WEEK 9

Bye - Saskatchewan 

Tim Baines  -  #Redblacks officially announce release of DBs Imoan Claiborne and CJ Roberts? Mitchell White released by Eagles on weekend. Hmm. #CFL

Arash Madani   -  Not sure if there's another head coach in pro football who helps out with the bags post-game. 

 O'Shea is genuine. Cares. Smirk, and all...   

 

?‍?Giovanni Aprile – originally drafted 16th overall by Winnipeg in 2012 – had just recorded the first regular season reception of his professional career, in his fourth season, 1 catch 6 yards. Hey, 2 more catches for 18 yards on Friday!

Jeff Reinebold - KENT AUSTIN IS A GOOD MAN WHO HAS HANDLED AN INCREDIBLY TOUGH SITUATION WITH GRACE AND DIGNITY - TAKE THE BAGS OFF YOUR HEADS & OSKEEWEEWEE

"I know this is where I should be. I’m so happy to be a Blue Bomber.”  -  @BWalk28, the 21-year-old on the rise.

Eric M -  One week after Bruce Johnson's release, rookie Brian Walker allows just 2 catches for 20 yards on 7 targets, with 2 PBUs & an INT. #Bombers

Only the Calgary Stampeders have allowed less QB pressures than the Winnipeg Blue Bombers this season. #CFL #Bombers

The #Argos have released INT WR Khalil Paden.

Rod Pedersen. -  Riders John Murphy @draftjm13 tells the SportsCage the acquisition of Vernon Adams changes nothing for Brandon Bridge & Marquise Williams.

Ed Tait. -  It's time to rethink the CFL's East-West format, writes @EdTaitWFC  http://ow.ly/7yAM30eqqQ1

Jamie Nye - Only 7 challenges in the #CFL in the two weeks combined since the rule change. There were 28 challenges combined in the two weeks prior.

Canadian Football League commissioner Randy Ambrosie is a big fan of the East-West dynamic but says he would entertain discussions about a change to the league’s playoff structure.  http://www.winnipegsun.com/2017/08/15/cfl-commissioner-ambrosie-open-to-talking-about-change-to-playoff-structure?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=twitter&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+feedrinse%2FRWsG+(Blue+Bombers+Channel)

Justin Dunk  -  Stephen Adekolu has agreed to terms with the Montreal Alouettes, per sources. He was recently released by the B.C. Lions where he spent the first three-plus seasons of his pro career. Adekolu suited up for 42 games making three receptions for 42 yards while seeing time on special teams, but he has yet to play in 2017.

Herb Zurkowsky  -  Drew Willy now becomes #AlsMTL backup QB

Drew Edwards - • in former Ticat news, New Orleans Saints defensive back Delvin Breaux has been diagnosed with a broken fibula and will miss four-to-six weeks. The injury was reportedly mis-diagnosed as a bone bruise and the Saints have fired two members of their medical staff as a result.

Rod Pedersen- Chris Jones said he didn't wear a Diversity Is Strength shirt b/c supplies were limited and went to the players. Each team is different.

?‍? Why don't I believe this rather simple explanation.

"You're going to love it out there." -Darian Durant's advice to Vernon Adams on coming to Riderville.

CFL News. -  

- "I'm lead to believe that Marc Trestman doesn't have any interest in bringing Johnny Manziel in." - @TSNDaveNaylor #CFL #Argos

"I know the #Riders coaching staff are big fans of @1MjWilliams2, their third string QB" - @FarhanLaljiTSN #CFL via @TSN_Sports

Maybe little disconnect developing between head coach & his QB (Austin & Collaros). Maybe a little iciness too - @TSNScianitti #CFL #Ticats

.@bigplay_va has 1 yr left on his contract. He may opt out that in terms of free agency. - Kavis Reed #CFL #AlsMTL via @TSN690 (Vernon Adams)

.@joeyalfieri:  @Drew_Willy more competent, polished than @bigplay_va Jr. tsn.ca/radio/montreal… #CFL #AlsMTL #Riders

.@miltonatthespec: If #Ticats lose next two, you'll see key names dispensed tsn.ca/radio/hamilton… #CFL via @jimtatti

