? The coaches or the fans? First it was my neighbour telling me he didn't think much of Hurl's play. Then came radio callers, also piling on Hurl. The kid just can't play, they said. Hurl pales in comparison to legends such as Greg Battle, went the refrain. The balance sheet just didn't add up. Hurl's stats ? 13 tackles and zero sacks through four games, averaging just over three tackles per game ? don't even top his team and are nowhere near the league leaders. Teammate and fellow linebacker Khalil Bass has 19 tackles and two sacks. Shouldn't O'Shea move him into the middle? What's he waiting for? So I asked if O'Shea would speak to me about Hurl. And would he go even further and support his words with film? The head coach agreed and I was told to be in front of the Bombers Store at 7:30 a.m. on Thursday. A Bombers staffer met me and walked me to O'Shea's office. Players were streaming in and lining up for the hot breakfast served by the club. Coaches were already in their offices watching film and prepping for positional meetings and practice. O'Shea motioned for me to sit in a chair alongside his desk and he positioned himself on one of those yoga balls with remote in hand. And then he rolled film. Play after play after play. Stopping and starting. Pointing out footwork, hand position and pad level. But most of all, he focused on where Hurl started most plays, what was his assignment on the play and how did he execute. First, I asked: How is Hurl playing? "We're playing a defence where accountability is key and there's not a lot of flash in accountability. It's a defence where every player is responsible for his gap. Sam grades out well every week. He understands his responsibilities and he fulfils them," said O'Shea. "He's disciplined, uses his hands well and he understands that controlling the offence is keyed by filling the gaps. He does what we ask him to do." Fair enough. But as the writing adage goes, "show me, don't tell me." The clips show Hurl rarely lines up in the traditional spot four yards off the line of scrimmage and in the middle of the defensive formation. In fact, in the "Cowboy" formation which the Bombers utilize in the majority of run situations determined by down and distance, the middle linebacker (Mac) or Hurl in this case, is often just off the line of scrimmage with the responsibility of stepping into a gap. On many plays, Hurl's job is to take on the offensive guard or tackle and control the area that player is trying to open up for a running play. Bass, on the weak side (Will) or Chris Randle, on the strong side (Sam), line up deeper and don't engage offensive lineman on the line of scrimmage. They have more freedom to chase the ball carrier and amass more tackles than Hurl. So do defensive backs Bruce Johnson and Matt Bucknor. "Playing the Mac linebacker in the defence we're using, where we use a Cowboy formation and he's just off the line of scrimmage as often as he is, (Hurl) isn't being put in a glory position," said O'Shea. O'Shea rolled through every game the Bombers have played this season, showing a handful of plays from each in a 30-minute session. A number showed Hurl taking on an offensive lineman at the point of attack and giving up in excess of 70 pounds in the fight. Did he make a bunch of impactful strikes and tackles for losses? No. But far more often than not, he fulfilled his responsibility. The takeaway for me: Hurl is being asked to fill a role and he's succeeding within those parameters. Hurl is not being utilized like middle linebackers in other systems. B.C. Lions linebacker Solomon Elimimian has 21 tackles in three games and finished last year with 143. But he's what they call a "hat on the ball" linebacker. He's freed up to chase and scrape up the ball carrier after others have knocked down the blocking. Many of us have the image of a big game from a linebacker containing a stats line with 10 tackles or more. Well, first of all, if half those stops come after substantial gains the statistic is fundamentally misleading. Secondly, it's just not a typical result for a middle linebacker playing under Hall and his current philosophy. Hall's middle linebackers during his last two seasons with the Saskatchewan Roughriders had similar numbers to what Hurl has put together so far this season. In 2014, when the Riders didn't post strong numbers as a defence, Brian Peters took most of the snaps at middle linebacker and finished with 78 tackles. In 2013, when the Riders won the Grey Cup and had one of the stingiest defences in the league, Rey Williams and Mike McCullough shared the middle linebacker job and combined for 66 tackles. "The game has changed and more and more, defence is about a concept and every player on the field buying in," said an East Division general manager. "There are still impact players on defence, but coaches want a player with no missed assignments at the end of the game. A guy might be good for a home run every now and again but if he's abdicating his responsibility to look good on TV, he's likely hurting you more than he's helping you. We don't want players who take risks to make plays. I want players that make plays in the act of doing what they are supposed to do and checking off their responsibilities." The defence isn't built around Hurl and his abilities, he's just a cog put in place by Hall and O'Shea. Maybe if the Bombers had elite personnel such as Elimimian they would change their system to suit the player. But this is a defence built on a team concept. "Sometimes being a middle linebacker requires sacrifice and Hurl is doing a job right now which requires him to be selfless at times," said O'Shea. Take a look at O'Shea's career and you'll see a 95-tackle season in 1994 with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats. Then a 44-tackle season in 1997 with the Toronto Argonauts as a member of one of the best defences the CFL has seen in the last 50 years. Argos coach Don Matthews employed a lot of Cowboy formation during back-to-back Grey Cup champion seasons in 1996 and 1997. O'Shea went from a roaming chase-the-ball backer with the Tiger-Cats to lining up on top of the centre and grinding it out in the pit with the Argos. His tackle totals were cut in half but his fingers took on two new rings. The book on Hurl is still out and it's unlikely he's the CFL's next great linebacker. Is he a competent middle linebacker? Four games is too early to tell. But judging him against the images we have of Battle or even Elimimian is specious. They don't do the same job. Even if the name says they do

I blame Richie Hall

Most sacks vs. fewest sacks allowed. Tonight's game in Calgary brings a battle in the trenches. CFL game day Well, Ottawa did us a favour and gave the Riders a new bone to go after by defeating the Lions. Now, Toronto is a different beast altogether. Hot and cold, good and bad. Ricky Ray vs BLM. In Calgary. Too much to ask? Does anybody know if Mitchell still has a sore limb. Could be huge factor.

YAWN, Tripper is here after a Rider win, and bragging...with a 4-4 record. After 35 gifted points 35 Yep, tripping alright.

The RedBlacks are proving that? This game is Jennings. We played against Lulay. We gifted BC 2 late TDs in week 5 in our 4 th game. I'm not about to defend Hall's system, but these two teams BC, and the Bombers are different teams than 5 weeks ago, don't you think?