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CFL Week 3 Recap & Week 4 Preview
35 Plays22 days ago
The Goal Post is back in the midst of a heatwave in Toronto.
Damien and Patrick start the show by discussing how Luke Wilson is getting people to talk about the CFL, before breaking down each game from Week 3 of the CFL season. The Alouettes are still undefeated, the Argos lose in a heart-breaker, while the Redblacks get a huge first win and the Lions take another tough loss.
The Boys then issue another edition of The Goal Post 3 Stars of the Week - highlighting the three best performances of the week, along with some honourable mentions. Next, they re-shuffle the CFL power rankings to take into account Week 3 wins and losses, before moving to Week 4.
They quickly preview each game on the Week 4 slate, including updated lines and brief thoughts, before sharing their Week 4 picks. The Podcast is 8-4 through three weeks!
Enjoy!
Intro: 0:00-6:05
Alouettes 38 Elks 28: 6:05 - 14:54
Roughriders 39 Argos 32: 14:55 - 29:58
Redblacks 20 Stampeders 12: 29:59 - 36:29
Bluebombers 27 Lions 14: 36:30 - 45:13
Three Stars of the Week: 45:14 - 47:36
Power Rankings: 47:37 - 51:13
Week 4 Preview: 51:14 - 59:32
Week 4 Picks: 59:33 - 1:05:44
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Transcript
Introduction and Toronto Heat Wave
00:00:19
Speaker
Alright, welcome back to another episode of The Goalpost. It's about 45 degrees in the city of Toronto. We're coming at you in a hot, hot week after another great weekend of CFL football.
Weather Chat and CFL Weekend Recap
00:00:35
Speaker
How you doing, Patrick? Not bad, Damien. ah You know, just trying to get through this heat wave like you mentioned. We we were complaining about the weather, i think, at the start of this podcast. so kind of came full circle. Well, now we're complaining about it in the other sense. So it is what it is. We'll get through it. ah Summer's officially here. So I guess there's the bright side. We can look at that ah June 21st, you know.
00:01:01
Speaker
turn the calendar over. I never really know when the summer actually starts. So it's always news to me. It always feels like it should start two weeks earlier than it actually does. But this year, it truly felt like we're bringing in the summer on the actual date.
00:01:16
Speaker
ah So yeah, here
CFL Focus and Luke Wilson's Viral Tweets
00:01:17
Speaker
we go. And now the the CFL season is in full full swing, right? Like the NBA is gone. The NHL is gone. MLB is in the dog days of summer before the trade deadline. Like All of the lights and attention should be on the CFL going forward.
00:01:32
Speaker
Yeah, you always remember it's like the NBA ends, all the other sports end, you're like, shit, we only have baseball now. Nope, we got CFL football. And we had another great weekend. We got another great weekend coming up.
00:01:44
Speaker
Lots of controversy over this past weekend. it's ah People are talking about the CFL. it's ah Part of that is, is you know, dubbed the uh the biggest troll on the internet i would say is luke wilson currently who is has whether for good or for bad people are talking a lot about the cfl right now it's i i don't know where i stand on it because part a lot you know a lot of his points i don't fully agree with but at the same time that tweet that went super viral has like 400 000 views and people all over my timeline are debating about cfl football
00:02:22
Speaker
Yeah, i I think for the most part, it's good. um You're allowed to have opinions and I don't have to agree with them. ah So I'm kind of similar about some things I agreed with in that tweet, some things I didn't, some things kind of contradicted themselves in that tweet as well.
00:02:36
Speaker
ah But yeah, like you said, it's Luke Wilson has come hot on the CFL scene this year. He's doing some sideline reporting action as well with TSN. Very active on Twitter. It seems like he's got you like he he preps one big tweet a week.
00:02:51
Speaker
and And he's doing a good job of it because they are going viral. He's two for two. I think he kind of skipped week one. It was just like ah It was a warning in week one. It's like, hey guys, like just letting you know it's going to be a big CFL year for me.
