Rids

It's really weird and seems like we are getting an update on it twice a day.

That's just crazy. The news will be all over this tonight.

You can chalk me up to being a country music fan since I live with a country music singer/songwriter (truth be told I listen to more sports talk radio than music of any variety) . The CCMAs was always a frustrating thing for me though when we were still in Canada as you could pick the award winners basically from the day the nominees were announced.

Josiah St. John is a 2016 Draft Class but Shaq Murray-Lawrence is part of the 2015 class. Why he wasn't in the Top 20 is up for debate.

Christian is a 2016 as well unless he enters the NFL draft this year (which may happen). Either way he's not going to be in a CFL jersey for a while.

Durant would be giving up his NCAA eligibility as well which likely isn't an option. For the 3 guys I'm not sure but will keep looking into it.

Durant is still a junior and is part of the 2016 Draft Class.

Only 15? With all the combinations I'd expect that number to be even higher. I'd take the upper corners in all CFL stadiums and make them $15 tickets but only available 2 hours before the game. Make people show up to get the "deal" or buy them in advance for $25. Create a buzz and give the college crowd a chance to get involved (wear school shirts to get a coupon for a free hot dog or popcorn).

I'd love to see the CFL get involved in sponsoring a flag football league similar to how the NFL does. It's great to see these kids here wearing NFL logos on their flag football jerseys (that are all good quality shirts) and they get involved that way. The sponsorship keeps the cost low to the families which is #1 in expanding the reach.

There's a fourth one but I can't remember where it's at.

Took this and looked at the entire CIS for ticket prices. As you can imagine it was Laval with the highest prices where their top package is $261 + taxes. The Huskies are the most expensive in CanWest. 3 OUA schools use an email capture program from universityticket.com but beyond them it is the Ottawa Gee Gees as the priciest ticket in Ontario. Down in the Maritimes it's Saint Mary's as the most expensive at $40 but you have to purchase each game separate as their only season ticket package is for every varsity team on campus (still cheaper than Laval). http://blog.ridleyscouting.com/Kent_Ridley_Thoughts/My_Thoughts/Entries/2014/9/3_CIS_Season_Tickets.html

Dinos season tickets are $40. Golden Bears season tickets are $36 Thunderbirds season tickets are $40 Rams season tickets are $75 (but can bring up to 4 - 12 and under for free)

Thought I'd start a new thread on this and folks can put everything in one place. CIS season kicked off on Labour Day with 5 OUA games. At Ridley Scouting we're putting out our own Player of the Week awards - http://blog.ridleyscouting.com/Kent_Ridley_Thoughts/My_Thoughts/Entries/2014/9/2_CIS_Players_of_Week_1.html Also the first Top Ten came out: 1. Laval (-) 2. Calgary (-) 3. Western (-) 4. Montreal (-) 5. McMaster (-) 6. Manitoba (-) 7. UBC (-) 8. Guelph (-) 9. Queen’s (-)* 10. Saskatchewan (-) To me it looks like the split in OUA votes gifted CanWest a 4th school into the Top Ten. I don't see UBC sitting that high for long and putting Queen's in ahead of Laurier seems a little out of place. But hey that's what polls are for! Controversy and water cooler talk....if only people paid enough attention to CIS to create some controversy or water cooler talk.

There was a guy in Vancouver a couple years ago that bought season tickets in Florida and even with flying in for a couple games it was cheaper than going to the same number of Canuck games. Plus each season ticket holder got a free jersey + other promotions.

The best 6 have made the playoffs for years. In 2008 the West won 26 of 32 inter-divisional games. The rest of my thoughts on it are here - http://blog.ridleyscouting.com/Kent_Ridley_Thoughts/My_Thoughts/Entries/2014/8/25_Is_the_East_the_Least_-_Part_2.html

