In Case You Missed It

[Mr Dee]

After Week 10
Bye Toronto 

Donavan Bennett - Sportsnet
?‍? Bennett reminds us that Glenn was dumped...by Ottawa. Was this a form of sweet revenge?
-Glenn sends a message
The Als set a new season high in points in the 43-19 win and quarterback Kevin Glenn’s five touchdown passes tied a career high set in 2005.
Friday’s game served as a message to Ottawa from the 37-year-old. Glenn is often overlooked but he finds ways to succeed; his 94 career wins are tied with Doug Flutie.

*With NFL cuts heading north in the next couple weeks, no unit might be overhauled more in the CFL than the Argos secondary.

Cam Tucker@CamTucker_sport
#BCLions Wally Buono says it's his understanding DB Steven Clarke is done for the year. Wouldn't specify if it was an ACL. Surgery required.

?‍?It's not known whether or not Chris Jones is being considered for the Roughrider's Plaza of Honour at this time...

Josh Smith 3downnation
John Chick - Two sacks and a forced fumble against Sask. are what show up on the stat sheet, but No. 7 played like a man possessed the entire game, constantly getting pressure. Chick is now tied for the league lead in sacks with seven.

Gord Holder - Ottawa Citizen
Alouettes defenders sacked Burris and other Redblacks quarterbacks seven times in 38 dropbacks. That 18.4% sack rate illustrated the collective struggles of the offensive line.

Steve Milton - Hamilton Spectator
The Ticats went 10-1 in their first 11 regular-season games at Tim Hortons...
But since, and including, the game against Edmonton last September when Collaros tore his ACL, the Ticats had won just one of six regular-season games at Tim Hortons Field before they disemboweled Saskatchewan Saturday night. 
Brandon Banks leads the league with 1,437 combined yards, 270 more than No. 2 Chris Raine

Ed Tait
“The sky’s the limit with this group,” said Stanley Bryant. “It’s been a long time here and I feel like this is the group that can turn it around. And I’m not just saying that because we’re on a three-game winning streak and are just doing what we’re expected to do.”

The Bombers didn’t just finish their last game (the win in Toronto) without giving up a sack. They took it one step further.
“I’d love to keep that going every week. That’s the first time maybe in my life at any level of playing a game and not getting hit.” - Matt Nichols

Rob Vanstone - Regina Leader-Post
On Aug. 31 of last year, one day after Saskatchewan’s record dropped to 0-9, Reynolds cashiered head coach Corey Chamblin and general manager/vice-president of football operations Brendan Taman. Chamblin and Taman were sacked even though they were under contract through 2017.
-Reynolds cannot throw Jones overboard. It would be too costly — even for a franchise with the Roughriders’ vast financial resources — and would essentially mean a vote of non-confidence in Reynolds by Reynolds.

?‍?Vanstone described the beat down by Hamilton as a 'nail-biter'. Yes, it was tongue-in-cheek.

Malcolm Kelly - CBC Sports
-Play-by-play man Chris Cuthbert said "wide open" in regards to Hamilton receptions so many times that we were wondering if this was a new defensive scheme by the Riders — lull the Cats into a false sense of security
-Calgary's defence allowed just 12 first downs, three field goals and shut out a pretty good offence the entire second half. Five of the Lions' last six drives were three and out. Stamps win season series 2-1. 

Justin Dunk - 3downnation
DeVone Claybrooks has done an outstanding job with Calgary’s ‘D’. In a league where passing numbers are on historic levels nearly half way through the season, the Stamps defence is allowing 65.1 percent of attempts against them to be completed, lowest in the league. 

?‍? I don't agree with Dunk, however, when he's touting how well Hamilton looked against Sask. "Orlondo Steinauer’s defence was fierce and opportunistic and the offence made the Riders pay for mistakes." Make no mistake, Collaros and Hamilton played mighty fine, but when he says "That’s the kind of victory that can start a streak.", ?‍?well it may be true, but that was against Sask, who, on that day, looked brutal. 
?‍?It remains a question for me as to who made whom look good or bad. Was it Hamilton that made Sask. look that bad? Or Sask who made Hamilton look that good? 

Matthew Cauz CFL
According to Benefits Canada, the average length of a CFL player’s career is 3.2 years. Last season the average age of a CFL player was 27.2 years and the average career length to kick off the 2015 season was 2.62 seasons

Gerry Moddejonge Edmonton Journal
The Eskimos, who are committing a West Division-worst 10.3 penalties per game, posted a season-low six penalties for 76 yards against Toronto.

