Testing Our Mettle: Eskies Coming Here

[Arnold_Palmer]

7 hours ago, Noeller said:

Word is Brandon Alexander back practicing. Dressler was at practice, in gear, but not actually participating...

As long as Dressler is in the line up for when we play the Rough Riders is all that matters. Can't wait to see him torch that defense on labour day

[BigBlue]

http://edmontonjournal.com/sports/football/cfl/edmonton-eskimos/cfl-edmonton-eskimos-ottawa-redblacks-5-things

Calling it a perfect start to the season is somewhat misleading.

Yes, the Edmonton Eskimos are winning games, but they are also losing players to injury week in and week out makes their formula for success unsustainable. Still, the results, so far, speak for themselves as the Eskimos sit in first place at 7-0 to match their second-best start to a season in franchise history, dating back to 1961.

And win No. 7 came in the same place they last lost, having fallen to the Ottawa Redblacks at TD Place Stadium in the 2016 East Division final. This time, the Eskimos won 27-20 to sweep the season series and mark a run of 12 wins in their last 13 regular-season games since head Jason Maas got off to a 5-7 start as their head coach.

Here’s what we learned from Thursday’s win.

1. Borrowed time

With two more starters getting hurt, it’s getting more and more difficult to shake the feeling these Eskimos are playing on borrowed time. That line was cut and pasted from last week’s things we learned. This time, it was the defensive line’s turn on an injury carousel that began twirling after opening day of training camp. At this point, it’s spinning out of control, with perennial all-star defensive tackle Almondo Sewell and defensive end Marcus Howard going down with what head coach Jason Maas referred to as “devastating” injuries.'

 

2. Seeing red

How can a team that dominated in time of possession by 12 minutes, led by nearly 200 yards of net offence and nine first downs while actually getting penalized less yards than the opposition for once, still let the game be decided on the final play? One big reason is because for as good as Edmonton’s offence moved the ball downfield, they had trouble finishing in the red zone, scoring just one touchdown in four tries. Of course, the opening drive saw them cruise right through the final 20 yards thanks to a 35-yard touchdown catch by running back LaDarius Perkins. So, there’s that.

3. Big boot

Hugh O’Neill has been lights out since taking over for injured kicker Sean Whyte. After going six-for-six between the uprights these last two games, it took a 49-yarder on his final attempt Thursday to miss his first field goal. While it meant the opposing offence had one more chance to tie things up in the final minute, it almost seemed predetermined this would be another game to go right down to the wire anyway. And besides, O’Neill had just come up with a coffin-corner punt that pinned Ottawa on their one yard-line, leading to a two-and-out that gave Edmonton the ball back in Ottawa territory for the winning touchdown drive.

4. Well received

An Eskimos offence without star receiver Adarius Bowman or team-leading pass-catcher Brandon Zylstra hasn’t missed a beat. A big reason for that has been the efforts of Bryant Mitchell, who posted his second straight 100-yard game Thursday catching all seven passes thrown his way for 114 yards. Kenny Stafford’s shown he hasn’t lost a step with a 70-yard catch. With rookie Duke Williams a healthy scratch and three Canadian receivers starting for the first time this season, veteran slotback Chris Getzlaf came up with his first touchdown of 2017 on the game-winning drive. Shamawd Chambers also played his first game in green and gold since the 2015 Grey Cup.

5. Arm and legs

It was the Mike Reilly of old, using both his arm and legs to help track down close to 500 yards of net offence. While he had 384 yards through the air on the way to a club record 17 straight games with a touchdown pass, his contribution of 51 yards on the ground matched that of running back Perkins. While it was the most Reilly’s run in a game since the 2015 Grey Cup, it had to leave his coaching staff wincing all 11 times he scrambled. The last thing they need with the injuries this team has suffered this season is to have a replay of Reilly going down like he did in that 2015 season opener. Then again, the Eskimos didn’t get to 7-0 by having their on-field general play cautiously.

 

[Atomic]

Thank you for correcting the thread title

[Mark H.]

22 minutes ago, Atomic said:

Thank you for correcting the thread title

It seemed there were no more jokes forth - coming...

[Guest J5V]

3 hours ago, Arnold_Palmer said:

As long as Dressler is in the line up for when we play the Rough Riders is all that matters. Can't wait to see him torch that defense on labour day

Maybe they'll put Carter on him. 

[do or die]

Lets test their mettle.....

[bearpants]

12 hours ago, BigBlue said:

Edmonton's 7 wins:

+3  BC 30-27

+4  Montreal 23-19

+2  Ottawa 23 -21

+3  Hamilton 31-28

+11  BC 37-26

+5  Hamilton 33-28

+7  Ottawa 27 -20

Impressive? I dunno

 

Impressive margin of victory?.... not particularly...

Impressive that they've consistently found ways to win?.... absolutely...

[Mark H.]

8 hours ago, do or die said:

Lets test their mettle.....

And win a metal medal...

[JCon]

8 hours ago, do or die said:

Lets test their mettle.....

8 minutes ago, Mark H. said:

And win a metal medal...

Let's meddle in their unbeaten streak!

[BigBlue]

2 hours ago, JCon said:

Let's meddle in their unbeaten streak!

winning streaks are notoriously difficult to maintain .... besides we are the first top 3 team the Esks have met this year  (I am not counting the BC Pussycats as a top 3 team right now - they have noy beaten anybody tough yet)

I think we win on talent plus team spirit

[Mike]

4 minutes ago, BigBlue said:

winning streaks are notoriously difficult to maintain .... besides we are the first top 3 team the Esks have met this year  (I am not counting the BC Pussycats as a top 3 team right now - they have noy beaten anybody tough yet)

I think we win on talent plus team spirit

I guess that blows your logic that we are a top 3 team out of the water then. 

[BigBlue]

1 hour ago, Mike said:

I guess that blows your logic that we are a top 3 team out of the water then. 

yup .... thats the metal tester for both of us .... I am assu,img we win to make the top 3