Adam Gagnon/CFL
Hello there, Edmonton Eskimos. Is that celebratory conga line that snaked into the stands still going? Tuned into an Edmonton radio station this morning to hear a traffic reporter say “the Eskimos’ conga line is now approaching West Edmonton Mall, where I’m told it will end in a flurry of cannon balls at World Waterpark.”
Now, the Week 19 takeaways:
1) “Capital Punishment” has returned to Ottawa.
It’s not that we haven’t all noticed that the REDBLACKS’ defence is improved over 2014, it’s just that the offence has improved so much more in year over year comparisons that Henry Burris and his fleet of receivers have been stealing an awful lot of the attention in Ottawa’s rise. The fabled defensive unit of the early 1970’s Rough Riders, spearheaded by middle linebacker Soupy Campbell, would be proud of the way the present day Ottawa defence has stepped up to rattle bones.
On Sunday in Hamilton, defensive end Shawn Lemon led a ferocious swarm that tallied six sacks, three forced fumbles and two interceptions, with Lemon collecting two sacks and forcing two of the fumbles. Ottawa’s defensive line rotation is so awe-inspiring, The Weather Network has sent a team of storm chasers to observe it. You know, from a safe distance.
2) The Ticats should think about building a powerful running team in the future.
I think we’ve all seen enough of Tim Hortons Field, now, to know that its east-west layout makes it the perfect place to test the aerodynamics of new jet and sports car prototypes. Once again on Sunday the winds howled like a seven-year-old werewolf on a mini-Snickers binge-eating sugar rush. It’s tough to throw at The Tim when things are like that.
Against the wind? Quick-hitters over the middle need to be thrown like long bombs. With the wind? “Uh, run an 80-yard button hook.” It’d be a great advantage to be able to run the ball with punishing authority in a place where you play at least nine times a year and where the paint is very nearly blown off the field on game day.
3) Might be best to keep trusting Tyrell Sutton. He’s pretty good at running and stuff.
The Montreal Alouettes were knocking on the end zone door with about five and a half minutes left in the fourth quarter, trailing the Eskimos by a score of 33-22, their playoff hopes hanging in the balance. The Als had a first and goal from the two yard line because on the previous play, Sutton had barged forward for eight tough yards to move the sticks. All afternoon he had plowed, darted and spun like the Tasmanian Devil to 135 yards on 14 carries.
The Alouettes did what a lot of teams have taken to doing when they put in a chilly back-up quarterback to lug the ball. Tanner Marsh fumbled, the Eskimos recovered and the Alouettes were done. Yes, everyone was expecting Sutton to run, including the Edmonton defence. But they’d been expecting it most of the day and he and the Als’ offensive line still got it done over and over again.
4) Derel Walker will steal all of your Hallowe’en candy.