Just curious.. what DL does fit our system... Pall at 5'11 260lbs doesn't... Laurent 6'1 305lbs doesnt Its a genuine question - the only DL that I have seen in pursuit as a 'hybrid DL/LB' per se is Peach... everyone else looks like they are playing traditional DL roles By the sounds of it, Zach Anderson doesn't even fit our system...? Why are you assuming that fit is based on the size of the player. It's based on the responsibilities and whether or not a player can excel with specific responsibilities. Just In case I'm misunderstanding here, when & where has Pall excelled as a player? As far as Rids comments go, those are first I've read. It was always that he left the Stamps on his own accord. No one ever said that the Stamps wanted him to pay his rehab bills first then submit them for reimbursement. That was never mentioned once in the media here by anyone covering. the team. Do I like Pall as a player? No, he's another Canadian who hung around too long & got paid for contributing virtually nothing for 3 seasons because he's a National. iso do you trust my information? I try to separate my internet posts between pure data, facts and opinion and try to post in a manner that shows which is which. My opinion is that Ameet Pall isn't a fit for the Winnipeg D. Facts are that Pall excelled over a four year career at Wofford and that he was released by Calgary during training camp. They expected him to hang around the team but didn't want to use an IR spot on him so he left. Not an arrangement that any player would likely agree to. My opinion is that Calgary was glad he signed in Montreal and that they picked him his tab. Although they likely weren't thrilled with the fact they used a first round pick on him. Rids, how can you say a 3 year veteran is "projected"? The guy has done virtually nothing as a player to this point that he was released. I consider him to be a projected player because he is far from a veteran. The only form of being a veteran is that he has attended multiple training camps. Stats wise he hasn't put up big numbers but hasn't had opportunity to do so either. Most of that is due to not performing to an adequate level in practice to earn a spot in the rotation. That's on him. Your last 2 sentences sum up everything I have been saying. So again, based on just that alone why would we bring him in & why are people who don't know him from anybody keep defending him? I know what I saw at Stamps training camp in 2012. He was the exact same way with the Stamps. I don't think anybody is saying that he's a must sign player. He's a player of interest because he's a former first round draft pick and holds the right passport. If anybody is defending him it could be because you're so negative on him. Ease back on the throttle iso!!! He's not a Bomber and likely never will be.

The Ameet Pall situation in Calgary: http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Football/CFL/Calgary/2012/06/25/19919576.html https://ca.sports.yahoo.com/blogs/cfl-55-yard-line/ameet-pall-departure-montreal-suggests-stamps-screwed-one-021204641.html http://www.stampeders.com/article/team-comments-on-pall-situation

Just curious.. what DL does fit our system... Pall at 5'11 260lbs doesn't... Laurent 6'1 305lbs doesnt Its a genuine question - the only DL that I have seen in pursuit as a 'hybrid DL/LB' per se is Peach... everyone else looks like they are playing traditional DL roles By the sounds of it, Zach Anderson doesn't even fit our system...? Why are you assuming that fit is based on the size of the player. It's based on the responsibilities and whether or not a player can excel with specific responsibilities. Just In case I'm misunderstanding here, when & where has Pall excelled as a player? As far as Rids comments go, those are first I've read. It was always that he left the Stamps on his own accord. No one ever said that the Stamps wanted him to pay his rehab bills first then submit them for reimbursement. That was never mentioned once in the media here by anyone covering. the team. Do I like Pall as a player? No, he's another Canadian who hung around too long & got paid for contributing virtually nothing for 3 seasons because he's a National. iso do you trust my information? I try to separate my internet posts between pure data, facts and opinion and try to post in a manner that shows which is which. My opinion is that Ameet Pall isn't a fit for the Winnipeg D. Facts are that Pall excelled over a four year career at Wofford and that he was released by Calgary during training camp. They expected him to hang around the team but didn't want to use an IR spot on him so he left. Not an arrangement that any player would likely agree to. My opinion is that Calgary was glad he signed in Montreal and that they picked him his tab. Although they likely weren't thrilled with the fact they used a first round pick on him. Rids, how can you say a 3 year veteran is "projected"? The guy has done virtually nothing as a player to this point that he was released. I consider him to be a projected player because he is far from a veteran. The only form of being a veteran is that he has attended multiple training camps. Stats wise he hasn't put up big numbers but hasn't had opportunity to do so either. Most of that is due to not performing to an adequate level in practice to earn a spot in the rotation. That's on him.

