2007 CFL season

[GA Russell]

The results of the first round of balloting for the CFL Awards are in. Each team's nominees are listed here:

http://www.globesports.com/servlet/story/R...tsFootball/home

Ben Cahoon was finally nominated as the Als' best player. The guy is a surefire bet for the Hall of Fame, yet I don't think till now he has gotten the nod over Anthony Calvillo as the team's best player.

I think I would vote for Nick Setta for Rookie.

I suspect Joe Smith will be named Outstanding Player.

[GA Russell]

Week 18 previews:

http://scoreboards.canoe.ca/merge/tsnform..../live/pv640.htm

http://scoreboards.canoe.ca/merge/tsnform..../live/pv641.htm

http://scoreboards.canoe.ca/merge/tsnform..../live/pv642.htm

http://scoreboards.canoe.ca/merge/tsnform..../live/pv643.htm

*****

The Argos have announced their all-time team.

Dick Shatto once had reason to give me a call for business purposes. I once spoke on the phone with Dan Ferrone. Reggie Pleasant came to my 1995 Grey Cup party.

http://www.globesports.com/servlet/story/R...tsFootball/home

*****

Doug Flutie says, "Playing in Canada put the fun back into football for me."

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/sto...ory/GlobeSports

[GARussell]

British Columbia Lions 27....Hamilton Tiger-Cats 19

http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Football/CFL/New...4608949-cp.html

With the win the Lions clinched first place in the West.

The Lions played Jarious Jackson, Buck Pierce (who injured himself again) and for a little bit Dave Dickinson.

Saskatchewan Rougriders 36....Edmonton Eskimos 29

http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Football/CFL/Gam...4609118-cp.html

With the loss, the Eskimos were eliminated from the playoffs, and thus the Als clinched the final spot.

Sean Fleming kicked a 47 yard field goal to win the game with three seconds left, but Mike Maurer was called for holding. Sask won it in OT.

Toronto Argonauts 16....Winnipeg Blue Bombers 8

http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Football/CFL/Gam...4610441-cp.html

The Bombers would have clinched first place in the East with a win. Now the Argos are in first, one point up. If the Bombers win AND the Argos lose next week, the Bombers will finish in first. If either the Argos win or the Bombers lose next week, the Argos will clinch first.

Calgary Stampeders 33....Montreal Alouettes 32

http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Football/CFL/Cal...612237-sun.html

*****

Next week is the last week of the regular season.

[GARussell]

This just in: Kerry Joseph, not Joe Smith, is the Western nominee for Outstanding Player. I'm really surprised. Kevin Glenn is the Eatsern nominee. I'll post another link with all of the finalists when I see it.

http://www.globesports.com/servlet/story/R...tsFootball/home

*****

I posted Oct. 21 that the Argos have only lost once when Michael Bishop has started at QB. Now I see that the Lions have lost only twice with 3rd string QB Jarious Jackson starting. And he will be a free agent after the Grey Cup!

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/sto...sFootball/Lions

[GARussell]

The two division all-star teams were announced today. I respect the opinions of the writers and the coaches, but I more respect the opinions of the players, so I will look forward to the union announcing its all star team in a few weeks.

http://www.globesports.com/servlet/story/R...tsFootball/home

East Division

Offence

Kevin Glenn, QB, Winnipeg

Jesse Lumsden, RB, Hamilton

Charles Roberts, RB, Winnipeg

Derick Armstrong, R, Winnipeg

Ben Cahoon, R, Montreal

Terrence Edwards, R, Winnipeg

Milt Stegall, R, Winnipeg

Marwan Hage, C, Hamilton

Scott Flory, G, Montreal

Taylor Robertson, G, Toronto

Alexandre Gauthier, T, Winnipeg

Dan Goodspeed, T, Winnipeg

Defence

Adriano Belli, DT, Toronto

Doug Brown, DT, Winnipeg

Jonathan Brown, DE, Toronto

Tom Canada, DE, Winnipeg

Kevin Eiben, LB, Toronto

Zeke Moreno, LB, Hamilton

Barrin Simpson, LB, Winnipeg

Byron Parker, CB, Toronto

Jordan Younger, CB, Toronto

Randee Drew, DB, Montreal

Kenny Wheaton, DB, Toronto

Orlondo Steinauer, S, Toronto

Special Teams

Nick Setta, K, Hamilton

Damon Duval, P, Montreal

Dominique Dorsey, ST, Toronto

West Division

Offence

Kerry Joseph, QB, Saskatchewan

Joffrey Reynolds, RB, Calgary

Joe Smith, RB, B.C.

