Sweatin’ With The Tabbies!

Depth is becoming more important in the CFL, especially from the quarterback position. Teams which have a really good quarterback need someone who can move the club if called upon if the starter is injured.

Before free agency Hamilton had Charlie Powell who started a few times for Hamilton and did well. He went to Edmonton though in free-agency and Hamilton has discovered CFL teams cannot get through a 18 game schedule without injuries to your starters.

Hamilton is more than a one-trick pony with Mitchell. They have a good supporting cast on defense and at receiver to make their team competitive even without Mitchell.

Despite the score, the game took awhile to get to the blowout by Hamilton sparked by their offense turning the ball over. The Riders though had a bad injury and other questions to take the whipped cream off this treat.

In the third quarter Matthew Sexto, who came off the practice roster and had a 101- punt return touchdown against Ottawa was injured on the opening kickoff with a leg injury that required him getting carted off the field.

Trevor Harris on paper did not have a great day, throwing two interceptions, but he ran the balanced offense well. The interceptions very good plays by Hamilton, especially when Wynton McManis was running backwards with his back to Harris only to turn to look back and the ball was right there.

The Rider defense got a 107-yard touchdown on an interception by Josh Woods and a fumble recovery from Marcus Sayles that put the Riders on the Cats 1-yard line plus another third down stop by Rider safety Jaxson Ford.

The Rider offense took advantage of the head to wear Hamilton down with AJ Ouellette running for 86 yards but Tommy Stevens as the short-yardage quarterback is being showcased for running the clock out in the fourth quarter.

The Riders have an abbreviated bye week and when they return play Edmonton twice in important games for seeding in the western conference.

Edmonton for their part are coming off a 40-17 win over Ottawa and turned Jake Maier into a cruel jest of God for his short yardage passing game and the lack of support he got from his teammates.

I respect what Ryan Dinwiddie did in Toronto, but to me he lost his locker room after his first loss to the Riders where Toronto gave up a game winning kickoff return for a touchdown Dinwiddie blasted his team and promised cuts and then, crickets. Now as the GM, Coach and offensive coordinator, I am thinking Dinwiddie has reached Chris Jones level of too much power. Dinwiddie may be able to one or two jobs together alright, but not three, and that is going to doom the Redblacks.

Ottawa trading their starting quarterback last year Dru Brown back to Winnipeg will likely work out well for the Bombers as Zach Collaros fights what is described as a neck injury. The Bombers go to Ottawa on Sunday and Brown gets to show the Ottawa fans Dinwiddie is not as smart as he thinks he is.

Never underestimate losing teams trying to break out, but never ever underestimate teams with a chance to rise in the standings. Bombers win this 29-24 over Ottawa.

Edmonton hosts the BC Lions on Friday night and for the Lions the game comes down to this – do or do not, there is no try. The Lions are coming off a bye, should be able to get some walking wounded back, and had the chance to reflect on how they got to 1-4. The Lions in some parts of Confederation, were thought to be Grey Cup contenders a month ago.

The Elk have the early leader for the Most Outstanding Player in Justin Rankin and a chance to move into sole possession of first place over the idle Riders with a win. The Elk also have a home and away series with the Riders after this game so the West will be intense the next few weeks.

Edmonton will move into first with a 28-24 win over the Lions.

Montreal took the first of a home and home series with the Calgary Stampeders with a 37-30 win and now go to Cowtown for the rematch. Calgary could have won, but Calgary is having problems synching their offense, defense, and special teams into playing complimentary football.

Montreal has receiver Tyson Philpot getting off to a record setting start, but Montreal is not just a one trick pony. Montreal is vulnerable like Hamilton if quarterback Davis Alexander goes down, but they are playing solidly. Calgary with Vernon Adams Jr. is always a threat to swing for the fences but Adams is still a bit of a streaky passer and Calgary’s defense is consistently inconsistent.

Calgary does not seem to be as overwhelming as they did at times last year and until they can show they can get contributions from their backups I see Calgary falling to players with better depth. Montreal seems healthier and the game should be a barnburner with Montreal winning 35-29.

Hamilton slinks home to face Toronto in what is described by those with Tourette’s as a “home game”. Dolegala should get another start, with the heat and unfamiliarity with the starters in Regina, Dolegala was not helped by his teammates.

The Cats brought in Jarrett Doege to bolster their quarterback position but if Dolegala cannot throw a short pass as well as a deep pass, I don’t know what Hamilton loses by having Ford come in more.

Toronto has one of the worst defenses in the league, begging the question of why the Riders did not beat them, but their offense is feast and famine between interceptions and touchdowns. Toronto wants to be aggressive and that might help against a Cat defense which can hold their team in the game.

The result will be 31-30 win by Toronto.

by Greg Urbanoski

Sweatin’ With The Tabbies!

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