Saskatchewan head coach Ken Miller and Winnipeg’s Paul LaPolice made calls that defied logic in separate games.
When Miller called for a punt instead of a field-goal on a third-down play on the final play of regulation with the game tied against Calgary, he had everyone wondering if he’d gone bonkers. The 35-yard field goal was clearly makeable, even more so when you have one of the best kickers in the league, Luca Congi. Going for the punt, which came up short in the end zone and allowed for an easy return to avoid giving up a point, opened Miller up for criticism.
Fortunately for Miller, the Roughriders won the game.
This call could have been one that the Rider Nation would have hung on Miller for years to come.
That said, I understand why Miller did it. He was worried that the field goal could have hit the goal post, either vertically or horizontally, so he decided to go for a conservative alternative.
In 1999, when Jim Barker coached the Argos in a game against Calgary, he had field-goal kicker Noel Prefontaine deliberately kick a field goal well wide of the goal post for a single point because he was concerned about the exact same thing as Miller. Barker did not want to punt because he felt the ball might hit the goal post or get caught up in the wind, so Prefontaine kicked low and away.
As for LaPolice, he decided to go for a third-and-two late in the game against Toronto to extend the drive, trailing by four. But his decision to use a backup running back, Andre Sadeghian, who hadn’t had a carry all season, instead of feature running back Fred Reid, also left him open for criticism. Reid had 18 carries for 100 yards. LaPolice said the team had been working on the play all week and figured they could surprise Toronto.
They didn’t. The Argo defence held its ground and stuffed the play.
Not sure I understand why LaPolice didn’t hand the ball to Reid, who had a great game, even if it was a play that had been practised.
NO MAAS, NO MASS: Speaking of calls, why did Edmonton head coach Richie Hall insert backup quarterback Jason Maas for scrub time late in the team’s 31-14 loss to Montreal? Yes, Maas engineered a touchdown drive, but he also served up an interception earlier in the game. Why not use third-stringer Jared Zabransky, who clearly has a future with the team but needs playing time, as the backup. The quarterbacking situation will be addressed in the off-season by new general manager Eric Tillman, and I’ll bet Zabransky will be no worse than second on the depth chart and that Maas might not be part of the team for salary considerations, among other reasons. Maas has a future as a coach, just judging by what he does on the sideline, but Zabransky has a career ahead of him and needs more playing time.
SAINT JAMES: In the last two games, Riders safety James Patrick has had three interceptions called back because of penalties. At this point, Patrick has to be given serious consideration for defensive player of the year in the West and possibly the whole league. He has a league-leading seven interceptions, 43 defensive tackles and one fumble return.
ANDY IS DANDY: Rider receiver Andy Fantuz lit it up with 10 catches for 255 yards. In his previous three games, he had 11 catches for 135 yards. In his previous five games, he had a total of 259 yards.
Jason Clermont, who has become a spare part in the Roughriders’ offence, had three catches for 66 yards. He doubled his entire catches on the season and more than tripled his entire reception yards to that point.
ACTION JACKSON: B.C. receiver Paris Jackson had eight catches for 109 yards and one touchdown. In his previous three games, he had seven catches for 127 yards. His touchdown was only his first of the season. He has 521 yards on the season and will need a surge in the final seven games to reach the 1,000-yard plateau for the third consecutive season. His falloff in production has been one of the many reasons B.C. has slumped this season.
LEWIS AND THE NEWS: You had to feel sorry for Calgary receiver Nik Lewis, who has been having a comeback season following a subpar season a year ago with various injuries. He suffered a strained knee during the third quarter of the game and then his leg gave out as he tried to grab the game-tying touchdown catch against Saskatchewan.
ANOTHER BLOWN CALL: The league has admitted it made a mistake on the touchdown catch by Hamilton’s Maurice Mann. The Tiger-Cats were nailed for an illegal block on the play and then the officials overturned their own call.
JIMENEZ NOT CRICKET: Hamilton offensive lineman Jason Jimenez showed his aggressiveness hitting the knee of B.C.’s Brent Johnson from behind after the play ended. Jimenez received a 15-yard penalty. The question is, will be penalized by the league? Jimenez is a former Lion, who didn’t leave on good terms with head coach Wally Buono and his staff. Centre Angus Reid, a former teammate of Jimenez, called Jimenez’s hit blatantly dirty. Johnson told the Vancouver Province after the game: "It's fully on the league to do something. This league is never proactive, it’s reactive. I got away with a bruise. The next time it happens it'll end somebody's career. It already has."
Those are strong words, which undoubtedly will create dialogue in the league office and possibly some kind of penalty to Jimenez.
IN BRIEF: The backflips by Saskatchewan’s Hugh Charles after scoring touchdowns are the most exciting celebrations of anyone in the league…Tossup between B.C.’s Casey Printers and Montreal’s Anthony Calvillo for who throws the ball with the most velocity. They appear to be like a blazing fastball…Stamps solid defensive lineman Tom Johnson is sidelined indefinitely with an abdomen-groin strain…Calvin McCarty proved again why he could be a starting running back for Edmonton if he didn’t have so many injury problems…Separated at birth: referee Kim Murphy and rap star Eminem.