00:03:03
Speaker
Week two, he drops a bomb. Week three, he drops a bomb. I'm sure there'll be another one in week four. He's on a roll right now. ah But I think for the most part, I'm going to say it's good. ah Because at the end of the day, he's...
00:03:15
Speaker
He's not being too negative. He's just kind of saying like what he thinks needs to change, which is fine. And I do think there is a bit of an old guard in the CFL and getting new and younger voices into the game is a good thing.
00:03:27
Speaker
ah But yeah, I don't mind it, Luke. Just keep it going. Maybe we can get the the pod on the top three fans of the week because, hey man, we're we're letting you do your thing. We're cheering on the league. We just want it to be good and we just want it to grow.
00:03:40
Speaker
And I think we both have you know the same mindset in that sense. I agree. I agree. Hopefully we can make our way up there. i The one thing that I thought was a good debate to have was he brought up the end of the game debate where it's, um you know, he said that, you know, the Argos, we'll get to the Argos game, but they weren't forced to do any sort of two minute drill.
CFL vs NFL Rules and Game Excitement
00:04:01
Speaker
But when I'm comparing, obviously the theater of the NFL and a two minute drill is great, but that is truly one of the things I love about the CFL is that the game is like never over. You never really have too much garbage time. If the teams are even within like 10 points of each other with on under the three minute timeout.
00:04:22
Speaker
Yeah, and I mean, it it led to that drive, and then it led to an even crazier play at the end of the game because there was enough time on the clock for things to happen. And I think if you're going to be upset with anyone in that little, I guess it was a three-minute drive just outside of minutes kind in that you're going to upset with anyone.
00:04:39
Speaker
it's It's on the riders. That was just some horrible defense. i thought they i think they thought that they could kind of just kill the clock. They were running out of time, but the Argos managed it perfectly. like That was a picture perfect two-minute drill in the CFL. They took what they were given. They know the clock stops after completions, and then you know on first downs, once it gets set.
00:04:59
Speaker
It's just, they they manage that perfectly. i don't understand being upset with the rule about that. ah For anything, I think you just should be a little bit more upset with Saskatchewan how they played it.
00:05:11
Speaker
I think that was more of a mismanagement on their part than saying that, you know, the league has a two minute drill problem or three minute drill problem, I should say. But yeah, it's, you're, you know, you're, you're picking, picking straws, you're picking things, but it's like, it's good.
00:05:26
Speaker
We're talking about it. That's what we want. We, you know, we've mentioned before you specifically, it's like the CFL is more progressive in rule changes than a lot of other leagues out there, especially in professional sports. So, you know, maybe they will address something here. Maybe it'll be,
00:05:43
Speaker
um I don't know, but I don't know. I don't have the solution necessarily, but I don't think that you should be upset with, you know, the Argos or the rules there. I think it's the riders mismanaged that the defensive sets on that three minute drill.
00:05:56
Speaker
Absolutely. ah I fully agree with you there. If there's anybody you want to point out, it's the, the riders dropping nine guys back every play. um So we'll get to that game. We'll we'll do a little rewind here ah to the Thursday night game.
Alouettes vs Elks Game Highlights
00:06:10
Speaker
where the Alouettes get out to a 3-0 start and another home opener is ruined in the CFL. Teams are o and four in the last four home openers after going 5-0 to start the season.
00:06:23
Speaker
Alouettes 38, Elks 28. We can start with Montreal here, especially in the first half. you know The first drive, the Elks go down and actually put together a good drive and get a field goal.
00:06:34
Speaker
And then the Alouettes just respond in twofold. They go down. get an absolute, get a touchdown first. And then the next drive force three and out for the Elks. And then an absolute bomb to Charleston Rambo for 54 yards.
00:06:50
Speaker
followed up by another touchdown to Philpott, two touchdowns on two drives to start the game. And all of a sudden it was like, shit, this game is starting to get out of hand for the Elks. They couldn't get going on offense.
00:07:03
Speaker
Then another touchdown to Snead, who has probably never been that wide open as in his entire career. And then you look at the scoreboard and it's twenty four six you know, once you've blinked into this game.
