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ICYMI WEEK 13 Bye - Winnipeg Santos-Knox - “The Banjo Bowl was everything they described and even more. The atmosphere was amazing, the fans were amazing. It was just a great time.” Ed Tait - Moe Leggett numbers to munch on: In the last six games since he returned from injury, he has 25 tackles, three sacks, one interception for a touchdown, three forced fumbles and a punt-return TD. -Clarence Denmark’s two TDs last Saturday gave him 14 scores in his last 21 games since returning to the club. He now has 30 receiving TDs, tying him with Gerald Wilcox on the Bombers all-time list. And more on the receiving front… Andrew Harris pulled in another five receptions for 26 yards in the win over the Riders. He now has 69 this year – just two shy of the Bomber record of 71 set by Robert Mimbs in 1991 – and still on pace to break the CFL record for receptions by a running back, 102, From last week -USports - Guelph 82 Windsor 10 The #Esks have open tryouts coming near the end of the month. Former #Riders DB Justin Cox hit with two assault charges 3downnation.com/2017/09/11/for… #YQR #Saskatchewan #CFL CFL News - While white stripes would remain on #CFL ball, the new balls would essentially be an NFL football with a CFL logo on it. - @JDunk12 Blue and Gold CFL - On TJ Heath While Chris Randle tightened up his coverage after last week’s poor performance, Heath couldn’t do the same. Heath was responsible for Naaman Roosevelt during his 75-yard touchdown and was beat every time that he was targeted. Heath held Roosevelt to only four catches, but gave up a few big plays – 111 total yards against the Bombers’ DB. ?‍?Hmm... sounds harsh if correct Rob Vanstone - Nichols had frequently been forced to check down to shorter passes during the Labour Day Classic, in which only 27.1 per cent of Winnipeg’s throws travelled 10 yards or more. In the rematch, by contrast, a whopping 60 per cent of Nichols’ throws were in 10-plus territory. The previous high against Saskatchewan this season was 51.2. The average length of Nichols’ passes increased from 7.1 yards (Sept. 3) to 11.7 (Saturday). #BCLions hire long time defensive back Ryan Phillips as a regional scout in the Seattle area. Dave Naylor - Hearing that the @EdmontonEsks have brought-up Cdn receivers Shamawd Chambers and Cory Watson in trade conversations. May be cap-related. Dave Dawson - Chambers is making over 100 k this year, made 185 with #Riders and get this. Has **never** had a 100 yard game in his 6 year #CFL career. ?‍?After shopping Chambers and Cory Watson around, the Esks caught a fish… ? TRADE ALERT! ? @Ticats acquire WR @ShamawdChambers from @EdmontonEsks Trade Details ?➡️ on.cfl.ca/SHIt30fdPox Dicier Orméjuste - Andrew Wetenhall: "Frankly this team could make the playoffs and still no jobs would be safe." #Alouettes @LCFca (Then Chapdelaine and Thorpe were whacked) ?‍?Don't know how many saw/heard the 2nd Monday night football game, but I was wondering if you were as annoyed as I was with Beth Mowins. And her voice. To me, it just isn't a football voice/tone… Drew Edwards - According to TMZ.com former Calgary Stampeders and NFL defensive back Brandon Browner has been charged for allegedly making felony criminal threats against a woman. CFL News - “This is all about (Browning) having health issues” #Argos HC Marc Trestman #CFL via @Mike_Ganter CFL Headlines- Harris out 2-6 weeks, and no, Burris won't be back for Redblacks goo.gl/fb/RqdYMo #RNation #REDBLACKS NFL Update - Joe Thomas is 4 snaps away from 10,000 consecutive snaps. He's never missed a play since coming into the league in 2007. ?‍?Incredible. CFL News - Maas on his own outburst: “I just don’t agree with the call and that’s why you saw what I did." #CFL #Esks via @GerryModdejonge - "I got a 10-yard penalty for it, it was at the end of the half so did it matter? No.” - #Esks Jason Maas #CFL via @GerryModdejonge ?