One rumour:   #AlsMTL badly wanted to acquire WR Rob Bagg (for Adams) but #Riders refused to part w/ the coveted vet. - @rodpedersen #CFL

Americans are tuning #CFL games on ESPN in droves this year. - @rodpedersen

The Hamilton Tiger-Cats Football Club announced Thursday that the following three players have been released:

INT – DB – Terrence Frederick

INT – WR – Gerell Robinson

INT – DB – Khalid Wooten

.@RandyAmbrosie - "We were inclusive before inclusive was cool." #CFL via @jamienye via @CJMENews

Winnipeg Sun - Matt Coates, had a strong game, catching three passes for 32 yards. Coates had nine career catches in three seasons with Hamilton prior to signing in Winnipeg as a free agent last off-season …

?‍?TJ Heath missed his chance for sole possession in the interception battle. He dropped two more on Thursday?

Ted Wyman - WPG Sun - Import running back Timothy Flanders, who is only in the lineup because of an injury to receiver Weston Dressler, continues to make a case for staying even after Dressler returns. He had 45 yards rushing Thursday and has 105 yards and a touchdown on 15 carries this season plus two catches for 26 yards.

?‍?Watching these CFL games without all the challenges is sooo much better..

Glen Suitor - Loudest fans contest between Sask and Wpg update:  Producers on board, and we are working on logistics, more details soon. #CFLonTSN

?‍?What is it about the Jason Maas that makes him disregard CFL initiatives. The latest? ‘Diversity is Strength’ Jason Maas not sporting the T-Shirt. The only one

RESPECT. Maas doesn't seem to have any.

Dave Dawson - Kent Austin is calling plays tonight, and you can already see the impact. #Ticats

?‍?And how long did that go well?

Quick Fix: @BoLeviMitchell has thrown at least one touchdown pass in 17 consecutive games and in 38 of the past 39 contests #CFLGameDay

Drew Edwards- #Ticats Brandon Banks refused to speak to media after his team's loss to #Redblacks. #CFL

So, in his honour, *** for tat, that segment was dropped…

Ed Tait - “Andrew is a beast, man. A beast,” began Chungh. “He comes to work every day and I’ll say he and Matt (Nichols) are the best leaders I’ve ever been around.”

CFL- Bombers draft pick Geoff Gray impresses in first preseason game…“Geoff Gray was the player that jumped off the tape the most,” wrote Andrew Herman, who performed the player grades.

Gray, a native of Winnipeg, issued a statement after the CFL draft saying he “would be extremely grateful to be a member of the Blue Bombers” should his football path bring him back to Winnipeg.   http://3downnation.com/2017/08/19/bombers-draft-pick-geoff-gray-impresses-first-preseason-game-packers/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=twitter&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+3downnation%2Fegst+(3+Down+Nation-John+Hodge)

?‍?Hey, Calgary…kicked 5 FGs. I guess dey no goode.

Simoni Lawrence - I love my teammates my coaches and fans we gonna figure this **** out.

There's some confusion on Kyries Hebert’s fine from the League office. The Montreal gazette reports that  Kyries Hebert and, for that matter Durant, the Als’ player representative, continue to have issues with the fine levied against the veteran linebacker for his high helmet-to-helmet hit against Toronto quarterback Cody Fajardo in last week’s game at Molson Stadium.

Hebert hasn’t denied the hit was illegal, and Durant realizes the fine won’t be quashed. Instead, both maintain Hebert’s being penalized more than half of his game cheque, the maximum amount for which any player can be punished.

Hebert claimed he’s being fined more than 50 per cent of his gross amount, suggesting he’ll play the next two games without compensation.

?‍????

"I can’t kick field goals if the offence doesn’t move the ball" - Kicker @RParedes30

?‍?Are the Lions that reliant on Burnham?

Justin Dunk - The Monreal Alouettes will pay quarterback Drew Willy around $80,000 in “guaranteed money” plus available playtime bonuses this season.

