Nasty Nate

How many times has Marve been stopped? Other than once or twice at the goal line? I know he got stopped on the 30 yard line against Montreal but that was a bad decision to go for it in the first place. With the lack of push of the O-Line I don't think Refrigerator Perry would have gotten a first down on that play. I don't think it was a bad decision, just bad execution. I know it didn't work, so it's easy after the fact to say that it was a bad decision, but that's very micro oriented. From the macro point of view, players love playing for a coach who has confidence in them. A coach that never gambles on 3rd, or never tries a fake kick, or never goes creative does not instill the same confidence in his players. I recall one time I was coaching in an important game, and we went for it on third down early in the game and got stuffed. I called over the entire o-line and the o-line coach and said "that clearly wasn't acceptable, but I know you can do better, so I'm going to give you another chance later to prove that you are better than that". We gambled twice more in that game, both successfully, and scored a couple of touchdowns with our short yardage team as well, and won the game handily against a strong opponent. My point is that many people on this board have been critizing the Rider's coaches for playing musical RB's due to a couple of fumbles. I don't believe that you give up the run entirely due to a couple of fumbles, and you don't stop going for it because you get stuffed on occassion. It is true that you may need to make changes to the personnel or the execution, but the strategy remains solid. Teams that play to win, win more often than overly concervative teams. I just am from the old Bud Grant school where you don't go for it on 3rd down when you are on your own 30 yard line. But I do admire O'Shea's go for it attitude. I think O'Shea will do the same thing vs. Edmonton if he's facing a 3rd and full 1 near mid-field. If the line can't generate enough push & shove to create the first down, then I think O'Shea will re-consider until he gets reinforcements.

This trade was of "Macksterpiece" proportions!

With all the injuries in the east this year - I suspect Walters has someone boxed into a corner. Either Kent Austin or Jim Popp. Not many of our PR or IR guys have that much value 1 on 1 for a starting (Top 6) OL, particularly a national. However, I strongly suspect a package deal this time Involving 2 bomber players going elsewhere plus some neg. rights in exchange for a quality OL (national or international). Deal is deeper for Walters if its a national OL. My best guess - Watson & Suber plus neg rights to Andy Mulumba for a starting OL (who isn't currently injured). If Mulumba gets himself cut and ends up in the CFL Walters should also make the trade conditional so we get a 2nd rd pick from whoever got Mulumba. Addendum: I take everything back. Totally underwhelming!!! I guess there's major concern about Brohm or Marve handling the reins should Willy go down!

And yet you guys keep trying to pepper-bomb me for thinking Walters has to upgrade his o-line, even if it means giving up a solid national asset?

Wonder if Jermese Jones would consider a comeback:? Or convert retired Doug Brown DT to retired Doug Brown OG? Nate, I'm your biggest supporter here. I'll have your back against some of the haters here but seriously your act is wearing a little thin. Come on. Have a take but don't suck. I was actually trying to get in on the joke against me, Al...didn't you notice the emoticons? So, Dyakowski, Hage and Obby Khan were actually serious suggestions....? This whole thread confuses me. Even the other suggestions on here don't make sense... Dyakowski (who's currently injured) and Hage (semi-retired) were fairly serious. Unless you think our current troops are gonna be able to protect Willy....

Wonder if Jermese Jones would consider a comeback:? Or convert retired Doug Brown DT to retired Doug Brown OG? Nate, I'm your biggest supporter here. I'll have your back against some of the haters here but seriously your act is wearing a little thin. Come on. Have a take but don't suck. I was actually trying to get in on the joke against me, Al...didn't you notice the emoticons?

Wonder if Jermese Jones would consider a comeback:? Or convert retired Doug Brown DT to retired Doug Brown OG?

Joe would be a great fit in Winnipeg. The prototypical non-playoff performer suiting up with a chronic non-playoff team. Go for it!

Bobo Lives!!!!!

Suspect Ford goes to either Sask. or Calgary (as a reserve in case Cornish's injury is worse than first thought)

I'd give Hamilton Watson and a 3rd rd. draft pick for Dyakowski. Does Obby Khan (33) have any gas left in his tank? What about Hammy's all-star centre that retired suddenly after being unprotected in the sub-draft? Hufnagel is also shielding at least one guy on one of Calgary's "lists" Time is precious. Time to cut bait with Whipper Watson and try to solve a critical problem area.

Game is already over. It will be closer than you might think. Stamps tend to take walkover games like this not very seriously. Still, pencil in a Calgary win.

Greaves is no surprise cuz O'Shea already told us he was out for weeks. Most folks glommed onto the #2 but it looks a bit more serious than that. Greaves was our best overall o-lineman. Hopefully, he's not out as long as I first suspected - 6 to 8 games. Watson is a chronic so his status will always be somewhat doubtful so I hope he's either traded for an asset or somehow regains his physical health. Legget is a real downer cuz it causes a number of defensive shifts. None of them make it as good as when he's playing safety.

