Luke Wilson’s Thoughts

[ArgoGabe22]

Luke Willson
@LWillson_82
I told you I would be honest and tell the truth about the CFL.

If the goal is to grow the game and attract a younger demographic, the on field product of the Sask/Toronto game is just not going to cut it. That game was hot garbage…Let me be clear in saying that I don’t think it’s a talent thing. This isn’t a shot at the players. But that game was really bad.

Let’s start with the obvious. There were 29 penalties for 307 yards. It was absurd. (Not a shot at the refs either). That in itself is enough to ruin any kind of football game. It was a tough watch.

Next let’s go to the end of the game; it’s junk ball. Yes I said it. Junk football. First off, Sask misses a chip shot 33 yard FG, which would have basically sealed the win. Instead they are awarded a point for missing it (ball wasn’t returnable/didn’t land in the field of play). They then kick off and give up a 9 play TD drive where there is 1 penalty, 1 incompletion and every other play is a tackle in bounds. No time outs are used and it took 1:39. There are no “big plays”either, it’s mainly check downs. Nothing could be more gimmicky than that. You’ve basically eliminated any sort of “2 min drive” there is not the slightest bit of urgency needed.

The Argo’s kick off and don’t even field a full team… yes that’s correct. After tying the game with 23 seconds left. The Argos are a man short on the kickoff. There is a block in the back penalty that is missed and the play should have been called back.

For a 3 down “throwing league” there were 4 total completions of a 20+ throw.

There were 12, I repeat 12, QB sneaks.

The Argos has 31 pass attempts and per PFF gave up 25 pressures. Insane.

I log onto socials after the game and it’s tweet after tweet about how AMAZING the CFL is because of the kick return ending. Even articles and podcasts declaring the CFL’s greatness. It’s bold face lies. The league and the people who cover it are trying so hard to protect the game that their lack of honesty is ruining it. Why can’t we call it like it is. A bad football game.

Let me be very clear, if the goal is to grow the game for a younger demographic. This sort of stuff will not do it. You’d have a better chance at pissing in a hot sauce bottle than having any sort of substantial growth with games like that.

I want to end by saying there have been some great games already this season, and I do believe the CFL has the players and the talent to attract a ton of new fans in all demographics, but sometimes I wonder if the “powers that be” actually want that to occur.

*disclaimer please don’t respond with “there are bad games in the nfl” YES, there most certainly are! But the NFL doesn’t have the same issues the CFL does. One of which is that there are only 4 games a weekend so each game is magnified to its audience.

[ArgoZ]

Nothing we haven’t already covered in this forum. Penalties, 3rd and 1 uncreative plays, stupid missed man and finally unless you’re Chad Kelly, trying to throw into tight cover 3/4 zone is really challenging, so it’s all check down with scared coaching and mediocre qb’s.

[OV Argo]

Nothing we haven’t already covered in this forum. Penalties, 3rd and 1 uncreative plays, stupid missed man and finally unless you’re Chad Kelly, trying to throw into tight cover 3/4 zone is really challenging, so it’s all check down with scared coaching and mediocre qb’s.

You said it better than Willson - who still comes across as an NFL fan-boy/wannabe to me. A 'younger demographic" does not get or care about the nuances of football - they get sold on hype and advertising and marketing, etc. etc.

[shatto]

Luke's comment on the missed field goal---"instead they are awarded a point for missing it" Sounds like he doesn't
like our rouge.
I may be wrong but it sounds as if Luke can't wait to get back to the "real" football played in the NFL. Perhaps they should have someone on the sidelines who had actually played in the CFL.

[ArgoGabe22]

I interpreted it as pretty much the younger demo won't find the CFL interesting because it is too much of a bush league. Something that has been said repeatedly during my entire fandom. I also don't think you can look at one game and say this is why the young people can't get into the CFL. I think there are more widespread issues across both leagues.

[paulwoods13]

With Willson ripping the league and ripping at least one of his fellow TSN personalities (Nielsen) online, I have to wonder when TSN pulls the plug on this experiment.