Mathew Bin's Headline in lastwordonsports.com : "There’s Still Some Rope Left for Chris Jones"
One thing in Jones’ favour is that there aren’t many options around for CFL coaches. Also, there may be competition (Montreal) if there was.
And the CIS season is just getting under way, so you can't look there.
?‍?But the biggest reason?
"He may have been completely ineffective as a leader so far. He may not have made the best use of the tools at his disposal. But the fact is that money talked to get him on the Saskatchewan sidelines, and that money will continue to speak loudly for the rest of the season."

CFL Headlines
CFL official made some close (and correct) calls in NFL game: slam.canoe.com/Slam/Football

?‍?Good line by Terry Jones (who's thinking of changing the spelling of his last name) (jk) on several teams and team pictures :
There was no team picture planned for the Saskatchewan Roughriders Monday in Regina. 
The Riders probably didn’t dare take the team picture in case they had way too many players show up to be in it and incurred another $80,000 in roster violation fines and another $26,000 penalty to the salary cap.

The Riders were 0-8 out of the gate last year. Jones is 1-7. The defence was a mess last season, allowing 239 points in those first eight games. They’re up to 285 this year under acknowledged defensive genius Jones, who had the best defence in the league last year in Edmonton.

*When it comes to the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, I have to tuck into a heapin’ helpin’ of humble pie. - Graham Kelly - Medicine Hat News

Herb Zurkowsky
#AlsMTL announce signing of Canadian DB Hugo Lopez. This would be his fifth #CFL team I believe.

Lowell Ullrich Canadian Press
East Division teams have a combined 4-11-1 home record so far with no club having more than one win in friendly territory.

Bob Irving CJOB
Sports is BACK at 25 after the hour, mornings on 680 cjob??❤️
?‍?they never should have pulled it.

CFL.ca
Kevin Glenn, Zach Collaros and Patrick Watkins were named the Shaw CFL Top Performers of the Week for Week 9 of the CFL’s 2016 season.

CFL History
If only Albert Grey had been just a little faster, #CFL teams would be competing for the Allan Cup - (In 1909, both Lord Grey & H. Montagu Allan both wanted to donate a hockey trophy to the Senior Amateur Hockey Champion of Canada

?‍?Roughriders sign import  ?........and ............, release Canadian ?...............and import ?.........................
The new weekly fill and submit form for Chris Jones and the Riders...

Glen Suitor
Interesting perspective from @SeifertESPN The NFL is watching some of the CFL rule changes and innovations.

?‍?So, my question is, in relation to power rankings, should a team that won 1 game vault over two teams, that have a better record, just because they each lost their last game?
Example - Edmonton won their game vs Toronto and evened their record at 4-4. They're now powered up to #2 over BC 5-3 and Ottawa 4-3-1 Weird..

Jeff Hamilton - Wpg Free Press
For one hour before practice, and one hour after, the entire Winnipeg Blue Bombers offensive line meets to go over game film.
-Through the first five games of the season, Winnipeg’s O-line surrendered a league-worst 16 sacks. Since then, it has allowed just five in three games, including none against the Argos in a 34-17 win in Week 8.
See the article- http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/sports/football/bombers/blue-bombers-offensive-line-looks-to-continue-impressive-run-391117131.html.

Fan Poll CFL -    Samples
1) Will the Blue Bombers make the playoffs in 2016?
Yes - 42%
Yes, via crossover - 29%
No - 28%

2) What's the biggest reason for the Rider's struggles?
Coaching - 37%
Youth, new players - 35%
The defence - 14%
QB play - 7%
Other - 7

3) 62% voted that the Ticats are the best in the East Division

?‍?Waiting....
...waiting,
...............waiting, for the next Jones/Riders fiasco shoe to drop.

OK I posted this jest about 6:25 PT in a jest full manner. Then, 2 hours later, the Riders release another big free agent signing...John Chiles (after paying him a 30K signing bonus) SMH

Blue Bomber Talk
Big money Rider free agent additions:

Lemon: traded
Capicciotti: back-up
Chiles: released
Chambers: 27 YPG

Kirk Penton PostMedia network.

