CFL

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  • Perry Lefko's Flip-flop at the top

    Perry Lefko | August 2, 2010

 
TW LW Team Our Take
1 2
(4-1-0) 		This is a team that is operating efficiently and fluently. Anthony Calvillo did a masterful job slicing and dicing Toronto’s defence. Add in Avon Cobourne running with physical determination and it’s the start of a balanced attack. Add in the fact the back end is getting burned less and less because of some modifications in the defence and this is not the same squad that was torched in the opening two weeks. Next up is Saskatchewan, which beat them in Week 1. But the Als are at home and enjoying their renovated digs. And as an aside, how many times have opposing teams been flagged for contacting the kicker this year? It seems Damon Duval is routinely having an opposition player run into him and drawing a 15-yard penalty.
2 1
(4-1-0) 		The Roughriders really need a way to start getting more drives completed for touchdowns. It’s starting to become somewhat of an issue. In the last three games, quarterback Darian Durant has only two touchdowns and five interceptions. Good thing Luca Congi is money making field goals. The defence is showing some cracks, getting torched against the pass, which is cause for concern facing Montreal. The return game is non-existent, which has to be considered a disappointment.
3 3
(4-1-0) 		This is a team that is really hard to gauge. It clearly had a statement game beating Saskatchewan, but had to work hard for a victory against Winnipeg. Quarterback Henry Burris had a solid outing passing and running the ball. When Good Hank is on his game, it makes all the difference. The team’s identity is usually a reflection of Burris’ performance. Ken-Yon Rambo made a nice catch for a touchdown in his first reception after a year’s layoff and showed a nasty streak that this team needs. He could be an intangible that has been sorely missing from the team with his attitude and swagger. If there is a team in the West that has the ability to push Saskatchewan, it’s the Stamps. Their defence, notably Juwan Simpson, Brandon Browner and Malik Jackson, held the Bombers in check in their final drive, especially on the last three plays. The likely return of quality offensive lineman Dmitri Tsoumpas, cut by Miami, could be huge. If only my man Mike Labinjo would crank it up!
4 4
(3-2-0) 		The Argos were clearly no match for the Als, who have so many facets the Argos are lacking, beginning with a polished quarterback. Cleo Lemon has shown marginal growth so far, which may be expected for someone who has never played in the Canadian game, though he has experience playing at the pro level. When you take running back Cory Boyd out of the offence, as Montreal did, Lemon’s limitations put added pressure on the defence, which has to be in stiffer. Against the Als, the Argo D was no match. It will be interesting to see how the Argos play against Edmonton.
5 7
(1-4-0) 		Yes, the Ticats lost by 11 to Saskatchewan, but at least they put up a fight and the defence refused to allow the Roughriders a TD. If this team could ever develop a running game, it has the potential to be better. It’s my opinion that DeAndre Cobb simply won’t flourish in this offence, which has gone from a running game last year with Quinton Porter but is clearly a passing attack with Kevin Glenn. He shut up the critics who were suggesting backup Quinton Porter should be considered to start. Glenn may be the most underappreciated quarterback in the CFL. Receiver Arland Bruce became a factor in the offence with 16 catches. He’s been missing in the Cats’ attack. One other thing, the Cats really need to address their special teams. The overall kicking game is struggling. Next up is Winnipeg, following another meeting between the two teams for the fourth and final time in seven weeks.
6 6
(2-3-0) 		The Bombers were essentially playing with the replacement squad against Calgary because of so many injuries, but played their hearts out. With a little luck they might have won because a dropped pass in the end zone on the final series was catchable. Steven Jyles did okay at quarterback in successive starts, so the question now is does rookie head coach Paul LaPolice go back to Buck Pierce if he’s physically ready? Those hammy/quad injuries are tough and the rule of thumb is when an injured player is physically ready to come back from that kind of ailment, take one more week. Pierce offers much more experience and mobility, although we use that last word with caution. You have to admire the Bombers’ defence playing through various injuries and backups. It tried its best against Calgary. LaPolice is going through some growing pains, particularly having to patch his lineup together this early in the season.
7 8
(1-4-0) 		Okay, the Eskimos finally won a game. Hallelujah. It shouldn’t have taken this long if the receivers had actually caught some passes, which this time they did. That said, beating the B.C. Lions is hardly reason to celebrate. The offence still needs to be more consistent, and it’s not entirely the fault of quarterback Ricky Ray. The interception that was returned for a touchdown was clearly a mental breakdown by his receivers, notably Kelly Campbell. That said, can the pass play to the wideout on the wide side of the field please be removed from the Eskimos’ playbook? It is consistently ugly. Defensive end Adam Braidwood returned to the lineup for the first time in more than two years and is a key addition to this team because he adds some nastiness. Whatever happens henceforth with the Eskimos, the fans have had their wish sending general manager Danny Maciocia to the guillotine. Head coach Richie Hall will be watched closer than ever now.
8 5
(1-4-0) 		Losing to the Eskimos is humbling enough, but the manner in which it happens must be really bothering GM/head coach Wally Buono. Travis Lulay has been elevated to the second-string quarterback, but all the hype about him has surely faded. He has cost the Lions in the last two games -- his first two as a starter -- with mistakes. The Lions had a surefire chance to tie the game against Edmonton with a field goal, but Lulay blew it by fumbling on an attempted pass that shouldn’t have been tried. Eat the football or run with it, but throwing it is just wrong. For whatever reason Jarious Jackson, who had some starts last year, has plummeted to third on the depth chart. With Casey Printers sidelined indefinitely, Buono has to give some thought to moving Jackson up to starter. Coach Lefko would. Jackson has a vertical game that the Lions need and he works well with Paris Jackson, who showed signs that he may be ready to end his slump. Geroy Simon called a meeting on the sideline during the game and was major pissed afterward. We’ve seen this picture before in Lions Land and it ain’t pretty. Cornerback Davis Sanchez has been making a difference for the Lions’ defence and was all over the field against Edmonton. If running back Martell Mallett, who was cut by Philadelphia, returns to the Lions it gives them an offensive weapon to either compliment or replace Jamal Robertson. The Lions granted Mallett free agency without having to play out his option year. They could certainly use him.
 

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