‍?Point missed there Jason… Dave Naylor - Mid-season coaching changes rarely work in football (this ain't Hockey!!). But the @MTLAlouettes have done it 4 times in 5 years. #CFL #als Nic Lewis - If u thought my book was gonna be interesting before, just wait. I'm in full support of Kavis, Patrick, Bob and Andrew Wetenhall. #BirdLife ?‍?the third straight year Montreal has fired a coach mid-season. CFL News - People in #CFL think if Art Briles thing hadn't blown up, Manziel would have been a Ticat by Labour Day Monday - @TSNDaveNaylor #Ticats Mike Morreale - “I think if they were going to build a mould of the ultimate teammate it would be Mike O’Shea. There’s just no other way to put it,” Morreale said. “I’ll tell you what, I’ve never seen a more complete athlete in his preparation, his skillset, his intensity for the game,” Chad Folk, O’Shea’s Argonauts teammate told bluebombers.com. CFL.ca - Maurice Leggett: The Winnipeg defender accomplished something last week that had been done only three times before in the entire history of the CFL - making BOTH a kick return and a defensive return touchdown in the same game: Player Year Date. Team Oppt. Kick Return TD. Def. Return TD(s) Maurice Leggett 2017 Sep 09 WPG SSK. Punt return (97). INT return (54) Tristan Jackson 2008 Jul 10 EDM TOR. Punt return (61). INT return (89) Orlondo Steinauer 1999 Aug 05 HAM SSK. Punt return (35). INT return (40) James Jefferson 1987 Oct 04 WPG HAM. Punt return (58). Fumble return (28); INT rets (two on laterals) CFL News - "@CoachNoelThorpe called me, while I was in my car and I was in shock. He was surprised (about being let go)" - @dmaccoach #CFL #AlsMTL (Danny Maciocia) "I really do not need to go back to that stage of my life. Everything's going good here." - @dmaccoach #CFL #AlsMTL via @JdeMontreal Walby on the no-hit practices Walby is convinced that by eliminating practices in pads which ultimately eliminates contact between games the league is opening itself up to more injuries because guys will no longer be conditioned both to hit and be hit and that, Walby believes, will lead to more injuries. http://www.winnipegsun.com/2017/09/14/walby-feels-new-rule-will-hurt-not-help-cfl-players?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=twitter&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+feedrinse%2FRWsG+(Blue+Bombers+Channel) ?‍?Ticats’ Mike Jones not ready for prime time football…had a couple of rough games...hence the trade for Chambers. Dave Dawson - DB Emanuel Davis has averaged 104 yards against per game. Yes, averaged. #Ticats #Riders ?‍?There are a lot of things to celebrate in a football game. Finally getting a 1st down..in the 2nd quarter, is not one of them. Hello Hamilton. ?‍?Hey, if the Riders are happy with Bridge as their QB of the future, I'm ok with that. And for that matter, if the Ticats are happy with Mazoli as their QB of the future, I'm ok with that too.. ?‍?Ticats elect to throw the ball at the 1 yard line..to Banks? There are only 2 things wrong with this. 1st - throwing the ball. 2nd - throwing the ball to Banks… Leader-Post - A graduate of the South Alabama Jaguars, Bridge completed only 50.9 per cent of his passes as a collegian. There were also concerns about his mechanics, considering that his throwing motion is rather unorthodox. After Friday’s game, Bridge boasted CFL career stats of 70 completions in 101 attempts — a 69.3-per-cent accuracy rate — for 871 yards, with eight touchdown passes and two interceptions. His quarterback rating: An eye-popping 113.9. ?‍?Seeing MOS being interviewed live during the game reminds me that we now have a stable, even respected chain of command. We now leave it to other teams to have questionable decision makers.. ?