The new contract also included $10,000 in up front money.

he also received a $70,000 signing bonus from the Argos on a reworked deal in January

Total 150,000K

?‍?Another CFL week has gone by, and another week where the best entertainment in a football game involved the Bombers..

?‍?MITCHELL, Bo Levi 15/31 48.4% 237 yards

?‍?Calgary 15 penalties 150 yards

#Argos defence holds Darian Durant to a mere 93 yards in passing while Ricky Ray puts up 377. #CFL #AlsMTL

Darrin Bauming - Mike O'Shea says safety Derek Jones is a starter, but it would probably take an injury to get him into the starting lineup. #Bombers

CFL News - Durant has now been intercepted eight times. Only twice has he completed a game without being picked off. - @HerbZurkowsky1 #CFL #AlsMTL

-#AlsMTL were held to nine first downs and 138 yards’ net offence. They controlled the ball for less than 21 minutes. - @HerbZurkowsky1 #CFL

?‍?Montreal played that football game exactly how a football game shouldn't be played ?

?‍?The Toronto Ray Argos…

Ed Tait - On Andrew Harris :“I usually don’t talk about my goals, but I told Coach Bourgs (running backs coach Kevin Bourgoin) in the offseason that (1,000-1,000) was one of my goals this year,” said Harris Sunday following Bombers practice. “It’s one of those things that I’m on pace for it and so talking about it puts some pressure on myself to be able to achieve that.

Through the first eight games, Harris has had 90 rushed and 50 receptions – the most offensive touches in the CFL by a mile (Calgary’s Jerome Messam is second at 128; 112 carries, 16 receptions).

Weston Dressler, who has missed three games, has also been running more of late and could be back within the next couple of weeks.    “He makes sure he runs around Al (Bombers Head Athletic Therapist Al Couture),” said O’Shea with a grin. “He does circles around him and runs in front of him to let him know he’s ready to go.”

?‍?How meaningful is Ottawa’s win over Hamilton? Not very. Everybody beats them...

“(What’s) important is that the guys in the locker room believe their teammates are working as hard as they can.” - Mike O'Shea 

?‍?The Stampeders are giving their secondary a lot of credit for their game against BC. I'd be more inclined to fault BC QBacking...

?‍?Most outstanding play for Hamilton this week was returning a blocked convert attempt for 2 points. They now lead the league in that category.

Your next chance to catch an Andrew Harris? At the Banjo Bowl.

Over 30,000 tickets are sold already, so hurry! 

? | ow.ly/yGaD30evvF8

WEEK 10

Winnipeg @ Montreal - Thursday

Saskatchewan @ Edmonton - Friday

BC @ Ottawa - Saturday

Toronto @ Calgary - Saturday 

BYE - the uninvolved

 

Edited August 21, 20178 yr by Mr Dee

I think Bryant wins that toss up...he's more versatile and I bet grades out better.  I would even think Hardrick grades better on a consistent basis than FIG....I think he is a bit over rated...not as good as he was when he came onto the scene in Hamilton

From where our line came from, to where it is now is nuts...you could probably plop Foketti, Neufeld and Couture on any line in the league as a starter somewhere...on some teams 2 if not all 3 could probably replace a starter and the line would be as good or better

No surprise...

 

26 minutes ago, Mike said:

Can't really agree with that to be honest. He's gotta be what, 50%? on the "key ones" this year? If the key ones were still there, we'd be 7-1 right now. 

Or we'd be 4-4. 

We had several close games. Wins by 3 points, 1 point and 3 points again. Medlock:

5-5 key win sask 3 point win

4-4 win in Tor 

2-4 win Montreal by one point

6-7 win Ottawa by 3 points

Edited August 22, 20178 yr by Mr Dee

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.

4 minutes ago, Mr Dee said:

Or we'd be 4-4. 

We had several close games. Wins by 3 points, 1 point and 3 points again. Medlock:

5-5 key win sask 3 point win

4-4 win in Tor 

2-4 win Montreal by one point

6-7 win Ottawa by 3 points

Quit moving the goalposts on what you're saying.

First you said he's making the key ones. I said not exactly. And now suddenly, every field goal is a key one. 

