GAME DAY NOTES

 Duke Williams 100+ in 4 straight: Williams' current run of consecutive 100-yard games has reached 4 in a row. With one more this week he can to a level that has been reached only 9 times in CFL history covering 1950 to 2017. The last player to extend that streak to at least 5 games of 100+ in a row was Jamel Richardson in 2011 (6 straight). The Edmonton record is held by Brian Kelly at 5 games in row set in 1983.

 Overall Standings & Parity: Through the first 5 games for all clubs with the byes now having evened out for all but Winnipeg, Calgary has dominated at 5-0 with two teams at 1-4. However, league-wide there are SIX clubs with either 2 or 3 wins in a season of parity in the middle and thus not far from early playoff contention. Every team has at least one victory to date.

 Lack of Win Streaks: There have been only THREE clubs thus far able to win back-to-back games over the first six weeks. Only Calgary (5), plus Hamilton and Saskatchewan have managed to win at least two games in a row.

 Turnovers even more prominent: There has been just ONE team that has been able to overcome a T/O deficit and win their game in 2018. Only Edmonton on June 29th in a 41-22 victory over BC was negative on Giveaways with 3 against the Lions' 2 that day. Overall, teams with fewer Turnovers are at 18-1 .947 in 2018 compared to 55-13 .809 in 2017 and 57-10 .851 in 2016.

Scoring at 46.5 ppg: Games are averaging just 46.5 points in 2018 vs 53.0 over the past two full seasons (2016-17). In 2018, there have been 10 games in which the point total has been 42 or less.

 Rushing up by 17% in 2018: The focus in 2018 has been a return to rushing the football with yards averaging 217 per game, the highest per game yardage since 2010. Teams who have won the rushing battle in 2018 are 17-6 .739. Winnipeg leads the CFL at 173 yards per game which is the best average by any club since Edmonton in 1991 (185.3 per game).

- Montreal Career Rushers: Tyrell Sutton moved up to #4 all-time for the Als last week by passing Brandon Whitaker. He is just 370 yards away from the #3 spot in club history. His per carry average is exactly the same as all-time leader Mike Pringle at 5.6 yards.

Deep passing contrast: Edmonton leads the CFL in throwing deep this year with 16 completions where the receiver was more than 20 yards downfield. By comparison, Montreal is tied for last having just 8 connections of 20+ yards downfield. Six of Edmonton's 9 TD passes have been of the 20+ depth variety.

MTL Roster changes from Week #1 to Week #7 - 42% Turnover: Of the 24 players that STARTED for the Als in their season opener, 10 of them (42%) either did not start last week or have since been traded away including Jamaal Westerman and Chris Williams.

- 14th MTL QB Starter / 25 Week-to-Week changes:The following players have started at QB for Montreal since Anthony Calvillo's last start on August 17, 2012 - Josh Neiswander, Tanner Marsh, Troy Smith, Alex Brink, Jon Crompton, Rakeem Cato, Kevin Glenn, Brandon Bridge, Vernon Adams Jr., Darian Durant, Drew Willy, Matthew Shiltz and Jeff Mathews.

Even more important perhaps, Montreal has been forced to make 25 week-to-week changes in their starting QB in the 89 games since August 2012. Edmonton has changed their QB starter week to week just 9 times over that span.

- 1-15 in the last 16 games / 7 in a row at home: The Alouettes have won just once in their last 16 games - that matches the previous poorest 16-game stretch in their history, 1-15 from Oct 6/51 to Oct 18/52 almost 66 years ago. They come in having lost their last 7 home games - the longest home losing streak in Montreal history.

- Edmonton vs Montreal: The Eskimos have won the last 8 meetings against Montreal, one short of their best run vs the Als. They won 9 consecutive meetings with Montreal across the 1978 to 1983 seasons. The current 8-game streak comes on the heels of exactly the same 8-game winning run that the Als had over Edmonton (2010 to 2013). The last Montreal win over Edmonton? Oct 5/13.

- Slow starts: The Eskimos have scored a total of just 3 points in the 1st Quarter over their last 3 games. They have been behind after the 1st Quarter in each of their last 4 games and come back to win two of them.