-Why don’t coaches go for two after every touchdown? Teams have been successful 58% of the time on two-point converts this season and 88% on one-point converts. Numbers don’t lie.
-Supreme Court cases have come and gone in less time it’s taking to figure out if Duron Carter should be suspended for one game. 

BY THE NUMBERS
1-3 – The record of home teams last week
30.3 – Average margin of defeat for home teams last week
43 – Players who have started on offence or defence for the Riders this season
270 – Combined yards lead for Ticats returner-receiver Brandon Banks

?‍?The Eskimos are posting upcoming home dates to watch their team until the end of the season, but specifically mentioning it will be their last chance to see Derel Walker, a CFL free agent at the end of the year, as they expect him to be NFL bound.

Blue Bombers
"With the depth we believe we have a number of guys that could step in without missing a beat." - Coach O'Shea
-"He's a professional. He has that same mindset in his preparation. That quarterback room is extremely close." - Coach O'Shea on Willy

CFL History
The Rouge, is so named as that is usually the color of an American's face after you try to describe to them the meaning of a rouge. #CFL ??

Gord Holder - Ottawa Citizen
the Redblacks. They lead the Canadian Football League in total penalties, opponents’ first downs by penalties, “preventable” penalties such as illegal procedure and “technical” penalties such as holding, and they’re tied for second in roughness penalties. 

With all the talk about the quarterback change in Ottawa, Calgary’s Bo Levi Mitchell says Henry Burris hasn’t ‘lost it’ (Scott Fisher, Calgary Herald).

Kyries Hebert, 35, is the second-oldest player on the Alouettes but is a crucial piece of Noel Thorpe’s defence (Herb Zurkowsky, Montreal Gazette).

Mike Beamish - the Province
Burris, now 41, is the league’s No. 3 all-time passing leader behind retired Anthony Calvillo and Damon Allen, and he seriously intends to play as long as Allen did. The latter was 44 in his final CFL season.

Hamilton Spectator
The Ticats have eight days between games this week, but face a stretch that will see them play three games in 12 days starting with the Labour Day Classic.

Mark Fulton 3downnation
Nine Points For Nine Weeks For Nine Teams

1)Scoring is up 6.5% over last year with scoring by offenses being up over 12%. Defensive scoring is down 21% over the same time period.
2)Net offence is up 9% over 2015. Touchdowns are being scored every 6.4 drives compared to every 7.9 drives in 2015 and 2014. That represents over a 24% improvement in efficiency.
3)Passing yards per game is up 16.7%% over last season and a whopping 29% over the recent low achieved in the 2014 season.
4)Not surprisingly, rushing yards per game are down 17.5% over last season.
5)Passing efficiency is up roughly 7.5% with sacks being down 6% and interceptions being down almost 24%.
6)BIG plays are up 21% over last year with BIG kick returns being up 36%.
7)While total turnovers are only down roughly 1% overall since last season, points off turnovers are down almost 8%.
8)Penalties are down a little over 5% versus last season. Yet, coach challenges are up an incredible 104.5% much to the consternation of fans & media and most likely the league itself.
9)The visitor has won 22 out of the 36 games played thus far in 2016. That’s a 37.5% increase in road wins over last season.

CFL News
Have we seen last of @HenryBurris in Ottawa? @Fan960Steinberg & @TSN_Marsh debate it cfl.ca/2016/08/24/ber… #CFL #Redblacks

Darian Durant now holds the CFL record for most consecutive pass attempts without an interception at 323.  That record won't last forever but for now, it belongs to Darian.  Ricky Ray has the next longest streak at 247.  ... 

John Hodge - 3downnation has compiled quite a list of Canadian players playing in the NFL, and with whom their playing rights up here in the CFL belong.
http://3downnation.com/2016/08/25/comprehensive-guide-canadians-former-cflers-nfl-training-camps/

 

?‍?I was just reminded on the CFL pre-game show, about the guy who was taking his seat at an Ottawa home game. He had to pass 3 individuals, the Commissionaire of the CFL , the Prime Minister, and Russ Jackson. He ignored both Orridge and Harper, but stopped to shake Jackson's hand. That's a memory. 

?‍?Marcel Desjardins was wiped out on the sidelines by a player during the game. Duron Carter was nowhere to be seen...

