Probably the biggest news is both Avon Cobourne and the returning from injury Chevon "Don't Call Me Siobhan" Walker playing. How much they'll play together may depend on ratio issues. Right now, the Cats start 3 non-import offensive linemen, Andy Fantuz and Samuel Giguere. With four receivers and a fullback in, non-import Daryl Stephenson is in at fullback. For five and six receiver sets, Stephenson comes out and non-import Dave Stala comes in (note I'm inferring this from the depth chart which may be different than what actually happens in the game). So that's six non-import starters on offense and you need seven total. The Cats start two non-imports on defence so they're up by one.
For Walker and Cobourne to be on the field at the same time that pretty much precludes Stephenson (although they could have some odd formations, especially on short yardage or he could be a tight end), and I assume it would be Williams, Grant, Fantuz and Giguere at receiver. That could be interesting, especially if one swings out and Burris does some play action to the other. I'll try and keep track of who is on the field if and when Cobourne and Walker are both on at the same time.
In other injury news Colclough is in at linebacker for Knowlton and Young is back at one of the corners.
Who knows what the Cats will do tonight? They have a 500 record at home, while the Alouettes have a losing record on the road. This game is not must win, but it is close to it, both to stay ahead of the Bombers and to try and catch Edmonton for the cross-over playoff spot. If they lose this game, things become a lot more problematic.
Friday, September 28, 2012
Luca Congi Article in the National Post
There's an article in the National Post about Luca Congi and his kicking success this year in the CFL this year, including awesomeness over 40 yards and Paul Osbaldiston as some mystical Bagger Vance figure (although considerably pastier than Will Smith). Last year I did a post comparing Paul McCallum's kicking with NFL kickers. Maybe on the weekend I'll make a post comparing Congi's year thus far, provided he doesn't honk it up tonight.
CFL Predictions 2012 Week 14
Montreal at Hamilton
Getting close to must win territory for the Ticats to qualify for the playoffs. For the Alouettes not so much, although historically the Alouettes haven't exactly been a team that takes the brakes off. The past two games the Cats have looked good and then mediocre. The Als are only one point favourites on the road. The Cats are going to play both running back Chevon Walker and Avon Cobourne this game which has fans hopeful. The Cats have a 500 home record and the Als actually have a losing record on the road. I'll go with the Cats this week and their sense of urgency, although I probably shouldn't.
Cats 28 Team Marois 24
Edmonton at Calgary
Esks are starting their third string quarterback (who didn't look too good when he played against Hamilton two weeks ago) and are unsurprisingly seven point underdogs on the road. I think that's valid. Esks losing streak continues.
Calgary 37 Edmonton 19
Toronto at Winnipeg
Winnipeg has Buck Pierce starting (assuming he hasn't slipped on a banana peel this week) and the Argos have career backup and not particularly young Jarious Jackson. After beating Hamilton last week, the Bombers have a glimmer of a playoff spot. I'll take playoff urgency over backup starting quarterback and the Bombers will cover the three points they've been given.
Bombers 31 Team Suck 23
BC at Saskatchewan
The Lions are only 2.5 favourites on the road. Considering the Lions only managed to beat the currently lowly Eskimos by a single point and the Riders good showing against a good Stamps team last week, plus a rowdy crowd at Fertilizer Field (Mosaic), that to me says Riders win.
Riders 29 Lions 24
Getting close to must win territory for the Ticats to qualify for the playoffs. For the Alouettes not so much, although historically the Alouettes haven't exactly been a team that takes the brakes off. The past two games the Cats have looked good and then mediocre. The Als are only one point favourites on the road. The Cats are going to play both running back Chevon Walker and Avon Cobourne this game which has fans hopeful. The Cats have a 500 home record and the Als actually have a losing record on the road. I'll go with the Cats this week and their sense of urgency, although I probably shouldn't.
Cats 28 Team Marois 24
Edmonton at Calgary
Esks are starting their third string quarterback (who didn't look too good when he played against Hamilton two weeks ago) and are unsurprisingly seven point underdogs on the road. I think that's valid. Esks losing streak continues.
Calgary 37 Edmonton 19
Toronto at Winnipeg
Winnipeg has Buck Pierce starting (assuming he hasn't slipped on a banana peel this week) and the Argos have career backup and not particularly young Jarious Jackson. After beating Hamilton last week, the Bombers have a glimmer of a playoff spot. I'll take playoff urgency over backup starting quarterback and the Bombers will cover the three points they've been given.
Bombers 31 Team Suck 23
BC at Saskatchewan
The Lions are only 2.5 favourites on the road. Considering the Lions only managed to beat the currently lowly Eskimos by a single point and the Riders good showing against a good Stamps team last week, plus a rowdy crowd at Fertilizer Field (Mosaic), that to me says Riders win.
