I thought we had lost tonight's games because of special teams mistakes:

 

!. holding /blocking penalties on returns .... especially away from the play

 

2. Return for a touchdown against us ... #41b (I think) looked lackadaisical

 

3. Ian Wild snapping the ball over our punters head

 

What gives?

 

I thought special teams was the extraordinary part oif O'Shea's game ... how many years as a special teams coach .... this seems like such an enigma !!!

 

I am absolutely thrilled, amazed and happy with tonight's photo-finish win ... and Drew Willy's special leadership .. but can we do something to save me from this type of  heart attack?

 

IIRC there hasn't been a team who won 8 games that has not made the play-offs. It's the magic number.

 

Was that a 9 or 8 team league?

 

That would be both. 

IIRC there hasn't been a team who won 8 games that has not made the play-offs. It's the magic number.

Ever??

I looked back as far as 1996.

1981 - 16 game schedule without the crossover rule - Saskatchewan misses the playoffs with a 9-7 record, Ottawa gets in at 5-11 and Montreal gets in at 3-13 (!).  All 5 Western teams had more wins than the second place team in the East.

 

 

 Edmonton  16  14  1  1  

 Winnipeg  16  11  5  0  

 BC  16  10  6  0  

 Saskatchewan  16  9  7  0  

 Calgary  16  6  10  0  

 

 Hamilton  16  11  4  1  

 Ottawa  16  5  11  0  

 Montreal  16  3  13  0 

 Toronto  16  2  14  0  
 

1981 - 16 game schedule without the crossover rule - Saskatchewan misses the playoffs with a 9-7 record, Ottawa gets in at 5-11 and Montreal gets in at 3-13 (!).  All 5 Western teams had more wins than the second place team in the East.

 

 

 Edmonton  16  14  1  1  

 Winnipeg  16  11  5  0  

 BC  16  10  6  0  

 Saskatchewan  16  9  7  0  

 Calgary  16  6  10  0  

 

 Hamilton  16  11  4  1  

 Ottawa  16  5  11  0  

 Montreal  16  3  13  0 

 Toronto  16  2  14  0  

 

That year Ottawa, with J.C. Watts, almost beat Edmonton in the Grey Cup. They were leading by 20 points or something like that at half time, but couldn't hold on and Edmonton beat them by a field goal. I remember that game - would have been one of the greatest upsets in sports history.

It seems as though the coaches/players are able to work on these problems.

 

against Edmonton, some bad tackling….  now, tackling is better, lot of penalties, now, penalties down, 

 

everything is getting better.

 

I predict that special teams will be a lot better next game.

Woods is "okay" and won't embarrass us, but I've seen nothing so far to indicate that he has the combination of speed and instinct to be a Chad Owens or Gizmo Williams  type returner.

Chad Owens and Gizmo Williams are 'Once in a Generation' type of players.  You can't expect every returner to live up to those lofty expectations.  Woods is a solid, if unspectacular returner.  I'd like to see him catch the ball in the air more often and get around the corner every now and then.

Chad Owens and Gizmo Williams are 'Once in a Generation' type of players.  You can't expect every returner to live up to those lofty expectations.  Woods is a solid, if unspectacular returner.  I'd like to see him catch the ball in the air more often and get around the corner every now and then.

Like when he ran for a touchdown that got called back for holding?

 

Chad Owens and Gizmo Williams are 'Once in a Generation' type of players.  You can't expect every returner to live up to those lofty expectations.  Woods is a solid, if unspectacular returner.  I'd like to see him catch the ball in the air more often and get around the corner every now and then.

Like when he ran for a touchdown that got called back for holding?

 

Yup.  Just like that, only not needing a hold to make it around the corner.

 

 

Chad Owens and Gizmo Williams are 'Once in a Generation' type of players.  You can't expect every returner to live up to those lofty expectations.  Woods is a solid, if unspectacular returner.  I'd like to see him catch the ball in the air more often and get around the corner every now and then.

Like when he ran for a touchdown that got called back for holding?

 

Yup.  Just like that, only not needing a hold to make it around the corner.

 

Yup...always Mr. Negative!

 

 

 

Chad Owens and Gizmo Williams are 'Once in a Generation' type of players.  You can't expect every returner to live up to those lofty expectations.  Woods is a solid, if unspectacular returner.  I'd like to see him catch the ball in the air more often and get around the corner every now and then.

Like when he ran for a touchdown that got called back for holding?

 

Yup.  Just like that, only not needing a hold to make it around the corner.

 

Yup...always Mr. Negative!

As always... complaining about the poster.