A cultural icon, Al Davis, owner of the Oakland Raiders of the NFL passed away on October 8th. A straight shooter and rebel, who coined the phrase “Just Win Baby”, lived his life, and ran his team, in the way he wanted to, damn the torpedoes and full speed ahead. His teams were always stressing the vertical passing game and usually consisted of misfits and “characters” that did not fit well on other teams. He let them be themselves as long as they won and the strategy usually paid off in victories. RIP Al Davis.
Week 11 is now done, and I as I write, Week 12 is beginning. After last week, we can make the following assumptions. The Winnipeg Blue Bombers are definitely not located in Swaggerville. After 2 resounding defeats to the Saskatchewan Roughriders, one can only wonder if the Bombers were a mirage. They won a lot of close games that maybe they shouldn’t have won on their way to a 7-1 record. Getting hammered back to back by a 1-7 team can make you think about things like that. Things don’t get any easier for them as they have a first place showdown this weekend in Montreal with defending Grey Cup champs, Montreal Alouettes.
Speaking of the 1-7 team, the Riders are now not sucking the same as the Toronto Argonauts. By virtue of their 3-7 record (thanks Winnipeg), we are now ahead of the 2-8 Argos. The best part, we get to play them this weekend at home. A victory will bury the Argos and put pressure on the next team up the ladder, the BC Lions. The Lions are on the road against the Western Division leading Calgary Stampeders, If the Lions lose and the Riders win, they will both be 4-7 and next week they face each other in Regina. For the second time in my life, I find myself cheering for Calgary.
In what may be the game of the week, Edmonton Eskimos and the Hamilton Tiger Cats face off tonight in what will be a very entertaining game. Both are excellent teams, with Edmonton currently in second in the West and Hamilton hanging tough with Winnipeg and Montreal.
After this weekend, everything could be very tight in the West and the Argos all but done for the year. We will see if Winnipeg can turn it around in a tough match up and we will see if the Riders turnabout is for real. They are taking the baby steps and looking at 1 game at a time, which is about all you can do when you were in their position.
Week 10 in the CFL is now in the record book, and what a week it was. Labour Day weekend and all its rivalries, the end of summer, the start of let’s get serious football, the halfway point of the season. There was a twist this year as the Toronto Argonauts vs the Hamilton Tiger Cats rivalry had to be put off this year due to scheduling issues. This actually turned out for the best as Hamilton is tussling with the Montreal Alouettes for 2nd place in the East and is becoming a sweet rivalry in itself. To the games themselves. All were blow outs, with the BC Lions destruction of the Argos 29-16, the only one that could not be called a surprise. Hamilton destroyed Montreal 44-21 in a major surprise. The Edmonton Eskimos took apart the Calgary Stampeders 35-7 in Calgary. I was actually, to my surprise, cheering for the Stamps in this one.
The major upset occurred in Regina. The 7-1 Winnipeg Blue Bombers swaggered into Regina to take on the Saskatchewan Roughriders (1-7) in a game that the Swaggerville boys figured would be a walk in the park. NOT!!!! The pride of Saskatchewan dismantled the Canucks of the CFL in robotic order. The final score was 27-7 in a game that saw all the missing parts of the Riders’ game come together. Riderville is back.
As I noted last week, the Riders needed to take baby steps to come back to their game. The first step has been taken. We have caught the Argos and now stand at 2-7, even with Toronto and 1 game behind BC for 3rd in the West. At this time last week, most would have said 2 losses to the Bombers. Now we can do no worse than a split.
It will be an interesting week 11 as all teams play the 2nd part of a home and home.
In related news, Cleo Lemon, one time Miami Dolphin starting QB, was cut by the Toronto Argonauts after the teams loss to BC. Steven Jyles will assume the role of starter next week. The former University of Louisiana – Monroe QB had been on the sidelines with an injury and will be assigned the weighty task of salvaging Toronto’s season.
