Later today the participants for the Grey Cup in Edmonton will be determined. They will be two different games but winners will be declared.
East Division
In the confines of Olympic Stadium, the Montreal Alouettes will host the Toronto Argonauts. Although the Argos surprised the CFL by beating Hamilton last week they really have very little chance to beat the Als. Toronto doesn't have a strong quarterback and has won many of their games in despite of that position. The Als are good at everything. Without any factor from the weather, they will run over Toronto.
West Division
Out on the very cold bald faced prairie the Calgary Stampeders will host the Saskatchewan Roughriders. It will be winter temperatures. The ball is going to be hard as a rock. Kicking and catching is going to be difficult and as such, the running game will make the difference. Both teams can run the ball. The Riders are not very good at stopping the run. I am sure they worked on it this week but most of their losses this year came due to not being able to get the ball back late in the 4th quarter, as their opponents ran it down their throats.
I realize I was not very good at picking winners last week but I hope this week will be a bit better, especially in the West.
Sunday, November 21, 2010
Sunday, November 14, 2010
0 For
Well I went 0 for 2 with my CFL Playoff predictions this week.
I can't comment on the East Division as I was driving for the entire game.
I did see the double overtime Rider win over the Lions. The Saskatchewan Roughriders did just enough to beat the BC Lions. Not one bit extra. They seem to be at the mercy of their opponents. They don't drive the play. If they play like this next week the Stamps will chew them up. Of course I didn't think they were going to make the Western Final so don't bet your house on my prognostication.
I will save my predictions for later this week, I need to hear who is healthy. I can't do any worse than this so I will try again.
Saturday, November 13, 2010
Playoffs
The Winnipeg Blue Bombers did not make the playoffs but that doesn't mean we can't talk about them.
In the East division it's the Hamilton Tiger-Cats hosting the Toronto Argonauts. If both teams bring their A game, the Argos will get run over by Hamilton. The only chance Toronto really has is Chad Owens runs back a lot of kicks for touchdowns. He has been the only real game-changer for the boatmen this season. If the Ti-Cats can keep him in check and play like they can and often do play, they will win.
The West division is a little more interesting. The BC Lions will be visiting the Saskatchewan Roughriders. The Riders have not looked good since the Banjo Bowl. Their wins have been squeakers and they have not been competitive in a lot of games. If they can put together a good game they can earn a trip to Calgary but they are in for a fight. The Lions seem to have found themselves a bit as of late. If they can control the ball they have a real chance to win the game. If Coach Buono can get his team ready and they get an early lead, it will help them a lot.
So what do I think will happen.
The Ti-Cats will beat the Argos and the Lions will beat the Riders.
In the East division it's the Hamilton Tiger-Cats hosting the Toronto Argonauts. If both teams bring their A game, the Argos will get run over by Hamilton. The only chance Toronto really has is Chad Owens runs back a lot of kicks for touchdowns. He has been the only real game-changer for the boatmen this season. If the Ti-Cats can keep him in check and play like they can and often do play, they will win.
The West division is a little more interesting. The BC Lions will be visiting the Saskatchewan Roughriders. The Riders have not looked good since the Banjo Bowl. Their wins have been squeakers and they have not been competitive in a lot of games. If they can put together a good game they can earn a trip to Calgary but they are in for a fight. The Lions seem to have found themselves a bit as of late. If they can control the ball they have a real chance to win the game. If Coach Buono can get his team ready and they get an early lead, it will help them a lot.
So what do I think will happen.
The Ti-Cats will beat the Argos and the Lions will beat the Riders.
Saturday, October 30, 2010
Not Road Warriors
With their overtime loss to the Edmonton Eskimos the Winnipeg Blue Bombers lose all their road games this year. It is a reflection of their season. They can't win close games and they can't win on the road. In football you have to be able to do both to be successful.
There are a lot of reasons the Bombers have not had a lot of success. They have started 4 quarterbacks this season. They are very young for a pro football team. They have a rookie head coach.
There are also a lot of things that look good for the future. They have one of the best receivers in the league. They have one of the best running backs in the league. They lead the league in sacks.
It has been a frustrating season for the fans, and probably for the team as well. They have a good foundation and as long as they let things gel over the next couple of years they will have a contender. The problem is in Bomberland the media and fans are starved for a championship and that has made them fickle. They want instant results. In football you don't get that.
There is one more game this year. It has no real meaning. I will be there and have a lot of fun while I am. Then there will be another long off-season. I hope they don't decide to blow up the team. A few tweaks is all it needs.
There are a lot of reasons the Bombers have not had a lot of success. They have started 4 quarterbacks this season. They are very young for a pro football team. They have a rookie head coach.
There are also a lot of things that look good for the future. They have one of the best receivers in the league. They have one of the best running backs in the league. They lead the league in sacks.
It has been a frustrating season for the fans, and probably for the team as well. They have a good foundation and as long as they let things gel over the next couple of years they will have a contender. The problem is in Bomberland the media and fans are starved for a championship and that has made them fickle. They want instant results. In football you don't get that.
There is one more game this year. It has no real meaning. I will be there and have a lot of fun while I am. Then there will be another long off-season. I hope they don't decide to blow up the team. A few tweaks is all it needs.
