Jack B. Bedell
CFL.ca
REVERSALS OF FORTUNE
Sweeping a home-and-home series is one of the hardest things to do in the CFL. Almost everything about the back side of a two-game series conspires against the sweep – change of venue, game-plan adjustments, injuries, and (probably most importantly) the pride of the professional athletes who came out on the losing end of the first game.
So it was no surprise to see B.C. and Calgary reverse their fortunes in Week 8 to come away with wins. It was a little shocking to see how closely the games followed the scripts from Week 6, however, with the teams simply swapping roles.
GROUND ASSAULT
Two weeks ago in Calgary, the Stamps came out a little cold and didn’t click offensively until the fourth quarter. Turnovers, penalties and an inability to stop the Roughriders’ ground attack or to get their own running game rolling downhill forced the Stamps into a furious comeback that ended up one score short.
Sound familiar? Switch jerseys and you’d have the gamebook from Week 7’s rematch in Regina. Behind an inspired performance by Jojuan Armour, the Stamps’ D shut down Wes Cates and the Riders’ offence until late in the second half and held on long enough to come out ahead by one score despite a gutsy comeback effort by a depleted Saskatchewan club.
Joffrey Reynolds definitely answered the call, pacing the Stamps’ turnaround with 128 yards on 24 carries. He put in the kind of game that should serve as a reminder to the Stamps’ coaching staff that he can, and should, carry the load in tough situations.
GIVE IT AWAY, GIVE IT AWAY NOW
In Week 6, the B.C. Lions were well on their way to an easy road win in Edmonton when ill-timed turnovers and special teams breakdowns led to an incredible Tucker-inspired comeback by the Esks. Down 24-10 in the second half, Edmonton rattled off 25 unanswered points to take control of the game.
Last week, the Esks were up 10-0 and had the Lions’ defence on its heels behind Ricky Ray’s aerial assault when turnovers and an inability to contain Ian Smart and Stefan Logan on kick returns tilted the field B.C’s way.
It’s tough for any team to come out on top after seven turnovers, but it’s especially tough against a defence like the Lions’ whose secondary lives for opportunities to pick off balls and whose pass rush plays much more aggressively when they have a lead and smell blood in the water.
While it might be a little simplistic to say Ray’s uncharacteristic INTs and Tristan Jackson’s special teams gaffes gave the game away, it’s hard to argue that those errors didn’t open the door for B.C. to steal the game. The fact that the Esks still had a shot to win the game in the last three minutes after all those turnovers is a testament to how well they played aside from the mistakes.
The way that the Lions were able to ride the wave of Edmonton’s errors was also a testament; as much a testament to the power of momentum as the Esks’ win was in Week 6.
QB CONTROVERSY? WHERE’S THE CONTROVERSY?
The Hamilton Ticats had a turnaround of their own in Week 7, largely behind the play-making ability of Richie Williams.
Running an offence that has looked like it was stuck in molasses most of the season, and hadn’t scored a passing TD since last season, Williams put up 293 yards and tossed three majors through the air against one of the most talented pass defences in the league.
Simply put, Williams beat the Argos D at its strength. And, even though he wouldn’t say so himself, he paced the Ticats’ blowout of Toronto just by being himself. Williams makes plays, not excuses, and he showed it against a tough opponent last week.
There’s no doubt in my mind that Williams gives the Cats their best shot at winning these days, and it has nothing to do with statistics. From the outside, it just looks to me like the Ticats have heart when Williams is under centre. Receivers lay out for balls, the o-line holds blocks longer, and the threat of an aggressive passing attack opens lanes for whichever back is toting the rock.
It’s only a controversy when there are valid arguments on both sides of an issue. I just don’t see that being the case when the Ticats’ QB situation is discussed.
JAUNTY ALOUETTES
The Als were the one squad to hold serve in Week 7. Coming off a dominating performance against the Ticats in Week 6, Montreal kept its roll on with a 39-11 beat down in Winnipeg.
As effective as Anthony Calvillo, Avon Cobourne, and the Alouettes offence were against the Bombers in Week 7, piling up 443 yards and wearing out Big Blue’s front seven, Montreal’s defence and special teams really stole the show Friday night.
Rayshaun Kizer and Reggie Hunt were all over the field making plays and John Bowman had good pressure on Ryan Dinwiddie all night.
The real star of the game was Damon Duval, though. Duval made all six of his field goals, the longest was good with yards to spare from 52 yards out. Coming off a five for five night in Hamilton last week, Duval is the hottest kicker in the CFL right now, and he’s doing more than his part to keep the Alouettes looking good on the scoreboard.
RWB’S PRIMETIME PERFORMERS
1) Richie WIlliams
2) Terry Caulley
3) Joffrey Reynolds
4) Jojuan Armour
5) Avon Cobourne
6) Damon Duval
7) The Lions’ D and Special Teams
8) Sean Lucas
9) Derick Armstrong
10) Siddeeq Shabazz
WEEK 8 PREDICTIONS DOOMED TO GO WRONG
I’m on my own again this week after Liz V’s valiant attempt to help pull my picks out of the dumpster in Week 7.
The trend this year seems to be to buck the trends when picking games, but I’m not falling into that trap. I’m sticking with my gut.
The old gut tells me to go with Winnipeg and Montreal. Of course, it often tells me to go for the second piece of pie, too! Hopefully, these picks will work out a little better than that second piece of dessert does most of the time…
UP NEXT
Check back early next week for my take on all the Week 8 action, and I’ll do a little State of the East analysis after the weekend’s divisional showdown is in the books.
Until then, take care. And be sure to rest your psyches while your team’s on bye. Labour Day will be here before you know it.
Jack B. Bedell is a Professor of English at Southeastern Louisiana University in Hammond, Louisiana and has followed the CFL for nearly three decades.