- Edmonton scoring: The Eskimos averaged 31.7 points per game over their first 3 contests, but have scored 16 and 15 points in their last two games respectively. Over the last two outings they have just built just 3 TD drives in 23 possessions.

- Mike Reilly: Has been the Esks' #1 QB since 2013 and has now started 48 of their last 49 games. Edmonton has gone 33-16 .673 in that 49-game span with Reilly missing a start only on Nov 5/16 at season's end. Reilly has 300-yard games in 3 of his 5 starts in 2018 (36 career) and in 65% of his starts since 2015. 

Sutton as a receiver: Tyrell Sutton is on pace for 76 receptions for 659 yards (he has 21 catches for 183 thus far) - that would be more yards and catches than in the last two years combined (71 for 518 across 2016-17).

- Boris Bede 14 FGs in a row: Has yet to miss a placement kick of either type in 2018 - 8/8 FGAs and 6/6 converts. He is just one short of his all-time career long run of 15 in a row set in June-July 2017 and has made 17 consecutive 32-yard converts.

- Montreal flagged: The Als committed 44 penalties over their first 3 games (incl. declined) – in their last 2 games just 14 penalties.

- Sean Whyte: Did not attempt a field goal last week and thus far has been called upon only 9 times. He is 7-of-9 in 2018. ___________________________________________________________________________________________________

 

Edited July 27, 20187 yr by Mr Dee

Manziel isn't playing in this game.  He's sitting on the bench like he paid for the seat.

looked like chip got there before the ball

Johnny Football time next week against Hamilton. Calling it now. Its my lock of week 8.

retire chip

Als are short on leaders, it's well past time for them to dump a boatload of their vets.

stone wanted to score. great effort. bulldozed for five yards.

Edited July 27, 20187 yr by Mark F

17 minutes ago, Goalie said:

Put in Johnny so he's watching from a hospital bed next week. 

Nasty...

 

Did Montreal coverage team not realize they were onside and could recover that kickoff?  Ball was just sitting on the turf and they covered it like a punt.

muamba whiffed on that gable run from the five. glad we did not get him.

1 minute ago, Mark F said:

muamba whiffed on that gable run from the five. glad we did not get him.

The Als tackling has been terrible all game long.

where was the interference?

wow what a horrible call.

Montreal defenders are just throwing themselves at the ball carrier, hope for a knock down. 

Edited July 27, 20187 yr by Mark F

Feel sorry for Adams, he played ok, his team mates other than sutton did not, his coachs were bad. J Manziel can't be looking forward to his turn.

28 minutes ago, Throw Long Bannatyne said:

Als are short on leaders, it's well past time for them to dump a boatload of their vets.

As well as their GM.

13 minutes ago, Mark F said:

muamba whiffed on that gable run from the five. glad we did not get him.

Obviously football is a team sport... but Muamba has managed to be on some pretty bad teams in the CFL:

2011 - Winnipeg - 10 - 8
2012 - Winnipeg - 6 - 12
2013 - Winnipeg - 3 - 15
2015 - Montreal - 6-12
2016 - Saskatchewan - 5 - 13
2017 - Saskatchewan - 10 - 8
2018 - Montreal - currently 1 - 5

Makes me wonder how much of a leader he is, and how he would respond to playoff or clutch situations.

Muamba was ok, but not worth the money, the Esks were not as overpowering as they ought to have been, and Adams was very good all things considered. I wondered how good he would look behind the Bomber O=line , but it occurred to me that he would be unlikely to supplant Streveler. Chris Jones really messed up by letting Adams go.

30 minutes ago, Eternal optimist said:

Obviously football is a team sport... but Muamba has managed to be on some pretty bad teams in the CFL:

2011 - Winnipeg - 10 - 8
2012 - Winnipeg - 6 - 12
2013 - Winnipeg - 3 - 15
2015 - Montreal - 6-12
2016 - Saskatchewan - 5 - 13
2017 - Saskatchewan - 10 - 8
2018 - Montreal - currently 1 - 5

Makes me wonder how much of a leader he is, and how he would respond to playoff or clutch situations.

