Duane Forde has a long article on tsn.ca, describing the draft status of Zac Carlson, a Weber State (alma mater of Rob Hitchcock) offensive lineman. It is one of those weird cases where part of his growing up is done in Canada so he should qualify, but he needs receipts from that time period. Like a six year old keeps receipts. Anyways, looks like Carlson won't qualify for this year's draft, but qualifies for some weird purgatory like supplemental draft. And since the Cats sucked, they have the first pick in the supplemental draft, but at the cost of a pick in next year's draft. Where do the Cats see themselves placing next year?
Forde also discusses how if the Cats can actually sign DT Corey Mace, whose rights they acquired in the Moreno deal, then they wouldn't have to pick Laval's
Etienne Légaré, another defensive lineman and could instead pick Bishop's running back Jamal Lee. I've heard nothing about the Cats being interested in picking Lee and frankly I thought the Cats have soured on Canadian running backs after the Jesse Lumsden situation. Lee might still be a good pick in a seemingly weak draft year, as he would at least be useful on special teams. Really he couldn't do any worse than Cat 2008 first round picks Samuel Giguere and Dylan Barker, neither of whom played a regular season down.
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
Ottawa, Still Going
Looks like things are looking up for an Ottawa CFL team, where previously things looked bleak. Apparently council will vote as to whether they will enter negotiations with Hunt's group to redo Lansdowne Park with assorted real estate development and an updated Frank Clair Stadium.
Looks like Eugene Melnyk's idea to build a soccer stadium out in that far from Ottawa centre suburban wasteland Kanata for a theoretical, if somewhat unlikely MLS franchise has been given the boot. Putting a stadium in exurbia seems to have died out in North America (witness the quick kiboshing to the idea of putting the new Ticat stadium in Confederation Park), so Melnyk probably didn't have much of a chance unless he was willing to pay for everything.
Looks like Eugene Melnyk's idea to build a soccer stadium out in that far from Ottawa centre suburban wasteland Kanata for a theoretical, if somewhat unlikely MLS franchise has been given the boot. Putting a stadium in exurbia seems to have died out in North America (witness the quick kiboshing to the idea of putting the new Ticat stadium in Confederation Park), so Melnyk probably didn't have much of a chance unless he was willing to pay for everything.
CFL Criminal Proceedings
So Riders GM Eric Tillman has pleaded not guilty to sexual assault and we won't know what happens until June 12th. Should one be suspicious of someone with two years of salary cap violations under his watch?
In other CFL sexual assault news, Frank D'Angelo, former Steelback (they still make that stuff? Who the fuck drinks it?) head honcho and Argo, uh, associate was found not guilty of sexual assault on a 22 year old woman after a short trial.
Testimony included strange things going on at a Holiday Inn. Apparently according to the defence, the woman was looking for a rich boyfriend. What this had to do with the case is a mystery.
In other CFL sexual assault news, Frank D'Angelo, former Steelback (they still make that stuff? Who the fuck drinks it?) head honcho and Argo, uh, associate was found not guilty of sexual assault on a 22 year old woman after a short trial.
Testimony included strange things going on at a Holiday Inn. Apparently according to the defence, the woman was looking for a rich boyfriend. What this had to do with the case is a mystery.
Sunday, April 19, 2009
Power Rankings, 1st Edition 2009, Part 2
In some ways, ranking the bottom four teams is harder than the top four. There's just a lot crap and uncertainty down there. That said, I'll give it an attempt.
5. Saskatchewan
I was tempted to rate the Riders below 5, but the mediocrity of the other teams was just too much. I don't really like their QBs (despite Durrant shredding the Cats last year at Ivor Wynne) that much. They have decent Canadian talent and I generally like their receivers. Probably their defence sets them apart from the other three teams here. The Riders will end up last in the West.
6. Toronto Basically this was a tossup with Hamilton, however trying to be not too biased, I think you can't predict Hamilton above 7th, so the Argos have to slot in somewhere. Their American coaching experiment could work like the Alouettes last or explode. I'm betting on explode. The Argos offensive line should improve with the addition of Rob Murphy this year and if the Argos can actually formulate a game plan that is geared towards Kerry Joseph, they should score some points. I expect the Argos defence, with Moreno, to be decent but not great. Hamilton could well end up better than the Argos this year, but I think the main thing for me is how often the Cats go into a season looking like they should improve but don't.
