Standard offensive line this week yet again. Been a pretty stable unit so far this year. The backs are Cobb and the non-import Williams for four receiver sets. Prechae, Davis, Stala and Bauman are listed as the main four receivers. Looks like Bruce will come in for Williams on five receiver sets, since between the offensive line and Stala and Bauman, that's six non-import starters on offense. Watch how this progresses during the game.
For the defensive line, McIntyre and Hickman are the ends, with Khari Long backing up McIntyre. Bolden is one of the tackles, with new Ticat pickup, import Montez Murphy starting at the other tackle position (Montez is a bit undersized for this spot). Non-import Kirk goes back to backup duty. Getting some pressure from the front four on Ray will be important, otherwise it will be death by a million short passes. With Floyd still out, Knowlton, Haley and Johnson start again at linebacker. Same secondary as last week, Gordon, Thompson, non-import Beveridge at safety, Tisdale and Smith. Compared to last year, the Cats have a much more stable team in terms of starters.
For Edmonton, the offensive tackles are McGrath at left tackle and an import Armstrong at right tackle. Mac product Kyle Koch, Fiacconi and Kabongo are the interior of the line.
Whitlock is the starting running back, with Calvin McCarty backing him up. Betrand is the non-import fullback. Mann and Stoney Creek native Andrew Nowacki are the starting wideouts and Stamps, Rector and former mediocre Cat and non-import Kamau Peterson are the starting slots. Not sure if Peterson only comes in on five receiver sets or what. That's probably five Canadian starters on offense, although it is a bit confusing.
On defence, the ends are Jones and Peach. Taylor and Romero are the starting tackles. Hill, Lloyd and Restelli are the starting linebackers.
Buhl and former Cat Jason Goss are the starting cornerbacks. Malveaux and Williams are the starting defensive backs, with non-import Richardson being the only starting non-import on defence. That means there must be six Canadian starters on the offence then.
Saturday, August 8, 2009
CFL Previews, Week 6, Part 2
Edmonton at Hamilton,
Edmonton has been on a two game roll, including beating Edmonton at home last week. Hamilton is coming off a home victory against BC. This could end up being a tight game and I have to admit I'm surprised that Edmonton is doing as well as it has. I'm picking Hamilton in this game, despite a bit of homerism, mainly because I have been consistent in saying that Edmonton QB Ricky Ray is considerably overrated. Basically if the Cats can get a little pressure on Ray, that should be enough to disrupt the Edmonton offense. Hopefully the Cats can combine a passing oriented attack with Arland Bruce making a contribution with some nice runs by Cobb and Porter. Otis Floyd and Darrell Adams are still out with injuries, although Hamilton's defence didn't seem to suffer too much last week. Edmonton doesn't have Lumsden, as per usual, although non-import Calvin McCarty is an excellent player.
Hamilton 29, Edmonton 27
Winnipeg at Calgary,
Winnipeg's new QB, Michael Bishop, has actually had some time to prepare, so there may be more of a Winnipeg offense this game. The Bomber defence has been decent, although ballhawk middle linebacker Sideeq Shabazz is apparently injured which is not good. Calgary certainly has the offensive talent to stay with anyone, especially getting lots of chances from a Bomber offense serving up copious amounts of two and outs. Calgary doesnt seem as good as last year, but still takes this one easily.
Calgary 40, Winnipeg 13
Edmonton has been on a two game roll, including beating Edmonton at home last week. Hamilton is coming off a home victory against BC. This could end up being a tight game and I have to admit I'm surprised that Edmonton is doing as well as it has. I'm picking Hamilton in this game, despite a bit of homerism, mainly because I have been consistent in saying that Edmonton QB Ricky Ray is considerably overrated. Basically if the Cats can get a little pressure on Ray, that should be enough to disrupt the Edmonton offense. Hopefully the Cats can combine a passing oriented attack with Arland Bruce making a contribution with some nice runs by Cobb and Porter. Otis Floyd and Darrell Adams are still out with injuries, although Hamilton's defence didn't seem to suffer too much last week. Edmonton doesn't have Lumsden, as per usual, although non-import Calvin McCarty is an excellent player.
Hamilton 29, Edmonton 27
Winnipeg at Calgary,
Winnipeg's new QB, Michael Bishop, has actually had some time to prepare, so there may be more of a Winnipeg offense this game. The Bomber defence has been decent, although ballhawk middle linebacker Sideeq Shabazz is apparently injured which is not good. Calgary certainly has the offensive talent to stay with anyone, especially getting lots of chances from a Bomber offense serving up copious amounts of two and outs. Calgary doesnt seem as good as last year, but still takes this one easily.
