Mark Masters
CFL.ca
The Labour Day weekend is supposed to offer Canadian Football League fans a delectable buffet of three-down football. Not so in 2009. Rivalry weekend produced three one-sided affairs and another game where a potential great ending was marred by a controversial call.
So, it was not everything we had hoped for … no one will argue (aside from fans of the Lions, Riders, Ticats and Stamps). But here are five positives from another Labour Day in the CFL:
(1) Cool heads: The ending of the Montreal Alouettes vs. BC Lions tilt on Friday night was controversial and both teams had a chance to let emotions overflow, but everyone kept their cool. That’s a sign of good coaching and that’s no surprise considering the men on the sidelines: Wally Buono and Marc Trestman. The Rush Hour Bowl (East meets West) doesn’t have the same cache as the other Labour Day games, but all-in-all it may have been the best game of the weekend. Montreal is protesting the finish and they may have a case, but they are doing it through the proper channels.
(2) Wally: Congratulations to Wally Buono who moved into a tie with Don Matthews for all-time coaching wins in the CFL. Sure it wasn’t pretty, but Wally’s game plan led BC to a crucial win and lifted hopes on the Coast that this may not yet be a lost campaign.
(3) Running backs with great names: Perhaps the key reason the Lions were able to beat the Als was the play of tailback Martell Mallett. The 6-foot, 210 pounder from Arkansas surged into the CFL rushing lead with a tour de force against a usually stingy Montreal defence. The ending did get lost in translation (and not in the funny Bill Murray way), but nothing can take away from Mallett’s 227-yard performance. When BC needs a spark they need only hit opponents with their Mallett.
(4) Hamilton fans: The atmosphere at Ivor Wynne Stadium on Monday afternoon was something that fans in the Steel City have not felt in some time: hopeful. The stadium was packed to capacity and fans were vocal. The Argos Suck chant actually had real meaning behind it this year. The home team delivered and for a city that has yearned to support a winner for most of the last decade this may be a turning point. The Hamilton Ticats can officially handover the “lost cause” label to the Hamilton Coyotes.
(5) Bouncing back: The Calgary Stampeders avenged an earlier loss to Edmonton by making sure the last minute of their game against the Eskimos on Monday was simply a matter of playing out the clock. Joffrey Reynolds, held in check during the earlier meeting at Edmonton, exploded for 116 yards and one touchdown on the ground. Overall the Stamps combined for 200 rushing yards.
PLAYOFF PROJECTION
Okay, so Labour Day has come and gone meaning two things: (1) We can’t wear white anymore and (2) It’s safe to talk about the CFL playoff race.
From now until the end of the season this space will offer a playoff projection … based on everything we know right now this is where the eight CFL teams will be seeded come the evening of Sunday November 8.
EAST
1. Montreal (7-2)
Projection: First in the East
Quick hit: Even after a loss to the Lions the Alouettes are in good position to coast to the East Division regular season crown.
Key game: Sept. 25 @ Hamilton
2. Hamilton (5-4)
Projection: Second in the East
Quick hit: The Ticats have opened up a comfortable four-point cushion on the Winnipeg Blue Bombers for second place in the East Division and a home playoff game.
Key game: Oct. 12 vs. Winnipeg
3. Winnipeg Blue Bombers (3-6)
Projection: Third in the East, miss the playoffs
Quick hit: The team has improved since Week #1, but they will have to catch not one but two teams. That’s a tall order.
Key game: Oct. 12 @ Hamilton
4. Toronto Argonauts (2-7)
Projection: Fourth in the East, miss the playoffs
Quick hit: The season is slipping away and if they don’t win on Friday then they can start thinking about 2010.
Key game: Sept. 11 vs. Hamilton
WEST
1. Calgary Stampeders (5-4)
Projection: First in West
Quick hit: When they are on they are tough to beat as they showed Monday vs. Edmonton. This team knows how to win and after a bit of a Grey Cup hangover they are starting to hit their stride.
Key game: Oct. 23 vs. Edmonton
2. Edmonton Eskimos (5-4)
Projection: Second in the West
Quick hit: A rocky outing in Calgary shows they still have some work to do, but a more balanced attack led by veteran Ricky Ray should lead to a home playoff date.
Key game: Sept. 11 vs. Calgary
3. Saskatchewan Roughriders (5-4)
Projection: Third in the west
Quick hit: If the third quarter was eliminated Saskatchewan would be the best team in the league. You got to feel for Darian Durant who is jockeying for top spot in the division with Henry Burris and Ricky Ray.
Key game: Sept. 26 @ Edmonton
4. BC Lions (4-5)
Projection: Fourth in the West, crossover to East as third seed
Quick hit: The Lions did indeed win Friday night against the league frontrunners from Montreal, but they were hard pressed to do it. It used to be that East Division opponents never came close to rivaling the Lions on the carpet in Vancouver. That home-field advantage is gone and with it goes any hope of the Leos challenging for the West Division crown.
Key game: Oct. 18 @ Winnipeg
TWEETS OF THE WEEK
The Labour Day weekend didn’t produce some classic games, but it did produce some classic Twitter moments. First, it’s BC Lions receiver Geroy Simon sticking it to the naysayers who thought his embattled club had no chance against the league-leading Alouettes.
@geroysimon Its funny how things change from week to week. People thought we had no chance vs Montreal. Boy were they wrong
Although some fans find it hard to give the Lions all the credit after a controversial ending took an Alouettes touchdown off the board.
@pjames Perhaps the replay official should be the gladiator.
For the record, the TSN Friday Night Gladiator was Lions offensive lineman Angus Reid.
And back to Geroy, who had a pretty good weekend all around it would appear.
@geroysimon We weren’t the only Lions team to have a big win this weekend. The Cloverdale Lions (my son’s team) won 42-0. They’re a bunch of ballers!
Meanwhile, Edmonton Eskimos receiver Kamau Peterson discusses some NCAA football with Arizona Cardinals receiver Larry Fitzgerald. Specifically, Peterson has some advice for Boise State defensive end Byron Hout, who was recently the victim of a post-game sucker punch courtesy Oregon running back LeGarrette Blount.
@Gr8grab @Lfitzgerald11 Like we both learned long ago, the moral of the story is, if you’re gonna talk junk…leave your helmet on.
@Lfitzgerald11 @Gr8grab now that’s funny!