‍?The choice of CFL players and fans alike… CFL News - Alouettes put QB Colin Kaepernick on negotiation list 3downnation.com/2017/09/15/alo… #CFL #AlsMTL via @JDunk12 Quick Fix: In 19 seasons in the CFL as a player, assistant coach & head coach, Dave Dickenson has never been on a team with a losing record ?Rob Tychkowski - Somebody tell the Eskimos that the CFL's no tackling rule only applies to practice Drew Edwards - Cancel all the padded practices you want, #CFL, if you aren’t going to find a way to penalize obvious headshots... Derek Taylor - Quick count of Roughing the Passer pens into this week: Nichols - 7 Durant - 5 Jennings, Collaros, Glenn, Ray - 4 Lulay, Reilly -3 Bo - 2 ?‍?BC Lions Micah Awe led with his helmet on 3 different tackles that I saw, but the hit to Messam was the worst, and should have drawn at least a 15 yard penalty. Exactly the kind of hit that has to be taken out of the game. That non-call was flAWEd. How is this not blatant enough? ?‍?Alex Singleton became the first player in CFL history to record 10-plus tackles in three straight games. Super jealous that Calgary nabbed him... CFL.ca - Across the CFL there have been 3,637 pass attempts made or about 37 per team per game. Of those 3,637 passes, 59% or 3 out of 5 are thrown in short range (8 yards or less downfield) while 16% (or 1 in 6) are thrown with receivers more than 20 yards downfield. The payoff has been great for deep throws however as 76 of the 161 TD passes (47% of them) have come on deep throws. -This season there have been an average of just 15.8 penalties per game. That is down by 11% from last year (17.8) and 23% less than the 2015 season which at 20.4 penalties per game was the most since 2004. -In spite of their two wins, the Ti-Cats have still not had a game this season where they have controlled the ball more than their opponents. They have yet to have more than 30:00 of Possession Time in any game this season. -Jovon Johnson: Has taken over the league-lead in Knockdowns with 10 and is on pace to match the CFL record of 18. Johnson has 4 Knockdowns in the last 3 games. -Teams are 39-for-66 (59%) on two-point converts this season. Ottawa leads the league with 10 successful attempts. -There have been 17 blocked kicks in 2017, more than in all of 2016 (15). -Game time is down, with an average length of 2:49 compared to 2016’s 2:51 and 2014’s 2:55. -Matt Nichols leads all QBs in QUAR rating with 89.5 and has separated himself from the QBs above 80. Reilly 84.4, Glenn is 83.8 and Mitchell is 83.3. Through Week 5 Nichols’ QUAR rating was 70.5 which ranked him seventh in the CFL. Since then, his QUAR rating is 95.4 and Winnipeg has gone 6-1. -Bye Weeks: Teams coming off a bye this year are now 7-4, including the Argonauts win. ?‍? Keep this up Bombers... -the average margin of victory is just 11.8 points, the lowest since 2001. Lowell Ullrich on Manny Atceneaux - “It also might be instructive to learn the man has been playing with a torn MCL for the better part of the last six weeks.” ?‍?Practice Pads for Sale. Contact Noncontact Paddie @ 111-555-6785 Montreal – The Montreal Alouettes announced on Sunday that the club has hired two new coaches who will help the team until the end of the current season. Kit Lathrop will coach the defensive line, while Ken Miller also joins the group as an offensive consultant. ?‍?Montreal played like a team possessed. And they were - by Ottawa. Ottawa 41 TOP to 19 for Montreal ?‍?Geez, do the Bombers have to play every week in order to inject some life/excitement in the CFL? Some dud games this week. WEEK 14 Ottawa @Winnipeg Friday Hamilton @ BC Lions Friday Montreal @ Toronto Saturday Calgary @ Saskatchewan Sunday

