So we learned two important lessons in Week 9 of the Canadian Football League schedule: offensive linemen are athletes too; and just because a win is guaranteed doesn’t mean it’s a sure victory.
Saskatchewan offensive lineman Dan Clark, who checks in at six-foot-two, 310 lbs., made possibly the most athletic touchdown catch ever seen from a man tipping the scales north of three bills. Tino Sunseri lofted a pass into the end zone and just when it looked like the ball was going to float incomplete, Clark adjusted. He twisted in the air before falling backwards to haul in what would prove to be the game-winning touchdown for Saskatchewan. “When we broke the huddle, I was thinking, Don’t be that fat kid who drops the ball,” Clark told the Regina Leader-Post. It was a spectacular effort from the burly hometown boy.
At the same, Clark’s catch foiled the Lions guaranteed-win plans. Before last Sunday’s game against the Riders, Lions CEO and president Dennis Skulsky assured his team would win or all fans in attendance at BC Place would receive a free ticket to an upcoming home game. It was the first time in the Lions’ 61-year history the franchise publicly guaranteed a victory. After dropping the contest 20-16, all those 33,000-plus fans were able to choose from one of the four remaining Lions home games to attend, completely free. Skulsky’s guarantee was bold and drew a lot of attention, so credit him for that. But the failure to convert will hit the Lions pocketbook hard.
On tap for Week 10 are the classic Labour Day weekend match ups. Winnipeg travels to Saskatchewan, Toronto and Hamilton (assuming their stadium issues are resolved) will play on the holiday Monday for the first time since 2012, and the two best teams in the league get together in Calgary when Edmonton comes to town. Let’s get to some of the different players to focus on who might decide outcomes as the CFL kicks off the proverbial stretch run of the regular season.
Bombers need to ground run game
For Winnipeg to get a win against their arch-rivals, the Bombers defence has to slow down Saskatchewan’s strong ground game. Yes, beloved receiver Weston Dresser is back in green-and-white, but the Riders rolled up 186 rushing yards in the first meeting between the teams this season. And no matter which quarterback Darian Durant, who suffered a hand injury last week, or Tino Sunseri is behind centre the key to the green-and-white offence has been the run. Saskatchewan leads the CFL rushing for over 143 yards a game. And it seemingly doesn’t matter which running back is carrying the football in a Riders uniform, all are productive behind a road-grading offensive line.
On the Bombers side defenders must remain assignment sound and gap responsible on each snap. Meanwhile middle linebacker Ian Wild needs to be active and pile up tackles come game day. If a Bombers defensive back—Demond Washington led the team with eight tackles in Winnipeg’s Week 7 loss to Saskatchewan—tops the unit in takedowns on Sunday it’s a bad sign.
Stadium, quarterback possibly ready just in time for Ticats
Despite not having a fully finished stadium, it looks as though the Ticats will host the Argos and renew the Labour Day Classic in Steeltown. It couldn’t be a better matchup to open Tim Horton’s Field. And just like Hamilton had planned to begin the season, franchise quarterback Zach Collaros could be the starter as the team pulls back the curtains on a brand new era.
Collaros has been out with a concussion since Week 2 when he suffered a devastating hit from Eskimos defensive lineman Odell Willis, knocking the young pivot out of the game. Hamilton have since pulled the 26-year-old quarterback off the six-game injured list to practice and prepare for his long awaited return on Labour Day.
All excitement aside, it’s not like Collaros was lighting it up before he suffered his head injury. In parts of two games Collaros completed just 56 percent of his passes, for 212 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions, and the Ticats went 0-2 in those contests. It wasn’t the type of start anyone envisioned for Collaros to begin his career in the Steel City. Hamilton’s offensive line wasn’t doing him any favours either. But the Ticats O-line has come together and played much better with Collaros on the sidelines and the group needs to continue its encouraging level of play with a pivot taking snaps behind them coming off a concussion.
When it’s all said and done on Labour Day, the Collaros’ performance will decide the game. He has plenty of weapons at his disposal, so it’s all up to the one-time Tampa Bay property to respond in his first live-game action in nearly two months. Hamilton needs a strong performance from their anointed franchise quarterback.
Albertans set for Western showdown
Edmonton and Calgary head into their 49th Labour Day meeting with the best combined winning percentage (.875) – Eskimos 7-1 and Stampeders 7-1 – they’ve ever carried into the long-weekend showdown. In fact, the Stampeders and Eskimos have the best two records in the CFL this season. It should be a closely contested game as Calgary enters with the league’s best offence (27.9PPG) and best defence (15.1 PPG allowed). Edmonton – as in the race for the West Division title – are right behind with the second-best offence (26.8 PPG) and defence (17.8 PPG allowed).
Back in Week 5 the Esks and Stamps played out a tightly contested 26-22 Calgary win. A momentum-changing decision was made by first-year Edmonton head coach Chris Jones late in the first half that proved to be the difference: Jones called for a fake punt with under 30 seconds to go before the break and the Eskimos backed up on their own six-yard line. Aaron Grymes was stopped short of the yardage to gain and Edmonton turned the ball over on downs. Calgary quarterback Bo Levi Mitchell turned around on the next play and hooked up with Jeff Fuller for a 16-yard touchdown – all but gift-wrapped by the Eskimos. Neither team can afford to giveaway points like that on Labour Day.
If the amount of twitter trash talking between Eskimos and Stampeders players leading up to their Labour Day Monday matchup is any indication, it seems true rivalry status has been restored to the Battle of Alberta. Perhaps thanks to the photo of four Calgary players around Edmonton head coach Chris Jones’s motorcycle after the Stamps victory at Commonwealth Stadium back on July 24.