Jack B. Bedell
CFL.ca
Last week, the Hamilton Ticats and Toronto Argonauts both pulled the trigger on the most serious move you can make in the middle of the season to turn a franchise’s fortunes around – replacing a head coach in mid-stream.
Whether you consider the moves acts of inevitability for clubs with too many losses piling up or acts of desperation because of those L’s, there’s no denying the fact that changing a head coach mid-year throws a gauntlet down in the stands and in the locker room.
As difficult as it is to change the course of a season after ten games are in the books, that’s exactly what Marcel Bellefeuille and Don Matthews were charged with when they took over the two clubs. And as unfair as it might be, whenever a head coaching change is made mid-season, everyone expects the new coach to find a magic switch to flip on that will get the season going in a better direction.
If we learned anything from watching the Ticats and Argonauts play last weekend, though, it’s that there simply is no magic switch to flip.
By all accounts, Marcel Bellefeuille picked up the tempo during the Ticats’ week of practice and brought in a heightened sense of enthusiasm that was evident on gameday. For his part, Don Matthews brought in a much greater sense of accountability and charged the Argos with bringing more swagger onto the field.
But the simple fact remains that most of the teaching had already been done in pre-season and most of the technique work and schemes were already set for these teams months ago. For the most part, even the rosters are locked. So, how much can the bottom line really change? Last week’s results would say not much.
All that said, there are seven weeks remaining for Bellefeuille and Matthews to work their magic. That’s plenty time to add wrinkles to schemes, and to change some of the line-ups moving parts. We’ve already seen some of that going down in T.O. with Kerry Joseph losing his starting job to Cody Pickett, and I’m sure we’ll see more changes each week to get these two teams where they want to go.
The one thing that will remain constant is the demand to see results in the win column. And there’s no easy way to affect that kind of change, no quick fix for victory.
WEEK 12 QUICK HITS
Henry Burris played as complete a game as I’ve seen him play against the Alouettes last Friday night. Hank was nearly unstoppable on his way to amassing 408 yards and five (that’s not a typo!) TD passes. If he keeps that level of performance up, the Stamps can go all the way.
Needing a single yard to become the CFL’s all-time leading receiver in yardage, Milt Stegall ripped off a 92-yard bomb to break the record. Could there have been a more appropriate way for one of the league’s all-time deep threats to get her done? Milt, you the man!
Jason Goss’s three-pick game against the Ticats was simply phenomenal. We use the term “career day” all too often in sports, but that was a career day.
Buck Pierce’s game is in top form. Over the last two weeks, Pierce has compiled over 700 yards passing and his moxie has the Lions’ O purring.
After the way their first half ended, I have to give the Als props for fighting a full sixty minutes against the Stamps. Giving up 14 points in the last minute of a half would discombobulate any team, and it’s a credit to Montreal’s players and coaches that they kept their heads in the game in the second half.
And finally, can anyone remember a weekend where more interceptions were thrown in the CFL? I’d love to have access to the statistical engine to check on that, but my bet is Week 12 would be way up on the pick list historically.
RWB QUESTIONS FOR THE STRETCH RUN
In the back of my mind, I always give certain teams and certain issues passes on key questions until mid-season. Well, mid-season is in the review mirror now, and many of the burning questions I had in preseason are still on fire.
Here’s the top five questions on my burner heading into the home stretch.
1) Are the Calgary Stampeders ready to compete with the best in the West?
It hasn’t exactly been feast or famine for Henry Burris and the Stamps, but they’ve been on both sides of blowouts and both sides of close games. As we’ve said for years, the talent’s there to do it, but where’s the consistency?
2) Can the East Division compete with the best in the West?
Perception is the East can’t do it, but Montreal has played the teams out West pretty close (with last week’s game in Calgary a possible exception). And Winnipeg certainly has the offensive talent to go score with anyone in the league if they can get their act together with any consistency. I guess we’ll have to just wait and see in November.
3) Can the Toronto Argonauts make enough adjustments to hold onto second place in the East?
They’ve changed the head coach, the quarterback, and the defensive schemes/personnel over the last several days. The question is, will these changes have time to take root before somebody in the division catches them in the standings?
4) Are the Edmonton Eskimos ready to become the West’s most consistent team?
Blessed with one of the healthier rosters in the division, an exceptional pivot, and a drastically improved defence, the Esks just might be the most complete team in the division. With the firepower they’ve built in their passing attack, the Esks certainly have a chance to make a run at the Roughriders. But with the level of talent in the division from top to bottom being so equal, I have a feeling it’s going to be a photo finish all the way through Week 19.
5) Do the Saskatchewan Roughriders have enough healthy bodies to hold onto the division?
Wes Cates has shown he’s capable of carrying the Riders no matter what else happens, and Gang Green’s D is simply ferocious, but does Michael Bishop have enough healthy receivers to pace a consistent aerial attack? And is Saskatchewan’s O-line back to full strength in time to hold off the rest of the division? Don’t count the champs out until the final gun sounds, I say.
RWB’S PRIMETIME PERFORMERS
1) Milt Stegall
2) Kai Ellis
3) Henry Burris
4) Charleston Hughes
5) Jason Goss
6) Kelly Campbell
7) Geroy Simon
8) Cam Wake
9) Wes Cates
10) Wes Dressler
WEEK 13 PREDICTIONS DOOMED TO GO WRONG
After week 12’s 1-3 performance, the old gut’s on life support, but I’m willing to ride it one more week before pulling out a lucky coin to help with my choices.
This week, I have a feeling home field will have an effect on three out of the four tilts, so I’m going with Winnipeg, Calgary, Saskatchewan, and Montreal.
UP NEXT
Check back next week to get my takes on all of week 12’s action. I’ll also climb out on a limb with some playoff predictions.
Until then, take care. And pull those jackets out of storage. I have a feeling the wind’s about to change directions in more ways than one.