I think most defensive co-ordinators in the CFL would adjust things to fit Ted Laurent. Etch had Chunky Adams in the middle with Saskatchewan once upon a time. Ameet Pall though isn't looking like an every down DL. Instead he's projecting as a bull rush situational DL which makes finding a fit tougher. The expanded rosters help though.

Too be clear I'm not suggesting that Winnipeg should bring in Ameet Pall as I don't think he fits their system. I'm simply defending the guy or at least giving reasons for why he's in the League.

Yeah, actually I can blame Pall, Rids. He was under contract to the Stamps when he left. He was injured but he still quit on the team that drafted him & were paying for his rehab in the hopes of getting him back in the lineup. The only thing I can say is the Stamps were so impressed with Pall they let him go. So, 10 CFL games playing special teams in 3 seasons with just 3 tackles. Buuuuuust. So, just why would we want this guy??? iso he didn't quit on them. They released him, made him a free agent so he signed elsewhere. If your boss fired you and then told you if you brought your medical bills in that they would reimburse you for them would you stay? Or would you look for a company that will pay you while you rehab? It's the difference between $0 and $50,000. I'd accept the $50,000 10 times out of 10. How could he leave if he was still under contract? Weren't the Stamps required to pay for his rehab? No because he was a rookie and the aggravation of the injury happened in training camp before he made the team they were not on the hook for a cent.

Ameet Pall went into his first training camp injured and was released with the intention that he'd stay in Calgary to have surgery and rehab there to join the club later. He decided that he'd rather collect a paycheque on Montreal's IR than sit in Calgary so he left town. Honestly you can't blame a guy for that. 10 games - 3 special teams tackles in the CFL. The reason why he was able to hang around this long: 2011 pre season Southern Conference Defensive Player of the Year 2011 pre season All American 2010 All American (from 4 publications) 2010 Southern Conference sack leader with 12.5 (plus 22.5 Tackles for Loss) 2010 Southern Conference Defensive Player of the Year Played as a true freshman and started as a sophomore.

A Top Ten of the Class of 2015 players - http://blog.ridleyscouting.com/Kent_Ridley_Thoughts/My_Thoughts/Entries/2014/8/11_Manitoba_HSFB_Top_Ten.html A Watch List of Class of 2016 players - http://blog.ridleyscouting.com/Kent_Ridley_Thoughts/My_Thoughts/Entries/2014/8/9_Manitoba_Class_of_2016_Watch_List.html Go support these guys. It's good football (some better than others) but lacking in the support department.

The Riders lead the CFL in percentage of first down plays being a running play at 52% and they also lead the CFL in average passing yards on first down plays at 9.3 yards per pass. They also lead the league in most rushing yards per game and the only team ahead of them in total yards per game has played more games. George Cortez has stayed dedicated to using the run as part of their attack and is more stubborn than most when it comes to dropping the run when they fall behind. BC leads the league with the highest average number of running plays per game at 22.0. On the flip side the Toronto Argos not only lead the league in total yards, net yards, average yards per game, passing yards, passing plays per game and most offensive plays but sport a 2-4 record. They are a pass first team (on first down they pass 72% of the time) and dedicated to it (and fairly good at it if their receivers would stop getting hurt) but not turning it into results. In part because they are also the 7th best running team in the League.

If this is the play you are referring to (guessing it is) http://youtu.be/0bMWOyB6dYM?t=47m5s That is not "giving himself up" in any form. That's a head first dive under a tackle. Demond Washington ducked his head to make the tackle and lost sight of the runner. At some point, especially after first down yardage has been gained, the recognition of having to make the stop versus laying the lumber needs to take place. The Bombers sloppy tackling and poor positioning is a major issue that will need to be addressed or teams will continue to take advantage of it. Here is the wording of the QB Hook Slide rule: Reilly is not a QB that hook slides due to taking a concussion giving shot one time when he did the foot first slide and the defender didn't let up. Fitting that Matt Dunigan was the guy in the color commentary chair for that game as Reilly is a fairly good carbon copy of the original Eskimo gunslinging QB with the LB mentality.