Cfl: Week 6
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CFL Preview - Edmonton (3-2) at Saskatchewan (3-2)
From The Sports Network
By Ted Michaels, CFL Editor
DATE & TIME: Friday, July 25th, 9:00 pm (et).
GAME NOTES: The Edmonton Eskimos haven't seen action since their last game, a 52-15 laugher over the inept Hamilton Tiger-Cats last Wednesday.
Edmonton running back Mike Pringle broke a 28 year-old CFL record in the win. He carried the ball 23 times for 149 yards and two touchdowns. That gives him 67, 100-plus yard rushing games, breaking the old record of 66 set by former Saskatchewan Roughrider great George Reed.
Quarterback Ricky Ray threw three touchdown passes in the first half alone. He hit Ed Hervey on a 31-yarder, Troy Mills for a 13-yard major then, Terry Vaughn for 14-yards, en route to a 30-8 halftime lead. On the night, Ray was good on 17-of-25 attempts for 224 yards, four touchdowns and one interception. After Ray was pulled, back-up Bart Hendricks got his turn, and the Boise State product hit on all three of his pass attempts, for 37 yards.
Leading receiver for the Eskimos in the victory was the slotback Vaughn, with seven catches for 74 yards and one TD, while Hervey had two touchdowns, as part of his five catches for 86 yards night.
Saskatchewan's last game was also against Hamilton, and again, it was no contest, with the Riders winning 42-9. Saskatchewan's success on the ground was a huge factor in the win. Rookie running back Kenton Keith ran for 88 yards on 11 carries and one touchdown, while Nealon Greene showed why a running quarterback is so dangerous in the CFL. The Clemson grad ran seven times for 65 yards. Fullback Chris Szarka also contributed, with 11 carries for 42 yards and two touchdowns.
While the running game was efficient, the aerial attack wasn't. Greene completed 10-of-22 passes for 118 yards and one touchdown, a 14-yarder to Travis Moore. With a healthy lead, Greene was replaced by numbers two and three on the depth chart, Kevin Glenn (2-of-5, 31 yards) and Rocky Henry (1- of-1, 18 yards.)
The quarterbacking situation on the prairies may get more interesting. Quarterback Henry Burris, is back in Canada, after spending the last two seasons trying to land a job in the NFL. Burris, a 28 year-old, started one game with the Chicago Bears, a 15-0 loss to Tampa Bay. He then underwent knee surgery after playing with the Berlin Fire in NFL Europe. When he left the Riders after the 2000 season, he went to Green Bay, a move that may questioned (see: Brett Favre). In his last season in the CFL, Burris passed for 4,647 yards and 30 touchdowns.
The numbers: In the last ten regular season games, Edmonton holds a 6-4 advantage. At Taylor, in the last four games, both teams have won two, with Saskatchewan winning the last two.
Keys to the game: Can Edmonton stop the running game? Saskatchewan is 3-0 when they rush for over 200 yards, and that includes Nealon Greene. If they can't run, they have to pass, and their passing attack is not that strong. Edmonton's front four has done the best job this season at closing the passing lanes and knocking down passes. Saskatchewan fans should remember one thing it was Hamilton you beat last week. Edmonton is playing this one on eight days rest, the Riders only four days rest. Does Edmonton have the better personnel? Yes. Will that make the difference? Yes.
Sports Network predicted outcome: Edmonton 28, Saskatchewan 21.
From The Sports Network
By Ted Michaels, CFL Editor
DATE & TIME: Friday, July 25th, 9:00 pm (et).
GAME NOTES: The Edmonton Eskimos haven't seen action since their last game, a 52-15 laugher over the inept Hamilton Tiger-Cats last Wednesday.
Edmonton running back Mike Pringle broke a 28 year-old CFL record in the win. He carried the ball 23 times for 149 yards and two touchdowns. That gives him 67, 100-plus yard rushing games, breaking the old record of 66 set by former Saskatchewan Roughrider great George Reed.
Quarterback Ricky Ray threw three touchdown passes in the first half alone. He hit Ed Hervey on a 31-yarder, Troy Mills for a 13-yard major then, Terry Vaughn for 14-yards, en route to a 30-8 halftime lead. On the night, Ray was good on 17-of-25 attempts for 224 yards, four touchdowns and one interception. After Ray was pulled, back-up Bart Hendricks got his turn, and the Boise State product hit on all three of his pass attempts, for 37 yards.