00:07:15
Speaker
Yeah, that that touchdown to Snead was the backbreaker. ah Not only was he as open as you can get in the in a professional football league, but it was also just right before half. While Edmonton hadn't played their best football, they only had two field goals on the board. Montreal was converting their drives into touchdowns, but they were in that game. It was 17-6.
00:07:37
Speaker
ah You get a stop there. You get the ball. Maybe you get another field goal before half. We're talking seventeen nine one possession game. and Edmonton was a a rightful underdog in this game. I think it closed at around six and a half. So you're kind of right where you're expected to be in this game.
00:07:53
Speaker
And then they give up that backbreaking touchdown. And then, you know, there was enough time for Trey Ford and the Elks to go down the field and have a response drive. And as they're working their way down the field, it's an underthrown ball. I get, you know, you're, you know, you're on second down. You're really trying to force something and make, get some points on the board and get some energy into your team.
00:08:13
Speaker
But it was it wasn't a good throw. was a bad decision. It was like he probably thought it was a fifty fifty ball, but was probably more like seventy thirty in the Al's favor. ah He throws the ball, it's intercepted, and then boom, there's half.
00:08:26
Speaker
And then coming out of halftime, it was all Alouettes, especially in the third quarter. ah you know You get the the punt single, you get a field goal, and then just no points on the board for the Elks in the third quarter.
00:08:38
Speaker
where it's just like that that was the game on that Snead touchdown. you know You had your chance. You're in it. You're doing what you need to do, and then you just have a mental lapse on defense, and a good team like the Owls will make you pay for that and will not look back.
00:08:50
Speaker
Yeah, this was you know we we talked about wanting to see some fight out of the Elks in this game. The first half was not what we wanted in that respect. ah You get to finally the fourth quarter, and they have a 22-point fourth quarter.
00:09:06
Speaker
But at that point, Davis Alexander has
Alouettes' Strong Season Start
00:09:08
Speaker
left the game because of a non-contact injury to his leg. McLeod's in the game. ah And, you know, the Elks showed some life. But this game from the Elks was almost like what we criticized Trey Ford for. It's like they couldn't find the middle ground in this game. You have a terrible first three quarters, really, and then put up 22 points in the fourth quarter and still, you know, end up losing by 10 points. That is...
00:09:35
Speaker
The Elks in a nutshell was this game too little too late. You can't find your middle ground. Either you have no offense or you have all the offense in the world. And again, they lose.
00:09:47
Speaker
Yeah, and it's off to another 0 for start, which has been a trend for this team, unfortunately, of years past. And there's teams in the West that are already starting to separate themselves. And the Elks are you know caught at the basement yet again off off the start. Still plenty of time to get it going.
00:10:04
Speaker
But if this trend continues of just, you know, you start pouring it on in the fourth quarter and Trey Ford's looking like a Hall of Famer in the fourth quarter and an MOP and everything, It's just too late in these games.
00:10:16
Speaker
It's too late. You're waiting too late to make things happen where they need to find a way, a game plan, whatever it is, to ease Trey Ford into these games. So maybe it's not in the first quarter he finds it, but at least in the second quarter and at the start of the second half, this guy's going to the ceiling that we know he has.
00:10:35
Speaker
But unfortunately with the Elks, it's you know you're getting off to bad starts. The defense is kind of... Swiss cheese at times, really. like They're just giving up easy plays, giving up touchdowns, not able to hold these teams to field goals, which the other teams are doing to the Elks.
00:10:51
Speaker
And then it's just, you blink and it's like, oh my God, it's a three possession game in half. How how how do we get here? The game's not over. Because like I said, CFL, it's chaos, especially in a three down league.
00:11:03
Speaker
But it's just, you're going to have to come from behind. You're going to have to you know, abandon what your original game plan was. And it's just not great football and you need miracles to happen. And it's not sustainable for the Elks.
00:11:15
Speaker
um And it's just like, if this continues for two, three more weeks, then we're going to be having the Cody Fajardo conversations again. And it's just like... we We want Trey Ford to work out in this league. It's just, it's, it's never, it just doesn't look like a sustainable thing right now. It's just too Jekyll and Hyde with him.
