Tuesday Morning QB (Week 2)
The CFL Season is through two weeks but the major talk is still centered around one big theme in the first week of the season. This big theme was the utter dominance of the Western Division over the Eastern Division in week 1. The preseason talk was all about how good the Eastern Conference looked so much better in 2012. A large reason for this was the moves of two of the top QBs in the league. When Ricky Ray left his longtime home in Edmonton many people were shocked but Argonaut fans rejoiced as they finally got a proven QB. Then Henry Burris left his longtime home in Calgary which shocked nobody but gave the East three of the top QBs in the league. The QBs along with the fact that Andy Fantuz, Jason Barnes, Sam Giguere, and Maurice Mann all arrived in the East was evidence enough for many to say that the East was the power. It was enough for many, including this blogger, to say that the crossover would come into effect once again with the East taking 4 playoff spots. Then week 1 came as the Eastern teams would take on the Western teams to open the season and truly test the eastern power theory. When all was set and done the west had come out on top going 4-0 in week 1. In week 2 there were only two games between east and west with the divisions coming to a draw at 1-1. The overall record through two weeks is now 5-1 as the west has proven that the power has not shifted and in fact it resides in the west. After the first two weeks it is clear that the two best teams are the B.C. Lions and the Calgary Stampeders, despite allowing 39 points in week 2, with the eastern teams not impressing. A lot of this has to do with the fact that there were so many changes the east may take a longer time to gel. In the west many of the teams have already had their time to gel as a team. The B.C. Lions are the defending champions and went through an entire season together making them a well oiled machine. The Stampeders spent much of their season together under Drew Tate and have shown that experience matters. The Riders are the same as Darian Durant continues to lead them with what seemed like an unstoppable offence in week 1. The only team that has struggled is the Edmonton Eskimos who move on from a longtime QB and are learning to play together still. In the east the story is very much the opposite as the Hamilton Tiger-Cats have so many new parts including a new QB and an almost entirely new receiving corps. In Toronto the same is true as a new QB must learn how to operate with a new offence and a new receiving corps. Then there is the Montreal Alouettes who were considered the best team in the CFL year after year but has not been able to match their success with an aging team. The Bombers seem to have the Grey Cup hangover and cannot match their performance from last year where they made the Grey Cup finals. It seems like the west is the better division in the CFL this year but it may not last for too long. As teams begin to gel the power may eventually shift to the east. There is only so much time that you can keep the speed of the Hamilton offence at bay and the skill of Ricky Ray muffled. It will be a chore to keep any of the eastern teams down as they are beginning to find their way after two weeks. The biggest question now will be if they can truly take over the power in the CFL or will they continue to lose out to the west? It will be something to follow for the rest of the year as the struggle between east and west continues on like every year with the east hoping they will end the year with four playoff teams and the crossover.
Four Quarters
(Four Quick Thoughts on Week 2)
The Als are Back:
Well at least for the most part with Anthony Calvillo throwing for over 400 yards the offence seems to be back while the defence needs to play catch up.
Walker is the Man to Beat:
Chevon Walker is clearly the most impressive player in the CFL right now after scoring on a screen pass to show his blazing speed and skill.
Tate is Truly a Team Leader:
Drew Tate went down in Calgary’s game against Toronto and the Stamps never seemed to be the same team as it looks like the heart of the team resides in Tate.
QB Controversy in Edmonton:
In a defensive battle Edmonton returned to the years of Jason Maas and Ricky Ray when Kerry Joseph came in to relieve Stephen Jyles launching a QB controversy in Edmonton.
CFL Players of the Week
Offensive POW:
Brandon Whitaker, RB (Montreal Alouettes)
16 rsh
98 yds
11 rec
137 yds
3 TD
Defensive POW:
Adam Bighill, LB (B.C. Lions)
9 tkl
1 sck
0 INT
1 FF
Special Teams POW:
Larry Taylor, KR (Calgary Stampeders)
11 ret
441 ap-yds (Franchise Record)
1 TD
Canadian POW:
Andrew Harris, RB (B.C. Lions)
13 rsh
147 yds
1 TD
0 F
CFL Standings:
Eastern Division:
1. Toronto Argonauts (2)
2. Montreal Alouettes (2)
3. Winnipeg Blue Bombers (0)
4. Hamilton Tiger-Cats (0)
Western Division:
1. Saskatchewan Roughriders (4)
2. B.C. Lions (4)
3. Calgary Stampeders (2)
4. Edmonton Eskimos (2)
Scores:
Montreal Alouettes 41 – 30 Winnipeg Blue Bombers
– Anthony Calvillo impressed after a lack luster performance in week 1 as he used Brandon Whitaker to amass 443 yards through the air leading the offence to the win despite a defence that allowed 30 points
B.C. Lions 39 – 36 Hamilton Tiger-Cats
– The defending champions looked good again but the Tiger-Cats seemed to be closer to figuring it out as they were able to make it a close game but Travis Lulay and the Lions came out on top to go 2-0 on the season
Toronto Argonauts 39 – 36 Calgary Stampeders
– The Stamps were considered one of the best teams in the CFL after week 1 but an injury to Tate in the first half set them back and let the Argos take over in a game that finished on a last second Noel Prefontaine field goal
Saskatchewan Roughriders 17 – 1 Edmonton Eskimos
– The Riders and Eskimos faced off in a very odd game for the CFL as they were locked in a defensive battle that was truly about the great defences in the game with the Riders finally breaking through at the end of the game for the win
Next Week:
Calgary Stampeders vs. Montreal Alouettes (Thursday July 12th; 7:30 pm ET)
– The Stamps and Als face off in a matchup that may see the two biggest attractions benched with Anthony Calvillo and Drew Tate hurt and questionable for the game making this a very interesting match-up of back up QBs
Winnipeg Blue Bombers vs. Edmonton Eskimos (Friday July 13th; 9:00 pm ET)
– The bombers are looking to recover from a lack luster performance last week on their third straight road game to start the season against the Eskimos who are still deciding who they will start at QB after a tough loss in week 2
B.C. Lions vs. Saskatchewan Roughriders (Saturday July 14th; 3:00 pm ET)
– The Lions after two weeks are considered the best team in the CFL and for good reason but the Roughriders will be up for the test as they have proven to have a great defence and an offence that can explode for a lot of points
Toronto Argonauts vs. Hamilton Tiger-Cats (Saturday July 14th; 7:00 pm ET)
– The Oldest Rivalry in North America is once again underway as the Toronto Argonauts travel down the QEW to take on the Ti-Cats in a game of two rebuilt offences that look to get in a groove and beat their hated rivals
The Sport Addiction 