GAME THREAD - Week 4: Toronto Argonauts at Winnipeg Blue Bombers

[Neely2005]

That bad call just cost some woman a million bucks. Safeway breathes a sigh of relief.

They probably have contest insurance.

[Bleeds Double Blue]

Poor woman loses a million on that call. Noel wasn't trying to block just accidental contact. They should give the woman at least half the prize.

No way anyone at Safeway is answering the phone tonight.

[gilthethrill]

Winnipeg continues its trend from last season by getting very favorable calls. Must catch those balls in the endzone however. Protecting the QB is last year's news.

[larz-7]

They probably have contest insurance.

ya ref gets 500 dollar gift card to use at his local safeway.

[doubleblue]

ya ref gets 500 dollar gift card to use at his local safeway.

Lol. You aren't hinting at a conspiracy are you?

I wonder if Glen Johnson actually fines his officials for bad calls. Probably not because they could always show him tapes of all his bad ones.

[Will]

Lost in all of this is that Ray seemed in discomfort walking off the field after the INT.

[larz-7]

Lol. You aren't hinting at a conspiracy are you?

I wonder if Glen Johnson actually fines his officials for bad calls. Probably not because they could always show him tapes of all his bad ones.

no whats funny guess where Glen Johnson used to work.

[Rich]

• the Noel non-block
• the phantom PI on Sears
• the call on Ball for getting his facemask stuck
• roughing the passer at the end

We really got killed by the refs. But the game was ours for the taking and we gave it away. Ricky was off, the receivers were terrible, and on D I think the front 4 was just gassed by the 4th quarter, I think the short week caught up with them. 3-1 would have been so sweet, publicity-wise, but if casual fans watched this game on TV (on a night with no baseball) they saw a pretty damn entertaining game.

[ArgoRavi]

Lost in all of this is that Ray seemed in discomfort walking off the field after the INT.

And the offensive line really can't be blamed for that as it was a dirty, cheap, late hit that should have been called by the officials. Disgusting!

[matthew]

Isn't it a chance to win. Isn't it just that they qualify for season end draw for million?

[mchesher03]

My takeaways -

• Game was ours for the taking absolutely – to have 22 points going into the half and end up with 25 – not good enough.
• Refs became a factor in this game (seemed like every iffy call went winnipeg’s way) but like I said above, still winnable – these things happen in football
• Receiving depth appeared to be an issue – several times I felt he forced it to SJ Green (possibly because other options weren’t there and most of the time – Green comes down with it)
• This additional time Ricky was looking for, our O Line wasn’t able to provide. Feel like he was under pressure a fair bit
• On the flip side our D Line didn’t seem to be generating the usual pressure – leading to our secondary being picked apart a bit imo
• Martese Jackson – wow! He has another level, looked really impressive
• Those two endzone drops by Coombs and Edwards on that one first half possession were disappointing – think that was off the huge Jackson return and phantom “block in the back” call

Such is life though, 2-2 and have Ottawa at home next Monday, winnable game but won’t be easy. Well it’s fun to be competitive again (the bar sank abysmally low last year), this team is capable of more and I could make the argument, is capable of being 4-0 right now.

[RB957]

• the Noel non-block
• the phantom PI on Sears
• the call on Ball for getting his facemask stuck
• roughing the passer at the end

We really got killed by the refs. But the game was ours for the taking and we gave it away. Ricky was off, the receivers were terrible, and on D I think the front 4 was just gassed by the 4th quarter, I think the short week caught up with them. 3-1 would have been so sweet, publicity-wise, but if casual fans watched this game on TV (on a night with no baseball) they saw a pretty damn entertaining game.

The game was entertaining and we could have won it despite everything. Seven lead changes made it pretty exciting. Hopefully enough to draw some more interest.

[RB957]

My takeaways -

• Game was ours for the taking absolutely – to have 22 points going into the half and end up with 25 – not good enough.
• Refs became a factor in this game (seemed like every iffy call went winnipeg’s way) but like I said above, still winnable – these things happen in football
• Receiving depth appeared to be an issue – several times I felt he forced it to SJ Green (possibly because other options weren’t there and most of the time – Green comes down with it)
• This additional time Ricky was looking for, our O Line wasn’t able to provide. Feel like he was under pressure a fair bit
• On the flip side our D Line didn’t seem to be generating the usual pressure – leading to our secondary being picked apart a bit imo
• Martese Jackson – wow! He has another level, looked really impressive
• Those two endzone drops by Coombs and Edwards on that one first half possession were disappointing – think that was off the huge Jackson return and phantom “block in the back” call

Such is life though, 2-2 and have Ottawa at home next Monday, winnable game but won’t be easy. Well it’s fun to be competitive again (the bar sank abysmally low last year), this team is capable of more and I could make the argument, is capable of being 4-0 right now.

I agree with your points. My biggest concerns after 4 games are the lack of a strong running game and pass protection- both of which involve the O line. Our offense is 91% pass, so far which makes it easier to defend against and allows opponent's pass rushers to tee it up. Ricky Ray is getting hit way too often. This needs to be addressed if we are going to be really successful.

[mchesher03]

Even with o-line struggles I think a Jeff Fuller or Posey back in the lineup helps tremendously, give ricky more options and relieve some of that pressure a bit. I forget which receiver it was but one was just running simple slants against the ticats to get success – quick release by Ricky, 8-12 yards every play.

[RB957]

Another thing... what is it about playing the Argos that makes Andre Harris look like Superman? As I recall, he ripped us apart last year too.

[Argo]

I agree with your points. My biggest concerns after 4 games are the lack of a strong running game and pass protection- both of which involve the O line. Our offense is 91% pass, so far which makes it easier to defend against and allows opponent's pass rushers to tee it up. Ricky Ray is getting hit way too often. This needs to be addressed if we are going to be really successful.

“Any time you get the run game going it just opens up so much more,” said Harris.

... _ _ _ ...

[Jon Gonzo]

My main concern this season, has been our run game. Argos have to flash it, or they'll get caved in. Look at what it did to our front 7

[ArgoGabe22]

I don't know if Ray had an off night. With the line we have and the lack of a run game, I think the expectation should be that Ray will a) be pressured b) throw off back foot c) get hit a lot. Given all that, he did fairly well, should've had 2-3 TD passes. Shame about the interceptions.

[Jon Gonzo]

Agreed. I think Ricky did his job. Lack of run game, penalties (terrible game from the officials) and then a couple of mistimed drops. Work that run game, and don't let the lineman pin their ears like we've been seeing around here for too long, with a QB who can't move much. That spells trouble. I'd be surprised if Rickey doesn't have a concussion today.

[paulwoods13]

Our o-line is really struggling this year. The guards, and in particular Holmes, have had a succession of rough outings. I noticed Deane got at least one series at RG (and took a hands-to-the-face penalty). We have nothing resembling a run game; while we don't try to run as often as I'd like, when we do there is almost never a hole for the back.

I've been worried since week 1 about playing Lemon and Butler every down. They looked worn out last night. And maybe Bishop was more important than we realized -- no sacks last night without him after three weeks of mostly dominant play.

Without Posey, we seem to lack a real deep threat. Green is excellent but not a fast guy, and I don't think any of the others who played last night have major wheels.

Jackson certainly showed what he is capable of as a returner.