Sunday, October 24, 2010
The Fat Lady Sang
Yesterday the any chance of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers going to the playoffs were destroyed with a 27-8 loss to the Toronto Argonauts. In addition to losing the game the Bombers also lost 2 more quarterbacks for the duration of the season.
I'm going to guess that any chance of posting a win is gone with 3 broken quarterbacks. The team has to go out and find 2 guys to suit up for the last 2 games. They won't know the system. They won't know the receivers. It doesn't look good.
At the start of the year everyone was worried that Buck Pierce would get hurt as he runs all over the field. Well, Buck got hurt twice in the pocket and the other 2 get hurt running around.
It's tough being a Bomber fan his year. Nothing has come easy and it's hard to have faith in the team. I realize it is a new coach with a young group. I realize things should get better in the future. I also seem to becoming less patient.
Next week the Winnipeg Blue Bombers will dress quarterbacks number 4, 5, and 6. That is never a good sign, for any team
I'm going to guess that any chance of posting a win is gone with 3 broken quarterbacks. The team has to go out and find 2 guys to suit up for the last 2 games. They won't know the system. They won't know the receivers. It doesn't look good.
At the start of the year everyone was worried that Buck Pierce would get hurt as he runs all over the field. Well, Buck got hurt twice in the pocket and the other 2 get hurt running around.
It's tough being a Bomber fan his year. Nothing has come easy and it's hard to have faith in the team. I realize it is a new coach with a young group. I realize things should get better in the future. I also seem to becoming less patient.
Next week the Winnipeg Blue Bombers will dress quarterbacks number 4, 5, and 6. That is never a good sign, for any team
Tuesday, October 12, 2010
Finding Themselves
Yesterday the Winnipeg Blue Bombers defeated the BC Lions 47-35 in double overtime. For the first time all season the Bombers managed to dig deep and win a close one. Beyond that they actually found a way to overcome a significant deficit. It's moments like this that bring a team together.
All season the Big Blue has fallen apart late even though they are putting up some excellent individual performances. Unfortunately, they had not been able to close out games. Now they know they can.
I'm not sure what the Bomber leadership was thinking starting Alex Brink so late in the season. At this point defenses are well oiled machines. Making your first start at quarterback is destined to fail. However, through all this they may have inadvertently rallied the offense around Steven Jyles. He proved he could engineer a comeback and the team played for him. Steven Jyles and the Winnipeg Blue Bombers may have turned an important corner. They may have come together as a team.
I'm not implying they are going on a huge winning streak but they know they can win late and they will want to keep it up. They will play for each other and try to win together.
The playoffs are still a longshot so it is probably not a Grey Cup year but if they keep the core together they should be able to make a run in a year or two and that would be great in my books.
All season the Big Blue has fallen apart late even though they are putting up some excellent individual performances. Unfortunately, they had not been able to close out games. Now they know they can.
I'm not sure what the Bomber leadership was thinking starting Alex Brink so late in the season. At this point defenses are well oiled machines. Making your first start at quarterback is destined to fail. However, through all this they may have inadvertently rallied the offense around Steven Jyles. He proved he could engineer a comeback and the team played for him. Steven Jyles and the Winnipeg Blue Bombers may have turned an important corner. They may have come together as a team.
I'm not implying they are going on a huge winning streak but they know they can win late and they will want to keep it up. They will play for each other and try to win together.
The playoffs are still a longshot so it is probably not a Grey Cup year but if they keep the core together they should be able to make a run in a year or two and that would be great in my books.
Saturday, October 2, 2010
A Can't Win Team
The BC Lions beat the Winnipeg Blue Bombers 16-14 in Vancouver.
The Bombers are a team that can't win. They can't win close games and they can't win on the road. If you can't do that in football you won't be very successful.
With this loss there is really no chance door the Big Blue to make the playoffs but when you have to start doing math and can't win close games or games on the road you have no chance.
I have been a Bomber fan all my life and I will continue to be forever but this is painful. Everyone says the team is headed in the right direction. Everyone, including myself think Paul LaPolice is the right man for the job. I think everyone should should expect more.
The team can make plays, great plays for big yards. The team can stop the opposition. The team can't win. In a profession where winning matters, that is not a good sign.
Unless the hand of God comes down and touches the Bombers, they are looking to next year. I hope they have learned a few things this year and I hope someday they learn how to win.
The Bombers are a team that can't win. They can't win close games and they can't win on the road. If you can't do that in football you won't be very successful.
With this loss there is really no chance door the Big Blue to make the playoffs but when you have to start doing math and can't win close games or games on the road you have no chance.
I have been a Bomber fan all my life and I will continue to be forever but this is painful. Everyone says the team is headed in the right direction. Everyone, including myself think Paul LaPolice is the right man for the job. I think everyone should should expect more.
The team can make plays, great plays for big yards. The team can stop the opposition. The team can't win. In a profession where winning matters, that is not a good sign.
Unless the hand of God comes down and touches the Bombers, they are looking to next year. I hope they have learned a few things this year and I hope someday they learn how to win.
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