CFL news - Week 8

 

Edmonton at Montreal

 

- Matt Nichols and James Franklin split reps this week at QB but Nichols ended up getting the bulk of the work.

- "No regrets" was how it was phrased over the decision to gamble on 3rd and 4 over attempting a 48 yd. FG. Apparently, Shaw starts to get "iffy" in that range. Having said that, it's also reported that Grant Shaw has had a perfect start to 2015 making 15-of-15 field goals. That extends his streak to a career-high 21 consecutive FGs made as he hit his final 6 attempts last year. The Edmonton club record is held by Sean Fleming with the 10th longest streak in CFL history at 22 (Sep-Oct 2001).

- Mike Reilly is still expected to be out another 3-5 weeks 

- No A. Bowman or Chad Simpson for the game - injured

- Edmonton lost last week at BC after holding a 13-point lead and were outscored 9-0 in the final 15:00. The last time Edmonton failed to hold a 13+ point lead and not win was on Sep 28/13 vs Toronto. Last week was only the second time since 2008 the Esks’ have blown a 13+ point lead.

- Edmonton is #1 in the CFL in forcing opponents into 2nd-&-long situations: 95 times in 138 second down situations.

-  Edmonton has forced at least 3 Turnovers in each of their last 5 games. Their defence has allowed no TDs in 49 opponent possessions at home; on the road 7 TDs allowed in 49 drives.

- The Esks have allowed only one punt return of more than 16 yards and one kickoff return of greater than 30 yards all season.

 

Montreal
 

- released 3 players from its roster - kicker Sean Whyte, receiver Dobson Collins and linebacker Bryn Roy.

- Montreal is winless away from home this year and 3-9 since 2014; however they return home this week to where they are 2-1 in 2015 and 8-4 under Coach Higgins (2014-15). All three of their road losses have been by 3 points or less.

- If Rakeem Cato starts this game, that will make it 5 different QB starters for Montreal in each of their last 5 games vs. Edmonton (Calvillo, Neiswander, Smith, Crompton and Cato).

- Rakeem Cato ranks #5 in the CFL in passer rating at 96.9 but his drive success (TD%) ranks only #9. The Als' Red Zone production ranks #9 in the CFL at just 45% (3-of-9 in last 3 games). Cato is 2-0 at home as a starter but 0-3 on the road.

- Montreal is the best at converting on 3rd-&-1 this season making 9-of-11 tries.

- Montreal has yet to record a defensive TD this season in a year where there have been 14 already.

- S.J. Green is the only Montreal receiver in the Top 25 after seven weeks. He is #1 in the CFL with 539 yards on pace for a career-high 1,617 yards. He has 11 second down conversion catches and recorded career reception #400 last week going over the 6,000 yard mark.

- On a per game basis, Montreal has run the ball more times than any other CFL club (21.3 times per game).

- Montreal was +4 on turnovers in their first 4 games; they have been -5 in the last two contests.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Geeze, either play football or don't play football. Can't keep taking leave over and over again.

 

I doubt Montreal takes him back.

 

EDIT: He cites mental health as a reason for leaving. Could be more serious than we think.

Or it could be an excuse that he can't play at the CFL level. 

 

 

This is true.

 

Either way, he no longer belongs on the team. He has proven to be unreliable and not strong enough to play professionally.

 

I also believe in equality, but if he can't play football, he can't play football.

If he wasn't openly gay, there'd be no story at all. He'd just be another guy that couldn't make the jump from college to the pros. He'd have been cut when he left the Als the first time around and that would be it. If you want equality, which I do, then judge the man simply on how he can play football.

Yep I doubt he's the only football player to have a relationship fall apart and be distressed about it. 

The issue with this whole thing was making it a long-running reality show.  I lost a lot of respect for Sam when he took that route of actively seeking media attention instead of just going about his business and more or less dealing with the media crap as it came up.  Like for instance having a press conference in Montreal when he signed.  When is the last time an import who has never played a down in the CFL or NFL for that matter had a press conference to announce their signing?  If I'm Sam I'm telling Jim Popp and whoever else to handle my signing how you would any other.  It's clear that Sam saw $$$ in things like that.  I hope he saved up some money at least, but it was pretty clear from the time of his NFL Draft that he was on the path of media exploitation.  He was always a marginal player on either side of the border, I don't think he needed the added media pressure, and I think he could have avoided quite a bit of it.

