Taking a look at the highlights and lowlights from the second week of the CFL season.
In the first week, it was the relatively-unknown J.C. Sherritt making some big plays for the Edmonton Eskimos. In week two, it was Mike Miller.
Both are Canadian Football League rookie players signed by Eskimos' general manager Eric Tillman.
Give the red-headed guy credit: He blew up the team even after it made a dramatic run last fall when he took over and started making changes resulting in the Eskimos nearly making the playoffs. He's brought in young, hungry talent and found coaches to reach the collective whole of its potential. Yes, it's early, but when you have quarterback Ricky Ray playing like he has with a 72.4 completion percentage, four touchdown passes, no interceptions and throwing for 388 yards in his last game, something is going right in Etown. Tillman built winners in B.C., Toronto and Saskatchewan and it appears he's moving in the same direction with Edmonton if you compile the wins and losses since he took over.
Interestingly, slotback Chris Bauman, a key off-season signing for the Eskimos, hasn't played in either game, designated to the reserve list in the first and the one-game injured list for the second. The way the team is playing right now, he might have a hard time getting into the lineup, injured or not.
THE INCOMPARABLE CALVILLO: You watch the cameras focusing on many players that thank everybody from their parents, family, coaches and the Big Guy In The Sky. Not that there's anything wrong with that. But then you see Calvillo, who routinely has the cameras on him because of his numerous plays and accomplishments, and he looks straight forward. Maybe there's nobody left to thank or maybe he is just so focused on the game. His mental toughness is incredible.
QUESTIONABLE CALLS: The Argos were stopped twice on third-down conversions, one on running back Cory Boyd getting stuffed at the line, the other in which quarterback Cleo Lemon was standing in the shot gun and handing off to Cory Boyd, who bobbled the exchange. When the quarterback hands the ball off, especially in the shotgun formation on third and short, it's asking for trouble. Is the quarterback sneak not in the playbook? In Calgary, Stamps' newly-signed backup quarterback Michael Bishop has been plugged into short-down situations. In the win over B.C., he successfully converted two sneaks, albeit the first by a whisker and the second off tackle as he searched across the line for the opening.
HELMETS AND CHINSTRAPS: What's with all the helmets flying off? Particularly after the Canadian Football League football operations sent off a memo specifically about buckling up? Machismo is one thing, but one of these games someone might get hurt.
NOW THAT SMARTS: The B.C. Lions lost players in their secondary on back-to-back plays, one of whom, Stanley Franks, is likely gone for the season.
LIONS DROPPING THE BALL: With the number of balls the Lions' young receivers have been dropping, should they be spending more time after practice with the Juggs machine or should general manager/head coach Wally Buono insert veteran Kamau Peterson, who was signed by the team as insurance after Edmonton cut him, into the lineup? Remember this was a guy who at one point in his career was called "Kamau Imcompleterson" before he started to focus and catch the ball. Some of his new, younger teammates should be forced to watch what he did wrong before he turned around his game. His best games might be behind him, but it's worth giving him a start.
AIN'T THAT A KICK: Stamps' rookie place kicker Rene Paredes kicked two field goals, one from 50, against B.C. in his first-ever CFL game. On the opposite side, Lions' kicker Paul McCallum, who has been playing forever, missed a 57-yarder to tie the game. But it was far beyond his range. Incidentally, Paredes' agent is Fred Weinrauch, whose clients also include kickers Damon Duval and Sandro DeAngelis. Rumour has it that Fast Freddie has kickers lined up at his house to get signed. And we also thought agent Gil Scott had the pipeline to kickers!
ACTION JACKSON: Tristan Jackson, who was an effective returner with Edmonton before getting hurt, is giving Saskatchewan some positive returns. Right now they need all the help they can get. And is it my imagination or does rookie head coach Greg Marshall look more and more like one-time World Wrestling Entertainment star Sgt. Slaughter? These guys were definitely separated at birth. Wonder if there will be reams and reams of stories this week with Marshall returning to Hamilton for the first time as a head coach after co-ordinating the defence there for several years? He and his former boss, Marcel Bellefeuille, are 0-4 to start the season.
JUST CURIOUS: I know linebacker Diamond Ferri is versatile, but do the Als not have anyone else to take his place on kickoff returns?
ROOKIE OF THE WEEK: Saskatchewan safety Craig Butler had a hell of a debut, recording one interception and making a nice stop near the goal line.
TUESDAYS WITH MORLEY: I came across this feature on the Eskimos' website. It's interviews by Morley Scott, who calls the team's games on the radio. Not quite as good as Tuesdays With Morrie, but clever nonetheless.
HAMILTON WOES: Surprisingly on a wet field following rain, running back Avon Cobourne, the Ticats' noted off-season free-agent signing, had nine carries for 35 yards against Edmonton. He also had two catches for 38 yards. Either he's not getting the ball enough, he's not doing the job or it's a combination of the two.
TICATS' O-LINE ISSUES: Rookie left tackle Brian Simmons was getting absolutely schooled in the last game. Wonder if the team will consider putting veteran Belton Johnson in for the next game because of his experience.