Week 13 bye week - BC CFL History In the 1923 Grey Cup, Regina lost to Queen's 54-0 (still a record). Like today, no one in Saskatchewan was sober enough to notice Didier Ormejuste The Alouettes are currently $300k over the salary cap. They have eight weeks to "fix" this problem. ?‍?This is the second time I've heard this quote and I so disagree with the way it's presented. "A Caleb Holley fumble when Saskatchewan was in position for go-ahead points led to the deciding Bombers touchdown." It was a Kevin Fogg strip that caused that turnover. It was not a fumble per se. It was a strip. Scott Milanovich I don’t see Drew as a project,” Milanovich said. “I see Drew as a bonafide upper tier starter. Now when and if that will be for us, I don’t know.” CFL History Most teams apply an 'us against the world' mentality, but seeing as it hasn't worked, Jim Popp has started an 'us against us' mentality #CFL Arash Madani Few #CFL coaches and front office execs are surprised with what's happening at Alouettes HQ. They say it's a ticking time bomb. Today, boom. Jeff Hamilton During my brief time in the Alouettes dressing room a couple weeks back it was clear Glenn was the leader. Also thought DC was a good dude. Scott Billeck Glenn asked if it’s good to be out of Montreal: “It’s good to be in Winnipeg.” #Bombers #Als #CFL - ?‍?Diplomacy... Bill Beacon - the Canadian Press It’s about respect,” a still-seething Cato said after he was brought back to speak to the media by Reed. “I may not know you from a can of paint, but I’m going to respect you every day. “That’s how I feel about life. I’m not going to just take BS from anybody. I just want to be treated as a man. Nothing less.” Neither Cato nor the receivers would say what exactly caused him to lose his cool late in the two-hour workout at Stade Hébert CFL Communications Week 12's average TV ratings were up 15% compared to Week 12 last season. #CFL 3downnation 'I'm just not gonna take BS from anybody' @MTLAlouettes QB Cato sounds off. #CFL #AlsMTL wp.me/p65Ld4-4JT Derek Taylor Consolation for @sskroughriders fans...@dariandurant has the most receiving yards among QBs this season! Gary Lawless be cool if Kroppy became #nhljets version of the Kate Smith anthems in Philly. On important game nights, incorporate Kroppy into anthem BC Lions Den People say they don't come because of a lack of atmosphere. How about you show up and contribute to that atmosphere? #BCLions #CFL Kirk Penton Speaking of the Alouettes, head coach Jim Popp told La Presse last week that he will not be head coach in 2017. -BY THE NUMBERS 14 – Home victories for the Lions over the Alouettes in the last 16 years 1,193 – Penalties called through Week 12 last season 1,087 – Penalties called through Week 12 this season 9.1 – Percentage drop in penalty calls this season Cool story On Labour Day Classic weekend a Regina family was in the ticket office hoping to buy ducats to the game, but they couldn’t afford them. Jonathan Newsome was walking through the office at the time, noticed the situation and bought them tickets. According to Pedersen, the fans broke down in tears. When the story got out and Newsome was praised online, he acknowled “I just couldn’t let the lady and her daughter leave without those tickets. It was only right. When your blessed, bless others Darrin Bauming Justin Cole has four sacks in six games this year. I don't think enough people are talking about the #Bombers rush end. @JColeWrld CFL Headlines Alouettes add quarterback Shane Carden bit.ly/2cwXDCP #CFL ?‍? Yeah, this is exactly what the Alouettes need at this time... Paul Friesen The Riders are on the verge of setting a CFL record. With seven games to go, they’ve already tied a league mark by dressing 84 different players this season (that record was set by Hamilton in 2013). Eric M Unclear if Bombers prefer either Cole or Green. They rotate every 2 snaps quite consistently and both play a similar, hybrid role. #CFL -Justin Cole played 39 defensive snaps in the LDC; 18 at LE (3 twists), 11 at RE (1 twist; 1 QB spy), 6 at MLB (2 bluffs w/ zone cov.). #CFL CFL Headlines Best, LaBatte likely done for the season bit.ly/2cAv0ED #CFL CFL.caStaff Trade winds: Following Winnipeg’s quarterback trades, here’s a look at the most significant in-season trades involving QBs: 1961 – Joe Kapp traded by Calgary to BC for Jim Walden and four