It is quickly becoming apparent that the Saskatchewan Roughriders may not make the CFL playoffs this year. This is appalling. After 9 weeks, we are 1-7, all alone in last place in the league. Fortunately things are happening that may help turn things around. First, firing Head Coach Greg Marshall and Offensive Coordinator, Doug Berry. It was increasingly obvious that the change in philosophy from previous years to today was not taking hold. This is a very talented team, with consecutive Grey Cup appearances. What changed? The coaching. Time to change back, and they did. Their 2nd move was to bring Ken Miller back into the Head Coach role. This will change attitudes and bring everyone back into sync. Quarterback Darian Durant was inconsistent with the cards he was playing. He is known to respect coach Miller, and this alone will bring him out of his funk. His discontent with past coaching staff was obvious. It was also obvious that he was struggling with the new system.
The 3rd thing that will help is the return of Andy Fantuz, cut this week by the Chicago Bears. Although he is not eligible for Sunday’s Labour Day Classic, last season’s leading receiver will be available the following week for the Banjo Bowl in Winnipeg. He will make an immediate impact on both the clubhouse and on the field. A quarterback hates to lose his favourite target, so one can only imagine how Durant will feel about getting him back.
Now it is time for baby steps. There are 10 games left. This week’s game against league leading Winnipeg Blue Bombers will, or should be, an emotional game in reaction to the recent news and changes. If I were the Bombers, I would tread carefully. The giant may be awakened. The next step is to stop sucking more than the Toronto Argonauts. This should not be terribly difficult. Once we catch them, then we look to the next target.
A third of the season and it is time to take a look at what is shaking out in the league this year. I would like to be able to say that The Saskatchewan Roughriders are blowing away the rest of the league, but, in what can only be called a major surprise, they are languishing last place in the West with a 1-5 record, and, frankly, suck more than BC. This is just one surprise. Every team except the Calgary Stampeders, the Montreal Alouettes and the Hamilton Tiger-Cats are playing in the surprise category. Lets examine who is surprising and why.
1. Saskatchewan Roughriders
Shocking. Grey Cup finalists the past two years, the Riders are playing way below their potential. From what I have seen there are 3 main reasons. First, a new coach, with a different way of doing things. To me, the team was built by the old coach and they are not adapting. Second, the loss of Andy Fantuz has not been compensated for, and third, the defence is not working. Time for an airlift and then back to the basics. All is not lost, but it is getting close
They were expected to compete this year for a playoff spot. They are not, and it appears they won’t. Travis Lulay is performing as expected, but their running game is non-existent and their receiving corps has lost a step. Gerot Simon is still a great receiver, but has lost the breakaway speed he once had.
Wow, undefeated over the first 5 weeks, they are the biggest surprise. The O-line is protecting Rick Ray, who is delivering strike after strike to a terrific receiving group, led by Fred Stamps. Can they keep it up, I believe so.
First in the East, ahead of Montreal, not believable, but true. The defence is the big reason for the turnaround. They have 29 sacks in the first 6 games, most in the league, Hamilton and BC are second with 13. The have allowed only 113 points as well. Outstanding! The offense, not so much. They should have more points, but are struggling. Their hold on first, or even a playoff spot is still tenuous and will depend on staying healthy and maintaining the pressure from the defence.
Bubba Smith passed away on Tuesday.  An all-pro defensive end with the Baltimore Colts, Oakland Raiders and Houston Oilers, Bubba will also be remembered for his role as Hightower in the Police Academy movies and for his series of Miller Lite commercials with Dick Butkus. He won his only Super Bowl with the Colts in 1970. He never wore the ring as he did not believe the performance in the game was anything else but sloppy.
![Cover of "Police Academy [Region 2]"](https://i0.wp.com/ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/511E5RH6W0L._SL300_.jpg?resize=254%2C300 "Cover of \"Police Academy [Region 2]\"")