00:11:34
Speaker
Yeah. And the perfect example of that is, you know, he throws a 40 yard pass to Steven Dunbar has an 18 yard scramble for a touchdown. They have a successful two point convert.
00:11:47
Speaker
And then the next drive Montreal gets their fourth sack of the game. It's a strip sack. Montreal recovers. Next thing you know, Sean Thomas Erlington has a 23 yard touchdown run and any momentum or you know ground you think you just gained is immediately wiped away, like in a instant. And then all of a sudden you're still coming back.
00:12:11
Speaker
ah And, you know, the late two touchdowns, the Curly Gittins and Kayon Julian Grant were good. They brought them within 10. um But it's just not good enough. Like that sack fumble was essentially the difference in that game. If you look at, you know, the seven points that they scored on it.
00:12:27
Speaker
Yeah. And like, you know, they did have momentum in the fourth quarter and things were trying to like, they were trying to make things happen. And then it's just, Oh, there's the mistake. Oh, there it is again. It's like, you can just kind of set your clock to it. It seems that this team.
00:12:40
Speaker
And I think some of it is like Trey Ford loves to scramble. I thought he did a pretty good job in this game. Like he had a, he only ran three times. One was the great touchdown run.
00:12:51
Speaker
Others were for on second down to get a first down. like I thought he was really smart in his decision-making with his legs in this game, but I just don't think him and the O-line sometimes are just not on the same page.
00:13:03
Speaker
like You'll see like they're blocking one side, he scrambles out to the other, and it's just got two two defensive linemen just waiting for him right there, and he's got nowhere to go, and he's... Another thing with Trey Ford, you got to learn to take a sack sometimes. He's always trying to make a play.
00:13:17
Speaker
And I love the mindset, but man, like he just gets sacked there. Doesn't give up the fumble. Like you said, who knows what can happen in this game? You give your team a chance. ah But unfortunately he didn't.
00:13:28
Speaker
And, you know, talking, and i go switching back to the outs real quick. Did you see the McLeod, the John Elway? He was looking like a mobile quarterback, just diving out there. it It's crazy.
00:13:40
Speaker
For what he did with the Argos, I got a little softball for McLeod there. It was just nice to see him get some action in the CFL again. Oh, yeah. And it it's right now it's trending. Davis Alexander did not practice yesterday. So it's trending that we will get another McLeod start.
00:13:53
Speaker
They're going to Hamilton on Friday. So that'll be an interesting one. Small spread for that game. Considering Alexander isn't going to be in it. But right now, Alexander is leading MOP odds and it's looking like, you know, someone's going to have to take it from him, you know, holding that this injury doesn't keep him out for too long. It's kind of his right now.
00:14:15
Speaker
Yeah, it's really early. Caleros has only played one game. He looked great. We'll get into that. But yeah, it's... The Owls are the great cup favorites. Alexander's the favorite to win MOP. like it's It's the Owls' kind of start to the season, especially in the East. I mean, you know couple of Ofer teams in there, and these guys are off to a hot start, undefeated.
00:14:36
Speaker
And when they're at their best and healthy with Alexander... they do look like for sure the best team in the East, especially, you know, we haven't seen Chad Kelly come back yet. So we don't know what the Argos are at their absolute best, but the Alouettes seem to be an improved team from last year through the first three weeks of the season.
00:14:53
Speaker
Yeah, absolutely. um We'll move to the next game.
Argos vs Rough Riders: Penalties and Strategy Issues
00:14:57
Speaker
An absolute heartbreaker for the Argos losing to the Rough Riders, 39 to 32 at home. was in attendance for this one. It was a wild ride. I can start.
00:15:09
Speaker
We can start with the Argos having a first drive touchdown. I mean, I asked for a first quarter touchdown last week and I got a first drive touchdown. I could not believe what my eyes were seeing. They moved the ball well. They moved it fast. They were efficient.
00:15:24
Speaker
A 41 yard catch from Kevin Mittal, which was great to see. I thought he hadn't been incorporated in the offense nearly enough ah so far into this season.
