TrueBlue4ever

OK, am I completely out to lunch on thinking the Lions could win tonight? They were winning 11-0 in Edmonton before the wheels came off, and home advantage carries weight for many teams. Think Reilly can bounce back after last week's game, and as much as BC is 1-3 with a questionable win against the Argos last week, I am reminded that they have had a meat grinder of a schedule to start the year (Winnipeg home game they were leading until a shocking conversion block flipped the momentum, then 3 straight on the road where they led in all games and frankly gave away a win in Calgary). How much will the short week (5 days) vs. a bye-week-rested Eskimo team make a difference?

I honestly was expecting someone to bring that up when I posted, but your version of it is inaccurate. The Eskimos had trailed 20-0 at one point and erased a 27-14 deficit in the 4th quarter. The Bombers had gassed a 35 yard field goal that would have put them up by 6 points with three minutes left, and Edmonton tied the game with a field goal with something like 15 seconds left after converting a 3rd and 10 where Demond Washington tried for a pick instead of a knockdown and tipped the ball into Fred Stamps' hands for a 51 yard gain. So with the team reeling from multiple errors (including 4 turnovers) that gave away the lead late, Burke opted to have the offence take a knee from its own 35 yard line and reset going into OT rather than force something downfield and risk a turnover (you KNOW that if the team had forced something and created a turnover fans would be screaming "WHY DIDN'T HE TAKE A KNEE????? ONLY AN IDIOT WOULD TRY A LOW PERCENTAGE PLAY FROM HIS OWN END WITH SECONDS LEFT WHEN YOU COULD STILL GO OT OT!!!!!!!!") There is a good amount of stuff to criticize Burke for, especially his penchant for throwing players under the bus for losses rather than protecting them late in his tenure when they quit playing for him, as the team was mailing it in on the way to a 3-15 season, but I will defend him insomuch as it was a lot more the fault of Joe Mack and his roster management, and the no-win situation Burke inherited. So pick on Burke and ignore the failings of Mack if you want, but don't make up phony stuff to fit your "Tim Burke was awful and taking a knee to quit while behind is proof" narrative. Burke was better than that, and you should be too.

I used to think that, no matter what, since they can catch passes for TDs or were almost always fed the ball inside the 5 yard line. But now QBs are the ones keeping the ball on the goal line in short yardage (3 of the 4 top TD totals last year came from QBs), so it isn't a given. And the majority of 2 point conversion tries seem to be passes rather than runs.

Darvin Adams

Not really even live movies, given the amount of CGI involved.

Mike Miller says "nice try chump"

Hey Adrenaline, why is your profile avatar the new Rider mascot?

I vote that those whose handles are too long to fit into a single line on their posts lose the tie breaker. No bias. :-)

I still want the rule where if your player gets a TD, you get a +1, he doesn't score (or you miss the week) you get a -1, he gets a 2 point convert you get a zero for that week, highest score at the end of the year wins, no knockouts.

After an appropriate cooling down period for sober reflection minus the emotional bent, some thoughts on the game: - Like the confidence of the coaching staff to go for 3rd and short gambles that are not "3rd and inches" gimmes, but Streveler saved the o-line's bacon on a couple of occasions with pure strength, grit, and never quit attitude. Should have been stuffed at least twice due to a bad push from the line, but found a way to outmuscle the defensive player and get the first down. Good to know he can make something out of nothing, but we are going to get burned on a key 3rd down attempt if those o-line mistakes are not corrected. - Having said that, those who pine for Streveler to take over the starting job from Nichols during the course of this season should not hold their breath. Wasn't too inspired by his play once he came in full time, certainly not compared to how methodical Nichols looked moving the offence. - Very confused why the command centre did not call down and point out the facemask that ripped Harris' helmet off. I'm pretty positive they can make a call on any penalty play even if the coach cannot challenge it. But I get why the on-field refs missed it. Harris was not in a spot where it was clearly visible from the backfield judge or anyone other than the sideline crew, and his helmet comes off so easily every game it would be simple to assume it just popped off rather than being pulled off. Dude needs to tighten that chinstrap. - Everyone was so pumped to get Chris Matthews back and see what he could do. Still waiting. Meanwhile, quietly forgotten sidekick Darvin Adams made some spectacular clutch catches in the game to move the chains on second and long. - Still think Ryan Lankford has the physical tools to be a big return threat, but Friday night was another example of how it is between the ears that is holding him back, and at this point I don't see coaching being able to correct that. - Would just like to note that the Bomber defence has not allowed a touchdown in the last 34 opposition drives, and in 39 of 40 so far this season. Tip of the cap to the oft-maligned defensive co-ordinator Richie Hall. - Would just like to note that the Bombers were the only CFL team to score at least 2 offensive TDs in every game last year, have scored 4 offensive TDs in each game so far this year (12 in 43 total drives), are 9 out of 11 in converting red zone opportunities into TDs this year (the only two times they have failed is when they took a knee at the end of the game to run out the clock deep in opposition territory), and have scored a TD in their opening drive of the second half in each game this year. Tip of the cap to oft-maligned offensive co-ordinator Paul LaPolice. - Ottawa actually took a knee out of "victory formation" on 3rd down with 20 seconds left on the clock, literally conceding a turnover to the Bombers on their own 20 yard line while trailing in the game. Have never seen that before.

Given how drunk Gotmilt would need to be to actually be brave enough to follow through on his internet tough guy claim, it would really be more like me holding him up rather than holding him down, but point taken. Matt wouldn't need any assistance anyway. Those mitts of his are huge.

