Jack B. Bedell
CFL.ca
Anyone who tuned into last weekend’s game between the Tiger-Cats and Alouettes expecting a one-sided affair had to be really happy with the aerial display that actually went down.
If I hadn’t seen every play with my own eyes, I would have thought the stat line was full of typos, myself. Anthony Calvillo and Quinton Porter combined to go 71 of 85 for 901 yards and nine TDs in one of the most entertaining displays of passing I’ve seen in a long time.
While nothing Calvillo does on the field shocks me (after all, he’s got 15 seasons of high-octane passing in the bank already), Porter’s performance was a real eye-opener.
Watching Porter at the end of week 14’s sackfest in B.C., I was really afraid the guy was in for a long day against the Als’ dangerous front seven. After what Cam Wake and Co. did to him, Porter looked to me like his confidence and rhythm might have been broken. Against Montreal, he proved that wasn’t the case. Far from it, actually.
The most remarkable thing about Porter’s performance against the Als’ defence to me was his willingness to hang in against the pressure until the last instant in order to push the ball down the field.
For anyone just looking at Porter’s numbers and assuming that the rush wasn’t there or that coverage was lax, do yourself a favour and watch the game. He was delivering passes with bodies all around him, taking big hits after his release, and putting the ball on receivers like Prechae Rodriguez who couldn’t have been covered better unless the defenders were inside their uniforms.
Porter definitely impressed me with his patience and his willingness to let his receivers make plays for him. More than anything, he showed me he has the skills it takes to be a successful CFL QB, and he has them in spades.
In Calvillo’s case, it was another amazing performance in a long list of them this season. It seems every week, Calvillo’s climbing an all-time passing list of some sort or breaking a record. To hear Calvillo talk about himself, you’d think it was a matter of longevity and quality teammates. Take a look at his performance last weekend and you’ll see a pivot at the top of his abilities, balling at a level few have achieved in the league’s history.
To put things in perspective, Calvillo put the ball in the air 53 times, completing 44 passes at over 10 yards per completion. Even in a pass-happy league like the CFL, no one had ever completed that many passes in a regular season game. Pretty amazing, if you ask me.
Even more amazing with the ball in the air that many times is the fact that Calvillo’s lone interception came off a ball tipped into the air by his receiver. That’s about as dead-on as a QB can be. And, most importantly, Calvillo’s level of play gave his team a chance to win, even when momentum and turnovers were going against him. You just can’t ask for more out of your QB than Calvillo gave against the Ticats.
My hat’s definitely off to Quinton Porter and Anthony Calvillo for giving us a game for the ages last week. Let’s hope they can pull off a repeat performance on Monday.
WEEK 14 QUICK HITS
I’ll be the first to admit I’ve been quick to criticize Michael Bishop in the past, so after last week’s unconscious performance I want to be in front of the line to give Bishop his due this week. As hot as the Stampeders were heading into week 15, it was going to take a near-perfect performance from Bishop to pull off the win (even at home), and that’s exactly what he pulled off. Going 20 of 27 for 242 yards and a major, and being deadly accurate on the run, was simply Big Time.
Bishop’s counterpart in the tilt, Henry Burris, had a strong game, too. Unfortunately, Burris’ alter-ego, Bad Hank, made a brief appearance, as well, putting the ball on the carpet on a fumble that got taken back for six the other way and throwing an interception that led to more points for the Riders. Two errors in an otherwise solid night, but it was enough to tilt the field Gang Green’s way.
Big ups to Kamau Peterson for absorbing yet another huge hit after a clutch catch to ignite his team. Noel Prefontaine’s successful fake punt might have provided the spark, but Peterson’s big-time effort lit the Eskimos’ fire against the Bombers the other night. Kamau’s morphed from a good receiver into a bona fide team leader this season, and it’s been a joy to watch.
And last, but definitely not least, there’s just not enough space here to say as much as I’d like about Ben Cahoon, but big props have to go to the man for becoming the league’s all-time leading receiver amongst non-imports. Cahoon’s efforts never cease to amaze me. The way he lays out for balls looks like something out of The Matrix, and his hustle is contagious. He’s a great receiver, but an even better blocker and teammate. Congrats, Ben. And keep it coming!
RWB’S PRIMETIME PERFORMERS
1) Stefan Logan
2) Korey Banks
3) Michael Bishop
4) Omarr Morgan
5) Quinton Porter
6) Prechae Rodriguez
7) Ricky Ray
8) Kamau Peterson/Noel Prefontaine (tie)
9) Anthony Calvillo
10) Jamal Robertson
RWB’S PREMATURE LEAGUE AWARDS
East MOP—Anthony Calvillo
West MOP—Cam Wake
East Rookie of the Year—Prechae Rodriguez
West Rookie of the Year—Wes Dressler
East Offensive POY—Anthony Calvillo
West Offensive POY—Wes Cates
East Coach of the Year—Marc Trestman
West Coach of the Year—Ken Miller
East Outstanding Canadian—Ben Cahoon
West Outstanding Canadian—Paris Jackson
East Special Teams POY—Dominique Dorsey/Damon Duval (too close to call)
West Special Teams POY—Tristan Jackson
WEEK 16 PREDICTIONS DOOMED TO GO WRONG
When things get wacky in the wins column like last week, I usually look for a little home cooking just to be safe, so I’m going with Winnipeg, B.C., Montreal, and Calgary.
We haven’t had a home sweep in a while, and I’m hoping we’re due.
UP NEXT
Check back next week to get my takes on all of week 16’s action. It’s all about playoff seedings from here on out, so I’ll be breaking down the remaining schedule, too, to see if my predictions are going to hold water.
Until then, take care. And have a Happy Thanksgiving everyone.
Jack B. Bedell is a Professor of English at Southeastern Louisiana University in Hammond, Louisiana and has followed the CFL for nearly three decades.
