Well, while we still got 4 days to go till we kick our game off, we save the best for last.  Meantime, Thursday night should be a good one to kickoff the 2019 season.

The subplots: The TiCats for obvious reasons are the favorites to win the east, and with the return of Steinhauer, the high hopes they got on Masoli and what looks to be a rock solid roster, there's many reasons the optimism is high.

For the Riders, the questions will be whether or not Craig Dickenson will prove to be their O'Shea, and whether or not they can protect Collaros.  A lot of changes have come to the roster with several former BC Lions including Arceneaux and Elimimian now there as well as former Colts WR Moncrief.

All that to say, while Steinhauer built his reputation on running an aggressive defense for Kent Austin, I seen some experts on the CFL site expressing concerns about June Jones no longer being there to be the guider for Masoli.  So will the TiCats offense get a high level of play under a defensive HC?

And the Riders will be a very different team than what we saw under Chris Jones, a guy who could win but had a toxic attitude at times and brought in cancers like Duron Carter.  Question is will this change be for the better or the worse for them?  Can't wait to see what this year of change is going to be.

1 minute ago, Bubba Zanetti said:

You'll always have guys lined up willing to spin the brain injury wheel in exchange for millions of dollars. Football isn't going anywhere.

Not today or tomorrow, but since liability still hasn't been settled, it'll be interesting to see how the game will change.  Can't see a day pre-apocolypse where the NFL is going to force players to sign a waiver saying they'll never sue the league if they get a concussion.

Just now, Wideleft said:

Not today or tomorrow, but since liability still hasn't been settled, it'll be interesting to see how the game will change.  Can't see a day pre-apocolypse where the NFL is going to force players to sign a waiver saying they'll never sue the league if they get a concussion.

That I could definitely see happening in the future.

Just now, Bubba Zanetti said:

That I could definitely see happening in the future.

Can't see the NFLPA seeing it though.

“We had one instance in particular (last season) with Zach Collaros where, you know, we didn’t do a good enough job of getting him off the field fast enough,” Ambrosie said. “There was some learning there, so, you know, I think for as many good things there were a few that need some attention as we…move towards 2019.

“I think everyone feels strongly that we need to think about options. How we detect those head-to-head hits and should we use the Command Centre is a question that’s on the table. We had an additional official in our playoff games; we thought that was an appropriate way to…put in place something that might help.

“I think we need to put it all on the table and think about how it can help us.”

If these recommendations are approved at Board of Governors meetings later this spring, it’ll go a long way in limiting dangerous hits to the head. It’ll also minimize the chance of a repeat of the October incident Ambrosie referenced.

Think about it from the perspective of a linebacker or defensive end. Instead of leveling a high impact hit that could carry the risk of hitting the neck or head area, I think a lot of guys will ease up. Yes, players are conditioned to play hard to the whistle, but the risk of costing your team 25 yards, or almost a quarter of the field, is a powerful deterrent. The same is true with knowledge an eye in the sky is always watching.

Not only has the CFL talked at length about improving player safety and protecting quarterbacks, this past week proves it’s more than just lip service. The league is doing more to deter head hits than any other governing body in football. If that’s not a prime example of actions speaking louder than words, I don’t know what is.

https://www.cfl.ca/2019/03/25/steinbergs-mmqb-actions-speak-louder-words/

 

3 hours ago, Zontar said:

Simply not true with a concussion history like Collaros. It's a decidedly  heightened risk. 

Disagree. Even someone with no history of concussions can suffer a traumatic brain injury from one impact. Some are simply more vulnerable than others and it also depends on the vector of the impact on the skull.

7 minutes ago, kelownabomberfan said:

“We had one instance in particular (last season) with Zach Collaros where, you know, we didn’t do a good enough job of getting him off the field fast enough,” Ambrosie said. “There was some learning there, so, you know, I think for as many good things there were a few that need some attention as we…move towards 2019.

“I think everyone feels strongly that we need to think about options. How we detect those head-to-head hits and should we use the Command Centre is a question that’s on the table. We had an additional official in our playoff games; we thought that was an appropriate way to…put in place something that might help.

“I think we need to put it all on the table and think about how it can help us.”

If these recommendations are approved at Board of Governors meetings later this spring, it’ll go a long way in limiting dangerous hits to the head. It’ll also minimize the chance of a repeat of the October incident Ambrosie referenced.

Think about it from the perspective of a linebacker or defensive end. Instead of leveling a high impact hit that could carry the risk of hitting the neck or head area, I think a lot of guys will ease up. Yes, players are conditioned to play hard to the whistle, but the risk of costing your team 25 yards, or almost a quarter of the field, is a powerful deterrent. The same is true with knowledge an eye in the sky is always watching.

Not only has the CFL talked at length about improving player safety and protecting quarterbacks, this past week proves it’s more than just lip service. The league is doing more to deter head hits than any other governing body in football. If that’s not a prime example of actions speaking louder than words, I don’t know what is.

https://www.cfl.ca/2019/03/25/steinbergs-mmqb-actions-speak-louder-words/

 

I think it's technique that has to change my with pass rushers and linebackers.

https://3downnation.com/2019/06/14/cfl-believes-ticats-lawrence-should-have-been-ejected-for-hit-on-riders-collaros/

57 minutes ago, Wideleft said:

It's like they've never heard of Matt Dunigan, Buck Pierce, Ricky Ray etc.

Or pretty much any QB in this league that has played a few years. These types of hits have happen for years. Not saying it's right and agree it needs to be fixed but to blow the conspiracy whistle and that it's all this master plan against them is so laughable.

 

Part of me wishes Zach played the whole game and had 100 yards passing and 3 picks just to hear the excuses they would make then.

1 hour ago, kelownabomberfan said:

This is why I think the sport of football is doomed.  

Not in our lifetimes.

Interesting stats for the Sask. - Ticat game..

 

 

I think "really good" is just a tad over the top...

Harker has some swagger, but he's a rookie and he was staring down his targets all night, that'll be trouble if he continues to do it. Good for a rookie, see if he can take those next steps.