First week of fall GDT: non-Bomber bye week games

[TrueBlue4ever]

11 minutes ago, greenrider55 said:

Hahaha. I see you arguing amongst, just thought I’d echo my happy sentiments

Cheers all. 

Enjoy your week of chanting “We’re number two, we’re number two!”  

[greenrider55]

1 hour ago, TrueBlue4ever said:

Enjoy your week of chanting “We’re number two, we’re number two!”  

I will! As you know, first place guarantees nothing… 2019 ring a bell?

I love this league.

[White Out]

5 minutes ago, greenrider55 said:

I will! As you know, first place guarantees nothing… 2019 ring a bell?

I love this league.

I do remember beating you guys in the West Final. Delightful. Thanks for the reminder

 

#2013

[greenrider55]

6 minutes ago, White Out said:

I do remember beating you guys in the West Final. Delightful. Thanks for the reminder

 

#2013

2013 was a good year. Is that supposed to be an insult? 

[Fox Creek AB Rider Fan]

That was a nice win  

[wpgallday1960]

1 hour ago, Fox Creek AB Rider Fan said:

That was a nice win  

You should be thanking BC and the football gods.  They gifted Sask the win. However,  Fajito did move the ball well especially on the last drive.

[bearpants]

I’m surprised there wasn’t a little more reaction to the final TD… the ref was right there so we’ll have to trust his call… but nothing I saw live or on replays showed Fajarso anywhere near the goal line… and when the pile got up he was a good half yard away from the line… didn’t see him reach the ball out or anything… seemed questionable but the ref made the call and it’s impossible to overturn based on the replays…

[Eternal optimist]

7 hours ago, SpeedFlex27 said:

So, you're saying we should fear them?? I think it's the other way around. I doubt if other teams want to play us. 

No, I am saying we should respect our opponent. BC is 4-3 but easily could also be 5-2 if they dont collapse...even 6-1 if Reilly starts the year healthy. 

Even though their D and Special Teams leave something to be desired, the game is in BC. Further, as we only play BC twice this year, a win there would really set us up nicely... We would then be leading (or have won) every season series against Western opponents.

[Dr Zaius]

Riders caught all the breaks and had the refs in their favor last night. 

That's the way it goes though, we were a gust of wind away from losing the Calgary game.

If I were a Riders fan I would be starting to worry about Fajardos ability to hit the long ball. He's awful. I think when playoffs roll around he's going to cost them. 

Edited September 25, 2021 by Dr Zaius

[Eternal optimist]

5 hours ago, greenrider55 said:

2013 was a good year. Is that supposed to be an insult? 

It was also the last time you won a playoff game against your own division.

[Mark F]

7 hours ago, SpeedFlex27 said:

Offensive line. 

wouldnt their o line improve if they ran more?

 

not like theres any big mystery about the game plan when mike(al) reiley is the qb.

pretty dumb..... two things you can do run, and pass.  do only one of them.

q.   does reiley just do what he wants?

[Geebrr]

1 hour ago, bearpants said:

I’m surprised there wasn’t a little more reaction to the final TD… the ref was right there so we’ll have to trust his call… but nothing I saw live or on replays showed Fajarso anywhere near the goal line… and when the pile got up he was a good half yard away from the line… didn’t see him reach the ball out or anything… seemed questionable but the ref made the call and it’s impossible to overturn based on the replays…

Surprised TSN even showed a replay 

[Fox Creek AB Rider Fan]

1 hour ago, wpgallday1960 said:

You should be thanking BC and the football gods.  They gifted Sask the win. However,  Fajito did move the ball well especially on the last drive.

I agree with you 

But a wins a win , maybe BC and the football gods will gift you a win next week😎

 

[17to85]

1 hour ago, Geebrr said:

Surprised TSN even showed a replay 

It just blows my mind that every other situation like that, even when McGuire is 3 yard into the endzone kn the plunge the refs delay the signal, but last night the arms were up before all the bodies even hit the turf. 

[JCon]

1 hour ago, Fox Creek AB Rider Fan said:

I agree with you 

But a wins a win , maybe BC and the football gods will gift you a win next week😎

 

We don't need gifts from sky fairies or refs to win football games. 

Edited September 25, 2021 by JCon

[johnzo]

you know, this week, I don't really care who won -- after the dull & dreary first half of the season, I'm just stoked to see a doubleheader of entertaining and competitive football. Hopefully this bodes well for the second half of the season.

So it looks like the Riders are the clear #2 team in the west, but BC is dangerous ... next week's game vs. the Bombers is gonna be a slobberknocker.  Wish I could go see it but alas next weekend is for other things.

