2021 CFL regular season/playoffs thread

[White Out 403]

Originally Posted by old-fart

Well the Riders didn't embarrass themselves as much as the Bombers did. They really had no right being in that game, but the Bombers (and the league office) did everything they could to make it seem like a real football game that was close. 6 turnovers Bombers? Really?

And no, that was not remotely a catch and the game should have been over right then.

Shows what bush league the CFL really is, as does the way the whole MBT thing played out.

I don't think the emotion the Bombers (or the fans) are feeling right now is embarrassment.

[Cecil Terwilliger]

You know what one of my favourite pastimes is?

Following, watching and frequently commenting on sports that I hate, I think are fixed due to league wide conspiracies and that I think are totally pathetic and bush league.

[Northendzone]

as a bomber fan, that came was a roller coaster of emotions as every time i thought the bombers got on track, something bad would happen.

that game could have been a blowout either way had the riders converted on thier takeaways, or the bombers not given the ball away.

i thought for the msot part the team remained a reflection of o'shea - who ssems focused and poised. there was one exception with the bobmers taking a headshot at fajardo.

i could see why the elague offcie did not overtunr that catch. the one video that was really needed was the initial look, but the ball was below the picture.

when harris was out this season and olivera stepped in, i thought that perhaps harris was done - he was a beast yesterday. hard to imagine he has much more than 10 games like that left in him, but what do i know.

i also thought the bomber receivers made some clutch catches in the second half yesterday. and i though the second half was about as heavy going as i have seen in a game.

i was disappointed that TSN did not have the gear available to broadcast the game in 4k though, and for whatever reason yesterday, the volume on my telecast (shaw) was low during the game, but naturally commercials came thru loud and clear.

kudos to long time bombers radio play by play guy bob irving as he gets to see the tema go out with a win. i hope the cfl honors him sometime this week

[speede5]

Bombers definately woke up in the third and it was pretty much a done deal although the last drive was typical Riders do or die.

I can only think the reviewers of that catch saw his hand further under the ball than I did. I didn't think it was a catch when it happened or after review. The gift didn't matter though, I kinda feel Fajardo doesn't have the room and he's never gonna bring a cup to Regina unless something changes. Missing a wide open receiver by ten feet doesn't cut it either.

Should be a good game Hamilton will give them a run for their money. Bombers are gonna have to play the full 60.

[Drake]

John Murphy got punched in the mouth after he slapped a fan in another altercation.

[old-fart]

Originally Posted by Cecil Terwilliger

You know what one of my favourite pastimes is?

Following, watching and frequently commenting on sports that I hate, I think are fixed due to league wide conspiracies and that I think are totally pathetic and bush league.

i don't hate football, nor do I hate the CFL. I also don't think it is fixed or that there is a league wide conspiracy.

The Bombers did play that first half like they were trying to keep Sask in it. Of course they weren't. The review on that non-catch was a joke though.

There is no question that the CFL is bush league though. It has always been run on a shoestring budget which necessitates teams, and the league, to cut all the corners possible leading to decisions that are bush league because, well, it is a bush league. I've enjoyed watching it over the years, but that doesn't make it NOT a bush league.

This past year, after taking a full year off due to COVID, has been some of the worst played football I've ever seen. At times it does look like two peewee teams out there, and that's for Stamps vs BC games, Elks vs Montreal, Riders vs Toronto... it doesn't matter, the quality of football in the CFL this year has been BAD.

There really was only one team that looked like it sort of had its crap together this year, and that was the Bombers, but they played probably their worst half of football in the first half of the Western Final.

Hopefully next year will be back to somewhat normal and we will get back to some decent football in the CFL. It will still be a bush league that cuts corners, has iffy reffing, horrible replay decisions, weird off field circuses, the odd criminal that wouldn't get a chance in any other league... but hopefully it will be better quality football where teams are actually making plays, not just waiting for the other team to F up worse than you did.

[White Out 403]

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by old-fart

i don't hate football, nor do I hate the CFL. I also don't think it is fixed or that there is a league wide conspiracy.

The Bombers did play that first half like they were trying to keep Sask in it. Of course they weren't. The review on that non-catch was a joke though.

There is no question that the CFL is bush league though. It has always been run on a shoestring budget which necessitates teams, and the league, to cut all the corners possible leading to decisions that are bush league because, well, it is a bush league. I've enjoyed watching it over the years, but that doesn't make it NOT a bush league.

This past year, after taking a full year off due to COVID, has been some of the worst played football I've ever seen. At times it does look like two peewee teams out there, and that's for Stamps vs BC games, Elks vs Montreal, Riders vs Toronto... it doesn't matter, the quality of football in the CFL this year has been BAD.

There really was only one team that looked like it sort of had its crap together this year, and that was the Bombers, but they played probably their worst half of football in the first half of the Western Final.

Hopefully next year will be back to somewhat normal and we will get back to some decent football in the CFL. It will still be a bush league that cuts corners, has iffy reffing, horrible replay decisions, weird off field circuses, the odd criminal that wouldn't get a chance in any other league... but hopefully it will be better quality football where teams are actually making plays, not just waiting for the other team to F up worse than you did.

Yeah it's bush league sport. Always has been and appears that it always will be. I still enjoy it despite it's massive flaws but the problem for the league is that there aren't enough people like me in this country. Hopefully the next commissioner is more Mark Cohon and less mickey mouse like the current clown.

[SuperMatt18]

I'm a but of a lapsed fan of the CFL for sure. Feel like between what's a worse product on the field, some weird marketing decisions, and just the alternative options for entertainment (and less entertainment time with a young family) it's tough to commit the time to the league.

