Kamau Peterson
CFL.ca
Well, here we are in December with yet another exciting CFL season in the books. Fans and players alike will have to wait out the long winter months before we are able to really get excited about football again. Peeks at the NFL may satisfy the thirst temporarily, but it will be difficult to replicate the drama that the CFL brought in 2009.
In 2009, 18 games were decided by a field goal or less, including the Grey Cup as the league’s parity was on display once again this season. If the league’s salary management implementation has done nothing else, it has leveled the playing field and enabled each team to be competitive.
Fans were treated to tremendous comebacks, great individual efforts from the game’s stars, and of course drama from various team/player dynamics that could only be seen played out in the CFL, and each team’s fans were definitely given something to talk about as the year progressed.
Montreal fans likely wouldn’t have had much to talk about as the season went on, aside from beaming with pride at the record and performance that their team was giving them. Perfect at home and Grey Cup champions, Alouette fans no doubt had their heads held sky high throughout all of 2009. With the announcement that Calvillo will be returning next year, there is still much optimism looking ahead – Als fans may buzz all off-season about the possibility of their coach leaving to the NFL, other veterans returning or not, as well as potential free agent losses.
Hamilton fans must be glad to be back in the CFL fold. No longer will they hide their team allegiance behind coughs at the water cooler and lurk in other teams forums for the Ti-Cats are truly legitimate after a long hiatus.
It was only a matter of placing a football mind behind the wheel of the football team (novel concept), and there are few with the resume of Bob O’Billovich. Fans witnessed the birth of stars on both sides of the ball in DeAndra’ Cobb and Jamall Johnson, were able to embrace a bona fide star in Arland Bruce III, and watched the resurgence of Kevin Glenn just in time to lead them to their first home playoff game this decade. Optimism abounds for this team in 2010.
Saskatchewan fans are some of the most loyal and knowledgeable in the league and rain or shine they usually have a pretty good pulse on their team’s strengths and weaknesses. In spite of fan concerns over the losses that they suffered through free-agency they rallied around the team and helped them come within a Duval field goal of their second Grey Cup victory in three years.
They came out in droves all year and enjoyed Regina’s first hosting of a Western Final since 1976. Rider fans will find many similarities in their conversation from last offseason to this one, as the two dominant themes will likely be surrounding the plethora of Rider free agents and the fate of Eric Tillman.
Calgary fans are no doubt still reeling from the Stamps late playoff exit. Smart money would have had the white ponies in the final game on home turf, especially being that they made so few offseason changes. They ended up making many changes by necessity during the season however, the biggest being trying to replace the production of Ken-Yon Rambo.
From a slow start to the season, to the stabbing of Teyo Johnson, this team has given fans quite a bit to keep an eye on. This offseason fans will speculate what happens to this corps when Rambo returns, as both the currently injured Thelwell and Romby Bryant have both been solid in his absence and are proven receivers in this league.
Those who are still Eskimo fans after this season are likely not faint of heart. With the amount of comebacks, close games and absolute stinkers that Edmonton put up this year we’ve been able to keep fans talking all season. With the injury to Jesse Lumsden, the emergence of Fred Stamps and Arkee Whitlock and the offensive co-ordinator carousel – we’ve definitely been must see TV all year.
This offseason will ask questions of Kelly Campbell’s return, who plays tailback if all are healthy, how many of those DB’s can actually stay on the team and can all this talent coexist and produce some wins?
B.C. Lions fans have been asking questions all year and that won’t change any time soon. Questions about quarterbacking, too much turnover too soon, scheme versus personnel and even questions about the all-time winningest coach in league history abound. The Lions will play outside next year which takes the dome advantage away from them, but in general fans will speculate as to the best way to regain some of that magic from years past and who will be playing quarterback for this team as they rise again.
Toronto fans, like all CFL fans, are concerned with the future of the Argos. Uncertainty of ownership, as well as new personnel in 2009 on so many levels gives fans of the double blue justifiable concerns about their beloved boatmen. Coach Andrus gave many palpitations no doubt in his handling of Arland Bruce III, Kerry Joseph and a few final drives this season. Toronto fans didn’t get a lot to cheer about this season, but the league benefits greatly on the whole if this franchise can be competitive once again in 2010.
Perhaps no fans were as tormented as those in Winnipeg this season. They cast large stones at their coach with a maliciousness that is seldom seen, only to embrace him temporarily and open fire again as the season closed – the mob is fickle coach. Truth be told, Bombers fans are justified in some of their spite.
The past offseason left many questions in personnel in key positions like quarterback and offensive line. While the defense played well all year, the offense was more miss than hit for the early portion of the season. Media spats, fan/coach run-ins, veteran players choosing to sit over playing and of course the Pac-Man Jones/Charles Rogers debacles certainly must have left Bomber fans aging prematurely. These fans will either be watching the offseason headlines intently or will take some time away to regroup themselves.
Personally I thought this was one of the best years to watch the CFL game. I found myself trying to really enjoy some of the great games that I was a part of and rushing around to make sure I didn’t miss other games as you just knew that you’d be missing something special. The stars were definitely aligned for some great football this season and it was evident early on and there is much that I’m thankful for from this season, and anxious to see next.
The influx of new talent keeps things interesting for veterans like myself without a doubt. There are some great football minds at work in the league currently which were evident in both scheme and performance, our coaches are operating at a very high level top to bottom.
This year’s surge in the running game will alter defensive schemes in the coming year and I’m anxious to see that chess game continue between the leagues coordinators.
The league itself is stronger than it’s been in the 10 years that I’ve been in it. Viewership is high and with good reason as the game itself is at a high quality. On the flip side, the uncertainty regarding the state of the new collective bargaining agreement certainly hangs a dark cloud over the offseason. Hopefully, both sides will be able to come together in agreement sooner rather than later.
This will be my last blog for CFL.ca this season and I want to take this opportunity to thank all who took the time to read, as well as thank the site itself for hosting me.
What’s next for me? First, I’ve got some healing to do to get back to feeling like myself, followed by some serious work as the big game is in my back yard next year. I’ll be doing all in my power to make sure that my
team is in it.
Kp8
