Tag: Winnipeg Blue Bombers

Canadian Football League Championship (Grey Cup)

Winnipeg Blue Bombers logo
Go Bombers Go

 

Today is Canada’s biggest one day sporting event, the Grey Cup.  This trophy is emblematic of winning Canada’s football championship.  Canada plays American football, with a twist.  There are 3 downs, not four.  There are 12 players on the field for each side instead of 11.  The field is 110 yards, with a 25 yard end zone.  The field is also wider and motion is allowed by receivers and running backs prior to the snap.  These changes from the American game create a pass oriented, wide open, high scoring variety to the game.  It caters to mobile quarterbacks and smaller, quicker players.

This years championship game will be held in Vancouver, BC and features the Winnipeg Blue Bombers and the BC  Lions.  The Lions play in Vancouver.  On paper and by a lot of pundits, BC is the favourite to win.  Myself, I am not so sure.  BC can and has been played to a standstill this year by teams with a good running game and a stout defence.  Winnipeg has both.  The other reason I am not so sure is that I am originally a Winnipegger and also, do not care much for the Lions.. To me the only question in the game is whether or not there are riots after the game, win or lose.

For my American friends, tear yourself away from the NFL for a bit today and watch this game.  It starts at 6:30 Eastern time and can be viewed in the USA on the NFL Network.

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Now We Don't Suck The Same As The Argos

Saskatchewan Roughriders Canadian football helmet
Saskatchewan Roughriders

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.

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Now We Suck The Same As The Argos

Canadian Football League ball with transparent...

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.

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Now We Suck More Than The Argos

Photo of the field of Mosaic Stadium at Taylor...
Image via Wikipedia

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.

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