Plus for me the season still doesn't make sense. Even before COVID having the end of the CFL season fall in the last two weeks of November never made sense to me. Weather in Canada in May can be great, take advantage of that and start the season earlier.

Granted I've never seen the TV / attendance numbers but I feel like if you want more fans in the stadiums then you should play more afternoon games on weekends. I used to like going and spending a Saturday afternoon at McMahon to watch a game in and soak in a nice sunny day, but I certainly don't want to go sit in the cold to watch a 7:45PM start on a Saturday in October.

[Erick Estrada]

There's no doubt COVID played a role in how bad the football was this season but the bigger concern to me is the QB play. I can't remember a year where there was no elite QB play, one good QB that played well, and a bunch of bad QB's. I can't imagine season ticket renewals are going to be great this offseason around the league as the product was just awful.

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by SuperMatt18

I'm a but of a lapsed fan of the CFL for sure. Feel like between what's a worse product on the field, some weird marketing decisions, and just the alternative options for entertainment (and less entertainment time with a young family) it's tough to commit the time to the league.

Plus for me the season still doesn't make sense. Even before COVID having the end of the CFL season fall in the last two weeks of November never made sense to me. Weather in Canada in May can be great, take advantage of that and start the season earlier.

Granted I've never seen the TV / attendance numbers but I feel like if you want more fans in the stadiums then you should play more afternoon games on weekends. I used to like going and spending a Saturday afternoon at McMahon to watch a game in and soak in a nice sunny day, but I certainly don't want to go sit in the cold to watch a 7:45PM start on a Saturday in October.

The CFL probably tracks attendance trends over the decades that show Eastern teams fare better in afternoon games. You rarely see afternoon games as McMahon while they are pretty common in Toronto and Hamilton.
The problem with Calgary relative to eastern teams is that in the fall the temperature drops in the evening are far more steep.

[dash_pinched]

I think more afternoon games would definitely help attendance at McMahon, those 7:30 pm starts are tough for families with young kids. Lower ticket prices and halftime acts that cater to young and old alike (youth football mini-game as an example) would be cool. Also, I think the Stamps need to recognize how vital season ticket holders are to the team and reward their loyalty like they have in the past. I came across this tweet as an example.

https://twitter.com/user/status/1468380504013434880

[White Out 403]

I normally consider it bad juju to predict anything. But I think as long as Winnipeg doesn't turn the ball over more than once next week the Bombers win by 8 or 9. This is the best D in my life as a Bomber fan, the offence only has to not #### up. Defense wins championships and this group is the best the CFL has seen since at least the 80s. Go Bombers!

[dash_pinched]

https://twitter.com/user/status/1468579694178152452

[CaptainCrunch]

I have this sense that Hamilton is due.



I agree if Winnipeg protects that ball better and comes out of the gates better then yeah they should win the game. They are extremely talented top to bottom as well.


Hamilton should be an underdog, but they do have some game breakers who can do damage out of nowhere.



I'm going to take Hamilton with a walk off field goal win.


Call me crazy.

[Cheese]

Originally Posted by White Out 403

I normally consider it bad juju to predict anything. But I think as long as Winnipeg doesn't turn the ball over more than once next week the Bombers win by 8 or 9. This is the best D in my life as a Bomber fan, the offence only has to not #### up. Defense wins championships and this group is the best the CFL has seen since at least he 80s. Go Bombers!

well I tend to disagree. But hey, homer away White Out.

2018 Calgary Stampeders

Record: 13-5 (522 points for, 363 points against)
Result: Grey Cup win
Despite having just three league All-Stars, this championship roster was the most talented of the decade, especially on defence. Alex Singleton, James Vaughters, and Jameer Thurman all went to the NFL the following season, while Ja’Gared Davis, Micah Johnson, Patrick Levels, and Tunde Adeleke departed for big paydays in free agency.

[White Out 403]

Originally Posted by Cheese

well I tend to disagree. But hey, homer away White Out.

2018 Calgary Stampeders

Record: 13-5 (522 points for, 363 points against)
Result: Grey Cup win
Despite having just three league All-Stars, this championship roster was the most talented of the decade, especially on defence. Alex Singleton, James Vaughters, and Jameer Thurman all went to the NFL the following season, while Ja’Gared Davis, Micah Johnson, Patrick Levels, and Tunde Adeleke departed for big paydays in free agency.

Did you do the math on what the points allowed per game is on both teams? I mean it's fine if you want to call me a homer but, you should at least use a stat that backs what you're arguing

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by White Out 403

Did you do the math on what the points allowed per game is on both teams? I mean it's fine if you want to call me a homer but, you should at least use a stat that backs what you're arguing

Not to take away from the Bombers defensive achievement but scoring was way down this season from 49.5 points a game in 2019 to 43.1 points per game this season which is a full TD per game. This was nothing like a typical CFL season offensively.

[Cheese]

Originally Posted by White Out 403

Did you do the math on what the points allowed per game is on both teams? I mean it's fine if you want to call me a homer but, you should at least use a stat that backs what you're arguing

I can pull #### out of my ass just like you.

The facts are, this year is an outlier where teams had more rookies playing ball due to the Covid year, than any other year.

I think the Stamps team of 2014 and 2018 were better, and that's not based on points allowed, just the sheer dominance of the defense during years where parity was better than 2021.


2014: Shawn Lemon and Charleston Hughes combined for 21 sacks, while defensive backs Jamar Wall, Keon Raymond, Fred Bennett, Brandon Smith, and Josh Bell put together 17 interceptions.


2018 as above...


go ahead though, math away if it makes you feel better.

[White Out 403]

I'm not going to go into a shouting contest over this. If you want to think that the Stampede defense was better, go ahead I don't care. Good luck next season.