CFL.ca
-The oldest team in the CFL is Montreal, who have an average roster age of 28.1. The youngest teams are Saskatchewan and Ottawa, who have an average roster age of 27.
-41% of players on Week 9 club rosters were either in their first or second year in the CFL. 

CFL-wide field goal percentage from Weeks 1-5 totalled 74.4%. However, from Weeks 6-9 kickers are 86.5% (83/96). 
-Paredes has increased his streak total to 23 consecutive field goals
-Edmonton’s Sean Whyte leads the league with a field goal success rate of 91.7% (22/24) and currently has a streak of nine straight field goals made. ?‍?(The misses were from over 50 yards)
-Justin Medlock owns the longest kick of the season at 58 yards. That ties the fifth-longest field goal made in CFL history.
-Richie Leone, BC, finished 1-2 in the Ottawa game but is a brutal 17-26 for the year. He has however, kicked 13 successful converts. (None in the Ottawa game as they only went for 2 point conversions. 2-3 

?‍?BC got 4 sacks -Alex Bassie got 2 to lead the CFL with 8
Ottawa recorded 6 sacks.

?‍?Richie Leone had 7 punts for 383 yards
Medeiros also had 7 punts for 272 yards 
Can you say huge field position advantage for BC?

?‍?BC owned the TOP with 36:31 to Ottawa 23:29

?‍? BC had 128 yards rushing to 52 for Ottawa.
Chris Rainey was the player of the game, leading the BC offence with 182 all-purpose yards.
Jonathon Jennings has yet to lose two games in a row as a starter in the CFL, and completed 23 of 31 of his attempts for 289 yards and one touchdown.

Ham. Spectator
Former Ticats defensive back Quinton Pointer, released by the team on Thursday, has signed with the Toronto Argonauts.

John Hodge 3downnation
-Winnipeg, now 5-4, are over .500 at the midway point of the season for just the third time since 2008.
-credit the o-line The Bombers have now allowed just six sacks in Nichols’ four starts after allowing 16 in Drew Willy’s five.
-Winnipeg committed fifteen penalties in Montreal — almost double their season average — for a whopping 151 yards.
-Speaking of turnovers, Winnipeg has now forced eighteen turnovers in their last three games. As of week nine, four teams had recorded fewer takeaways all season (Saskatchewan, 11; Ottawa, 12; B.C., 15; Edmonton, 17). That’s spectacular.

-Taylor Loffler’s first quarter sideline hit on Duron Carter revealed some intriguing insight into the inner workings of the Alouettes. Bear Woods leapt off the bench immediately after Carter took the late hit, a normal response given the nature and location of the hit. What surprised me about Woods’ reaction, though, was that he didn’t approach Loffler like most players would in that situation. Instead, Woods walked by Loffler to grab Carter around the waist, pulling him away from the scrum. Clearly, Woods suspected Carter would draw an unnecessary roughness penalty in retaliation and didn’t want his hot-headed teammate to cost his team fifteen yards. Ironically, 13-year veteran Kyries Hebert drew a roughness penalty just seconds later.

-Things change quickly in the CFL, but rookie Taylor Loffler is playing like the best safety in the league right now. The 2016 third round pick has 22 tackles, a forced fumble, and two interceptions through four starts this season, all Winnipeg victories. Loffler has yet to be beaten deep this season and has consistently provided excellent run support. The going rate for starting national safeties is $175,000 right now in the CFL — considering the Bombers have the UBC product under contract through 2018 at less than half that annual value, Kyle Walters should be doing cartwheels in his office.
http://3downnation.com/2016/08/27/bombers-extend-winning-streak-montreal-14-thoughts/

 

?‍?Is Noel Thorpe inching closer to becoming HC of Montreal?
?‍?Rookie QB Cody Fajardo, Toronto, has a shoulder injury and he’ll be out anywhere from four to six weeks with a strained joint.

Gary Lawless - the Rouge
Many people want to call the move outdoors to BMO a flop, but it’s far too early to evaluate the move. It took decades to drive the Argos into near obscurity in Toronto and rebuilding the brand and buzz isn’t a six-month endeavour. 

A la Derek Taylor
13 per cent
The percentage of snaps Winnipeg quarterback Matt Nichols has been under pressure this season — the lowest rate in the league. Mitchell is second at 17 per cent.

12.3
The number of plays per missed tackle by the Stampeders defence this season, making them the surest tacklers in the league. Calgary is also allowing a ludicrously low 3.6 yards per pass attempt when they get pressure. As they showed the Lions, that defence is a nightmare.

