The Riders lead the way after three weeks of CFL action
With 12 games in the books for 2012, we’re starting to get a decent handle on early season CFL storylines. The Saskatchewan Roughriders lead the way after becoming the first team since October to knock off the BC Lions.
Among the other storylines: a former Rider receiver’s first touchdown helped his former team win their first game of the season and the Calgary Stampeders have some interesting decisions to make after a season altering decision.
Riding High
I didn’t get to use positive headlines very often during the 2011 Saskatchewan season, but positivity is all there is so far in 2012. Saturday’s 23-20 Riders win at home to BC was impressive on numerous different levels, ones that are a little deeper than just knocking off the defending Grey Cup Champs. I’ve been accused by a commenter or two about some Lions gushing moments already this year, so I’ll try to keep the hyperbole to a minimum when talking about the first team to knock them off this year.
I think we all knew the 2012 edition of the Roughriders was going to be better than the one preceding it, because in reality, the only direction to go was up from last year. They’re winning the day right now thanks to a stellar defensive group that has been transformed by a couple of different additions.
The MMQB discussed the additions of Odell Willis and Brent Hawkins last week, but we can’t help but wonder how things might have been slightly different had the latter been healthy and able to play during 2011. But it’s not just that.
There seems to be a different swagger associated with this group this year, and I think new Head Coach Corey Chamblin has a lot to do with it. Fellow CFL.ca contributor Rod Pedersen joined me on my radio program last week in preparation for Saturday’s marquee showdown at Mosaic. He told a story of how Chamblin printed out oversized tickets to each of his players and coaches, because their matchup with BC was “the big ticket” game. That came a day before he had some fighting words for the highly touted west coast opposition.
“Since I’ve been in the league they’ve been a mouthy bunch,” Chamblin said. “They have to step up to the challenge and they have to actually own up to it. It’s gonna be a fight, I’m not backing away from it.”
That quote has some personality to it, and the way the Riders have played thus far has that same personality. Defensively, they’re playing to the whistle, and Craig Butler’s jarring second quarter hit on Geroy Simon exemplified this perfectly (kudos to the all time receiving leader for hanging on, by the way). Offensively, they’re grinding things out. Saskatchewan’s only offensive major was thanks to a Kory Sheet airborne effort which came just after a thwarted first down running attempt at the one yard line.
129-yard missed field goal returns from Tristan Jackson don’t happen every game, but they put Paul McCallum in kicking situations by frustrating the BC offence throughout and making it difficult to drive the field. All in all, Saturday’s matinee affair in Regina lived up to the hype on both sides, making the August 19th return date even more intriguing.
A Night of Firsts
Hamilton’s 36-27 home win over Toronto to close out the week was more than just the first win of the season for the Tiger Cats. It was also a night where we got to see Andy Fantuz deliver his first touchdown catch in a black and gold uniform and it came in pretty fine fashion.
With Henry Burris already driving the ball nicely, the Hamilton quarterback used a deft pump fake to spring the outstanding Canadian receiver in the middle of the endzone for, at the time, a 13-0 lead. Most importantly, however, it was the first night we saw some real glimpses of what he Hamilton attack could really be all about.
New Head Coach George Cortez is renowned for being one of the league’s brightest minds. However, to thrive in his very refined attack is not the easiest thing in the world, and it was only natural for it to be a process.
A Cortez-designed offence is complicated because of thing like language, intricacies, and precise timing.
Sometimes, most of the time even, it will be a steep learning curve, even for the most talented of playmakers. The first half at Ivor Wynne Stadium looked to me like some of those playmakers were starting to catch up.
Burris completed touchdown passes to Fantuz and Chris Williams in the first half, giving us a good idea of what the offence is able to do. Taking a 16-point lead into halftime will slow a leading offence down a tad, and I think that’s exactly what we saw Saturday.
However, the quick strike pass to Williams to open the scoring and the well-executed Fantuz hookup described above were good examples of a versatile offence at work. Chevon Walker’s work earlier in those drives opened the field up, and a passing offence starting to find it’s groove was able to connect.
Decision time
Calgary’s 33-32 loss in Montreal on Thursday night isn’t sitting well with the Stampeder fans for very good reason. They coughed up a 12 point lead late in the fourth quarter and shot themselves in the foot with ill-timed penalties. However, a fairly talented team dropping to 1-2 isn’t the end of the world, as we know making definitive judgments three weeks into a CFL season is a tad foolhardy. However, John Hufnagel does have some interesting decisions to make.
With quarterback Drew Tate announcing Sunday he’ll be opting for surgery on his dislocated shoulder, the Stamps are without their starting pivot for at least four months, and likely for all of the 2012 campaign. So what does Calgary do?
Well, in the short term, it’s pretty simple, they’ll keep going with Kevin Glenn. Hufnagel was adamant with Hamilton that he wanted a veteran quarterback coming back if he was going to pull the trigger on a deal that would send Henry Burris the other way. The primary reason for that, of course, was to bring a guy in who could help Tate acclimate to being a starting quarterback and who would also help him with the finer details that only a veteran CFL pivot can pass along. Yet, in the back of any coach’s mind, the possibility of an injury to a starter is always there.
Glenn struggled in the early stages of Thursday’s game but got things on track in a big way late in the first half, starting an impressive 22-for-25 run and helping the Stamps take the 12-point lead they’d fritter away.
Yes, one of those incomplete passes was a game changing interception, but Glenn did move the ball effectively and used his weapons nicely (six more catches for Nik Lewis, seven for Romby Bryant, and four for Marquay McDaniel). But is Glenn the answer long term this season?
I think he probably is, and I think he showed he can do a decent job running this offence. I don’t believe the Stampeders will be looking elsewhere for a quarterback this season, because Tate is the overall answer going forward. The one wildcard in all of this, however, is Bo Levi Mitchell.
The extremely confident Eastern Washington product was good for two rushing touchdowns in Montreal and impressed many in his stints in training camp and the pre-season. I do wonder aloud about what happens if Mitchell continues to improve and if Glenn struggles at some point for a couple of games consecutively.
Would Calgary turn to a rookie quarterback later in the season? Knowing the situation they’re in, it’s not totally out of the question, but I’ve got a pretty decent amount of faith in the veteran under centre right now. It certainly is an interesting thought though.
This and That
Because Edmonton’s second win of the season was so resounding, the MMQB didn’t dedicate a ton of time to them this week. We will say this, however: that defence is scary. Steven Jyles had his best game in Eskimo colours on Friday night because his defensive unit kept putting him in great spots. As we’ve talked about before, this group swarms to the football so effectively, it’s extremely difficult to rack up yards after contact.
Good on Montreal for pouncing on the opportunity given to them on Thursday night. Head Coach Marc Trestman believes his defensive unit is coming around and they certainly showed signs of that against Calgary. Jerald Brown was jumping Calgary’s route right from the get-go, but he made no mistake on his timing. And, of course, Anthony Calvillo’s offence put on a show in the final two minutes Thursday. His long touchdown pass to S.J. Green to get within five points was an example of why the Alouettes are so scary when forced to chase and throw the football.