7. Hamilton
Hamilton was actually fairly close to not being the worse team in the league last year. I think the Cats will improve on their win total to six or seven games, which while better than the past couple of years, is still poor. I expect the Cat defence to improve under new defensive coordinator Greg Marshall, however I think they still don't have the talent there. On offence a lot depends on what Porter does this year. Glenn provides a decent stopgap against total suck if Porter regresses. If everything went perfect the Cats could be a ten win team, but honestly, what are the odds of that. Going five and four at home should be a goal.
8. Winnipeg
The new coach and GM has blown up the team and anything connected with the old regime. I can't think it will go well, but they will probably be better at the end of the season. I can't even remember who is supposed to be the starting quarterback off the top of my head. Some guy who came from Edmonton? That's not good.
5. Saskatchewan
I was tempted to rate the Riders below 5, but the mediocrity of the other teams was just too much. I don't really like their QBs (despite Durrant shredding the Cats last year at Ivor Wynne) that much. They have decent Canadian talent and I generally like their receivers. Probably their defence sets them apart from the other three teams here. The Riders will end up last in the West.
6. Toronto Basically this was a tossup with Hamilton, however trying to be not too biased, I think you can't predict Hamilton above 7th, so the Argos have to slot in somewhere. Their American coaching experiment could work like the Alouettes last or explode. I'm betting on explode. The Argos offensive line should improve with the addition of Rob Murphy this year and if the Argos can actually formulate a game plan that is geared towards Kerry Joseph, they should score some points. I expect the Argos defence, with Moreno, to be decent but not great. Hamilton could well end up better than the Argos this year, but I think the main thing for me is how often the Cats go into a season looking like they should improve but don't.
7. Hamilton
Hamilton was actually fairly close to not being the worse team in the league last year. I think the Cats will improve on their win total to six or seven games, which while better than the past couple of years, is still poor. I expect the Cat defence to improve under new defensive coordinator Greg Marshall, however I think they still don't have the talent there. On offence a lot depends on what Porter does this year. Glenn provides a decent stopgap against total suck if Porter regresses. If everything went perfect the Cats could be a ten win team, but honestly, what are the odds of that. Going five and four at home should be a goal.
8. Winnipeg
The new coach and GM has blown up the team and anything connected with the old regime. I can't think it will go well, but they will probably be better at the end of the season. I can't even remember who is supposed to be the starting quarterback off the top of my head. Some guy who came from Edmonton? That's not good.
Thursday, April 16, 2009
Power Rankings, 1st Edition 2009, Part 1
Since a popular web cliché for sports content is the power rankings, I figured I would start in off season. During the season, I'll probably do it weekly, however up to then, I'll probably do it every couple of weeks, based on pretty much nothing except minor signings blown out of proportion and what I'm feeling that day. These rankings aren't based on who will win the Grey Cup, but rather which ever team has a higher ranking would win against a lower ranked team on a hypothetical neutral field. Probably too much will be based on the quarterbacks, but that's CFL football (i.e. if Jason Maas is your starter, prepare to suck).
1. Calgary
Defending champs, proven starting quarterback in Henry Burris, surprisingly good young offensive line loaded with Canadian talent makes filling out the rest of the roster easier. Haven't really paid much attention to their offseason moves.
2. BC
This was tough, but they still have relative strength at QB with Pierce and Jackson. Losing Cam Wake, the leading sack guy in the league last year to big NFL money will definitely hurt, but they still have nonimport Brent Johnson, who had 10 sacks last year. They also lost Rob Murphy on the line which should also hurt. Basically I'm giving them the two spot due to coaching, however I could see BC scratching for a playoff spot.
3. Montreal
Well coached now with Mark Trestman, the Alouettes are still a team to be reckoned with. I'd put them above BC, but I still wonder if this is the year age catches up with Calvillo. If so, they're in trouble. Plus their offensive line is a getting a wee bit crotchety.
4. Edmonton
I don't really like Edmonton, but the teams below are just that bad. Ricky Ray is definitely a good QB, but he tends to put up gaudy passing numbers rather than wins. They added Canadian bobsleigh champion Jesse Lumsden. We'll see how that works out.
Tomorrow, the bottom four. Wow do they smell. And not just the Ticats for a change.
1. Calgary
Defending champs, proven starting quarterback in Henry Burris, surprisingly good young offensive line loaded with Canadian talent makes filling out the rest of the roster easier. Haven't really paid much attention to their offseason moves.