51
The number of receptions without a drop made by Alouettes wideout Nik Lewis. With those sure hands, it’s no wonder he’s been around long enough to move into sixth on the all-time receptions list.

Calgary Stampeders
Quick Fix: Stamps have won 5 games in a row & are unbeaten in 7 = longest winning & unbeaten streaks in #CFL this season #WhateverItTakes
?‍?Of all the information put out there, this is one I can about the least.

?‍?does the Bomber game count as Carter's suspension....cause he really wasn't in it?
?‍?15 penalties for 151 yards and losing the time of possession battle. But...
?‍?Hmm, 5-4 record. Hey, didn't we win 5 games all last year? 

?‍?According to numbers posted by Penton, in the last half of the season, for the last 8 years, we have only had an over .500 record, once.

Dave Campbell CHED radio
Former #Eskimos DE Willie Jefferson has been waived by the Washington Redskins. Can be claimed by another NFL team in next 24 hours. #CFL

Gary Lawless
David Foucault cut by Panthers today was drafted by @MTLAlouettes in 2014. They own rights if he elects to come to @cfl #cfl at some point

Rod Pedersen
At 34, Durant has gone on record as saying he wants to play 10 more seasons.

?‍?Bombers
Ed Tait
It’s so much fun out there. So much fun,” said Maurice Leggett, 

6/33: The Bombers forced six more Alouette turnovers – four interceptions, one fumble once on downs – and now have 33 at the midway point of the season. Just to put that number in perspective, Winnipeg had 38 takeaways all of last year.
The Bombers now have four games this season with six turnovers.

12: Interceptions by the Bombers in their last three games, all wins.
It’s three? I lost count. I just go out there and play, man, and keep making plays. And little brother Fogg… he’s not. I think he’s jealous.” – Bomber linebacker Maurice Leggett on his fifth interception, and third returned for a TD. Leggett and Fogg have a friendly interception total battle going, FYI.

Out scored 15 -0 in the 4th Q
Montreal has now been outscored 79-30 in the fourth quarter this season.
Penalties 14-146 Bombers.... 13-133 Mont.

?‍?this just in...

CFLNews - RT .@joeyalfieri
#Alouettes have added WR Seydou Junior Haidara. Former 2nd round pick of #BCLions. Played at Laval. #CFL #AlsMTL

?‍?Interesting news and views coming out of the post-game show on CJOB
It was discussed, between Medlock and O'Shea, that because of the swirling wind conditions, that Medlock did not feel comfortable with kicking FGs over 50 yards.

Blue Bomber Talk

Looks like LB Andy Mulumba (2nd overall pick of the 2013 #CFL draft) has survived the first round of cuts in Kansas City. #Chiefs #Bombers

Finally
*Thou shalt not gaze too far ahead at thy schedule. Mike OShea 'commandment.'

Love the fact that Bob Wylie? treated the hogs to steak dinners at 529 Wellington recently to celebrate the zero sack performance against Toronto.
*As tweeted by Couture and Goosen

Toronto plays 2 games in Week 11, the 1st against BC on Wednesday, the 2nd on Monday for a total 5 games in Week 11 
BC gets the bye on the weekend.

[Noeller]

The Wylie supper at a 529 Wellington, as I understand it, is a promise made by him for when the OL achieve 3 things in one game:

1) 0 sacks

2) 100yds rushing 

3) Win the game 

 

Neat thing for them to do at any rate... 

[Mr Dee]

More...from week 9 - Remember, this is what other GMs, Coaches and CFL staff are saying...off the record.

Kirk Penton

THE INSIDER After Week 9
-We respect (Mike) Reilly and (Zach) Collaros. They’re tough to play against, but Bo Levi Mitchell is the best player in our league and he’ll prove it again this week against the Ticats ...

-It doesn’t matter who plays quarterback in Ottawa if they are going to give up seven sacks like they did last week ... 

-It would really help us if Saskatchewan upsets Edmonton, but that’s like the odds of buying a winning lottery ticket ... 

-Edmonton is still there with the Stampeders until they play heads up, and the Ticats have the ability to make a move to the top of the league with Collaros back ...

-I have to admit Nichols is starting to impress me. The Bombers can win with that guy ...

