The 2011 CFL Season

[BlueNGold]

Since we had a thread last year and there's an AFL thread here, let's get this one started.

Half an hour away from kickoff between the 2x defending Grey Cup champion Montreal Alouettes and BC Lions.

I think BC will be really improved this year now that they don't have a revolving door of quarterbacks. Montreal will still be Montreal but I think this is the year they show signs of a drop-off. I'm thinking Hamilton will either finish 1st in the East or knock off the Als in the playoffs. Maybe even both.

Anyways, prediction time:

East

Montreal
Hamilton
Winnipeg (if Buck Pierce is healthy. If not, disregard this completely )
Toronto

West

Saskatchewan (best record in the league)
Calgary
BC
Edmonton (worst record in the league)

Grey Cup

Hamilton over Calgary

[Madman55]

Re: The 2011 CFL Season

If the Bombers can win the close games this year, and Buck stays healthy I think they have a very good chance at finishing second in the east, with Montreal taking the division again.

So my predictions are:

East:
Montreal
Winnipeg
Hamilton
Toronto

West:
Calgary
Saskatchewan
BC
Edmonton

Grey Cup:
Montreal over Calgary ('08 Rematch)

[SPTO]

Re: The 2011 CFL Season

EAST

Montreal
Hamilton
Toronto
Winnipeg


WEST

Calgary
Saskatchewan
BC
Edmonton


Grey Cup

Calgary over Hamilton


I have really high hopes for the Ti-Cats. I think they'll be able to win the close games this year and they finally have a legit running threat in Avon Cobourne.

[MoutonDocile]

Re: The 2011 CFL Season

I was at the game last night (Als vs Lions in Montreal).

Montreal was REALLY dominating during the first half, it really felt like they would roll over the Lions.

Second half was a totally different story. The Lions obviously made some changes and managed to prevent the Als from scoring too often or be dangerous at all. With only a Field Goal to show for in the second half, the Als really played with fire.

Thanks to a couple of strange decisions by Buono in the 4th quarter (mainly not going for it on 3rd and short towards the end of the game) and some key stops by the Als defense near the end, they managed to run away with it.

Good job MTL!

PS:

For those asking why it wasn't sold out (22 000 out of 25 000 seats), keep in mind june 30th and july 1st are moving days in quebec. In Montreal alone, more than 100 000 owners/renters are in transit during these two days. Just a case of poor scheduling. It sucks that it broke our streak of 105 sold out games!

[BlueNGold]

Re: The 2011 CFL Season

First win of the season, plus it was on the road (last road win was in October '09) and it was a close game (9 games lost by 4 pts or less last season). Yeaaaah buddy.

It wasn't pretty, but the defense played well. Suber had a great game. I swear every time I see him running around on the field I think of the Predator. Hell, the way he caught that pick 6 even looked like a Predator holding a skull.

Also, Buck Pierce took one of the most vicious sacks I've ever seen. Funny that he gets hit like that but actually doesn't get hurt for once.

[MoutonDocile]

Re: The 2011 CFL Season

First win of the season, plus it was on the road (last road win was in October '09) and it was a close game (9 games lost by 4 pts or less last season). Yeaaaah buddy.

It wasn't pretty, but the defense played well. Suber had a great game. I swear every time I see him running around on the field I think of the Predator. Hell, the way he caught that pick 6 even looked like a Predator holding a skull.

Also, Buck Pierce took one of the most vicious sacks I've ever seen. Funny that he gets hit like that but actually doesn't get hurt for once.

I watched that game and thought THE EXACT same thing about Suber. This guy is special for sure.

Buck took one nasty sack. Glad to see he came back. Let's hope he stays healthy for bombers fans.

[SPTO]

Re: The 2011 CFL Season

Man Hamilton blew it tonight. I really don't like the playcalling of Khari Jones. What's with the almost "dink and dunk" type of offense that he has them running?! Glenn is a good QB but the guy can't throw very deep in a league where you need that arm strength.

Oh well at least their defense played well and Coborne looked good.

Oh and yeah, that sack on Pierce was VICIOUS! You know damn well that might've gotten a flag if it was in the NFL.

[SPTO]

Re: The 2011 CFL Season

Geez EDM looked explosive tonight and hey Matt Barnes' bro looks like he has a future in this league!