other players 1974 – Hamilton traded Chuck Ealey to Winnipeg for Don Jonas 1974 – Peter Liske was traded by Calgary to BC for Karl Douglas 1983 – Maybe the most significant trade that involved two eventual Hall of Famers: Dieter Brock traded by Winnipeg to Hamilton in exchange for Tom Clements 1983 – John Hufnagel was traded from Saskatchewan to Winnipeg for Nickie Hall Sean Murray In 26 years of being a @Wpg_BlueBombers fan never once has a QB called to make sure I was ready for a game...until today! Thanks @qterback5 Duron Carter My tweets should be treated as more satire that anything else ??? Paul LaPolice...on Matt Nichols "I think (Matt Nichols) is a good fit because he's a good quarterback." CFL.caStaff Since the rule change to coaches’ challenges in Week 10, the average of challenges has dropped to 2.25 per game from 2.46. In the time since the change there has been 27 challenges with nine calls being overturned (33.3%) in 12 games. -Following last week’s overtime game between Calgary and Edmonton, five games have gone to an extra frame in the 2016 season. The CFL season record for overtime games in a single season is eight, set in 1992 and tied in 2002. -Since 2006 the CFL’s three highest-scoring seasons are: 2008 (56.2 points per game), 2010 (52.9) and 2016 (52.6). Since Anthony Calvillo’s last start 58 games ago, the Alouettes have used the following QBs to compile a 24-34 (.414) record: Josh Neiswander, Tanner Marsh, Troy Smith, Jonathan Crompton, Alex Brink, Rakeem Cato, Anthony Boone, Kevin Glenn, Brandon Bridge and Vernon Adams. Ticats.ca Montreal’s Red Zone defence is keeping the Alouettes in games. They have stopped 15 of the last 23 opponent Red Zone chances. Ed Tait - Blue Bombers.com The Bombers are 7-1 when winning the turnover ratio this year They are +23 in the turnover ratio, first overall (Calgary second at +13, Saskatchewan last at -18). Winnipeg has just 17 giveaways (second fewest to Calgary at 13) The 40 takeaways by the Bombers include 20 interceptions, 14 fumbles and six on downs. (Toronto is next with 29 takeaways). From those 40 takeaways, the Bombers have generated 100 points. Little wonder Chris Randle, who is likely to return to the lineup this week, said Tuesday he had never been a part of a defence like this. “Me, either,” said Bombers defensive end Jamaal Westerman. Those numbers are also emblematic of a defence that feels comfortable in its scheme and willing to be aggressive in making plays on the ball. It’s worthwhile here to put some of these numbers into perspective. The +23 ratio is impressive, given that the club record is +27, set in 1987. The CFL record, FYI, is +41, set in 1981 by the Grey Cup champion Edmonton Eskimos. Gary Lawless Hearing Henoc Muamba has turned his attention to @cfl #cfl. Price will be an issue with lots of team in salary cap hell ?‍?Nutty decision... 3downnation #CFL punts @JDunk12 & @rodpedersen from website. #Riders #Ticats #Bombers #journalism wp.me/p65Ld4-4Ko "I'm one of the happiest guys out there on game day... I don't take it for granted." - Matt Nichols Bob Irving Rod pederson is misunderstood--he is an entertainer who says outrageous things to stir the pot. Cfl.ca took him too seriously? carry on rod CFL Communications 7 penalties in tonight's @Ticats and @MTLAlouettes game matches the lowest combined single-game penalty total in the last 20 years. #CFL Quick Fix: The Stamps have turned the ball over a league-low 13 times in 11 games this season #CFLGameDay CFL game notes Q4/OT game-winning drives: BC’s Jonathon Jennings leads with 4, while Nichols, Mitchell and Mike Reilly have two each. The CFL began recording 2nd down conversion catches in 2009 and since then no player has matched Nik Lewis’ production. In 2016 he leads the CFL with 28 receptions for first downs on 2nd down plays – 39% of his 72 receptions have produced key first downs. Here is his record year-by-year making those clutch