Calgary 40, Winnipeg 13
Thursday, August 6, 2009
Balsillie's Back in the Game, Bitches!
That's right NHL board of governors, Balsillie is back in the auction for the Phoenix Coyotes. The article states that rival bidder Jerry Reinsdorf is getting sick of the hassle of trying to buy the Coyotes and made noises about dropping out. Reinsdorf's bid is contingent on some sort of weird area around the stadium having an additional sales tax or something to support the team. Doesn't seem like something the voters would like. If Reinsdorf drops out between now and the September 10th auction date, the NHL will be in a tricky situation. Sure they just rejected Balsillie as an owner, however in a bankruptcy proceeding how much weight will be given to the NHL's wishes over that of creditors is not certain.
On the Balsilliemeter for a team coming to Hamilton, I currently rate it at 27%, much higher than before Judge Redfield Baum's latest ruling. Maybe higher than it deserves to be, but the lack of competing offers besides Reinsdorf's (and I don't really count the one where Phoenix would play a few games in Saskatoon, which frankly is only one step up from the joke the Toronto Legacy was/is) is the justification.
On the Balsilliemeter for a team coming to Hamilton, I currently rate it at 27%, much higher than before Judge Redfield Baum's latest ruling. Maybe higher than it deserves to be, but the lack of competing offers besides Reinsdorf's (and I don't really count the one where Phoenix would play a few games in Saskatoon, which frankly is only one step up from the joke the Toronto Legacy was/is) is the justification.
CFL Previews, Week 6, Part 1
Toronto at Montreal
Well this game does not seem like it will bode will for the double blue. Finding a way to lose to a Winnipeg team that used a QB hired mere days before is bizarre, plus Toronto makes a million turnovers. Getting back receiver PK Sam will help down the line, but right now Toronto's offense is poor. Getting back receiver Reggie McNeal into the lineup after a Bart Andrus benching should help a bit too, but really Montreal should steamroller them. Montreal just has too much consistency on offense and the ability of their defence to get to and hurry the QB will keep Toronto below 15 points. Plus they are at home.
Montreal 39, Toronto 14
Saskatchewan at BC
BC lost in Hamilton last week but did have chances to win. Plus their offense put up a decent amount of yards despite not scoring a lot of points. Saskatchewan managed to pull out a last second win at Calgary, which due to a huge number of Rider faithful was almost a neutral site game. BC has picked up JoJuan Armour, cast out from Calgary's training camp for interteam violence, but for BC that intensity is probably a good thing, although Armour is getting a bit crotchety. Apparently non-import middle linebacker Javier Glatt will sit, as I guess the blame for the Cats DeAndra Cobb running rampant on the BC defence fell on him. Saskatchwan should win this one (despite their non-import defensive tackle Scott Schultz retiring to buy and run an insurance business after five games, which is a bit sad), although call me crazy, I'll pick BC. Still don't have huge confidence in Rider QB Durant.
BC 29, Sasky 23
Well this game does not seem like it will bode will for the double blue. Finding a way to lose to a Winnipeg team that used a QB hired mere days before is bizarre, plus Toronto makes a million turnovers. Getting back receiver PK Sam will help down the line, but right now Toronto's offense is poor. Getting back receiver Reggie McNeal into the lineup after a Bart Andrus benching should help a bit too, but really Montreal should steamroller them. Montreal just has too much consistency on offense and the ability of their defence to get to and hurry the QB will keep Toronto below 15 points. Plus they are at home.
Montreal 39, Toronto 14
Saskatchewan at BC
BC lost in Hamilton last week but did have chances to win. Plus their offense put up a decent amount of yards despite not scoring a lot of points. Saskatchewan managed to pull out a last second win at Calgary, which due to a huge number of Rider faithful was almost a neutral site game. BC has picked up JoJuan Armour, cast out from Calgary's training camp for interteam violence, but for BC that intensity is probably a good thing, although Armour is getting a bit crotchety. Apparently non-import middle linebacker Javier Glatt will sit, as I guess the blame for the Cats DeAndra Cobb running rampant on the BC defence fell on him. Saskatchwan should win this one (despite their non-import defensive tackle Scott Schultz retiring to buy and run an insurance business after five games, which is a bit sad), although call me crazy, I'll pick BC. Still don't have huge confidence in Rider QB Durant.