He's probably depressed because he sucks at football.

He had a serious look in the NFL....for publicity ? Not likely. He had demonstrated he could play at a high level in the NCAA. He was a tweener down there and was a tweener here. He didn't all of a sudden become a dog.

If he wasn't openly gay, there'd be no story at all. He'd just be another guy that couldn't make the jump from college to the pros. He'd have been cut when he left the Als the first time around and that would be it. If you want equality, which I do, then judge the man simply on how he can play football.

 

We can blame the Montreal organization for this one. Sam has been shown to be a mediocre football player and yet he gets the invitation up to Montreal because, well, he is just a mediocre football player. Bad advice, the first time he was here and shame on Popp for bringing him back. That was asinine and self-serving.

Sam ought to have been a perfect rush end in the CFL and he didn't earn his first-round status by accident. I doubt if anyone could be good at his/her job when their valued relationship/marriage is falling apart but Sam's stock has probably fallen so low that getting another training camp invite next year is unlikely even in this league.

Sam ought to have been a perfect rush end in the CFL and he didn't earn his first-round status by accident. I doubt if anyone could be good at his/her job when their valued relationship/marriage is falling apart but Sam's stock has probably fallen so low that getting another training camp invite next year is unlikely even in this league.

What do you mean by first round status, he was drafted in the 7th round 249 over-all. To slow to be a rush end and no cover abilities to be a linebacker. He was the classic definition of hype and in the end i hope he has something to fall back on from college. 

He had a serious look in the NFL....for publicity ? Not likely. He had demonstrated he could play at a high level in the NCAA. He was a tweener down there and was a tweener here. He didn't all of a sudden become a dog.

 

It seems pretty clear that he's not focused on football.  You become a dog pretty quick when you aren't working as hard as the rest of the people competing for spots on pro teams.  He was brutal in the NFL vet combine and when they kept showing him during pre-game in Ottawa I was wondering if he was going to put on a sports bra.  Doesn't look to be in good shape at all.

The kid was publicity stunt.. Thats it. He was not in game shape, his head was not on right to be trying to make a push to make a roster on a professional football team..

Like mentioned earlier.. If he wasnt the first openly gay player, i doubt he even gets drafted..

Explain the logic of bringing him in for publicity when clearly all he has ever been wherever he was is a distraction? I guess you think that the NFL hired a female official for publicity too?

 

Sam ought to have been a perfect rush end in the CFL and he didn't earn his first-round status by accident. I doubt if anyone could be good at his/her job when their valued relationship/marriage is falling apart but Sam's stock has probably fallen so low that getting another training camp invite next year is unlikely even in this league.

What do you mean by first round status, he was drafted in the 7th round 249 over-all. To slow to be a rush end and no cover abilities to be a linebacker. He was the classic definition of hype and in the end i hope he has something to fall back on from college. 

 

My bad- i thought he was drafed much higher.

Explain the logic of bringing him in for publicity when clearly all he has ever been wherever he was is a distraction? I guess you think that the NFL hired a female official for publicity too?

 

The thing is, Sam was never fit for professional football, so none of the teams would have any reason but the fact that he's gay to draft him. Really no offence to him, but I believe it was the only reason he was given so many chances. Any other player either wouldn't be drafted and even if they were, they'd be cut at the first sign of bailing out like Sam.

Well with that logic we can only hope that Ms. Bruce Jenner doesn't want to try his luck at pro football. Just for the publicity it brings a team.

Well with that logic we can only hope that Ms. Bruce Jenner doesn't want to try his luck at pro football. Just for the publicity it brings a team.

You do realize there is no such thing as bad press or publicity to some people,right?

Just so they can say "we had the starting Canadian qb!" Or "we are the ones who gave the kid his chance!"

Wishful thinking but Ottawa and Hamilton combo tonight please

blowout?

 

yes

 

same as against us. game over before end of first quarter

I'm the only person with nothing better to do on sat night i guess

tolliver 6 ft 5 i read

bc secondary???

helmet

 

no call

24-0...Jesus. Ham for realz??

There D is  aggressive and mean and there O strikes quickly and they make there own luck, they are for real

 got some luck going for them all bounces going their way.

Well with that logic we can only hope that Ms. Bruce Jenner doesn't want to try his luck at pro football. Just for the publicity it brings a team.

I hope the Bombers sign him/her.