Jason Clermont, R, B.C.

D.J. Flick, R, Saskatchewan

Nikolas Lewis, R, Calgary

Geroy Simon, R, B.C.

Jeremy O'Day, C, Saskatchewan

Kelly Bates, G, B.C.

Jay McNeil, G, Calgary

Gene Makowsky, T, Saskatchewan

Rob Murphy, T, B.C.

Defence

Aaron Hunt, DT, B.C.

Tyrone Williams, DT, B.C.

Fred Perry, DE, Saskatchewan

Cameron Wake, DE, B.C.

Otis Floyd, LB, B.C.

Reggie Hunt, LB, Saskatchewan

Maurice Lloyd, LB, Saskatchwan

Lavar Glover, CB, B.C.

James Johnson, CB, Saskatchewan

Korey Banks, DB, B.C.

Ryan Phillips, DB, B.C.

Barron Miles, S, B.C.

Special Teams

Paul McCallum, P, B.C.

Luca Congi, K, Saskatchewan

Ian Smart, ST, B.C.

*****

As promised here is the list of finalists for the CFL Awards:

http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Football/CFL/New...4617793-cp.html

[GARussell]

Week 19 previews:

http://scoreboards.canoe.ca/merge/tsnform..../live/pv644.htm

http://scoreboards.canoe.ca/merge/tsnform..../live/pv645.htm

http://scoreboards.canoe.ca/merge/tsnform..../live/pv646.htm

http://scoreboards.canoe.ca/merge/tsnform..../live/pv647.htm

[GARussell]

Winnipeg Blue Bombers 20....Montreal Alouettes 17

http://www.globesports.com/servlet/story/R...tsFootball/home

In Anthony Calvillo's absence, Marcus Brady has QB'd the Als the past two games, not Jason Maas. He looked good tonight, particularly in the first half. Both offenses didn't show much in the second half.

Charles Roberts is a little hurt, so backup RB Fred Reid played instead, and had a terrific game. He accounted for over half of the Bombers' yards, and scored two TDs.

[GARussell]

Satiurday's games:

Toronto Argonauts 41....Saskatchewan Roughriders 13

http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Football/CFL/Gam...4628527-cp.html

The Argos clinch first place in the East.

Hamilton Tiger-Cats 21....Edmonton Eskimos 19

http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Football/CFL/Gam...4629180-cp.html

British Columbia Lions 25....Calgary Stampeders 24

http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Football/CFL/Gam...4629396-cp.html

*****

Next week: Montreal at Winnipeg and Calgary at Saskatchewan.

*****

The Als have signed Bashir Levingston for the playoffs.

http://www.globesports.com/servlet/story/R...tsFootball/home

*****

The Ticats have fired GM Marcel Desjardins. I wonder if what got the ball rolling on this decision was when I met Bob Young early this year and suggested we have lunch. I told him I would ask him to explain why the team had recently traded DJ Flick to Sask for Rocky Butler. Butler was released in training camp, and Flick went on to have a great year. In any event, it looks like Young is tired of losing.

My hunch is that they'll keep Charlie Taffe as head coach, but insist he hire assistants with CFL experience. The defensive coordinator had no Canadian rules football experience, for Pete's sake!

http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Football/CFL/Ham...4631348-cp.html

edit for typo

Edited November 5, 2007 by GARussell

[John Tapscott]

Hey, what about the Argos!! QB Michael Bishop was really getting ripped on the phone-in sports shows in TO last week. Yes, his inexperience sometimes shows, but c'mon! I forget what the exact figure is, but I think the Argos lost only 2 (maybe 1) game that he started all year. 2-6 when he returned from injury, finishing 11-7 and in first place overall. Remarkable, really. I don't give a fig what the QB's stats are, as long as the team wins, and with Bishop the Argos win, sometimes ugly, but they WIN! The team plays with a lot more confidence with Bishop, because they know he has the ability to pull off a big play anytime. And he always seems to, when it's needed.