Let me know when you are going. I always like to see an assclown get what they deserve........courtesy of a Matt Dunigan punch in the face while I hold said assclown down. Not even joking. :-)

Given the full team performance, have to give a star to each of offence, defence, and special teams. Nichols - spread the ball around, controlled the clock, 80% completion rate, would have hit 300 yards passing if not for the early departure, and didn’t hook slide too early. Rose - 5 tackles, big pick, and bigger fumble recovery. Despite only one sack,Jefferson gets an honourable mention for the havoc in the backfield he caused. Miller - 7 tackles and thundering hits. HH - Medlock missed 2 field goals but still made the play of the game. The punt was amazing for its placement, but the awareness to hustle down and recover it inspired a whole team. Goat - Nelson fumbled a punt, knocked out his own QB on a scramble, then fumbled again to give up the only TD against in the game.

Speedy B

Add a 4th for today, and a very sad one. Still awaiting confirmation but twitter is reporting: Janet Arnott, local curler who won the Scotties 3 times (medallist 9 times, including 3 silver and 3 bronze) and a World Championship in 1984 (medallist 3 times, including one silver and one bronze) with Connie Laliberte (her sister), then went on to play with Cathy Overton-Clapham, and finished her playing career with Jennifer Jones' rink in 2007, appearing in her last Scotties, where she earned her 4th bronze medal (and 10th overall). Lost in the finals of the Olympic Curling trials for Calgary in 1988. Then went on to coach Jennifer Jones' squad starting in 2008, and helped them get to 7 more Scottie tournaments, winning 3 times (in 2008, 09, and 10, and winning the World Championship in 2008. Won the Olympic trials in 2013 and the Olympic Gold Medal in Sochi in 2014, after which she retired from coaching the team.

Here are each team's 20 years or longer (except Edmonton) Grey Cup droughts: BC - 21 years (1964-85) Edm -19 years (1956-75) Cal - 23 years (1948-71), 21 years (1971-92) Sask - 44 years* (team founded in 1910, could not play for the Grey Cup until 1921, barred from playing in 1940 due to different Western rules, so 1921-39, 41-66), 23 years (1966-89) Wpg - 29 years (1990-present), 22 years (1962-84) Hamilton - 20 years (1999-present) Toronto - 31 years (1952-83) Ottawa - 27 years* (40 years from 1976-2016, but no team from 1997-2001 and 2006-13) Montreal - 21 years (1949-70), 16 years* (25 years from 1977-2002, but no team from 1987-95)

On point #1, this might be where Demski becomes crucial leaking out of the backfield as a swing pass option so they can't spy on Harris all game. Also, pitch outs and sweeps for running plays outside the tackles would be good. Nice to establish inside runs, but spread it out to keep them from loading the box. As also mentioned, penalties and turnovers. Edmonton was awfully undisciplined against the Lions last week, and were also against the Als - we need to take advantage of the free plays they give us. I see the Eskimos keeping the refs busy picking their laundry up off the turf tonight

You forgot "Bring in Stefan LeFors as our QB"

Funny thing is if the Jets offered a trade straight up for Connor, how any teams would trade for him and offer two first round picks, a second, and a third? Yet an offer sheet may easily hit those targets. Again, who can guess what goes through the mind of a GM? I guess knowing he is locked in for 7 years makes the return value greater.

I was thinking it when I saw Drago and Wright, then before I could say it myself I saw Bounty Hunter's wife had also passed.

Well ,these things happen in threes. https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/untouchables-actor-bill-drago-dies-at-73-1221296

Open question for all: If Laine and Connor are given offer sheets, what is the over/under on the price that would be too high for the Jets to match (don't say no price as an answer) if a 7 year contract was offered on each? And what would the combined over/under price be that is too steep if both got offer sheeted? Suppose Connor is offered 7 x $6 million and Laine is offered 7 x $10 million. the $16 million cap hit seems high for both given the other pieces we need, but hard to think they wouldn't lock in each guy individually at their respective price, but maybe not both. As a reminder: compensation is: None for below $1.4 million AAV signing 3rd round pick for $1.4-2.11 million AAV 2nd round pick for $2.11-4.23 million AAV 1st and 3rd round pick for $4.23-6.34 million AAV 1st, 2nd, and 3rd round pick for $6.34-8.45 million AAV Two 1sts, 2nd, 3rd round pick for $8.45-10.57 million AAV Four 1sts for over $10.57 million AAV

According to the Bombers stats last year (source: cflstats.ca) Demski had 3 fumbles, most on the team. Between his rushing, receiving, and returning, he had 117 touches. In comparison, Andrew Harris had 2 fumbles on 296 touches, Matt Nichols had 2 fumbles on probably some 625 touches (393 pass attempts, 15 rushes, and handoffs on probablythree quarters of Winnipeg's 300 rush attempts that involved a running back), Ryan Lankford had 1 fumble on 18 touches, Kienan LaFrance had 2 fumbles on 42 touches, and Kevin Fogg had 2 fumbles on 94 touches (but he did have 4 INTs and 4 fumble recoveries along with 3 forced fumbles, so I think he more than made up for it). From what I can tell, the players with the most touches without a fumble were Chris Streveler (on about 270 touches - 125 pass attempts, 67 rushes, and maybe an estimated 75 or so handoffs), Darvin Adams (63 touches), and Weston Dressler (55 touches, NOT counting all his field goal holds).

I told you guys he'd be the sleeper scapegoat on the team.