September and everyone has gone fire, trade crazy in the CFL.
Rich Stubler, Toronto Argonauts is fired? Do the Argos really think they are supposed to be untouchable year after year? Yeah I know they are in the CFL least but come on. Rich gets props for keeping his defense in tact even though skill positions have aged and are no longer the ballers they should be. The whole Argo situation was time bomb with no Jack Bauer to save the day. Enter Kerry Joseph, playing the role of Bauer. Just when Kerry got comfortable with a system he has had to get comfortable with another, this is going to be a serious cliff hanger,
Thank god that Pinball Clemons didn’t pull a Baggar Vance, or John Coffee and wind up back down on the sideline for the rest of the year. I can’t believe Adam Rita passed on taking over the head coaching reins, are you kidding me.
Enter “The Don” aka Don Matthews. At this point Greg Mohns must be practicing his, “thank you sir may I have another,” line. I knew, “The Don” was healthy when I saw him in BC with a younger very beautiful sistah. Go ahead Don! He was pulling a Robert Deniro, a reverse Hugh Hefner, the medicine must be working. In the immortal words of ICE CUBE, “you can do it, put your back into it.”
Charlie Taaffe is fired? Are you kidding me? Charlie was a good coach, at one time a great coach, but this go around with the Tiger Cats wasn’t a good move for him at all. I hope that it’s not a career killer. Charlie’s downfall started with the staffing of CFL novices as coaches. It was honorable that he hired friends that had good US resumes, but were green to the CFL game. The only coaches on the staff at the time with CFL experience were coaches Gregg Butler and Dave Easley.
The problems started right off with some coaches that didn’t sweat the details. One year it was linemen stepping with the wrong foot, or being told, “you are pros to figure it out.” There were the offensive games plans that didn’t have the horses to execute them. The players that were on hand weren’t put in the best positions to make plays, giving this team of constant FNG’s a fighting chance to win.
This year I thought things would change. Bringing in Bob O’Billovich was a good move. Recruiting will take time. It didn’t help in not being able to find game-winning players instantly, that would suit the CFL game. I guess even with the player glut there are no ballers just falling off trees.
With Marcel Bellefeuille you have a coach that has always thought he should be the head guy. Well Marcel now is your chance. The good thing is that Marcel’s offense fits the two quarterbacks he has to a “T.” Get ready for spread-option left, spread-option right.
Blame the front office. Bob Young is a great owner, but the rest needs to be overhauled, like 65 El Camino.
The front office last year signed a big dollar quarterback thinking that you could just insert a player and his game would just appear in the Black and Gold. Yes Casey Printers was nice in BC, but, BC’s whole team was nice. The Lions had Geroy Simon, Jason Claremont, CFL vets, all-stars, continuity, and strong CFL coaches who sweated the details and, a lead pipe defense.
So many players have come thru the doors to find a weak front office, bad plans, or no plans; coaches that haven’t taken into account what the players do well. This team looked like the Raiders without the gifted players. If anyone should go the next axe to fall should be on President Scott Mitchell.
The Hamilton Tiger Cats ruined more brothers than Hurricane Katrina.
The sad thing about Hamilton is it can’t be blown up again. But then again, can it? Maybe this time since Reebok is now fully in the house, it can come up with new uniforms, a witch doctor, a paranormal team, men in HAZMAT suits, Jimmy Johnson, Steve Marriucci, or maybe Al Pacino. As a team that's been as bad as the last few Nicholas Cage movies, maybe the league can call in the CDC to find the monkey with the virus, which has been killing this team. This team is the bridge scene in Apocalypse Now. Speaking of which, you almost wonder who is going to make it to the boat and answer the call from Almighty to call in the air strike? My money is on Lumsden.
What could have been done? When Richie Williams showed a spark for getting the offense going and making things happen, he should have been pushed to the number two spot behind Jason Maas, and then pushed into the starting role before signing Printers. Once again the CBC panel of Khari Jones, and myself noticed right off the bat that the kid has skills. I guess what they say is true, “game peeps game.” It would have been a savings of 500K for the Cats.
At this point Bob O’Billovich has to find some receivers but wait in line because Seattle is scouring the planet for anybody with life to them.
Speaking of the Seattle Seahawks, I wonder if Jerome Pathon or Marc Boerichter have been called yet?
It comes down to scouting wars and who has the most influence in the scouting room to bring a person in to stay.
Next O’Billovich has to find another defensive end, and a tackle, a couple of press corners and a nickel guy that can play half.
Just to be on the safe side, bringing in two offensive linemen wouldn’t hurt.
Around the league. During the Bombers and Riders game after Joe Smith scored was he speaking in code? Joe perhaps dissed his ex-O line buds in BC in his saying, “its all O-Line?” Not once but twice. Hmmnn
Is beating Hamilton anything to woof about? Its not like this is the 90’s when Hamilton was a good team. Beating the Cats should come with an asterisk next to the win.
Why would the Bombers trade Charles Roberts? Can someone tell the brain trust that running backs have off years. It would have been like the Cowboys trading Emitt Smith after a slow year. It would be like blaming a Qb for receivers dropping passes that hit them in the hands. Trading Joe Smith makes sense for the obvious reasons. There isn’t a single team in the CFL that has an offensive line that likes to outright pound the ball. No offense Rider fans. But the days of playing the Riders and being followed by having the black and blue bruise week that would follow are well over. There are no beast type lines. All the lines in the CFL are finesse blockers. So late in the year when these guys are dinged up, its nice to have a line that understands at least the fundamentals of putting the helmet on the right side, getting leverage, and allowing the running back firm of Logan and Roberts to do what they do best, hit creases and make things happen. With Joe Smith you have to drive someone off the ball, and hope you open enough of a hole to let him build up some steam to take care of the first tackler. Teams have gotten smart, and have started getting Joe to run east west where its easier to make a tackle on him for the DB’s.. I mean linebackers.
The next big uncomfortable silence.
The Bombers traded for Zeke Moreno but the problem is the Bombers have had a tough year getting to the QB. This is the exact problem the Cats are having among other woes.
So where does this put the Reverend Barrin Simpson? Simpson has a torn right pectoral muscle and should be fine next year. So what happens next year when both show up to camp? Is Winnipeg going to go back to a feared 3-4 defense? Does this mean that Gavin Walls becomes the space player, or does this mean that Tom Canada has more game then he has been letting on in the 4-3 defense and both guys drop into coverage and play as real linebackers? Do you trade Zeke or Barrin? Where do you trade one of them? Edmonton? Toronto? Calgary?
Well I’m bored now and have to leave you to check my facebook.
Thanks
Ps: tell your mamma to get off MYSPACE.
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