[GARussell]

The times of Sunday's games have been changed. Sunday is Remembrance Day in Canada. Remembrance Day is Memorial Day done right. The Winnipeg game was set to kick off at noon local time, and the veterans' groups complained that the early kickoff would interfere with Remembrance Day services.

So the Winnipeg game will start at 2:00 pm eastern, and the Saskatchewan game is set for 5:00 pm eastern.

http://www.globesports.com/servlet/story/R...tsFootball/home

*****

There was an error in tabulating the all-star team votes listed above. Calgary's Sandro DeAngelis, not Luca Congi, is the Western placekicker.

http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Football/CFL/New...4630639-cp.html

[GARussell]

The Globe & Mail is reporting today that Pinball Clemons will step down as coach of the Argos at the end of the season, and be replaced by defensive coordinator Rich Stubler.

http://www.globesports.com/servlet/story/R...tsFootball/home

[GARussell]

Dan Ralph has a good and lengthy column tonight of odds and ends:

He says that John Hufnagel is rumored to sign a six year deal to coach the Stampeders.

He also suggests that Jim Popp is likely to relinquish the Als' coaching job. This was the first year that the Als finished under .500 since they returned in '96.

Average attendance this year was 29,167, the highest since 1983. I had no idea it was so much. The Argos averaged 30,391. That's much more than I would have thought.

http://www.globesports.com/servlet/story/R...tsFootball/home

[GA Russell]

Semi-Finals previews:

http://scoreboards.canoe.ca/merge/tsnform..../live/pv649.htm

http://scoreboards.canoe.ca/merge/tsnform..../live/pv648.htm

[GARussell]

Two exciting finishes!

Winnipeg Blue Bombers 24....Montreal Alouettes 22

http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Football/CFL/New...4648384-cp.html

Saskatchewan Roughriders 26....Calgary Stampeders 24

http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Football/CFL/New...4649038-cp.html

*****

Next week: Winnipeg at Toronto and Saskatchewan at BC

[GARussell]

The Eskimos fired three assistant coaches Tuesday, including Jacques Chapdelaine.

http://www.globesports.com/servlet/story/R...tsFootball/home

*****

Argos K Noel Prefontaine suffered his second concussion of the season during the last game. This is expected to interfere with his concentration as he lines up for a field goal attempt.

http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Football/CFL/Tor...652353-sun.html

[GARussell]

Just in case you didn't see the final standings from last week, here they are:

Eastern W L T Pts PF PA Home Away Div

y-Toronto Argonauts 11 7 0 22 440 336 6-3 5-4 7-3

x-Winnipeg Blue Bombers 10 7 1 21 439 404 7-2 3-5-1 7-3

x-Montreal Alouettes 8 10 0 16 398 433 5-4 3-6 5-5

Hamilton Tigercats 3 15 0 6 315 515 3-6 0-9 1-9

Western W L T Pts PF PA Home Away Div

y-British Columbia Lions 14 3 1 29 542 379 7-2 7-1-1 8-1-1

x-Saskatchewan Roughriders 12 6 0 24 530 434 6-3 6-3 6-4

x-Calgary Stampeders 7 10 1 15 473 527 5-3-1 2-7 4-5-1

Edmonton Eskimos 5 12 1 11 400 509 3-5-1 2-7 1-9

[GARussell]

The Stampeders fired Tom Higgins today. He was offered a position as VP, but he turned it down.