00:15:34
Speaker
However, Saskatchewan goes on to score touchdowns on both of their opening drives, ah just filled with big plays. A 25-yard A.J. Ouellette touchdown in his return to BMO Field. That one stung a bit.
00:15:47
Speaker
A 32-yard pass to Dante Myers, who had an absolutely incredible game. ah And it was it was fireworks to really start this game. And then the shit started.
00:15:59
Speaker
Kenneth George Jr. gets carted off the field after an illegal block by Del Duncan Busby, who throws a the lowest chop block I've ever seen in my entire life and just destroys George's knees.
00:16:13
Speaker
ah The benches start jawing at each other. And that was when the shit kind of hit the fan because he should have been ejected from the game for that block. He wasn't.
00:16:23
Speaker
ah They just called it an illegal block. It was a 10-yard penalty. um for practically ending a guy's season. We don't know the full extent, but it doesn't look good. Then the next play, Jordan Williams just absolutely smokes Trevor Harris and goes eye for an eye. And for a game that ended with 29 penalties for 307 yards, a lot of those yards came as a result of the beef from this hit. There was eight penalties of either roughing the passer or for unnecessary roughness.
00:16:54
Speaker
I felt that the refs kind of just let the game get out of hand by not making the call. You know, the the choice to not eject him leads to you having to enforce that all game long.
00:17:05
Speaker
The worst part for me of the block ah was like Kenneth George Jr. was kind of not even like in full pursuit of the ball carry. It was kind of going the other way almost. And he was kind of standing out there waiting to read where his first cut was going to be.
00:17:18
Speaker
And out of nowhere, not out of nowhere, like you kind of saw him coming. But Duncan Busby just shoots straight for the knee. It wasn't even at the hip, wasn't at the thigh. It was straight at the knees, torpedoed and you know there we got They implemented the penalties to start the year, the new rule change of like you can't go low on quarterbacks and things of that nature, and we're trying to protect the lower bodies and ACLs of these players.
00:17:43
Speaker
That is textbook of like kind of what you're trying to take out of the game. They didn't even call it originally on the play. They had to review it because, and I don't think... If Kenneth George Jr. wasn't on the field for as long as he was, who knows if they even review it because they just had so much time to do it. They reviewed it.
00:18:00
Speaker
They eventually at least made the right decision in calling a penalty on the play. But yeah, like you said, this just set it all off because the first quarter was great football. Argos go down the field, long drives, riders respond. And it's just like, okay, we're going to be in a back and forth battle.
00:18:16
Speaker
And we were. but it was a sloppy kind of game with all the penalties. You never really knew what was happening. And i i think that was also part of Luke Wilson's beef with this game was just the amount of penalties. He said, it's not good for the game, which like take it for what you will. These games are going to happen. These games happen in every single professional league. And like you said, it does sometimes just come down to the refs didn't handle something early.
00:18:41
Speaker
So then now the Argos feel like they have to take it into their hands and their control and kind of Like you said, eye for an eye and get back. I mean, I didn't love going out the quarterback. I felt like you could have just got, you would have had a million chances to get back at Duncan Busby specifically. didn't think it was the dirtiest hit. It was a rifle. Like it was a late hit and like, it wasn't, you know, soft. There was some force to it, but at least if you didn't try and blindside him, take his head off or anything like that, it was just like, Hey,
00:19:07
Speaker
we We got our guy. Someone's got to pay for this. And they did it. But unfortunately, it didn't stop there. And it just kept going the whole game, the whole game. And you're just like, you're waiting for this to be, it's even in the fourth quarter, you're like, okay, stop it, boys. like Let's just play some football. And it just never stopped the whole game. And that part was kind of frustrating. I don't know what the vibe in the stadium was with that, but I'm sure it just kind of got tired of hearing in Ben Major's voice over and over again.
00:19:33
Speaker
Yeah, it was a part of it was that they didn't show the hit on the Jumbotron. So I'm like showing the boys around my seat on my phone, pulling up the, you know, the Bell five stream, like, look at what the fuck just happened here.