Leading receiver for the Eskimos in the victory was the slotback Vaughn, with seven catches for 74 yards and one TD, while Hervey had two touchdowns, as part of his five catches for 86 yards night.
Saskatchewan's last game was also against Hamilton, and again, it was no contest, with the Riders winning 42-9. Saskatchewan's success on the ground was a huge factor in the win. Rookie running back Kenton Keith ran for 88 yards on 11 carries and one touchdown, while Nealon Greene showed why a running quarterback is so dangerous in the CFL. The Clemson grad ran seven times for 65 yards. Fullback Chris Szarka also contributed, with 11 carries for 42 yards and two touchdowns.
While the running game was efficient, the aerial attack wasn't. Greene completed 10-of-22 passes for 118 yards and one touchdown, a 14-yarder to Travis Moore. With a healthy lead, Greene was replaced by numbers two and three on the depth chart, Kevin Glenn (2-of-5, 31 yards) and Rocky Henry (1- of-1, 18 yards.)
The quarterbacking situation on the prairies may get more interesting. Quarterback Henry Burris, is back in Canada, after spending the last two seasons trying to land a job in the NFL. Burris, a 28 year-old, started one game with the Chicago Bears, a 15-0 loss to Tampa Bay. He then underwent knee surgery after playing with the Berlin Fire in NFL Europe. When he left the Riders after the 2000 season, he went to Green Bay, a move that may questioned (see: Brett Favre). In his last season in the CFL, Burris passed for 4,647 yards and 30 touchdowns.
The numbers: In the last ten regular season games, Edmonton holds a 6-4 advantage. At Taylor, in the last four games, both teams have won two, with Saskatchewan winning the last two.
Keys to the game: Can Edmonton stop the running game? Saskatchewan is 3-0 when they rush for over 200 yards, and that includes Nealon Greene. If they can't run, they have to pass, and their passing attack is not that strong. Edmonton's front four has done the best job this season at closing the passing lanes and knocking down passes. Saskatchewan fans should remember one thing it was Hamilton you beat last week. Edmonton is playing this one on eight days rest, the Riders only four days rest. Does Edmonton have the better personnel? Yes. Will that make the difference? Yes.
Sports Network predicted outcome: Edmonton 28, Saskatchewan 21.
CFL Preview - Toronto (2-3) at Calgary (2-3)
From The Sports Network
By Ted Michaels, CFL Editor
DATE & TIME, Saturday, July 26th, 7:00 p.m. (et).
GAME NOTES: Toronto Argonauts, missing several key veteran starters, handed the Winnipeg Blue Bombers their first loss of the year last week, and, at the same time, ended their own two game losing streak.
Their 24-14 win was played without quarterback Damon Allen, running back Michael Jenkins, slotback Derrell Mitchell and wide receivers Alfred Jackson and Jimmy Oliver. Backup Marcus Brady completed just 8-of-21 passes for 233 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions. The main target for Brady was his current roommate, former UCLA Bruin Lal Knight, who had four catches for 177 yards and two touchdowns. The Argos running attack never got started, with a total of 26 yards.
But, when one unit doesn't get the job done, another one should. So, we present the evidence as to why Toronto won the game. They picked off Winnipeg's Khari Jones five times, and sacked him twice. Defensive back Clifford Ivory continued his torrid pace, with his fourth TD of the year, a 64- yard interception. Defensive backs Adrian Smith and Orlondo Steinaeur each had a pair of picks as well.
In addition, the Argos defense shut down a pretty good Winnipeg running game. Charles Roberts was held to just 70 yards on 14 carries, while Jones was limited to 38 yards on six carries.
The Stampeders deserved a better fate than what they got in Montreal last Saturday. Quarterback Marcus Crandell had perhaps his best game ever as a Stampeder, completing 13-of-16 passes for 221 yards, 2 TD's and one interception. Late in the first half, after building a 14-13 lead, he suffered a hamstring injury, then, the wheels fell off.
Backup Kevin Feterik was inserted, and the Alouette defense teed off in the second half, with four sacks. The Alouette offense got untracked, and the end result was a 36-25 Montreal win.
Feterik completed 18-of-25 passes for 231 yards and one touchdown pass, but, his inability to escape the rush was one of the reasons why the Stamps fell short. The other? Special teams. In the first quarter, a wide Mark McLoughlin field goal, was returned 115 yards for a TD by Keith Stokes. Shoddy coverage, then tackling, contributed to the big play. Then, in the third quarter, perhaps the backbreaker as far as Calgary was concerned. Leading 17-16, Barron Miles blocked a Duncan O'Mahoney punt, and took it back 32 yards for the TD to give Montreal a lead that it never relinquished.