BC 29, Sasky 23
Monday, August 3, 2009
CFL Power Rankings
1. Montreal
2. Saskatchewan
3. Hamilton
4. Edmonton
5. Calgary
6. Toronto
7. Winnipeg
8. BC
Some difficulty this week, although not as many teams log jammed at 2 and 2. Montreal at the top is still an easy pick. Saskatchewan managed to pull out a win against Calgary on the road and generally finds weird ways to win. Hamilton has to go above Edmonton, simply because I still don't believe in the Eskimos over the long term. We'll see in any case this week if the ranking is justified. Calgary manages to lose at home to go below 500 but they are still miles ahead of the bottom three. Toronto wins handily last week, loses incompetently by one this week at home. Still better than Winnipeg, even if Winnipeg is somewhat better with Michael Bishop at the helm. BC still hasn't shown anything and one has to wonder if after being favoured last week against Hamilton whether they can be favoured again.
In BC news, the Lions have picked up JoJuan Armour, a former Cat linebacker and a winner last year with Calgary of a Grey Cup last year, before being booted for altercations with teammates during training camp. The Lions defence was effectively a sieve last week against Ticat running back DeAndra Cobb. Often Cobb would get past the line and where one would expect a linebacker to be, instead there was open space. Armour is getting up there in age, but the Lions defence is holding them back and they'll rarely win if they can't stop the run
2. Saskatchewan
3. Hamilton
4. Edmonton
5. Calgary
6. Toronto
7. Winnipeg
8. BC
Some difficulty this week, although not as many teams log jammed at 2 and 2. Montreal at the top is still an easy pick. Saskatchewan managed to pull out a win against Calgary on the road and generally finds weird ways to win. Hamilton has to go above Edmonton, simply because I still don't believe in the Eskimos over the long term. We'll see in any case this week if the ranking is justified. Calgary manages to lose at home to go below 500 but they are still miles ahead of the bottom three. Toronto wins handily last week, loses incompetently by one this week at home. Still better than Winnipeg, even if Winnipeg is somewhat better with Michael Bishop at the helm. BC still hasn't shown anything and one has to wonder if after being favoured last week against Hamilton whether they can be favoured again.
In BC news, the Lions have picked up JoJuan Armour, a former Cat linebacker and a winner last year with Calgary of a Grey Cup last year, before being booted for altercations with teammates during training camp. The Lions defence was effectively a sieve last week against Ticat running back DeAndra Cobb. Often Cobb would get past the line and where one would expect a linebacker to be, instead there was open space. Armour is getting up there in age, but the Lions defence is holding them back and they'll rarely win if they can't stop the run
Sunday, August 2, 2009
Whither Dave Stala?
Certainly Tigercatatonia is not one to question a victory too much, but one wonders about whether hometown boy Dave Stala gets more passes when Kevin Glenn is in as opposed to Porter. Stala caught a single pass for eight yards last week with Glenn in the entire game. Last week with Porter and Glenn splitting the quarterbacking duties, Stala caught seven passes for 86 yards. Part of this may be due to the relatively paltry passing numbers put up Porter in the last game, with Porter going 17 for 31 for 171 yards, a TD and a pick. There just wasn't that many completions, with Rodriguez having the best day with five catches for 49 yards. Stala did appear to be shaken up on on play, but did come back to play. When Arland Bruce III is fully integrated into the Ticat offense and the Cats still running the ball, how many passes will be available for the remaining Cat receivers?
Saturday, August 1, 2009
Winnipeg Toronto Game
Watched parts of this game, a battle of two terrible offenses. The truly sad thing is that Winnipeg's offense under new quarterback Michael Bishop was better than last week under Stefan LeFors. Bishop even looked good for the first half, before the Argos figured him out somewhat. Joseph probably suffered from not having Bruce or Reggie McNeal to throw to. Toronto had chances at the end, including the field goal attempt that was marred by a time count violation. Both these teams have to be considered at the bottom of the league, although their defences are both decent.
Argo second overall draft pick Legare didn't look bad replacing Belli at defensive tackle, so I guess Buffalo signing Corey Mace doesn't really hurt them that much. Toronto running back Jamal Robertson ran well in the second half, until fumbling critically near the end. Sometimes you just roll a one.
That ties the Argos and Bombers at 2 and 3, one game back of the Cats and only two behind Montreal. Looking ahead to next week, Toronto is in Montreal and Winnipeg in Calgary. I would be highly surprised for the visitors to lose both of those games. Opportunity for the Cats to put a little distance between themselves and the cellar dwellers.
Argo second overall draft pick Legare didn't look bad replacing Belli at defensive tackle, so I guess Buffalo signing Corey Mace doesn't really hurt them that much. Toronto running back Jamal Robertson ran well in the second half, until fumbling critically near the end. Sometimes you just roll a one.
That ties the Argos and Bombers at 2 and 3, one game back of the Cats and only two behind Montreal. Looking ahead to next week, Toronto is in Montreal and Winnipeg in Calgary. I would be highly surprised for the visitors to lose both of those games. Opportunity for the Cats to put a little distance between themselves and the cellar dwellers.
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