The only reason he’s a difference maker is because he’s Canadian, but he’s not in the discussion for best LB’s in the league.  Ackie might be more of a difference maker for the Als.

2 hours ago, Goalie said:

Edmonton lives and dies on the Duck and Chuck O... Im not really impressed by them

It works for them, they stick with it. Better than teams like the Als who don’t design plays that would make their players better. 

1 hour ago, Tracker said:

Muamba was ok, but not worth the money, the Esks were not as overpowering as they ought to have been, and Adams was very good all things considered. I wondered how good he would look behind the Bomber O=line , but it occurred to me that he would be unlikely to supplant Streveler. Chris Jones really messed up by letting Adams go.

My problem with Adams is he only seems comfortable when he runs a rollout and finds something downfield.  He doesn't seem to have the quick release factor that Nichols and Streveler have, and it seems he's not too comfortable firing the hard slant passes against the blitz.  Although maybe Khari/Sherman are to blame for that in part for using Bellefeuilles play book.  Who knows.

2 hours ago, Goalie said:

The Als oline is very bad tho. 

Yeah but the Esks were bringing extra men on those blitzes.  Should've meant open windows or been something that if the Als offense had safety valves for could've been counteracted.  There's a reason teams are hesitant to bring those kind of blitzes against Lapolice, and it's why his haters should shutup once and for all.

1 hour ago, USABomberfan said:

Yeah but the Esks were bringing extra men on those blitzes.  Should've meant open windows or been something that if the Als offense had safety valves for could've been counteracted.  There's a reason teams are hesitant to bring those kind of blitzes against Lapolice, and it's why his haters should shutup once and for all.

End of the day there are three things you absolutely cannot do without in the CFL: QB, kicker and a good offensive line. Any of those pieces at all shaky, and it will cause you to lose some games. As much as the Bombers outplayed Toronto last week, if Pfeffer hits those two FGs in the first half, the score is a one possession game (25-17).

Tom Brady would look like Tee Martin behind that o-line, honestly was not watching that close but i wonder why the Als don't run max protect like the Ticats do.

Edited July 27, 20187 yr by Gotmilt

9 hours ago, USABomberfan said:

My problem with Adams is he only seems comfortable when he runs a rollout and finds something downfield.  He doesn't seem to have the quick release factor that Nichols and Streveler have, and it seems he's not too comfortable firing the hard slant passes against the blitz.  Although maybe Khari/Sherman are to blame for that in part for using Bellefeuilles play book.  Who knows.

Adams is so short as well, I doubt he can really see the guys coming in on those quick slants or ins over the middle as well.

He was way too quick to try and leave the pocket. You can't attempt to roll out when the Esks are blitzing seven guys.

That game was a good example of why a QB who can’t make a throw from the pocket has no chance in pro football no matter how good of a runner he is.

adams had about one second before someone was on him on many plays.

the O line was absolutely awful, and I didn't see the plays being called, or receivers helping much either

when he had time, he made some really nice passes, like the long pass that should have been a touchdown. went through the receivers hands in stride at the five. can't do any better than that.

probably a forty yards or more pass right to the receiver.

Edited July 27, 20187 yr by Mark F

12 hours ago, Eternal optimist said:

Obviously football is a team sport... but Muamba has managed to be on some pretty bad teams in the CFL:

2011 - Winnipeg - 10 - 8
2012 - Winnipeg - 6 - 12
2013 - Winnipeg - 3 - 15
2015 - Montreal - 6-12
2016 - Saskatchewan - 5 - 13
2017 - Saskatchewan - 10 - 8
2018 - Montreal - currently 1 - 5

Makes me wonder how much of a leader he is, and how he would respond to playoff or clutch situations.

That's generally what happens when you chase the money and don't create any lasting legacy...and try and become a leader...and you get some inflated defensive stats as your crappy defense is always on the field so you rack up the tackles.

Also listen to that first podcast with Andrew Harris and his comments on not getting Muamba...he basically said he was glad and that Muamba wouldn't fit in here and didn't want him on the team...more or less...we lucked out big time with him spurning us