I get it - you want to spin everything in a positive fashion. That's fine. But I'm just discussing things here.

4 minutes ago, Mike said:

Quit moving the goalposts on what you're saying.

First you said he's making the key ones. I said not exactly. And now suddenly, every field goal is a key one. 

I get it - you want to spin everything in a positive fashion. That's fine. But I'm just discussing things here.

Spin? Those are key FGs just like I mentioned. If they're not made, we don't win those games. 

So, in your discussion, why aren't they 'key.'

https://www.cfl.ca/top-performers/

Quote

Andrew Harris, Matt Nichols and SJ Green were named the Shaw CFL Top Performers of the Week for Week 9 of the CFL’s 2017 season.

Andrew Harris played a vital part in the Winnipeg Blue Bombers’ 33-26 victory over the first-place Edmonton Eskimos on Thursday Night at Investors Group Field. The Winnipeg native recorded 105 rushing yards on 11 carries (9.5 yards per carry) and added eight receptions for 120 yards (15 yards per reception).

Matt Nichols passed for a season-high 390 yards to help the Blue Bombers give the Edmonton Eskimos their first loss of the season. Nichols completed 80% of his passes, rushed for 23 yards, and collected two touchdowns: one passing, one rushing.

Monster games for both. I expect Harris to wind up as fan player of the week.

9 minutes ago, Mr Dee said:

Spin? Those are key FGs just like I mentioned. If they're not made, we don't win those games. 

So, in your discussion, why aren't they 'key.'

He has made some key field goals, he has missed some.  So to say he is making the key ones isn't really accurate.  He is making some of the key ones.

11 minutes ago, Mr Dee said:

Spin? Those are key FGs just like I mentioned. If they're not made, we don't win those games. 

So, in your discussion, why aren't they 'key.'

His job is to make field goals.

Let's isolate the Toronto game, since it's the first one I looked at: he's 4-4, we win by 8. He hit two massive field goals, neither of which were late in the game. Then he hit two routine ones each under 30 yards of the automatic variety.

Ottawa game - he hit one big one and missed one 45 yarder, which flipped the field on us. The rest of them? Routine. Again - not sure why this is such a huge deal. He did his job.

Saskatchewan game - longest field goal was 35 yards - again, a bunch of routine kicks. He did his job.

Montreal game - he gave away 5 points on missed field goals, which one could argue essentially changed the entire script of the last six minutes of the game, since Bede kicked a field goal to put them up by (you guessed it) 5 at that point. Handing us the ball down 5 with 6 minutes to go led to a two-and-out, however a tie game easily changes the entire way we move the ball there (not speculating for better or for worse) so I'm not exactly sure what you're getting at here. His best play of this game was a beautiful onside kick. 

aaaaand then there's the BC game, which for as much as I love Medlock, I have to say you could quite easily almost single handedly blame on him.

We can argue about the fake punt all day, but all indications are he was the one who saw a key in the alignment and called it which was an absolutely horrendous move at that point in the game and basically flipped every bit of momentum we had going for us and then he falls short on a kick that he needs to be making for the money we pay him.

Medlock makes our team better. He's a great player. He hasn't had an amazing year. 

Doesn't change the fact that any one of the made FGs was important and  'key' in winning those games. You're arguing that Medlock isn't having a great year. On that we can agree. 

So, yes we could have won the BC game, but lost the Mont. game or the Sask. game or the Ottawa game. He still had to make those for us to win those games.

That was my point, and for some reason you're disputing that.

3 minutes ago, Mr Dee said:

Doesn't change the fact that any one of the made FGs was important and  'key' in winning those games. You're arguing that Medlock isn't having a great year. On that we can agree. 

So, yes we could have won the BC game, but lost the Mont. game or the Sask. game or the Ottawa game. He still had to make those for us to win those games.

That was my point, and for some reason you're disputing that.

You just finally acknowledged the only point I've been making this whole time and agreed with it, then implied I'm the one disputing things?

I honestly don't know what your point is, because it seems to change every post. At first, it was that he's making the key kicks. Then all the kicks are key kicks, but he's not making all of the kicks either. Now it's that if he didn't make easy kicks, we could've lost?

