DTonOB

Unfortunately I don't have snap counts, but... Winnipeg's D faced 686 dropbacks (Pass attempts + Sacks + QB scrambles) Ottawa's D faced 613 Total pass + rush attempts against their D + sacks (per CFL): Winnipeg: 942 Ottawa: 947

I asked him about it in the post-game show, and we'll definitely talk about it on Tuesday. O'Shea said that it's known to be a legal play in the CFL that results in an Illegal Kickoff. He said he doesn't like the rule, but he praised Terry Williams for making a smart play. I guess the rules treat Williams' play like catching a ball with a foot on the sidelines. It's not illegal to do so, it's just out of bounds, incomplete. I'd expected the rules would treat it like going out of bounds unforced and reaching back into the field of play--Illegal Participation. Upon further review of the rules, the one I was looking at says "loose ball" for IP. But a kickoff is a "kicked ball"

I had a bunch that I think eventually get in...especially if they get a 3rd straight Grey Cup. Doug, Ed and I agreed that Collaros, Bryant and O'Shea are locks. There's going to be multiple major awards for each guy, and a great chance to add to two Grey Cups. Jefferson, Bighill are right behind. Alexander, Demski with a couple more years at this level will be in. And Jermarcus Hardrick--for me the best RT in the league the last four years--will get there too. So, my guess is 8. That's nuts considering they just inducted their 12th player. But this could be a historically great era in the CFL.

I would argue we saw the things Fajardo doing were for real, though when they were 3-3 nobody was selling Fajardo was MOP. The following game where he scored the winning TD against Hamilton, that certainly help. Ultimately when the Riders went 13-5 with him leading the league in passing yards and being 7th in rushing yards, it made sense. For me, the big difference between Fajardo's & Nichols' spots was that I thought the Bombers had better talent on O. And Nichols' style (1/3rd of his passes & 1/4 of yards come on passes within 2 yards of the line of scrimmage that year), requires too much from other players to deserve MOP acclaim. Well...Fajardo's prior experience was 68 regular season pass attempts playing behind Ricky Ray and Michael Reilly (while Fajardo was on his first contract). By the time of the Collaros trade, Fajardo had almost double that many attempts in the Sask offence with their personnel and their coordinator, so I get it. Plus, his designed run + scramble game is something very few guys have--I'm sure that potential appealed to them as well.

From Fajardo's first start to the week before the trade (Weeks 2-7; incl. 1 bye): - 76% completion (#1) on 9.7 aDOT - 10.3 YPA (#1; only 2 other guys were over 9), - 9.3 ANY/A (#1; next was 8.2) - 125 passer rating not under pressure (#1) - #2 in TD percentage, - 2nd-lowest percentage of yards off short throws Whether you like him/root for him or not, Fajardo was already at his West MOP level when the trade happened.

One important thing to remember was that Zach was ready to come back from his injury when the Riders traded him. And with Fajardo flying by that point, we would have been relentless with the "Who's the QB?" "What about that throw? Does that tell you it's time to go back to Zach?" "How can you take a job from a guy because of injury?" As many have pointed out, the return wasn't great. But I think part of it is that the Riders wanted needed it done quickly.

Did Ray Patterson leave Springfield hanging when they needed him the most?

Just making my way through the decontamination chamber