TMQB: Civic Holiday Edition (Week 6)
As the CFL enters the middle part of the season many things will begin to happen as teams begin to change. Through 6 weeks of the season teams have begun to forge a name for themselves either as a team to be feared or a team who cannot get it together. Many teams though are still trying to get into a groove with new players and offences just beginning to get into a groove. As these teams approach the middle of the season they will either begin to figure things out or continue to struggle through the weeks. As these teams continue to work their issues out there is also another big event about to take place south of the border. NFL training camps have started up as the NFL season is one month away from regular season kickoff. The NFL is a completely different league from the CFL but they do share a common relationship that expands at this time of year. As the NFL opens camp there will be a number of players looking to earn a spot on the opening day roster in September. For CFL fans these camps south of the border may feature a number of familiar names or soon to be familiar names. Every year the CFL loses a handful of current players to the NFL while also losing a number of big prospects to the league. These players go to the NFL in hopes of cracking the starting roster and earning a much bigger paycheck than the CFL can offer. This happens every year to CFL teams as Canadian prospects and superstar CFL players take their chance to impress the NFL teams. Some of these players will make an impact and earn a roster spot like Brandon Browner (Seattle Seahawks) and Cameron Wake (Miami Dolphins) did and go on to be successful NFL players. The majority of them will not though as the NFL is an extremely competitive league with no room for error or an off day. As cuts begin in the NFL camp the CFL general managers are taking a look as CFL players begin to drop off of the NFL radar and on to the CFL radar. This year is no different as a number of good talent will be taking their chance in NFL training camps and will be watched closely by the NFL management as well as CFL management. This year there are a number of great players taking a look in the NFL including 2011 Outstanding Canadian Jerome Messam (Miami Dolphins), Justin Hickman (Indianapolis Colts), 2010 outstanding rookie of the year Solomon Elimimian (Minnesota Vikings), Jerrell Freeman (Indianapolis Colts), and Marcus Thigpen (Miami Dolphins). All of these players will be attending NFL camps and many do have a shot at making an NFL roster as they are all great talents. The NFL is a tough league to enter though with so much competition and if any of these players get cut from their NFL team they will likely be back in the CFL. Teams in the CFL will be watching closely as many will be wishing their former players success but also be hoping they can get them back to make an impact in the league once again. It is another form of free agency or trades for the CFL as the fallout from NFL camps can mean big gains for teams that are looking for a few more impact players to add to their rosters. It is yet another example of the understanding that the NFL and CFL have between two great leagues looking to provide great football. This agreement will kick in once again as August is here and NFL camps begin to cut players.
Four Quarters
(Four Thoughts on Week 6)
Als Still Have Some Fight
Never count the Alouettes out as their defence may be struggling but their offence is still strong and led them to a win on week 6 ending a two game slide that seemed to show that the Als were done
Bombers are now Desperate
The Bombers seemed to be figuring things out in week 5 when they got their first win in their home opener but they took on the struggling Alouettes at home and still could not pull off a win moving them into the bye week with a lot to figure out
Argos are still not ready
The new look offence of the Argos was seemingly on their way to figuring things out but their game against the BC Lions proved that there is still a lot of work to do in order to get the offence to finish on big drives
They Lions are the Team to beat
The Lions had their struggles earlier in the season but their strong defensive effort against the Argonauts proved to the entire CFL that the Leos are the ones to beat in the CFL as they have played like the defending champions
CFL Players of the Week
Offensive POW:
Brandon Whitaker, RB (Montreal Alouettes)
18 rsh
115 yds
0 TD
0 F
Defensive POW:
Adam Bighill, LB (B.C. Lions)
7 tkl
1 sck
1 INT
0 FF
Special Teams POW:
Sean Whyte, K (Montreal Alouettes)
4/4 FG
32 lng
3/3 XP
18 pts
Canadian POW:
James Yurichuk, LB (B.C. Lions)
5 tkl
0 sck
1 INT
0 FF
CFL Standings:
Eastern Division:
1. Hamilton Tiger-Cats (6)
2. Toronto Argonauts (6)
3. Montreal Alouettes (6)
4. Winnipeg Blue Bombers (2)
Western Division:
1. B.C. Lions (8)
2. Saskatchewan Roughriders (6)
3. Edmonton Eskimos (6)
4. Calgary Stampeders (4)
Scores:
Montreal Alouettes 36 – 26 Winnipeg Blue Bombers
– The Montreal Alouettes struggled to get anything going on offence against a Bombers team who were looking to keep momentum going at home but the Als eventually broke through scoring more than enough points in the fourth quarter
B.C. Lions 18 – 9 Toronto Argonauts
– The Lions and Argos were locked in a defensive struggle that saw the Lions get out to a lead early while the Argos could not score a touchdown yet still climbed back until mistakes finally got the better of them giving the Lions the win and hold of first place overall
Next Week:
Calgary Stampeders vs. Hamilton Tiger-Cats (August 9th; 87:00 pm EDT)
– Henry Burris will welcome his old team to Hamilton with an offence that is beginning to look like the best in the CFL as he looks to earn top spot in the East with a win over a Stampeders team that is still trying to figure themselves out
Saskatchewan Roughriders vs. Edmonton Eskimos (August 10th; 9:30 pm EDT)
– The Riders have slowed down after a great start and they go into Edmonton who will be looking to recover from a loss in week five and will be trying to do so with one of the best defences in the league
The Sport Addiction 