Sard

Well friends, the Winnipeg Blue Bombers marched into La Belle Province tonight trying to get to 7 wins by the halfway mark of the season for the first time since the halcyon days of Kahari Jones (editor's note, actually they were 7-1 back in 2011), and more importantly to keep pace with the leaders in the Western conference heading into the Labour Day weekend. And despite the temptations of St. Laurent street, which has led more than one young player astray in the wee hours of the morning, the Bombers showed no ill effects as they jumped out to a 10-0 lead before the teams switched sides for the first time. But as we have come to expect with this team, nothing comes easy for them, and close games that come down to the wire are as predictable for them as it is to hear Nick Hill saying "Come ooooon down" during our commercial breaks. So it was no surprise to see the Alouettes storm back and tie the game up with a last second field goal to send us into overtime all evened up. But a little extra football never hurt anyone, and the Bombers got the job done when they needed to, and it all turned out nice again.
Now as is the custom after a game, I bestow the Happy Honker award on a player that in my mind is the most deserving of it. Now as you know, the Happy Honker ward does not usually go to the best player in the game, but is given to that player who did something just that little extra special, that made you stand up and take notice, that maybe made an impact on that one play. And for 60 minutes it looked like that player who was going to receive the Happy Honker Award was special teamer Ryan Langford, who ran down Stefan Logan when it looked like he was going to return kick all the way for a touchdown, which of course led to Maurice Leggett corralling a fumble 2 plays later and the All came away with nothing when it looked like they might get 7, and with the game going to overtime, those lost points certainly cost Montreal.
But the game did not end after 60 minutes, and so the Happy Honker does not stop there. We got an extra game, 2 extra games in fact, and therefore this Happy Honker is all about 2. In the first extra session, on down number 2 at the opposition 10 yard line. Matt Nicholas hit Clarence Denmark, who 95% percent of people may want to get rid of when the Bombers sign Derel Walker, or so I have read, and Denmark made a great grab, changed hands with the ball, and stretched over the goal line falling down for touchdown number 2 on the night, and that was a touchdown the Bombers absolutely needed to keep their hopes alive in the end, so that is Happy Honker #1. But as I said, this Award is all about 2, so there is a second Happy Honker tonight. In overtime #2, Darian Durant threw a pass over the middle but failed to see Chris Randle cutting across the field, and Randle made a beautiful play to get interception #2 on the night, and all that was left was for Justin Medlock to kick yet another game winning field goal to send the Bomber fans off happily into the night, and with it 2 points for the Bombers in the standings. So my 2 Happy Honker Awards tonight go to Clarence Denmark and Chris Randle, for 2 big plays on 2 overtime drives that gave the Bombers 2 big points.
 

If the ball was knocked loose by the hit from Leggett's hand, the fumble location is obviously the spot of leggett's hand.

Absolutely agree... in the shot from inside the endzone, it looked like the hit popped the ball loose, and from the other angle he was hit back around the 2 or 3 yard line, so based on that, I believe the ball was loose before he crossed as well.

1 Darvin adams. 5-88 with 2 big big catches. 
2 harris Churns and burns for over 100 yards combined. 6.5 YPC. 
3 Randle 2 picks from the man on the island. 
HH denny with the circus  catch, TWICE. 
Honorable mention to MO. Sack, forced fumble fumble recovery. 

Could not stand the TSN coverage tonight. Seemed like they just came up short of having an iso camera on Nik Lewis all night. Wish I woulda been setup to listen to CJOB instead of TSN. All bloody night Nik Lewis

How can TSN not have cameras on both sides of the end zone?  The angles for the possible fumble on Montreal's overtime TD was horrible.  I think it may have been a fumble.
 

How those guys don't get sick and tired of hockey / Jets talk is beyond me. 

This is done by random draw each game.

The closer the lot you park in, the longer it will take to get out.  That's the reality of it right now unfortunately.   This goes for "I" lot, where I believe you parked, as well as U lot and VIP parking on the footprint.  I tell people ahead of time that if you will be in a hurry to get out at the end of the game, to park in "Q" lot or even better, save yourself $10 and park in the Value lot.  Those are the best options from what I have heard that will get you out the quickest. 
**For everyone reading this, there is an exit plan in place after every game in order to help keep things organized and flowing as best as possible.  There is no easy option.  Our goal this season has been to have EVERY lot emptied within 45 minutes after the game, and so far so good.  This may seem like a long time for some people, but it is the new normal and still way faster than pretty much any stadium in the NFL.**

I'm glad 1290 is putting more into the Bombers and the CFL in general. I get frustrated when they spend crazy time on hockey when the CFL season is in full swing and the hockey boys are still in the gym, and golfing.