catches: 2016: 28 2015: 25 2014: 13 2013: 9 2012: 34 2011: 27 2010: 29 2009: 16 TOTAL: 156 2ND DOWN CONVERSION CATCHES - 2009 TO 2016: Nik Lewis 156 Andy Fantuz 141 Marquay McDaniel 127 Weston Dressler 143 Adarius Bowman 137 Edmonton is currently not in a playoff position at 5-7 in a season following their Grey Cup victory last year. The last Grey Cup winning team to not make the playoffs the following season was Edmonton in 2006. The Eskimos and Blue Bombers have been the toughest to return kicks against for long gains. Each has allowed only 4 long “big play” returns thus far with Winnipeg the #1 punt return cover unit. Winnipeg has allowed only a 7.7 yard average by opponents on punt returns; Edmonton’s strength is in kickoff coverage where they are #1 at just 18.5 yards by their opponents. Gary Lawless CFL is a unique league and needs passionate reporters. Critical and interested are not bad things. Rod will continue ranting, Dunk will dig. Paul Friesen Battle of the kickers so far has seen a 38-yd KO and a 12-yd punt. #Bombers Argos. ?‍?Ok, I think I follow this. McDuffie's last return touchdown was against the #Bombers in July 2014 with #Ticats, whose starter that day was Dan LeFevour. That's something. Scott Fisher -Calgary Herald Remember Chris Williams? You know, No. 80? The RedBlacks wideout ripped the Stamps apart in Ottawa (10 catches, 130 yards, three TDs). Stamps secondary coach Kahlil Carter said they had the plan this time. The result: one catch, four yards. Take a bow, Kahlil … Blue Bomber Alumni Good things come in threes ... Congrats to the @MBBisons @Wpg_BlueBombers & @WinnipegRifles! ?‍?Of note, according to Joel Gasson, the Sask offence is coming off a week where they went two-and-out a season-high nine times. John Hodge -3downnation The Bombers were stellar on short yardage versus Toronto, gaining a jaw-dropping 18 yards on four 3rd down short yardage situations. TSN1290’s Darrin Bauming reported that the Bombers made short yardage an area of focus in practice this week — clearly, the hard work paid off. Matt Nichols is now 9-5 as the starter of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers dating back to last year’s Banjo Bowl. He is two victories shy of Drew Willy (11) for quarterback wins on the Bombers’ all-time list. Weston Dressler proved again on Saturday afternoon that he’s still an elite receiver in the CFL, recording eight receptions on ten targets for 93 yards and drawing yet another long pass interference penalty. Dressler now has 659 receiving yards on the season, good for sixteenth in the CFL despite starting just eight games ?‍?-special teams was ...special. 22 points to start the game and keep the game in reach. 29-22. Then offence. Then defence. We had it all. I'm not sure if lead-foot Drew Willy could have provided 4 TD performance against our D 4 TDs by Saturday night? LeFevour. Pretty good. Blue Bomber talk - The #Bombers allowed 285 offensive yards in the first half, one week after allowing 288 net yards in the entire Banjo Bowl. #Argos #CFL Dan LeFevour has 4 TD passes in 35 minutes of action today. Willy & Nichols have a combined 12 TDs all season. #Bombers #Argos #CFL Messam, in his game, only ran for 35 yards. Unfortunately, Whitaker rushed for 108 and is now in 2nd place in rushing. Messam - 739, Whitaker - 700, Harris - 677 Darrin Bauming Matt Nichols went 11-of-12 for 109 yards and a TD in the second half. #Bombers "I can't say enough about Timothy Flanders... He pays such close attention to what the opponent is doing." - Coach O'Shea ?‍?Can the Bombers learn from what the Riders did against Edmonton on Sunday? According to Yahoo Sports writer Andrew Busholtz, the strategy was to have the two top DBs cover Bowman and Walker. Bowman got a lot of yards but no TDs, while Walker was held to 44 yards, Something to think about. But, 1st, let's take care of Calgary.. Next bye The newly-Coached? Montreal Alouettes.