Riders 29 Lions 24
Thursday, September 27, 2012
CFL Power Rankings 2012 Week 13
1. BC Lions
Can't argue with keep winning, even if they only managed to beat the swooning Eskimos by a single point. I'm starting to think that the Lions are pretty much a defensive power house and just average on offense. That's a lot in 2012's CFL.
2. Montreal Alouettes
Anthony Calvillo is in a groove of late and the Alouettes have risen above all the other teams save the Lions. Easily handled the Argos last week at home and are close to locking up the East final in Montreal.
3. Calgary Stampeders
Sure they lost to the Riders, but only by five points and there's a lot of mediocre teams in the CFL. Jon Cornish is a good weapon to have. Glenn having a good year. Not much more to say.
4. Saskatchewan Rough Riders
Have the Riders turned it around? Maybe. I need to see more proof, but they managed to win last week which is something.
5. Toronto Argonauts
Lost to Montreal badly in Alouetteland last week and have lost Ricky Ray for some indeterminant period of time. Being stuck with Jarious Jackson a career backup doesn't inspire a lot of confidence. Still not a bad defence.
6. Edmonton Eskimos
Down to their third string quarterback due to injuries whose name I can't be bothered to look up, and losers of four straight, things are looking grim for the Eskimos. Thanks Ron Lancaster for the cross-over playoff spot
7. Hamilton Tiger-Cats
Pretty close to basement level, especially after losing to the Bombers in a semi-must win game. Offence is powerful, but inexplicably coughs up a furball in the third quarter.
8. Winnipeg Blue Bombers
Sure they won a game, with Buck "One Game Played without Injury" Pierce back. Win two in a row and we'll start talking.
Can't argue with keep winning, even if they only managed to beat the swooning Eskimos by a single point. I'm starting to think that the Lions are pretty much a defensive power house and just average on offense. That's a lot in 2012's CFL.
2. Montreal Alouettes
Anthony Calvillo is in a groove of late and the Alouettes have risen above all the other teams save the Lions. Easily handled the Argos last week at home and are close to locking up the East final in Montreal.
3. Calgary Stampeders
Sure they lost to the Riders, but only by five points and there's a lot of mediocre teams in the CFL. Jon Cornish is a good weapon to have. Glenn having a good year. Not much more to say.
4. Saskatchewan Rough Riders
Have the Riders turned it around? Maybe. I need to see more proof, but they managed to win last week which is something.
5. Toronto Argonauts
Lost to Montreal badly in Alouetteland last week and have lost Ricky Ray for some indeterminant period of time. Being stuck with Jarious Jackson a career backup doesn't inspire a lot of confidence. Still not a bad defence.
6. Edmonton Eskimos
Down to their third string quarterback due to injuries whose name I can't be bothered to look up, and losers of four straight, things are looking grim for the Eskimos. Thanks Ron Lancaster for the cross-over playoff spot
7. Hamilton Tiger-Cats
Pretty close to basement level, especially after losing to the Bombers in a semi-must win game. Offence is powerful, but inexplicably coughs up a furball in the third quarter.
8. Winnipeg Blue Bombers
Sure they won a game, with Buck "One Game Played without Injury" Pierce back. Win two in a row and we'll start talking.
Saturday, September 22, 2012
Ticats Lose to Bombers 34 to 12
Well looks like it's official, the 2012 Hamilton Tiger-Cats are a bad team. It didn't look like it going into the season, but that's why they play the games.
The final score favoured the Bombers as the Cats were in if for most of the game and even leading at one point, but a combination of penalties and ineptness on offense finally ground down a Ticat defence that played relatively well.
The turning points were either the Fantuz fumble after gaining a first down or the contacting the kicker penalty that extended a Bomber drive. The Bomber
offense was helped by numerous penalties, some justified, some incredibly chintzy (including one of the weaker facemask penalties of the season) and not by the awesome play of Buck Pierce, although you wouldn't know it from the way the TSN personalities were massaging his prostate gland.
For the Cats to make the playoffs likely requires them to go 4 and 2 over the last 6 games, which considering their personnel is possible, although considering they are 4 and 8 now somewhat unlikely. Either Edmonton or Saskatchewan could also totally collapse as well, but now the Bombers are inexplicably back in the mix one game behind the Ticats.
I'll be curious to see if the coaches make any changes this week before the next home game. I'm not really sure what they could do either.
The final score favoured the Bombers as the Cats were in if for most of the game and even leading at one point, but a combination of penalties and ineptness on offense finally ground down a Ticat defence that played relatively well.
The turning points were either the Fantuz fumble after gaining a first down or the contacting the kicker penalty that extended a Bomber drive. The Bomber
offense was helped by numerous penalties, some justified, some incredibly chintzy (including one of the weaker facemask penalties of the season) and not by the awesome play of Buck Pierce, although you wouldn't know it from the way the TSN personalities were massaging his prostate gland.
