17to85

Your argument completely dismisses the sheer number of football players being churned out every year.

That's crap. The CFL is filled with guys who have enough talent to play in the NFL, hell there's tons who have done just that. But the NFL has different kinds of players that fit better, they have access to all sorts of rookies and don't need to keep guys long term just to fill out rosters. Like I said, the best players are without question superior, but the bottoms of rosters in terms of skill are very comparable. Think of it like hockey too. There's tons of bottom of the roster players in the NHL could be replaced by guys playing in Europe and you wouldn't bat an eye. Hell I'd say there are some better players in Europe than are on a lot of teams bottom rungs and are only there because of things like salary cap or not wanting to deal with the politics and all that. It's the same thing. There are lots of guys in the CFL talented enough to play in the NFL, but there are also lots of reasons they don't.

I looked at their depth chart on D and I laughed. That's not the kind of defense that gets the praise that team is getting.

Lions are going to rely on Mike Reilly to pull something out of his ass to win if you ask me. They are very over rated just because of his signing. Reilly being the best QB in the league didn't get Edmonton to the playoffs last year, I am skeptical if he can do it in BC with what I think is a worse team around him.

and what about the defense? Harris produced in Ottawa too, but lots of yards and a close game seems like he's the same guy he was in Ottawa too. Edmonton will be a middling team. Sometimes they'll look good sometimes they won't. That defense based on tonight isn't going to help them at all.

Here is the way it is with regards to talent NFL vs. CFL... The best of the NFL are very much superior, but the bottom parts of the roster? Same calibre as guys in the CFL just different fits.

Not impressed by the Edmonton defense. Like not at all. Montreal is still a sack of **** even if they made this game close. Poor Khari. I think he'll bring a lot as a head coach but man that team...

Harker has some swagger, but he's a rookie and he was staring down his targets all night, that'll be trouble if he continues to do it. Good for a rookie, see if he can take those next steps.

Fenner was here last year and played, granted not CB, but really is it that hard of a position when he knows the defense? So really we got a safety who was here last year that's "new" and Fenner who is "new" but again was here last year and then one true new player, again another CB, not the most complicated position. The halfbacks are still the same,

so what you're saying is the Montreal season is going to be:

faint praise if ever I heard it

Sayles was freaking amazing by the end of last season.

you know the world might be a more peaceful place without the Saudi regime we have now....

Other than safety I don't see it, that's a veteran group there. Sayles and Alexander came on strong last season. Agreed that the all new OL interior may lead to some hiccups but I ain't worried about any part of the defense. It will surprise a lot of people this year. Reilly likely has a high game cause that's what he does, but the D overall will be strong this year.

The BC defence looks unspectacular

well there you have it.

Riders DL was underwhelming. Too much hype for Johnson. Again, good player but as soon as the Riders sign someone in free agency they're just the best thing since sliced bread... hardly. Jefferson won the Riders some games on his own by making plays. Johnson is not going to make those same kind of big plays so their D is automatically weaker. I just see that team falling hard this year. Jones voodoo on defense is what dragged them along, but that's gone.

I suspect if Nelson was healthy he'd be starting.

That is the thing that annoyed me most about all the "Powell will carry the Riders" talk. Ottawa had a pretty good OL in my view while Powell was there, I don't see the Riders OL being of the same calibre so he's going to have to earn his yards harder than he has in the past. Plus the passing attack in Ottawa was more of a focus too so that's just more hard running Powell is going to have to endure. He is a good runningback no questions there, but the situation in Saskatchewan this year makes it harder on a back than the one in Ottawa the past few years.

Reilly will do what he always does, run around avoiding tackles and heave the ball downfield.

I am ok with masoli being trash. Guy should never be mentioned among the top QBs.

Masoli just has the worst throwing mechanics going.

Kevin Glenn can unretire

funny how all the Rider fans were talking up Fajardo after the preseason. Guy made a couple plays with his legs but he is a brutal passer.

Yeah as much as I hate the Riders that play has no place in the league. We'd be livid if someone did that to Nichols.