[Will]

Luke's comment on the missed field goal---"instead they are awarded a point for missing it" Sounds like he doesn't
like our rouge.
I may be wrong but it sounds as if Luke can't wait to get back to the "real" football played in the NFL. Perhaps they should have someone on the sidelines who had actually played in the CFL.

The parentheses are important, in my opinion: Instead they are awarded a point for missing it (ball wasn’t returnable/didn’t land in the field of play). am, of course, just speculating, but maybe Willson doesn't like the rouge being awarded in that circumstance.

[OV Argo]

Luke's comment on the missed field goal---"instead they are awarded a point for missing it" Sounds like he doesn't
like our rouge.
I may be wrong but it sounds as if Luke can't wait to get back to the "real" football played in the NFL. Perhaps they should have someone on the sidelines who had actually played in the CFL.

The parentheses are important, in my opinion: Instead they are awarded a point for missing it (ball wasn’t returnable/didn’t land in the field of play). am, of course, just speculating, but maybe Willson doesn't like the rouge being awarded in that circumstance.

A number of CFL fans - myself included - have called for that tweak to the rouge rule - single point awarded only if the ball lands in the end-zone and is thus returnable.

Willson also has a good point IMO about a small league with only 4 games a week = going to magnify the bad games.

However, he still comes across a smug little NFL fan-boy type who has a superiority complex there; I have seen him do NFL commentary on TSN, and I'm not sure, but i would bet anything he would never say anything to mock or heavily criticize his precious little NFL. Agreed, with shatto, he is not the right person to be doing CFL commentary as surely there are way better who actually played in the CFL.

[ArgoRavi]

Luke's comment on the missed field goal---"instead they are awarded a point for missing it" Sounds like he doesn't
like our rouge.
I may be wrong but it sounds as if Luke can't wait to get back to the "real" football played in the NFL. Perhaps they should have someone on the sidelines who had actually played in the CFL.

The parentheses are important, in my opinion: Instead they are awarded a point for missing it (ball wasn’t returnable/didn’t land in the field of play). am, of course, just speculating, but maybe Willson doesn't like the rouge being awarded in that circumstance.

A number of CFL fans - myself included - have called for that tweak to the rouge rule - single point awarded only if the ball lands in the end-zone and is thus returnable.

Willson also has a good point IMO about a small league with only 4 games a week = going to magnify the bad games.

However, he still comes across a smug little NFL fan-boy type who has a superiority complex there; I have seen him do NFL commentary on TSN, and I'm not sure, but i would bet anything he would never say anything to mock or heavily criticize his precious little NFL. Agreed, with shatto, he is not the right person to be doing CFL commentary as surely there are way better who actually played in the CFL.

I am still trying to get a handle on Willson myself. My impression of him prior to his working CFL games is that he has little use for our great game. I have also seen numerous complaints on Twitter - for what it's worth - about his work on NFL games. TSN must think he has some level of popularity among Canadian NFL fans that they believe can transfer over to the CFL because that's the only reason I can think of why they brought him on to the CFL on TSN. Willson also seems determined to develop a persona that likes trying to needle CFL fans and media (i.e., calling people "numpties"). It's all quite odd to me.

[AngeloV]

I am still trying to get a handle on Willson myself. My impression of him prior to his working CFL games is that he has little use for our great game. I have also seen numerous complaints on Twitter - for what it's worth - about his work on NFL games. TSN must think he has some level of popularity among Canadian NFL fans that they believe can transfer over to the CFL because that's the only reason I can think of why they brought him on to the CFL on TSN. Willson also seems determined to develop a persona that likes trying to needle CFL fans and media (i.e., calling people "numpties"). It's all quite odd to me.

It's interesting because Wilson is basically on his own on the broadcasts. He can say whatever he wants, and since there is no other analyst with him, he won't get challenged. Maybe they need to try him on the panel, so that if he says something that undermines the league or play on the field, Muamba or Sanchez can actually challenge him. But I don't see that happening.