2011 CFL thread

[moon]

Who should win:

MOP: Lulay
Defense: Chip Cox
Canadian: Jon Cornish
Special Teams: Mccallum
Rookie: Williams
OL: Who knows

Who will win:

MOP: AC
Defense: Freeman
Canadian: Messam
Rookie: Williams
ST: Mccallum
OL: Olafioye

[REDVAN]

I couldn't see a stamps thread (on my phone), and forgive me if this was discussed:

Tate is the starting qb? What happened?

[calgaryrocks]

^^ you haven't been following the Stamps lately have you?
the coach finally got tired of Burris mental mistakes and declared Tate as the starter after Burris was pulled against Toronto and Tate did awesome in relief. Tate started each of the last 3 games and has looked good (although not great, some mistakes). Burris doesn't do well in the playoffs, so the Tate era has begun

[octothorp]

Originally Posted by REDVAN

I couldn't see a stamps thread (on my phone), and forgive me if this was discussed:

Tate is the starting qb? What happened?

Long story short, Burris had about five of six mediocre starts , had an awful game against Toronto where Toronto built up a 28-9 halftime lead. Tate came back in, played a pretty much perfect half and actually got Calgary ahead, though Toronto kicked a last-second field goal. After that game, Tate's started the last three of the season, won all three (with so-so stats but with the team playing great around him). Burris has been doing short-yardage plays and fumbled in his first game as backup, but is doing better now and being professional about it, although his ego was obviously pretty bruised when the transition was first made.

[Notorious Honey Badger]

its pretty sad that winnipeg is 1 win away from a grey cup appearance considering how bad they played, injuries and all.

i know its a new season and all that jazz, but i cant help but think its a BC vs Winnipeg grey cup with BC winning by 3 or more touchdowns

[shermanator]

Originally Posted by sa226

Being a person who lives in winnipeg, I'm surprised that I havent been bombarded with city pride about what has happened and will happen in a span of a year or so.

Winnipeg will have and has a new NHL team, a new CFL stadium, and a brand new airport terminal. Thats a big deal for any city.

IMO, Winnipeg is the best sports city in Canada right now. Of course they are on a high with the return of the Jets, and the new stadium, but they've always supported the Bombers as well as the Goldeyes very well.

[Beerfest]

Anyone going up for the game on Sunday?

[moon]

Originally Posted by Beerfest

Anyone going up for the game on Sunday?

Does the CFL hate itself?

Why the f are the games not on Saturday?

[Beerfest]

Originally Posted by moon

Does the CFL hate itself?

Why the f are the games not on Saturday?

I thought I heard something last year about them getting better ratings on Sunday's. Not sure though.

[Dion]

Calgary CTV's poll of the day:

What do you predict for the Stampeders in the 2011 playoffs?

A loss this weekend 42%
Western Finals 31%
Grey Cup berth 8%
Grey Cup 19%

[moon]

Originally Posted by Beerfest

I thought I heard something last year about them getting better ratings on Sunday's. Not sure though.

That seems odd to me as obviously going against the NFL would be tough, as well Sunday doesn't really seem like a CFL game day to me. For most of the season I don't think they have Sunday games.

I guess they know better than me but I wish the games were tomorrow so I didn't have to switch between NFL and CFL.

[OzSome]

Originally Posted by Drake

The nominees for the 2011 Gibson's Finest CFL Player Awards were announced today. In bold is who I think should win it.

* - Indicates a unanimous selection
Category-West-East
PLAYER: Travis Lulay (BC) Anthony Calvillo (MTL)
DEFENSIVE PLAYER: Jerrell Freeman (SSK) Jovon Johnson (WPG)
CANADIAN PLAYER: Jerome Messam (EDM) Sean Whyte (MTL)
SPECIAL TEAMS: Paul McCallum* (BC) Chad Owens (TOR)
ROOKIE: JC Sherritt (EDM) Chris Williams (HAM)
OFFENSIVE LINEMAN: Jovan Olafioye (BC) Josh Bourke (MTL)

The MOP is kind of weird as both QB struggled this season. Lulay was brutal the first 5-6 games but he's been playing well after that. I hate to say this but that trade for Arland Bruce was a good move for Wally Buono. Ever since that trade, Lulay started playing well. Calvillo on the other hand has been inconsistent this season. I have never seen him that inconsistent before except his first few season in the CFL. Maybe if Jamel Richardson was the East MOP candidate, Lulay might have a competition; otherwise I have to agree with you with Travis Lulay winning the MOP award.