Yeah, I know most of you are still inhaling the arrogance gas from a doormat team suddenly going 3-0 and finding itself ensconced in first place. Me, I'm still talking football and not insulting any other team's fanbase. Walters must simply do one thing and he must do it quickly. He must do anything to acquire sufficient players to protect his new best asset - Dr. Drew Willy. Dr. Drew is made of stern stuff. He's taking a beating, he's still getting up and he's still ticking. BUT FOR HOW LONG? I don't care if we've got to trade some quality team assets for another guy to help protect our #1 asset. Be it Peter Dyakowski from Hamllton (currently injured), bringing back the irrepresible Obby Khan for another kick at the cat or whatever. PROTECT FRIGGIN' WILLY. Trade out our #2 draft pick for next season. Trade Cory Watson. Trade Will Ford and Kuale. Trade neg. rights to Andy in Green Bay. If we keep trotting out our 3 inferior import OLs plus Morley we're gonna do ourselves a huge injustice. We're gonna get D. Willy hurt. What then my friends. Get it done Kyle. Get it done now sir!

Chamblin is becoming very doctrinaire. I saw some good things from the riders last nite. Despite their obvious lack of discipline they matched the Lions incredible ferocity in most respects. Even liked how their hulking OT, X-man Fulton tried to chase down the BC picker in the late stages. Shoulda been gassed but he was trying to the end. Rider o-line (best in league) met its match in a big, super-strong BC d-line and was unable to push them around. Didn't understand Cortez strategy in red-zone - ie. having Durant heave those huge rocket-launchers into the coffin corners....

You mean Rodawful....???

Remember how Jets 'tanked' their last few games (ie. winning) to lose a possible 6th draft pick (7th for sure). How far would Jets have had to really tank to avoid picking Ehlers with 9th pick in first round? My guess is that they would have had to have 5th overall to select another players. Didn't make a difference at 6, 7, 8 or 9 - Ehlers would have been their guy. Any other thoughts on this?

Hope they edit it. Alternatively, PVR it and run it past all the delays, Black babbling, etc.

Unfortunately, it seems like Watson will always be an iffy decision. Personally, if he was even 90% I'd get him on the roster, if not for anything else than to block Edmonton's fierce rush. Let him be a decoy when he releases. But he's really at peril when he catches the ball and tries to elude tacklers and then ends up in bad heaps. Goosen could probably fare at least as well as Howard but the main problem is he'd lose confidence getting whipped by bigger/stronger defensive guys. O'Shea knows that and is trying to avoid the problem. According to TSN 1290, Donovan Alexander was a late scratch for yesterday's game. He's got the same problem as Watson. Guys in their late 20s who just can't seem to get healthy....

Hunger makes cowards of us all . . .

Too bad Bob can't state publically what he really thinks about Rod Black.

Toth is a Super clown. Kelly Moore (who's not that much younger than Irving) will probably draw in as sports director. CJOB still think they have a sniff of getting Jets hockey radio rights back. They don't. Right now they're trying to stave off TSN from getting the football rights in 4 years.

I think the reason you hold back the goose is mainly you don't want him exposed to mass failure this early in his career. O'Shea is obviously protecting the 21 yr old rook. And yeah, Goose might be a bit better than Howard at this point but Howard is a disposable import. Once his 2, 3 or 4 game run is over - he'll be released and Greaves will draw back in. But bombers are paper thin in reserve talent on their o-line (not just canucks, imports too)

1. Too obvious to most - discipline/penalties - O'Shea will address. I think most of yesterday's rather large penalty total caused by Als putting pressure on us in most areas. We also put massive pressure on the Als and their response was an equal amount of penalties. Things evened out - they won't always! 2. Teague Sherman - looked a bit slow. I joked he was slower than wood but generally he wasn't even in position to whiff a couple times. Just got whupped by speed. We definitely missed Sears up there on the mid-line. 3. Cordero Howard - the new bomber import guard looked to be in pre-season mode. Off-side, holding, the usual stuff a guy who's behind the beat usually does. Don't know if Bombers can survive another week without Greaves in the position - but Greaves is definitely out next week. Who knows how long after. O'Shea and o-line coach Wylie don't have full trust in Goosen yet and Swiston is brutal so it looks like Howard goes another week. (which prevents Romby Bryant and his speed from drawing into lineup) 4. D. Washington - this man is a great football player. But trying to stretch a 4 yard return loss into a 2 yard return loss isn't very smart, especially when you refuse to protect the ball. Typical burner type guy who things his 4.5 speed can outrun 4.6 to 4.7 guys who also have the angle on him. Woods may not be as explosive or able to absorb small hits and remain upright but he's reliable. 5. O'Shea Coaching Blunder - no I'm not talking about the 2 point convert attempts I'm talking specifically about the decision to gamble in own territory on 3rd and long one in first half. His o-line was barely getting enough push to get a foot, let alone a full yard. This needs to be addressed. But O'Shea does so many things really well on the sideline. I still give him a B+ for his overall coaching last night. But gambling when you're almost guaranteed to fail is not always a good idea.

Kane can skate like the wind, has a hard shot and plays physical at times but the lack of any kind of development in the minors and adding pieces to his NHL tool-kit have really hampered his progression Yeah, he did score 30 goals as a 20 year old. But so what, does that put playoff appearances on the board? I think there's a real cat 'n mouse game going on with Evander right now. Chevy is furiously trying to peddle him (for Chevy furious means listening to offers and thinking about it before saying no to most) and Evander is covertly trying to get himself traded. The sad reality is that if Chevy can't get a decent offer he'll retain Kane on the Jets roster. If Kane continues his descent into mediocrity I suspect he'll have even less trade value next year than he does today!