[Mark F]

50 minutes ago, johnzo said:

west, but BC is dangerous ..

cant see this. they looked no better than average on d, and are a pass first, second, and last, on O.

 

and  reiley still wants to be the hero.  lol that guy, and his mother. who honestly cares. 

Edited September 25, 2021 by Mark F

[Tracker]

The Riders squeaked by the Lions, and it still counts as a win, but Fajardo got rocked multiple times due to a porous O-line. One of these times he isn't going to get up and be done for at least 6 games. Overall, though, both games were entertaining.

[Brandon]

3 hours ago, Dr Zaius said:

Riders caught all the breaks and had the refs in their favor last night. 

That's the way it goes though, we were a gust of wind away from losing the Calgary game.

If I were a Riders fan I would be starting to worry about Fajardos ability to hit the long ball. He's awful. I think when playoffs roll around he's going to cost them. 

The Riders will be perfectly fine... as long as opposing defenses give the old Richie Hall underneath cushions for Fajardo to hit those 8 yard passes.   

Those long balls were very iffy.  

[Bigblue204]

3 minutes ago, Brandon said:

The Riders will be perfectly fine... as long as opposing defenses give the old Richie Hall underneath cushions for Fajardo to hit those 8 yard passes.   

Those long balls were very iffy.  

Yeah its becoming clear that you need to force the riders to go deep. And BC is the opposite. Force them work the ball down the field.

[wbbfan]

9 hours ago, greenrider55 said:

I will! As you know, first place guarantees nothing… 2019 ring a bell?

I love this league.

If you aren't first your last. In 2019 the Bombers were the best team and injuries derailed things. Then we got healthy just in time. The riders at their best are handily behind the current banged up Bombers. 

[17to85]

35 minutes ago, Bigblue204 said:

Yeah its becoming clear that you need to force the riders to go deep. And BC is the opposite. Force them work the ball down the field.

Been clear for a while, but cfl teams are stubborn about that sort of thing.  

[greenrider55]

57 minutes ago, wbbfan said:

If you aren't first your last. In 2019 the Bombers were the best team and injuries derailed things. Then we got healthy just in time. The riders at their best are handily behind the current banged up Bombers. 

It still means nothing. The 2016 Stamps went 15-2-1 and didn’t win it all. 
 

The attitude, at least from some on this board, is that the Bombers might as well be guaranteed the Grey Cup because every team just isn’t even close to their level, but that’s why you play the games. 
 

 

[johnzo]

yeah, the 1989 16-2 Eskies were another team that owned the league and pooped out in the playoffs ... opening the door for the 9-9 Riders to win their second stripe.  I think 16-2 makes that team the best regular season team ever.

The 87 Bombers -- according to Cal Murphy, the best team he ever coached -- were cruising fat and happy at 12-6 until they inconceivably shat the bed in the eastern final. 

Of course, everyone remembers the agony of the 2001 Bombers.

More recently the Bombers have turned 7-1 (2011) and 5-1 (2014) starts into playoff heartbreak (no-playoff heartbreak in 2014's case)  I remember Swaggerville, and how Drew Willy was playing like Drew Brees for us and how quickly that bubble popped when he started getting hurt.

Regular season record means nothing when the temp gets low and the stakes get high.  I agree with folks here that the 2021 Bombers just seem way more fundamentally sound than those gimmicky / lucky 2011 and 2014 teams and that O'Shea is right to keep them focused on not being too proud to compete .... but they still gotta deliver the goods in the wintertime to get the trophy.

Edited September 26, 2021 by johnzo

[White Out]

57 minutes ago, johnzo said:

yeah, the 1989 16-2 Eskies were another team that owned the league and pooped out in the playoffs ... opening the door for the 9-9 Riders to win their second stripe.  I think 16-2 makes that team the best regular season team ever.

The 87 Bombers -- according to Cal Murphy, the best team he ever coached -- were cruising fat and happy at 12-6 until they inconceivably shat the bed in the eastern final. 

More recently the Bombers have turned 7-1 (2011) and 5-1 (2014) starts into playoff heartbreak (no-playoff heartbreak in 2014's case.)  I remember when Drew Willy was playing like Drew Brees for us and how quickly that bubble popped when he started getting hurt.

Regular season record means nothing when the temp gets low and the stakes get high.  I agree with folks here that the 2021 Bombers just seem way more fundamentally sound than those gimmicky / lucky 2011 and 2014 teams and that O'Shea is right to keep them focused on not being too proud to compete .... but they still gotta deliver the goods in the wintertime to get the trophy.

I'm definitely not counting any chickens before they hatch, I think we're all far too scarred for that