As mentioned above, John Hufnagel is expected to be named to replace him.

http://www.globesports.com/servlet/story/R...tsFootball/home

*****

edit to add: I forgot to mention Monday that I learned Sunday while listening to the Western Semi-Final that the Riders signed Josh Ranek the last week of the season. He had a decent game Sunday. He was great for Ottawa, and pretty much a bust for Hamilton. I think he could help the Riders this Sunday, but I can't see them beating the Lions.

Edited November 16, 2007 by GARussell

[B. Clugston]

I'm predicting a Lions-Bombers final.

[GA Russell]

  B. Clugston said:

I'm predicting a Lions-Bombers final.

BClug, are you picking the Bombers because of Noel Prefontaine's concussion?

I felt like the Argos might even be better than the Lions until I read about that. I can see the Argos losing Sunday because of Prefontaine not making anything.

[GA Russell]

Finals previews:

http://scoreboards.canoe.ca/merge/tsnform..../live/pv650.htm

http://scoreboards.canoe.ca/merge/tsnform..../live/pv651.htm

http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Football/CFL/New...4662624-cp.html

[John Tapscott]

  B. Clugston said:

I'm predicting a Lions-Bombers final.

I agree, though I'm cheering for the 'Riders. Of course, I'm also hoping for the Argos, but I've been an Argo fan since 1965 (when I was 10!) and I know that with the Argos, if anything can go wrong it will!

[B. Clugston]

  B. Clugston said:

I'm predicting a Lions-Bombers final.

Er... Bloody turnovers! It's a Bombers-Riders final. Good to see the Green Guys back in after so many years of disappointment.

[John Tapscott]

With QB Kevin Glenn out for the Bombers, I'd say the Green Riders are a good bet for the Cup!

[GARussell]

Well, this is why they play the games!

Winnipeg Blue Bombers 19....Toronto Argonauts 9

http://scoreboards.canoe.ca/merge/tsnform..../final/W650.htm

When Prefontaine missed that first field goal attempt, I had a hunch it was going to be a bad day for the Argos.

Glenn broke his arm. I can't imagine anybody has confidence in backup Ryan Dinwiddie. If the Bombers win the Grey Cup, it will have to be the biggest upset since 1986, when Hamilton clobbered Edmonton.

Saskatchewan Roughriders 26....British Columbia Lions 17

http://scoreboards.canoe.ca/merge/tsnform..../final/W651.htm

Maybe one of you knows how many times Wally Buono in Calgary and BC has finished first in the West and then lost the Western Final. It's probably a record.

The Lions coughed the ball up four times, leading to 16 Rider points. That was pretty much the game right there.

Dickinson was sacked six times in the second half alone. My hunch is that he will retire.

I listened to the BC broadcast of the game. Rick Ball kept wondering why Wally didn't put Jarious Jackson back in the game. Two Lion o-linemen at the same position (right guard?) were injured, leaving it up to a young rookie playing his first CFL game. He was obviously overmatched, and Jackson may have been better able to elude the tacklers.

edit for typo

Edited November 19, 2007 by GARussell

[John Tapscott]

  GARussell said:

Well, this is why they play the games!

Winnipeg Blue Bombers 19....Toronto Argonauts 9

http://scoreboards.canoe.ca/merge/tsnform..../final/W650.htm

When Prefontaine missed that first field goal attempt, I had a hunch it was going to be a bad day for the Argos.

I pin this loss on the Argos management, including coach Clemons. The team seemed poorly prepared and without a coherent game plan. I blame Clemons for this along with the fact that he didn't put the muzzle his players earlier in the week when they started boasting to the media about how Winnipeg would be no problem. Those comments only stirred Winnipeg up. The Argos have no running game. The Argos best ball carrier is Bishop (which is kind of sad, actually), but the Argos won't let him take off with it after he broke his wrist earlier in the year against Calgary. If the other team's defense knows that 90% of your plays are going to be passes, (and most of them deep ones at that), you're not going to complete many. And management knew Prefontaine was going to have trouble kicking field goals because of his concussion problems. They should have signed someone to do just that for the game. Adjust the roster somewhere else if you have to. You can't win if you can't kick field goals. It was another boneheaded loss by the Argos.

Edited November 19, 2007 by John Tapscott