-Young coaches learn the hard way. I did when I was a young coach. Leaving Reilly in the game with a big lead like that in the fourth quarter was foolish ...

-Home-field should be the difference on Sunday in Calgary. They’re two good teams. If the Stamps have a balanced offensive attack, keeping (Jerome) Messam in check is key if the Ticats are going to win ...

-Looking ahead, this is what scares me: Winnipeg is already pretty decent. If they dump salaries like (Drew) Willy, (Weston) Dressler and (Ryan) Smith in the off-season, they can add two or three more really good free agents with all of that cap space. I’m telling you, the 2017 Bombers may be up there with the best teams in our division ...

-(Charleston) Hughes is the best pass rusher from the outside in our league and (Almondo) Sewell is the best from the inside ...

-We play Toronto one more time and Ray will probably get hurt again before then. I hope (Logan) Kilgore is starting against us. He isn’t a CFL starter. (The Argos) blew it when they lost Trevor Harris ...

-That little returner in Calgary (Roy Finch) killed us. (Brandon) Banks gets all the publicity, but I’m telling you (Finch) hits it hard every return. Banks only does it when he sees a crease. If he doesn’t see it, he either goes laterally or he goes down pretty quick and avoids taking a big hit ...

-It’s not only the quarterback situation that is the problem in Toronto. There’s been injuries to their wide receivers, their O-line has given up some key sacks, and their return game has evened out after a fast start ...

-I don’t know about all that marketing (bleep), but I know the Argos are 1-4 at home. If they don’t win and keep getting (bleep) for crowds, somebody is going to get fired over there.

 

[Noeller]

Love that someone's calling out Brandon Banks for being a *****. I love to see guys who you just know are cocky assholes get called down by their (sort of) peers...

[bearpants]

14 hours ago, Mr Dee said:

-Looking ahead, this is what scares me: Winnipeg is already pretty decent. If they dump salaries like (Drew) Willy, (Weston) Dressler and (Ryan) Smith in the off-season, they can add two or three more really good free agents with all of that cap space. I’m telling you, the 2017 Bombers may be up there with the best teams in our division ...

 

I'm really curious to know who thinks this is a good idea... cutting Willy (unless he takes a major pay cut) makes sense... even Dressler if the injury problems continue... but I don't imagine cutting Smith unless something drastically changes with him...

[ddanger]

42 minutes ago, bearpants said:

I'm really curious to know who thinks this is a good idea... cutting Willy (unless he takes a major pay cut) makes sense... even Dressler if the injury problems continue... but I don't imagine cutting Smith unless something drastically changes with him...

I can't see the Bombers cutting Willy...just too risky if something happens to Nicholls. A pay cut for sure. Dressler and Smith?? I'd keep Dressler, but I just haven't seen enough of Smith to form an opinion. Therefore, I can live with releasing him.

[bearpants]

6 minutes ago, ddanger said:

I can't see the Bombers cutting Willy...just too risky if something happens to Nicholls. A pay cut for sure. Dressler and Smith?? I'd keep Dressler, but I just haven't seen enough of Smith to form an opinion. Therefore, I can live with releasing him.

this was all off-season speculation....

[Valderan_CA]

22 hours ago, Noeller said:

The Wylie supper at a 529 Wellington, as I understand it, is a promise made by him for when the OL achieve 3 things in one game:

1) 0 sacks

2) 100yds rushing 

3) Win the game 

 

Neat thing for them to do at any rate... 

If that's the case they came damn close to getting treated two weeks in a row.... might get expensive for Wylie

[Mr Dee]

CFL.ca Game Notes - Prior to Week 11

-Coaches’ Challenges: The Canadian Football League Board of Governors approved a Rules Committee recommendation to amend the Coaches’ Challenge rule eliminating the so-called ‘free’ first challenge. CFL Week #10 was the first post-rule change set of games and there were 7 in total with 5 resulting in overturned initial rulings.

-Away wins update: At this point in 2015, home teams had won 25 of 40 games for a .625 win pct. In 2016, that mark has turned around almost exactly with road teams on top at 24-15-1 .613. This time it is home teams with just 15 wins through 40 games. Only one club is above .500 at home in 2016 (Calgary at 4-0).

-Cross-over position at half-way through 2016: If the playoffs started this week, the West would again take the third and final East Division playoff spot. Winnipeg and Edmonton both sit at 5-4, one win more than 3rd place Hamilton. West Division teams have won 7 of the last 8 inter-divisional games dating back to August 11th when Edmonton beat Montreal 23-12.

