A couple of early surprises -- the Eskimos and Bombers -- hope to build on their 2-0 records.
Week 3 in the Canadian Football League and already the Peerless One is getting bitten by the points bug.
A field goal here, an extra-point there and he'd be on easy street.
Instead, teams are finding ways to make it hard on themselves to win games or failing to cover the spread.
What's a public handicapper to do?
The good news there is there's always another week.
Thursday
Calgary (1-1) at Winnipeg (2-0)
The Stamps are exactly what the Peerless One is talking about in terms of the spread. They fail to cover in Week 1 because of missed field goals, but cover in Week 2 because of a missed field goal (and some questionable decisions by the opposition) by B.C. Just crazy!
Guard Dmitri Tsoumpas, whom Peerless thinks might be the best offensive lineman in the league, returns after missing the first two games and that is huge. Demetrice Morley is in at safety and Milt Collins is out. Malik Jackson is in at linebacker and Karl McCartney is out. Receiver Ken-Yon Rambo is in and Landon Talley is out. Talley has become a useful returner for the Stamps but becomes a victim of the ratio. But the Stamps are receiving some quality returns from Larry Taylor, who is second in the league in combined return yards. The returning players are some of the most pivotal to the team's success.
Henry Burris has been running hot and cold, but has been particularly sharp in the second half of both games. The running game has been a hybrid of Joffrey Reynolds and Burris, who are seventh and eighth, respectively, on the rushing leader board. Burris will be the key here because Winnipeg has a dominant defensive line, so making plays with his feet off the zone read, draw or bootleg are paramount. If rookie kicker Rob Paredes is as sharp in his second game as in the first -- and remember the wind is routinely an issue in Winnipeg -- then it's a huge factor.
When Buck Pierce is running he's effective. His overall play last week against Toronto improved once he decided to scamper. That said, every time he runs there's a cringe factor among Bomber fans. The offence has been spotty, although injuries to the receiving corps haven't helped. Running back Fred Reid had a good game against Toronto making a lot of yards on second effort. Defence has held the Bombers together in both of the wins.
Stamps favoured by 3.
And the pick is: Stamps to cover.
Friday
Toronto (1-1) at Montreal (2-0)
The Argos offence hasn't taken shape yet and the Cleo Lemon critics are on edge. Argos head coach Jim Barker criticized his QB for holding on to the ball too long in the last game which resulted in seven sacks, some directly because of Lemon. Running back Cory Boyd is out for two-to-three weeks with a knee issue, so rookie Chad Kackert draws in. He's small and stout and looked strong in pre-season games. The receiving corps really needs to make some more plays. The defence will face its toughest challenge so far. Wouldn't be surprised if the Argos played a lot of zone coverage to start.
The vaunted Argo return game has been stymied so far. Chad Owens' role has changed from becoming a guy who made incredible returns and earned a full-time spot on offence to someone who has been signed to a huge off-season contract and expected to be dynamic from the get-go in both departments. It is clear so far that he is trying to do too much. But without him providing a spark, the Argos have lost a key element of their team.
Als quarterback Anthony Calvillo likes to come out firing quickly and establish control with an early touchdown, which would automatically give him the overall league record in that department. Calvillo's former teammate Ben Cahoon returns for a special retirement ceremony, so Molson Stadium will be electric and will make it hard for the Argos to call plays at the line. Just a guess, but I expect there will be a full house and no controversy like in the first game. Was it really a big deal anyway? The Als' front five is tough, so the Argo front four won't be able to manhandle its opposition as much as in Game 1.
Incredible how the Als can lose players and have others step in, notably in the receiving corps and the backfield. S.J. Green and Jamel Richardson were nicked up after the last game but both are expected to play. Running back Brandon Whitaker was dinged in the last game but should be good to go. On paper this looks like a mismatch.
Als favoured by 10.
And the pick is: Montreal to cover.