For the Cats to make the playoffs likely requires them to go 4 and 2 over the last 6 games, which considering their personnel is possible, although considering they are 4 and 8 now somewhat unlikely. Either Edmonton or Saskatchewan could also totally collapse as well, but now the Bombers are inexplicably back in the mix one game behind the Ticats.
I'll be curious to see if the coaches make any changes this week before the next home game. I'm not really sure what they could do either.
Friday, September 21, 2012
Ticats At Bombers Preview
Can the Cats continue from last week and get into the crossover playoff race with Saskatchewan and Edmonton? After last week's dominating performance on offence and defence one would hope so, but the Cats have underachieved their expectations this year.
For the offensive lineup, nothing too remarkable, at least on the lineup card posted on the Cats website. Cobourne starts at running back for the still injured Chevon Walker. Dile is in at right tackle and no more Hage in the middle, with O'Neill in, but that was true last week as well. Jones is listed ahead of Bakari Grant at slot.
For Winnipeg Buck Pierce is listed as the quarterback. Insert Buck Pierce injury joke here. Pierce has given the Cats trouble over the years as have the Bombers at home.
On defence, the front four is Boudreaux and Peach outside and McElveen and Davis inside. Last week they had five sacks which compared to their previous efforts over the first ten games was impressive. With Pierce's propensity to hang on to the ball there may be some sack opportunities available.
Brock Campbell is in again at Markeith Knowlton's spot at linebacker. He had a sack last week.
The defensive backfield again has the rarity of two Canadian starters in Rwabukamba as one of the corners and Bucknor as the safety.
Looking over the Bomber depth chart, one problem seems to be their non-imports are pretty mediocre. No real non-import receiver of note and that's going to hurt you especially if you're starting two import offensive tackles like the Bombers. Compare that to the Cats trio of Fantuz, Stala and Giguere. I know the Bombers are a running team, but if they lose this game and have written off a playoff spot, I'd be throwing in whatever non-imports at slot and receiver for the remaining games and hope somebody or somebodies develop for next year.
For the offensive lineup, nothing too remarkable, at least on the lineup card posted on the Cats website. Cobourne starts at running back for the still injured Chevon Walker. Dile is in at right tackle and no more Hage in the middle, with O'Neill in, but that was true last week as well. Jones is listed ahead of Bakari Grant at slot.
For Winnipeg Buck Pierce is listed as the quarterback. Insert Buck Pierce injury joke here. Pierce has given the Cats trouble over the years as have the Bombers at home.
On defence, the front four is Boudreaux and Peach outside and McElveen and Davis inside. Last week they had five sacks which compared to their previous efforts over the first ten games was impressive. With Pierce's propensity to hang on to the ball there may be some sack opportunities available.
Brock Campbell is in again at Markeith Knowlton's spot at linebacker. He had a sack last week.
The defensive backfield again has the rarity of two Canadian starters in Rwabukamba as one of the corners and Bucknor as the safety.
Looking over the Bomber depth chart, one problem seems to be their non-imports are pretty mediocre. No real non-import receiver of note and that's going to hurt you especially if you're starting two import offensive tackles like the Bombers. Compare that to the Cats trio of Fantuz, Stala and Giguere. I know the Bombers are a running team, but if they lose this game and have written off a playoff spot, I'd be throwing in whatever non-imports at slot and receiver for the remaining games and hope somebody or somebodies develop for next year.
Andy Fantuz Bad Season?
Andy Fantuz was signed to the Cats this year to a high value contract in CFL terms. After 11 games some consider him somewhat of a bust. However looking over the list of receiving leaders for the CFL, I don't think this is really the case. Chris Williams is third in the league with 900 yards receiving, however Fantuz is a respectable 12th on the list with 553 yards. Considering Fantuz missed some playing time due to injury his per game average performance would probably move him up the list of CFL receivers.
Fantuz still has seven regular games go this year and could still crack the 1000 yard mark. Fantuz always draws coverage helping out the other Ticat receivers. The Cats offence hasn't been the problem this year and neither has Fantuz.
Chris Williams has the chance to be the first CFL receiver to crack the 1,000 yard mark this year if he gets triple digit receiving yards against the Bombers tonight. That's impressive for only his 12th game this year.
Fantuz still has seven regular games go this year and could still crack the 1000 yard mark. Fantuz always draws coverage helping out the other Ticat receivers. The Cats offence hasn't been the problem this year and neither has Fantuz.
Chris Williams has the chance to be the first CFL receiver to crack the 1,000 yard mark this year if he gets triple digit receiving yards against the Bombers tonight. That's impressive for only his 12th game this year.
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