-Rene Paredes: Made all 5 of his field goal attempts last week and now has two records ahead of him that loom large including the most attempts and made field goals in a single season. In 2016, Paredes had made 32-of-36 attempts after 9 games and thus is on pace for 72 FG attempts and 64 makes, the latter well ahead of the single-season mark of 59 listed below.

-All-time Highest QB Win Pct.: With Calgary’s win last week, Bo Levi Mitchell moved up to 35-7-1 as a starter, including a 16-3-0 mark at home. His .826 win percentage as a starter is #1 all-time in league history. Min. 40 starts

-6 on pace for 100: There are six players among the league leaders in defensive tackles that are on pace for 100. The highest number in any previous season came just last year with four at 100+ (A.Bighill, J.Knox Jr, W.Venable & K.Bass).

-Mike Reilly 3000+ after 9 games: With 253 yards passing last week, Reilly reached the 3000-yard passing mark at the half-way point (3,096). He is the first passer to hit 3,000 yards after 9 games since 1996 when Doug Flutie had 3,219 (Of Note: Anthony Calvillo had only 2,979 in 2004 before taking off to finish with 6,041, and 2,974 in 2003 through 9 games).

[Mr Dee]

CFL Blitz - Kirk Penton Aug 31 (excerpt)
INSIDERS SAY

CFL coaches and managers give their anonymous thoughts on what they’re talking about behind closed doors:

-OK, I’m biased, because we needed Calgary to lose in our division. Them winning is bad for us. But if I was Hamilton, I would be (bleeping) pissed about the officiating in that game. I saw the stats and Hamilton had three times as many penalties as Calgary. Three (bleeping) times more. Look, we know they can justify throwing flags on every play. There’s always something. But to call 15 or 16 on one club with only three or four on another. That’s (bleep) ... 

-Edmonton’s going to sweep Calgary ... 

-What did I think about those live mics? I hated it. Too much information can get out. I’m just a dumb coach, but I can tell you how to market our game better. Throw fewer flags and let’s get rid of all of this challenge delay (bleep) ... 

-Most underrated players in our league? (Ian) Wild is one for sure. He has great football instincts. (Luke) Tasker down in Hamilton is another one. He’s really a great route runner ... 

-I don’t do much with the neg list, but my guy told me he thinks Montreal has the worst group of prospects if you look at all nine teams ... 

-So, I can only pick four? The best four receivers in our league, including one Canadian? (Adarius) Bowman and (Duron) Carter. Those two are the hardest for us to defend against. Then I’ll go with (Naaman) Roosevelt in Saskatchewan. My Canadian would be Shawn Gore. He really jumps out on film this year ... 

-If B.C. doesn’t do something about their field-goal kicking, they won’t get a home playoff game in our division ... 

-CFL.ca has too many milleniannls, or whatever they call themselves, from Toronto writing about our league. Most of them think the world stops at the Ontario border. They think being controversial makes them smart. Well, who gives a (bleep) if Matthew Cauz isn’t sold on the Bombers? How many times has he worn a jock strap?

PENTON’S PREDICTION

Illegal contact will not be reviewable next season. The coaches have gone and ruined the spirit of the rule, and fans have had enough of the long delays. The league, therefore, will likely act in the off-season and eliminate this challenge, which is too bad.

BY THE NUMBERS

97 – Coaches’ challenges so far this season
102 – Coaches’ challenges during the entire 2015 season
4-0 – Calgary’s home record
11-24-1 – Combined home record of the league’s other eight teams

^*^In an “only in the CFL moment” relayed by Bombers communications boss Darren Cameron, a couple of Bomber fans were waiting to shake head coach Mike O’Shea’s hand after last Friday’s game in Montreal.

When O’Shea found out the two men were waiting outside the locker-room, he instead invited them into the locker-room, where he was meeting with quarterbacks coach Buck Pierce. O’Shea offered the fans a couple of beers, and they shot the breeze for an hour.

Can you imagine something like that happening in the NFL? Not a chance. That’s what makes the CFL so great, and kudos to O’Shea for giving those two Bombers fans an experience they won’t soon forget.

http://www.torontosun.com/2016/08/30/cfl-blitz-parity-reigns-at-halfway-point-of-2016-season