Here's my belief: the key kicks are the kicks that we pay him to make because the other kickers aren't capable of making them. If we just wanted him to make every single 30 yarder that adds up to enough points to cover the margin of victory, I'm sure Hugh O'Neill could do that at a much fairer price. We're paying him to make the 50 yard game winners, the 55 yarders to take leads, the big kicks with the game on the line. And he's not making all of those.

 

3 minutes ago, Mike said:

You just finally acknowledged the only point I've been making this whole time and agreed with it, then implied I'm the one disputing things?

Sure Mike. That's your take.

5 minutes ago, Mike said:

I honestly don't know what your point is, because it seems to change every post. At first, it was that he's making the key kicks. Then all the kicks are key kicks, but he's not making all of the kicks either. Now it's that if he didn't make easy kicks, we could've lost?

To me, when a game is on the line, they're key kicks. I have not changed that point from the beginning. All his FGs have been an important part of the game. That's my point.

You want to limit it to the edge of all kicks (50 yarders and above) Go ahead. I don't have that limit. 

I've said it all in my posts. That's it.

 

 

1 hour ago, Booch said:

I think Bryant wins that toss up...he's more versatile and I bet grades out better.  I would even think Hardrick grades better on a consistent basis than FIG....I think he is a bit over rated...not as good as he was when he came onto the scene in Hamilton

From where our line came from, to where it is now is nuts...you could probably plop Foketti, Neufeld and Couture on any line in the league as a starter somewhere...on some teams 2 if not all 3 could probably replace a starter and the line would be as good or better

Loved how our tackles handled Odell on Friday.  No somersaults for the mayor.

Does Couture get reps?  Glad to hear you're bullish on him but I haven't seen him out there a lot aside from short yardage.

What separates him is his ability to make that extra point. It's automatic a point where almost every other kicker in the league has missed a couple.

29 minutes ago, johnzo said:

Loved how our tackles handled Odell on Friday.  No somersaults for the mayor.

Does Couture get reps?  Glad to hear you're bullish on him but I haven't seen him out there a lot aside from short yardage.

I don't think he does, Neufeld is getting a bit of playing time coming in as the 6th OL and on short yardage.

I'll say Nichols for MOP, Harris for MOC, although Harris could be the nominee for both.

1 hour ago, johnzo said:

Loved how our tackles handled Odell on Friday.  No somersaults for the mayor.

Does Couture get reps?  Glad to hear you're bullish on him but I haven't seen him out there a lot aside from short yardage.

He's come in for short yardage, also in some max protect as a TE

He also filled in last year in game situations when injuries happened and didn't look outmatched at all. Also has gained probably 15 pounds since we drafted him and has looked good in practice this year, and through camp. Really nice solid Canadian depth with minimal drop-off if pressed into game action if need be

1 hour ago, rebusrankin said:

I'll say Nichols for MOP, Harris for MOC, although Harris could be the nominee for both.

It's a long season, but if Harris goes 1000/1000, he's the league MOP, not just on our team.

 

 

5 hours ago, Mr Dee said:

 

 

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.

Never thought I'd say this but we really haven't missed Dressler...our receivers have been great.

Probably the best stall of receivers we have had in a few years

6 hours ago, Mr Dee said:

 

 

Dressler usually plays pretty well against the Riders.

To me, what separates Medlock is his mental toughness. He thinks he is going to execute every kick perfectly, whether he does or not. He's one of those guys that no one doubts. It's actually a surprise if he is not successful. It wasn't like that with our last kicker.

Nichols is showing good psychological  resilience.... started the season ok, then few a threw horrible picks,  one pick six, I was wondering if he was regressing;  after one bad game he said

"everyone needs to play better", and they all have.

But I guess he's shown that since he came into the league.

1290 is putting a lot of air time into the Bombers lately, and doing a good job. Yesterday Hustler was mentioning Flanders, and said "and no it's not Ned"     lol Hustler. Regularly inteview Milt, and other TSN /newspaper reporters from across the league.

 

Edited August 23, 20178 yr by Mark F