I think this sums up Medlock quite nicely. When he comes out I view the kick as automatic. No matter how far away.
The wind in Hamilton was stupid, and he laughed at the movement of the ball on the one that he missed when the ball made a right turn just before the posts. If you noticed, he kicked several more into that crosswind and aimed directly at the left post and was successful.
I've always loved watching him kick the ball.

Pretty much identical to last season: injured in late July, missed August, returned for the home-and-home vs. the Stubble-jumpers. Here's hoping he can repeat his back-to-back performances in those two games.

No one in the history of the CFL has ever done 1000/1000 rush/rec. If Harris can do that he is the MOP. Since he is on pace for it right now that makes him my choice for MOP up to now with Nichols nipping at his heels.

we all know the first drive is a "set" group of plays.  every game.  This play was game planned because the coaching staff saw something.  it didn't work.  I don't really understand the overwhelming ire that people are giving it.  We still scored 3.  it didn't end in a fumble. it didn't end in a turnover.  the drive killed tons of clock AND was positive at the end of it.  
 
who's to say driving it down their throats would have got us into the endzone?  hindsight is great and all but just like there is no promise that the trick play would have worked, there is no promise that hammering it down the middle would have either... frankly, the play failed because of pressure up the middle not giving Adams time to hit Nichols..  maybe that same pressure gets to Harris and hes pinned for a loss as well..
 
 
I mean its great that this kind of issue is what we are bickering about as opposed to seasons gone by where it was every decision made by the coaching staff lol.  I do see where you guys are coming from but I just dont agree that it was such a big deal.

hes paid to do what the coaches and OC train him to do.. you  really don't think he had any practice with that play prior to game time?    its not like it hasn't worked in the past..
 
 
and like mentioned, you ALL crow about how conservative he is and how he never goes for it.. he does JUST THAT and guess what, people complain! lol. 
the ironing is so delicious.

I think you are putting too much emphasis on the fact its a "trick" play.. the percentages of it working or not are probably similar to any passing play, really..  it had one extra step in it from the standard passing play. .

Wait, this is the guy who crowed about how O'Shea was the terrible coach that made him give up his season tickets right? 
Sorry bud, that's not being objective and not wearing rose coloured glasses that's being ******* stupid. O'Shea is the best coach we've seen here in a long long time and the way the team has come together for him and become the most entertaining team in the league is all the proof you need. 
Sorry that you gave up on being a fan of the team, don't let the door hit your ass on the way out. 

Too funny...
 
 

Not game play related but really enjoyed the band they had last night. Was a lot better than most half time entertainment. Felt like it kept the energy up in the building. Hope they do it more often.

@Throw Long Bannatyne and @SpeedFlex27
There is very little difference in that play and any other play the Bombers run, other than one more person handling the ball. They obviously saw something in the Eskimo alignments that put forth an argument to try that play.
You guys didn't like it, fine, but don't talk to me about the  ultra conservative play calling of LaPo anymore.

I just saw that infamous trick play for the first time today as I missed the first quarter. I see nothing wrong in calling that play. They saw something, they practiced it, and called it at the appropriate position on the field. It failed.
It's really no different than getting stuffed, getting sacked or missing a throw/catch. It was a loss of a down, nothing more, nothing less.
I for one, applaud any attempt to confuse, demoralize any team by using whatever means to BEAT them. Sometimes any play call doesn't work. Oh well, on to the next play. 
Hindsight is not fulfilling for me..

He looked a lot like JFG to be honest.  Sure handed and able to break a tackle.  Probably not going to blow anyone out of the water but he's a nice Canadian depth piece.

There's a group of receivers who can't run routes and get by on pushing off and "winning" jump balls by handling DB's.  BC has a couple, Trestman loves em (Richardson, Green), Duke Williams is certainly one.  Barely seen that guy catch a ball aside from those

I would love to see Thorpe get into the end zone, that guy is such a valuable piece of the offense already.

3 stars: Harris, Flanders, Nichols
HH going to Matthias Goossen 
After watching on the pvr it was pretty apparent he drew 2 calls against them. There's a play where Nichols is reading what play to call and it looks like Goossen realized the esks had too many men then runs as fast as man can his size to snap the ball off. Good execution. 
Then he snapped the ball early when their DE jumped too. A couple of heads up plays by an unsung guy