CFL Game #75 Team Notes – Hamilton at Toronto:

 Playoff considerations / Cross-Over: The Tiger-Cats are now in a battle with Ottawa for first place and a bye in the first round of the East Division playoffs. The 2nd place team will face a Western opponent as Cross-Over is certain for a record 3rd straight year. They have a 2-game set with Ottawa who plays Edmonton this week. The games with the REDBLACKS will decide the season series which Ottawa leads 1-0.

 Away from home 11-7: Jeremiah Masoli's record is better away from Hamilton at 11-7 than at home (6-9). He is undefeated in two career starts in Toronto (incl. Sep 8/18) and his 4 wins against the Argos are the most among his 17-16 record against any rival. Masoli leads the CFL with 10 games of 300+ yards and is up to #2 with a CFL QB Rating of 81.8 trailing only Bo Levi Mitchell (83.4).

 Toronto 6 in a row: The Argos look to avoid a 7th straight defeat - the last time they lost 6 in a row was the final 7 g ames of the 2016 season. For Coach Trestman this is the longest losing streak of his CFL career.

 James Franklin: Has been tapped to start after giving way to McLeod Bethel-Thompson for the last 8 games. He is 1-3 as a starter but all 4 came against Edmonton and Winnipeg. This will be his first start vs an Eastern club other than Toronto.

 Hamilton up by 10+: In each of their last two losses the Ti-Cats took leads of 10 or more points. In 2018, they have lost 3 times when getting to double-digit leads and are 7-3 overall with 10+ margins.

Related to that, Hamilton is a league-best +81 in the 1st Quarter (133-52) and have trailed after 15:00 in just 3 of 14 games. Over the final three Quarters/Overtime however they have been outscored 289-274 (-15).

 Luke Tasker 400/5000: Needs 84 yards to reach 1,000 for the third time in the last 4 years. He went over 400 career catches last week and has 402 receptions for 5,140 yards in just 76 games. Of his 402 receptions, 152 have been for 2nd down conversions.

 Toronto at half: The Argos have led just once all season long at half time (Jul 7/18 vs Edmonton)

 By 1 point: Three of Toronto's 7 home games thus far have been decided by one point.

 White, Green & Timmis: The Ti-Cats do not have a running back in the Top 7 rushers but ... have 3 different 100-yard gainers.

 Masoli last 5 games: Masoli has been efficient passing with only 3 interceptions compared to 12 TD passes in this 5-game run.

 Franklin last game: Took over at QB and directed 2 TD drives in just 4 possessions as BC fought back against BC.

 Green & Edwards: Come in with reception streaks - Green is at 33 staright games and Edwards all 35 of his CFL games.

This is one game I won't be watching/recording this weekend...it has little effect on the Bombers

Toronto has to be one of the most disappointing teams in the league no? From Grey cup champs to chumps. 

1 minute ago, Arnold_Palmer said:

Toronto has to be one of the most disappointing teams in the league no? From Grey cup champs to chumps. 

I would disagree due to Ray getting injured but they brought Franklin in thinking he was their future number one. So, yes, they've been disappointing, in the very weak East. 

38 minutes ago, Arnold_Palmer said:

Toronto has to be one of the most disappointing teams in the league no? From Grey cup champs to chumps. 

Just goes to show how important QBing is in the CFL. With Ricky Ray that team likely wins a few more games. 

Also goes to show that Franklin wasn't necessarily the 'next great QB' that some thought he would be.  Perhaps he can still get there, but I seem to remember some wanting him here to replace Nichols because he was going to be so much better.

Fans are too reactionary. Too much buying into hype from TSN and let's be honest, TSN is hardly the experts they'd have you believe. 

6 minutes ago, 17to85 said:

Fans are too reactionary. Too much buying into hype from TSN and let's be honest, TSN is hardly the experts they'd have you believe. 

I'm pretty sure Trestman and Popp don't watch TSN for their scouting. 

31 minutes ago, JCon said:

I'm pretty sure Trestman and Popp don't watch TSN for their scouting. 

well i recall trestmanliking MBT more out of camp and Popps record with qbs is suspect to be polite.

1 minute ago, 17to85 said:

well i recall trestmanliking MBT more out of camp and Popps record with qbs is suspect to be polite.

Popp didn't trade for Franklin without Trestman's consent. 

but still, neither one of them have developed a CFL qb. Trestman did well with Calvillo and Ray, but those are two well established HOF type qbs and Popp never brought anyone in to replace Calvillo in Montreal so I am not sure that holding them up as QB gurus is entirely accurate. 

How soon from start of broadcast will someone say "this is still an important for TOR , they are playing for,jobs etc etc"

16 minutes ago, Zontar said:

How soon from start of broadcast will someone say "this is still an important for TOR , they are playing for,jobs etc etc"

I don't know who's calling it but it's a perfect one for Rod Black. He barely pays attention to the game anyhow and will yap about how tough it is in the "Canadian Football League" to repeat as GC champions. 

There's a drinking game in there somewhere. You could get just as blasted as Rod Black gets when calling a game. 

Just heard this on the pre-game show.

Remarkable.

Blue Bomber Bob Cameron played 353 games in a row. (Sometimes covered in drywall dust 😀)

 

3 hours ago, 17to85 said:

but still, neither one of them have developed a CFL qb. Trestman did well with Calvillo and Ray, but those are two well established HOF type qbs and Popp never brought anyone in to replace Calvillo in Montreal so I am not sure that holding them up as QB gurus is entirely accurate. 

Seriously - who is there to throw to in TO...  SJ Green can't catch the ball every single down...

4 hours ago, 17to85 said:

Fans are too reactionary. Too much buying into hype from TSN and let's be honest, TSN is hardly the experts they'd have you believe. 

Wait, they're not? You mean Johnny Manziel isn't the greatest QB ever?

36 minutes ago, Floyd said:

Seriously - who is there to throw to in TO...  SJ Green can't catch the ball every single down...

There are a few good offensive pieces there, I like this Burks character and Armanti Edwards and Llevi Noel are both good receivers... but yeah overall there is not a huge wealth of talent.

Their OL also leaves something to be desired.

And the defence has been pretty pathetic.

I still think there is some good potential with James Franklin... I believe he will find more success in the CFL than MBT.

What an absolutely terrible RTP call that was!

Everything against the Argos in this one, including the officials.

This Toronto team is bad, for television ratings. I'm out.

This game is the stink. 

Like... stink like riderfans girlfriend stink.

Like haven't had a bath in a month stink. 

 

Trestman outthought himself by sitting Carter as long as he did...  they desperately need someone that can stretch the field

That whole team has just quit... scary.

 

Old enough to remember when Franklin was promised to be the next big thing.

19 minutes ago, J5V said:

This Toronto team is bad, for television ratings. I'm out.

Kinda gets you wondering how in the world they mustered that comeback against Ottawa a few weeks ago.

Lotta questions going on with that team as to whether or not Trestman's 2017 Grey Cup run was his last, what they're going to do with Franklin going forward, and more so if Corey Chamblin's going to get fired.

19 minutes ago, USABomberfan said:

Kinda gets you wondering how in the world they mustered that comeback against Ottawa a few weeks ago.

Lotta questions going on with that team as to whether or not Trestman's 2017 Grey Cup run was his last, what they're going to do with Franklin going forward, and more so if Corey Chamblin's going to get fired.

Corey Chamblin? He's not in the CFL anymore. He resigned as Argos DC.

Mike Archer is their DC and he has been terrible.  He was their LB coach last year and came in with some pretty impressive NCAA/NFL credentials but it clearly has not worked out.