Tracker

Garrett was great to end 2011 as well. 576 yards in 6 games for a 6.3 yard avg with 4 TD. Not to mention the 190+ yard performance in the East Final. Both Garrett and Simpson were great for one small segment of time and then completely dropped off. It takes a pretty well glued together small running back to survive the pounding if he is giving it his flat-out best every down. Charlie Roberts was the exception but it seems to be the 210 lb George Reed type who lasts long enough to be remembered.

Realistically, if the Bombers get a split with the Riders, it will mean the Blue are pretty much the same as last year, but losing both will mean there has been regression. If we cannot beat the Riders, we don't deserve to be in the playoffs- simple as that. We can be philosophical if Calgary beats us, but losing to the hapless Riders would be nothing less than a disaster and a probable end to O'Shea's era.

Apparently the BC fires and resulting smoke is causing all kinds of problems for residents in the interior of the province, and in Kelowna in particular. KBF- how are you faring?

I am dreading the upcoming games with the Riders. It is probably going to come down to who can coach up their rookie QBs the best, and the consolation prize to the loser is likely to be a pink slip or a certainty of one.

Why not briong a six-pack of RB's or one for each remaining game? That otta do it.

Even so, the Rider confidence must be near bottom and if Ottawa gets an early lead, then holds off Rider desperate stabs at rallying, it should be easy for Ottawa.

Meh, who cares about apathy?

No surprise here. Ottawa's kicker was way below average last game and they were losing 10-15 yards every exchange of possession even when the yardage they were each gaining was equal. I still think we should have signed him and then hid him.

Willie sounds like he ought to be a threat in the CFL- big, fast, and a devastating downfield blocker. The Chargers and Ravens seem to have thought highly of him.

Seems better suited to tackle rather than guard.

As much as I wish you were wrong, I'm afraid you are correct. Taman may be safe for the moment but Chamblin's situation is far more precarious. Two back to back losses to the Bombers and he shouldn't bother going back to his office.

But how can you assess talent properly if the coaching is sub-par? I'm not saying that as a blanket indictment of the whole current regime, but its got to be difficult to figure out where one leaves off and the other begins.

Don't forget all the surprises you get in southern Alberta when you go for a walk after a snowfall and find hidden patches of glare ice where you can wipe out. Three years later and my knee still ihurts some days after such a fall. And it can make driving exciting, too.

Brohm may be a bigger issue than he appears to be. What kind of message does it send to a team that the former #2 quarterback is totally inept but the team cannot find anyone better to replace him? As far as using Simmons to replace Hurl for the next game, if Simmons can step in and instantly be better than Hurl, it would mean two things: that Hurl is horrible and Simmons is superhuman.

Pall's career is dead. Let it lie.

Winning a home Grey Cup buys you a lot of leeway. That's why I wouldn't be surprised if Taman is back next year. That's what I think will happen, but Chamblin's future is far less secure.

Time count violations, poor in-game decisions, not preparing the team properly, not making proper adjustments, not being creative, not properly addressing problem areas, playing guys that should sit, sitting guys that should play, sticking with poor personnel as coaches and players because they are your pals and/or you're too stubborn, etc, is going to cost you wins whether you have a group of talented players or not. A good coach can produce wins for a team by out-coaching the other team and preparing his team properly which includes things like discipline and focus. Then there are the intangibles like imparting heart, a never-say-die attitude and a strong will to win. I'm not seeing any of this from Mike O'Shea and his coaching staff. I do see it in varying degrees from other coaches in the league however. Well, I for one could not understand O'Shea's love affair with the MLB from Toronto who, though he hit hard, was slow, out of position on a lot of plays, and tried to make up for all that by hitting late. I remember that one game he had not one, not two, but THREE unnecessary roughing penalties. All were legit too, not one of those calls were borderline. And MOS still kept playing him and defended it after the game. Kuale was a joke but all coaches have those players. I guess the problem I have with people wanting O'Shea gone is that you may get the next Tim Burke or Jeff Reindolt in his place. O'Shea isn't perfect but he's learning and I'm sure he'll get better. Like it or not, we get a coach that's too good, then like the players, they won't be around long anyway. See Mike Riley and Mark Trestman. Dave Dickenson would be the only guy I'd consider but he's not leaving Calgary. He's going to be the next HC in Calgary. I would like to see evidence of O'Shea's learning, particularly with special teams and putting the best, not his most favourite players on the field. Like it or not, O'Shea's choice of assistant coaches has to be part of his evaluation for fitness as head coach, and the struggles of special teams, O-line and offence as a whole lays largely on his shoulders.

I'm betting (figuratively speaking) on a 4 and 14 season for the Riders.

As a counterpoint, there have been times when Willy still hangs onto the ball too long, but I would bet for every time that happens there are several times when the opposing defence pours in on top of him because the blockers have picked the wrong block or just flat-out whiffed. For those of us who have no coaching expereince, its darned hard to pick out if this is because of poor O-line communication, crappy technique, lack of talent or what. But something has to change and soon or we will be playing rotating QBs all season.

Popp and Wettenhall must be living in a fantasy world to blame Higgins for not having Calvillo leading the team on the field. Higgins is not superhuman and has made a few mistakes, but if Popp thinks this is going to salvage the season and go 12 and 6 or such, he's off his meds. 6 and 12 is far more likely, considering the lack of talent and/or experience behind center.

Good to hear that O'Shea is taking a personal interest in special teams. Patience is fine but sooner or later, you gotta get it done.

Haven't hear too many calls for O'Shea and Co. to be sacked mid-season but I hold to my view that he has to do a lot better than his record to date to keep his job. Its not just his record but the lack of progress in critical areas which have gone too long unaddressed.

The scary thing is that Riders have lost their games by way few points than we have lost ours. This does not bode well for the upcoming games against them. Smith actually resembled a real quarterback on several occasions tonight.

No. A tiny bit better just isn't good enough. We need real, demonstrable progress.

SEE!! SEE!! We're not the only team to have Oline brain cramps. Although, in fairness, we seem to have them waaay more often.