THE CANADIAN PRESS
Knowing that injuries to top players have been a theme throughout the 2015 CFL season, it shouldn’t surprise you that a couple big storylines in Week 6 surround injuries as well. More than anything else, though, the quality of football and the excitement level we’ve seen so far have ruled the day. There’s no reason to believe that won’t be the case this weekend.
3. Déjà vu
Can the Stampeders win again this season with Jon Cornish on the sideline?
The Calgary Stampeders had to experience life without Jon Cornish for a good chunk of last season. In the end, it didn’t matter, because the Stamps were the league’s best regular season team and ended up as Grey Cup champions. Fast forward a year later, and Calgary is without Cornish for an extended period once again. This time, however, the challenge may not be as easy to overcome.
That’s not to say playing without Cornish was easy in 2014, but there are more hurdles this time around. More than anything, the decimated Stampeders’ offensive line makes this a very difficult road to hoe. Whether it’s Tory Harrison or Matt Walter getting the bulk of the carries Saturday vs. Montreal, they’ll be running behind a line that is nowhere close to what it was a year ago.
2. Welcome home
The Ticats are finally coming home to Tim Hortons Field, where they’ve never lost a game.
At 2-2, the Hamilton Tiger-Cats aren’t running away with the East Division or anything like that. However, compared to where they were through four games a year ago, this isn’t too shabby, all things considered. En route to a 1-6 start, Hamilton was 1-3 at this time last year and had lost all three of its road games. The Ticats’ only win came in a “home” game at Ron Joyce Stadium. There’s no need to worry about quotation marks anymore.
The Ticats finally get to have their home opener on Monday night when they welcome the Toronto Argonauts to Tim Hortons Field. They can enter that contest feeling okay about their start and confident about the way they play in their building. Including the playoffs, Hamilton was a perfect seven for seven in its new home last year. The fact the Ticats get nine games this year, with two wins already under their belt, has to make them feel pretty good.
1. Good luck
Corey Chamblin and the Riders were dealt more bad news this week as Kevin Glenn hits the shelf.
You sure do have to feel for the Saskatchewan Roughriders and their fans, because they just haven’t been able to catch a break this year. On the field, they’ve lost four of their five games by extremely slim margins. They also have gotten nothing but bad luck in the injury department, as quarterback Kevin Glenn is the latest to join the triage unit with a torn pectoral muscle. Brett Smith, you’re up next.
Smith is in a rather unenviable spot. Not only is he making his pro starting debut in a dire spot, he also has to do it against a very formidable foe. The Riders need a win, plain and simple. They’re 0-5 to start the season and they don’t have long before they find themselves in “lost season” territory. For Smith, though, he has to take on the Edmonton Eskimos defence in his debut? I’m not saying it’s impossible or anything close to it. I will say, however, there are easier teams to cut your teeth against.