Defensive Player, i have to pick Jovon Johnson over Freeman. Saskatchewan did not make the playoff this season so Freeman should lose some votes because of that. Besides Johnson been good all season. The guy was Winnipeg's MOP candidate.

Canadian: I have to agree Jerome Messam will win this award. He already beat out his main competition as the Top Canadian in Jon Cornish. I am not sure Sean Whyte can beat Messam out.

Special Team: Sorry even though the Argonauts was the worst team in the league, you can dispute that Chad Owens is by far the best and most exciting special team player in the CFL this season. On the other hand, McCallum might get some sympathy vote because of his record breaking season.

Rookie: I have to give it to Chris Williams. Williams played so well this season that Hamilton decided to unload their top receiver Arland Bruce and trade him to BC for pretty much nothing. Williams is fast and very exciting to watch the way he breaks tackle. He played like a veteran CFLer this season.

Offensive Linemen: should be a toss-up. Olafioye is playing well because of the great support by the other OLine such as Ben Archibald. I guess i will give Olafioye a nod on this category.

[moon]

Originally Posted by OzSome

The MOP is kind of weird as both QB struggled this season. Lulay was brutal the first 5-6 games but he's been playing well after that. I hate to say this but that trade for Arland Bruce was a good move for Wally Buono. Ever since that trade, Lulay started playing well. Calvillo on the other hand has been inconsistent this season. I have never seen him that inconsistent before except his first few season in the CFL. Maybe if Jamel Richardson was the East MOP candidate, Lulay might have a competition; otherwise I have to agree with you with Travis Lulay winning the MOP award.

Another thing to consider is that I have heard a lot of media people complaining about the choice of AC over Richardson so if that thought is out there amongst the voters hard to see them turn around and give the award to AC if they don't think he was the MOP on his own team.

[Ruttiger]

Love what Kavis Reed has brought back to the Eskimos organization this year.

Reconnecting with their legacy. Class. Respect.

Stopping practice yesterday for two minutes of silence at 11:11. Not only having the GP high school football team out to their practice, but allowing them to take part in the practice and run plays. Having them raise the 13th man flag tomorrow. Bringing alumnus back into the dressing room to allow the current team to understand the history of the franchise. Kiboshing the chest thumping, "look at me" types of celebrations.

Definitely the right guy for the job. Win or lose Sunday against the Stamps, and I think it's a coin toss at this stage (Drew Tate worries me), this franchise is finally on the right track and getting out from under the dark cloud of Danny Macciocia.

[PegCityFlamesFan]

Jovon hands down deserves the defensive player, leading the lead in picks, absolute rock in an excellent secondary. The rest I think are obvious except for Messam and Cornish, which I think Cornish deserves, imagine if he was the starting rb all season.

i know its a new season and all that jazz, but i cant help but think its a BC vs Winnipeg grey cup with BC winning by 3 or more touchdowns

Winnipeg beat BC twice this year, sure they turned it around after, but I wouldn't take the defense lightly. Put a healthy Buck in to manage the offense and I think it's a good game. Would love BC in the finals, my blood pressure on the other hand doesn't.

[You Need a Thneed]

Hopefully the game tomorrow is similar to the Western Final of 10 years ago (is it that long ago already). Not only did the Eskimos have 12 turnovers, they turned the ball over on 12 STRAIGHT possessions.

[moon]

Originally Posted by Dion

Calgary CTV's poll of the day:

What do you predict for the Stampeders in the 2011 playoffs?

A loss this weekend 42%
Western Finals 31%
Grey Cup berth 8%
Grey Cup 19%

Makes sense that more people think that if they into the grey cup that they win as unless they beat each other too much it should be a cakewalk for either Calgary or BC against whichever crap team comes out of the East.

[transplant99]

This is probably the single most unpredictable playoff in the CFL I ever remember...i can see any team winning it all except the Ti-Cats....no way am I betting on any one team.

[OzSome]

Just turned on the Hamilton-Montreal game. It sucks that referee always give the offense the benefit of the doubt when it comes to pass interference. I don't agree with the PI call on Means. Both Means and SJ Green were battling it out pushing each other on the play. Let the play go ref..

Wow, Hamilton fumbled on the kickoff return and Als recovered the ball. I think it will stay Hamilton's ball because Thigpen were already down on the turf.

[OzSome]

Okay this is weird rule. Hamilton won the Challenge but they are not allowed to challenge any more calls?