00:19:46
Speaker
ah So I think a lot of people didn't even realize that it was such a dirty hit to start all of that. um But yeah, it was it was certainly tiring to a certain extent. It It got you know worse, especially as it looked like the Argos were hitting a wall for a lot of that game.
00:20:04
Speaker
ah like Before the second half ends, ah the Argos go down for a 17-play, 96-yard, 7.5-minute drive. Mayan Williams is getting touches all over the field. He's got 36 yards on that drive alone.
00:20:20
Speaker
And then, you know, five bad plays from inside the five and the Argos get stopped on the goal line. They run Kevin Brown in shotgun on the third and one. And, you know, it's the worst play in football. you You turn needing one yard for a touchdown into needing six yards for a touchdown. He gets stopped.
00:20:41
Speaker
ah They were able to kind of ah reconcile it by forcing the the riders to punt and then hitting a field goal to make it 1710 at halftime. at halftime And I thought the Argos played well, not great, especially considering some of the injuries that they had. Wynton McManus, notably not in this game.
00:20:57
Speaker
But then the second half, you're like, all right, it's right there for you, Argos. Start the second half well. And the Riders start the second half with a 70-yard touchdown pass to Dante Myers to make it as a lead. And it was you could not have started that half worse.
00:21:14
Speaker
No, it was it was bad. And i especially, you like, a the Argos weren't in a brutal spot at half. You're down seven points. You're playing a top team in this league. You're still trying to find your game at the moment.
00:21:28
Speaker
And then you just give up a, it wasn't a backbreaker because like, you know, the game kind of just was wild the whole way through, but it was just a statement from the, uh, from the rough riders where it was just like, okay, 24, 10. Now we we feel comfortable with the lead. You got to come get us.
00:21:45
Speaker
And they tried like they they the, the, the Argos, I got to give to them. Did not stop fighting. And they kept coming back. They kept responding. Even, you know, Arbuckle's throwing these, some brutal decision-making, just these late throws down the field, resulting in interceptions or just like, you're just praying that the receiver can do enough to keep it out of the defensive back's hands. It was just not pretty.
00:22:08
Speaker
And it's probably not a good thing that Nick Arbuckle leads the league in passing yards right now. Like, that's just not a good idea. And I mean, we We miss it happened right after we recorded last week. like They res re-signed Kevin Brown, which I don't think is the best look in the world.
00:22:23
Speaker
ah and He's getting some touches. and Then it's just like, like you said, they tried to find something with Maid Williams. He only gets seven touches. Arbuckle's running for six times. ah you know Kevin Brown gets the touch on the goal line where it's like, you probably should have just handed it back off to Arbuckle in a sneak or bring in like Jared Dogey.
00:22:43
Speaker
There was options there that would have been better. Even throw the ball. I just thought they were going to. When they lined up in shotgun, I was like, yes, actually throw the ball here. You've had success through the air today. Like that is your path into the end zone here.
00:22:57
Speaker
Yeah. And then they've run it out of shotgun, which like you said, is just a brutal decision. And I mean, do you just want to get into the end now? Like it's Yeah, it was really it. Like our buckle through late and then it gets intercepted.
00:23:11
Speaker
Tavon Campbell picks it off. And then the next play, Tyshawn Blackburn bails him out and they get into the the red zone once again off an interception. Jared Dogey, you know, piles it in And then the fourth quarter was pretty slow because the the riders run game just absolutely dominated. Like Ouellette had five carries for 26 yards.
00:23:33
Speaker
Bertrand Houdon had a huge run. They get into the end zone again. it gets down to the end end of the game. Like we said in our preview, you hold them to field goals. Brett Lawler misses another field goal and leaves the Argos down eight.
00:23:46
Speaker
They then go on a huge nine play drive. We mentioned how how bad Saskatchewan's pre prevent defense was on it. Leads in a Kevin Mittal touchdown.
00:23:57
Speaker
They get the two point conversion. The vibe in the stadium after getting that two point conversion, like the vibes were so high. and And just before we get to the end here, hilarious comment. Went to this game with my girlfriend.