Crandell's performance in the first half was helped by several outstanding catches by his receivers. Slotback Don Blair had one touchdown, to go with his total of four catches for 54 yards. Darnell McDonald had his best game in Calgary thus far, with 11 receptions for 210 yards. Wane McGarity, rapidly turning into one of the most exciting players in the CFL, had seven catches for 97 yards and two TD's
The numbers: Over the last ten regular season games, each team has won five. In Calgary, the Stampeders hold a 3-2 advantage.
Keys to the game: For Toronto, it appears Allen and Mitchell will play in this one. On Calgary's side of the field, Feterik gets the start, but the question is, will former XFL'er Scott Milanovich be ready to play, if need be? The answer here...no. If Allen is even close to being ready to play, that, and the strong Argo defense makes the difference. If Crandell was healthy, this would have been a great offensive show. But, with one veteran QB against a rookie, it won't be.
Sports Network predicted outcome: Toronto 25, Calgary 21.
Last week: 4-1, Season Record: 18-5.
all picks are SU.
From The Sports Network
By Ted Michaels, CFL Editor
DATE & TIME, Saturday, July 26th, 7:00 p.m. (et).
GAME NOTES: Toronto Argonauts, missing several key veteran starters, handed the Winnipeg Blue Bombers their first loss of the year last week, and, at the same time, ended their own two game losing streak.
Their 24-14 win was played without quarterback Damon Allen, running back Michael Jenkins, slotback Derrell Mitchell and wide receivers Alfred Jackson and Jimmy Oliver. Backup Marcus Brady completed just 8-of-21 passes for 233 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions. The main target for Brady was his current roommate, former UCLA Bruin Lal Knight, who had four catches for 177 yards and two touchdowns. The Argos running attack never got started, with a total of 26 yards.
But, when one unit doesn't get the job done, another one should. So, we present the evidence as to why Toronto won the game. They picked off Winnipeg's Khari Jones five times, and sacked him twice. Defensive back Clifford Ivory continued his torrid pace, with his fourth TD of the year, a 64- yard interception. Defensive backs Adrian Smith and Orlondo Steinaeur each had a pair of picks as well.
In addition, the Argos defense shut down a pretty good Winnipeg running game. Charles Roberts was held to just 70 yards on 14 carries, while Jones was limited to 38 yards on six carries.
The Stampeders deserved a better fate than what they got in Montreal last Saturday. Quarterback Marcus Crandell had perhaps his best game ever as a Stampeder, completing 13-of-16 passes for 221 yards, 2 TD's and one interception. Late in the first half, after building a 14-13 lead, he suffered a hamstring injury, then, the wheels fell off.
Backup Kevin Feterik was inserted, and the Alouette defense teed off in the second half, with four sacks. The Alouette offense got untracked, and the end result was a 36-25 Montreal win.
Feterik completed 18-of-25 passes for 231 yards and one touchdown pass, but, his inability to escape the rush was one of the reasons why the Stamps fell short. The other? Special teams. In the first quarter, a wide Mark McLoughlin field goal, was returned 115 yards for a TD by Keith Stokes. Shoddy coverage, then tackling, contributed to the big play. Then, in the third quarter, perhaps the backbreaker as far as Calgary was concerned. Leading 17-16, Barron Miles blocked a Duncan O'Mahoney punt, and took it back 32 yards for the TD to give Montreal a lead that it never relinquished.
Crandell's performance in the first half was helped by several outstanding catches by his receivers. Slotback Don Blair had one touchdown, to go with his total of four catches for 54 yards. Darnell McDonald had his best game in Calgary thus far, with 11 receptions for 210 yards. Wane McGarity, rapidly turning into one of the most exciting players in the CFL, had seven catches for 97 yards and two TD's
The numbers: Over the last ten regular season games, each team has won five. In Calgary, the Stampeders hold a 3-2 advantage.
Keys to the game: For Toronto, it appears Allen and Mitchell will play in this one. On Calgary's side of the field, Feterik gets the start, but the question is, will former XFL'er Scott Milanovich be ready to play, if need be? The answer here...no. If Allen is even close to being ready to play, that, and the strong Argo defense makes the difference. If Crandell was healthy, this would have been a great offensive show. But, with one veteran QB against a rookie, it won't be.
Sports Network predicted outcome: Toronto 25, Calgary 21.
Last week: 4-1, Season Record: 18-5.
all picks are SU.