2. BC
This was tough, but they still have relative strength at QB with Pierce and Jackson. Losing Cam Wake, the leading sack guy in the league last year to big NFL money will definitely hurt, but they still have nonimport Brent Johnson, who had 10 sacks last year. They also lost Rob Murphy on the line which should also hurt. Basically I'm giving them the two spot due to coaching, however I could see BC scratching for a playoff spot.
3. Montreal
Well coached now with Mark Trestman, the Alouettes are still a team to be reckoned with. I'd put them above BC, but I still wonder if this is the year age catches up with Calvillo. If so, they're in trouble. Plus their offensive line is a getting a wee bit crotchety.
4. Edmonton
I don't really like Edmonton, but the teams below are just that bad. Ricky Ray is definitely a good QB, but he tends to put up gaudy passing numbers rather than wins. They added Canadian bobsleigh champion Jesse Lumsden. We'll see how that works out.
Tomorrow, the bottom four. Wow do they smell. And not just the Ticats for a change.
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
Ottawa, The Saga Continues
There's an article in the Citizen saying that the elected representatives have seemed to have shifted away from putting a new stadium in Lansdowne Park, perhaps in favour of a combined football soccer stadium in, yes that exurban hellhole, Kanata. I thought it was pretty much standard now throughout North America to put your stadiums near the downtown rather than way out in the suburbs as was done in the past (Buffalo).
Probably more disturbing is the suggestion by the Hunt group who have the conditional franchise to have Eugene Melnyk take over. Hasn't crappy or disinterested owners caused enough damage to Ottawa football already. Melnyk appears to like soccer and disdain football. Seems like a bad recipe. Frankly I think one thing that needs to be pointed out is how much of an outside shot Ottawa is for MLS. There's many other places in the US (and Canada) for that matter that will likely get a franchise before Ottawa does.
Prospects for an Ottawa franchise seem cloudier and cloudier.
Probably more disturbing is the suggestion by the Hunt group who have the conditional franchise to have Eugene Melnyk take over. Hasn't crappy or disinterested owners caused enough damage to Ottawa football already. Melnyk appears to like soccer and disdain football. Seems like a bad recipe. Frankly I think one thing that needs to be pointed out is how much of an outside shot Ottawa is for MLS. There's many other places in the US (and Canada) for that matter that will likely get a franchise before Ottawa does.
Prospects for an Ottawa franchise seem cloudier and cloudier.
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
Ottawa
So there's an article in the Globe about how the city council isn't sure about investing in a new stadium for Lansdown Park. On the bright side, they seem even less enthused about Eugene Melnyk's rival plans for an MLS franchise based in that exurban hellhole known as Kanata. MLS in Ottawa always seemed to be kind of the last place I thought they would expand and guess what, they didn't.
I hope that Ottawa can get its act together and get a new or refurbished stadium built, especially with the way the feds are spraying around money right now. Ottawa does seem a hard market for the CFL, being a government town and the disappointment of multiple past failures. One upside is the CFL is remarkable stable right now, with, apart from Saskatchewan, a viable salary management system and also seeming to be relatively unaffected by the current recession. Which is more than you can say for the NHL.
Sometimes I wonder if Quebec City isn't a better place for the next team. Ottawa will attract people in the Ottawa area, but it certainly won't be Canada's team. Quebec would probably draw a decent amount of fan interest throughout Quebec outside of Montreal proper. Although then again, it could end up just splitting the fans the Alouettes already have. Seems unlikely Quebec will ever get a stadium in the near future, so Ottawa is probably the only chance for a new CFL team for quite some time.
I hope that Ottawa can get its act together and get a new or refurbished stadium built, especially with the way the feds are spraying around money right now. Ottawa does seem a hard market for the CFL, being a government town and the disappointment of multiple past failures. One upside is the CFL is remarkable stable right now, with, apart from Saskatchewan, a viable salary management system and also seeming to be relatively unaffected by the current recession. Which is more than you can say for the NHL.
Sometimes I wonder if Quebec City isn't a better place for the next team. Ottawa will attract people in the Ottawa area, but it certainly won't be Canada's team. Quebec would probably draw a decent amount of fan interest throughout Quebec outside of Montreal proper. Although then again, it could end up just splitting the fans the Alouettes already have. Seems unlikely Quebec will ever get a stadium in the near future, so Ottawa is probably the only chance for a new CFL team for quite some time.
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