[MoutonDocile]

Re: The 2011 CFL Season

EDM are looking very good. We'll see if they can keep this up. I wasn't expecting anything from them that's for sure.

[BlueNGold]

Re: The 2011 CFL Season

Will TSN.ca have the games online for me to watch later if I happen to miss the Bomber game tonight? I checked TSN2 and it doesn't look like they're replaying it.

EDM are looking very good. We'll see if they can keep this up. I wasn't expecting anything from them that's for sure.

Yeah, was not expecting Edmonton to look as good as they did last week.

[youvalss]

Re: The 2011 CFL Season

I watch the 1st and the 4th, and I was impressed with Winnipeg's defense. Seems like the offense isn't there yet, but at least we can play some D.

[BlueNGold]

Re: The 2011 CFL Season

Yeah, Tim Burke has that defense going. It's awesome to watch. I guess the secret is stealing coaches from Montreal.

I'm loving me some Marcellus Bowman. He always seems to find his way into the play and has a good nose for the ball. Also, my man Jovon Johnson with a pick and hell he even held for Palardy on field goals . Odell (what you talking 'bout) Willis had a solid game, especially going up against one of the better tackles in the league. And one thing I've liked so far this season is in the first two games, the defense has been able to come up with huge stops in short yardage situations.

As for the offense, yeah they weren't too on point tonight, but they were able to move the ball at key times. Buck was able to use his feet and keep things moving as well so that helped. I'd like to see the o-line be able to keep him a little cleaner and give him a little more time in the pocket though. Something that was nice to see on offense was Clarence Denmark coming out of nowhere with a pretty nice game. I don't know what it is about the team but it seems like we have a wide receiver goldmine we can always dig from and they produce almost immediately.

Last thought about the game is that special teams had a few shaky moments early in the game. The good thing is they held Chad Owens in check and did their thing when the game was on the line though. It hasn't been too often Bomber fans have been able to say that with Westwood/Serna missing key field goals or ST coverage giving up big returns to blow the game.

Anyways, happy to start things off 2-0. I had a feeling at the end of last year that all those close losses would payoff this year and so far they've proven to with both wins coming in close games. Let's just hope Buck can stay healthy (and other key players for that matter) and they can keep playing well.

[BlueNGold]

Re: The 2011 CFL Season

Wow. 0-2 start for Saskatchewan. Maybe there's a reason it took Greg Marshall so long to get a head coaching job?

[BlueNGold]

Re: The 2011 CFL Season

We was robbed.

Well actually, maybe not "robbed" because the team still had a chance to decide the outcome of the game, but that should have been a win for the Bombers.

I say this because that Jovon Johnson punt return TD in the first half that got called back should have been a TD. Those two penalty calls were iffy at best.

But of course, the biggest news of this game was Buck not playing the second half. That was just great. I will say Joey Elliott did a lot better than I thought he would. I'm still not sold on him and never have been, but he gave the team a chance to win and that's all you can ask for.

Side note: SMH at Calgary for rocking those black helmets. So terrible.

[stronghold1245]

Re: The 2011 CFL Season

We was robbed.

Well actually, maybe not "robbed" because the team still had a chance to decide the outcome of the game, but that should have been a win for the Bombers.

I say this because that Jovon Johnson punt return TD in the first half that got called back should have been a TD. Those two penalty calls were iffy at best.

The Bombers weren't robbed, go back and watch the play again. For the holding call, the Stamps player is double teamed with TWO Winnipeg players grabbing his back, and as for the block in the back, Hefney puts his hand on the back of the Stamps player and pushes him down. If that's not a block in the back, then what is? While we're talking about Hefney, how about his defence on the previous play where he tackles Rambo before the ball gets there. Shouldn't that have been DPI and an automatic first down rendering the punt return moot anyways?

But of course, the biggest news of this game was Buck not playing the second half. That was just great. I will say Joey Elliott did a lot better than I thought he would. I'm still not sold on him and never have been, but he gave the team a chance to win and that's all you can ask for.

The Bombers had better hope Buck is good to go or they're going to be stuck with Alex Brink against the Argos cause Elliot tore his ACL and is probably going to miss the rest of the season.

Side note: SMH at Calgary for rocking those black helmets. So terrible.

I don't mind how they look, but it was absolutely ridiculous how many times those things were popping off. It seemed like a Stamps player was looking for his hat after every play. They need to get that **** sorted out.