Saturday
Saskatchewan (0-2) at Hamilton (0-2)
This is a game which could have significant bearings for both teams. The Roughriders defence has been awful, but we note they've faced the two hottest passers in the league in their first two games. That said, it's a new head coach, Greg Marshall, and he has a defensive background and his coordinator, Richie Hall, is a veteran in that area. Some Rider Priders are saying this is the type of team that might go 4-14 or 3-15 and Marshall insists that won't be the case. He is already on the defensive.
The Riders went with a bland defence in the first game and a more aggressive one in the second and it didn't work either time. He's coming back to Hamilton, where he was the defensive coordinator, and much will be made of that and this being his first head coaching gig after being overlooked so often. The Riders' offence hasn't been dynamic, but it hasn't received any help from the defence.
Clearly, quarterback Darian Durant is struggling with his new receiving corps. You can't remove that many key players. Weston Dressler has now become the primary target and teams are focusing on him. But he's one of the few healthy bodies now in the receiving corps. It's in tatters. Chris Getzlaf has a wonky hamstring.
The Cats' offence has been lukewarm so far under the director of new coordinator Khari Jones, so this could be the tonic. Receiver Arland Bruce has had a lower body injury and is sending out mixed signals about his lack of productivity, but he's been a good team player according to head coach Marcel Bellefeuille. Whether Bruce will be ready to play is another issue.
This is also a team going with a new defensive coordinator, applying more pressure and blitzing than was the case with Marshall. The Cats had thoughts of going to the Grey Cup this year, but right now there's concern about simply getting that first win. Remember, they only finished 9-9 last year and were beaten in the playoffs, so this is really an interesting time for the Cats, who have never been better than a .500 team since Bob Young took over as owner in 2004.
Highly-publicized free-agent running back Avon Cobourne got into a verbal conflict with Maurice Mann in practice telling him to work harder in the drills. It didn't go over well. Expect some roster changes on offence. Wouldn't be surprised if one of them is at left tackle, with a veteran coming in to replace a rookie. Troubling times indeed in Steeltown and some folks are calling for Bellefeuille to be fired. I'll go with the better defence in this one.
Ticats favoured by 2.
And the pick is: Hamilton to cover.
B.C. (0-2) at Edmonton (2-0)
The Lions didn't expect to start off like this. And the reality is they are better than their record indicates. They were close against Montreal and Calgary, losing by a combined six points. It's been stupid mistakes, such as countless dropped balls by young receivers, and quarterback Travis Lulay getting greedy with his throws.
Head coach Wally Buono has also made some curious calls, which haven't helped either. Second-year receiver David Black dropped some balls last week and is expected to be replaced by Canadian veterans Kamau Peterson and/or Paris Jackson to provide some experience. But independent of all that, the Lions need to run the ball. Lulay has been lighting up the sky, but he's getting away from plays where the team could -- and should -- run the ball. That's one reason they signed offensive tackle Ben Archibald from Calgary.
The Lions will have some changes in the secondary. Cornerback Stanley Franks is out for the season with a broken ankle, so David Hyland moves into his spot. Wideside cornerback Davis Sanchez may be moving into the safety spot, replacing J.R. LaRose. Newcomer Travis Williams is expected to fill Sanchez's spot.
The Eskimos are the early surprise in the CFL at 2-0, along with Winnipeg. When your quarterback was once one of the best in the league and he's playing like that now, it's a big reason. Ricky Ray is playing with the same passion and efficiency as he did when he first joined the league almost 10 years ago and you know he'll be testing the Lions' secondary early with his array of weapons.
The Eskimos also have a strong running game, utilizing Canadians Calvin McCarty and Jerome Messam, who has found himself in Edmonton after numerous problems in B.C. The defence is young and hungry and making plays everywhere. The special teams have been a force, too.
Eskimos are favoured by 2½.
And the pick is Eskimos to cover.
Record last week: 1-3
Record this season: 3-5.
