B.C. seemed to be in control of this game just like Montreal was in theirs and somehow the Riders come back and win. Actually, the "somehow" is Darian Durant, plain and simple. I don't get why this guy gets so much heat in Saskatchewan.
Anyway, the TSN Turning Point has to be when the Lions stopped Sheets on a third and short in Saskatchewan's end of the field late in the third quarter with the score 24-16 in B.C.'s favour. The offence couldn't do anything with that turnover, McCallum punted for a single point, and it was all downhill from there for the Lions.
BTW, what horrible clock management by the Lions in the final half minute of the game. I have been bemoaning this for the last couple of years but it burns me to see how the art of clock management has been lost in this league. Ron Lancaster must be rolling in his grave. Three plays in 28 seconds?!!! You have to be kidding me.
Last edited by ArgoRavi; 11-10-2013 at 07:32 PM.
Cameron Dukes + Dan Adeboboye + Kevin Mital + David Ungerer + Damonte Coxie + DaVaris Daniels + Dejon Brissett = Unstoppable Force
I heard Ricky Foley's name a lot this game for the Riders, and it was all positive. Makes me wonder if the Argos were too hasty in letting him go.
Cameron Dukes + Dan Adeboboye + Kevin Mital + David Ungerer + Damonte Coxie + DaVaris Daniels + Dejon Brissett = Unstoppable Force
Toronto and Calgary final. I don't want the Riders anywhere near the final. Hate all of their young hopped up on Pil (piss) fans. Too many tools!
would LOVE a rematch. TO/Cal has a such a great GC history would love another to add to the lore.
Where was the middle of the Lions D late in the game?
Solomon Elimimian was injured and I guess that they did not have suitable depth. Rich Stubler is getting a lot of heat from Lions fans today for not having an answer and even one of his players alluded to a scheme that was more about playing not to lose instead of playing to win although that "bend but don't break" style has been Stubler's calling card for years.
Cameron Dukes + Dan Adeboboye + Kevin Mital + David Ungerer + Damonte Coxie + DaVaris Daniels + Dejon Brissett = Unstoppable Force
Bighill is not a drop-off, and the Lions were doing a very good job spying and shutting down Sheets. DD said in the post game that the Lions D were playing zone and leaving the middle open so all he had to do was to avoid the initial rush and there would be tons of room to run.
For the WF, does Calgary spy DD as well as Sheets? Does that open other things up for other people? Don't know, but what I do know is that the game will be another slobber-knocker right to the end of the game. Praying for a Rider win, but it will be tough!
Haven't they been using BOTH Bighill and Elimimian? I think that Anton Mackenzie was the one filling in for Elimimian but he is simply not the same player. Regardless, Saskatchewan fans should be kissing Durant's feet today instead of calling for Drew Willy or Tito Sunseri to be the starter.
Cameron Dukes + Dan Adeboboye + Kevin Mital + David Ungerer + Damonte Coxie + DaVaris Daniels + Dejon Brissett = Unstoppable Force
I'm definitely not with the pitchfork mob screaming about that missed P.I. on McCollough at the end of regulation. Sure, it looked like P.I. in slo-mo, but I didn't think so in real time, so I have no problem how the officials saw that play (words which may come back to haunt me). The Als also had plenty of time and opportunity to put that game away, especially since they had the wind in the 4th quarter.
These two games also showed that, all things being equal, in crunch time it's better to have great quarterbacking than anything else. The Ticats got it from Burris going into the wind late in regulation and from LeFevour in overtime. And Durant put his team on his back in the 4th quarter and won the game, totally negating the Lions having pounded out 200+ yards on the ground.
Elimimian - great player - was a loss that hurt their D some perhaps, but McKenzie is a vet solid replacement and they shut down Sheets pretty well anyways. It was shades of 07 to me when the Riders won in large part (IMO) due to a big strong running QB and that same QB draw play - and BC got beat by it repeatedly late in the game just as Kerry Joseph was beating Ds with that play over & over again for the Riders back in 07. Very poor defence - Duane Forde was moaning some like "so obvious" after it worked once again ; Stubler shoulda known better - just have Bighill totally spy Durant and smoke him with a big hit after he clears the D-Line. BC's vet D held so much promise - to me - to be a dominant CFL D the past couple of years with all the talent & experience, but they just couldn't get it done very often - let down a surprisingly smart & diverse offensive effort vs. the Riders (lots of run with a 2 back attack, and spread the ball around in the passing game).
I thought the Riders were going to go to the GC after the first half of this season - plenty of talent & experience in both O & D, but now I doubt they can beat the Stamps (if a QB draw by Durant is that team's big offensive weapon (along with Dressler who is outstanding) and Cortez abandons the run like he has at times) - the Stumps have the better offensive potential i think and are playing at home, with maybe the best kicking game the CFL has seen in a long time (Riders not too shabby in that department either though).
Wasn't Bighill spying Sheets though? That might have been a contributing factor to Durant having all of those openings. The Lions' defence is starting to look a little long in the tooth. I think that we will see more changes than is usually the case in B.C. this off-season. I agree with you, OV, that Calgary should end the Riders' season but Saskatchewan tends to play with a lot of confidence against the Stamps.
Cameron Dukes + Dan Adeboboye + Kevin Mital + David Ungerer + Damonte Coxie + DaVaris Daniels + Dejon Brissett = Unstoppable Force
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