00:24:11
Speaker
Arbuckle just throws a terrible pass. And she goes, it seems like he's always like late to throwing the ball. And i was like, you don't know how astute of a comment that just that just was.
00:24:23
Speaker
just Just late. The game's a little too fast for him this year. i Not the best, but I mean, he he found a way to get them down the field. I mean, it was probably as easy of a defense that you can face in this league, but he at least took advantage and then gets the two-pointer.
00:24:39
Speaker
and then And I'm crafting a tweet. i am i am writing I have a full tweet written out, and I pick my head up because they're kicking the ball off. And I'm on the west side of the field, my seats, and I proceed to watch Mario Alford.
00:24:57
Speaker
run back a 99 yard kickoff return in my, my eye, like directly in front of my face, the amount of just surrender scorpions and no, no, no, no that the crowd was at the same time. meeting was insane.
00:25:14
Speaker
And you just watch them go into the end zone. And I just delete the tweet in like a second at the, um, That was such a gut punch for everyone in the stadium, for this Argos team in general.
Argos Coach's Frustration
00:25:29
Speaker
And then come to find out, I text you immediately after and you say the Argos only had 11 guys on the field. Could not be worse way to end that game. 11 guys on the field. And just the you didn't hear this. I text you as well. Like the broadcast is just going.
00:25:44
Speaker
You just can't kick this to Mario Alford. Both They're just Adam. and you cannot kick this to Mario Alford. You can pretty much do anything except that you can put the game and Brett law. There's, you know, on his foot.
00:25:55
Speaker
Cause he has been horrible this year. They proceed to kick it to Alford. Just goes right down the field. ah Touchdown. And. yeah like That is so back-breaking. It's like we did everything. we We had to work so hard to get this game tied with 30 seconds left, and we just give it up.
00:26:14
Speaker
like They just gave up the game, the Argos. It was very uncharacteristic of what we've come to know of the of that team from the past couple of years, especially with Dinwiddie at the helm. and you know Not only is it...
00:26:28
Speaker
coaching malpractice specifically on the special teams end, but it's also just, you know, player malpractice. Like you, you can make your own decisions. You don't have to kick them the ball. You can, I don't know. It was just bad.
00:26:40
Speaker
Someone had to realize there was only 11 guys out there. Nobody did. And then is probably the most animated I've seen Dinwiddie in a press conference this year. screaming that, you know, guys are going home tomorrow.
00:26:54
Speaker
Uh, he's, he's yelling at a guard saying we got beat up front. He's only weighs 280 pounds. I don't know what he was doing all summer. Just like, I didn't mind it. You know, every once in a while, you kind of got to give your team a wake up call, but you know, we're, we're almost a ah week past that.
00:27:10
Speaker
I haven't seen any cuts. I haven't seen anyone getting fired. I saw like two or three guys were, were signed, But, ah you know, act, you know don't just say it just do it. Like all you had to do was cut one guy and you clearly wanted to, you're clearly very upset at someone or a couple guys specifically.
00:27:28
Speaker
And you kind of just went out there and you screened and you yelled and that's fine. But then you didn't act on those words. And I, it almost feels like it was just an act. Like you're just trying to get this team to respond, which I don't hate, but yeah, you could cut someone on this team and I think it could help them.
00:27:45
Speaker
Yeah. and And even if they get into overtime and let's say they lose that game in overtime, it is such a different reaction effect on your team, effect on the fan base, losing that game in overtime to, you know, you could say the best team in the league or at least one of them versus losing that game in the backbreaking fashion that you did just An absolute, absolute disaster um for the Argos. And yeah, that's a tough one to come back from. You go down o and three
00:28:21
Speaker
You're going into Ottawa and East opponent next week. like that is I am putting the must-win label on that game in Ottawa. Yeah, I don't disagree. um think i saw a a report from Third Down Nation about five days ago, I believe it was, that Dinwiddie has hinted at Chad Kelly possibly starting week four, which would be...
00:28:47
Speaker
much needed for this team. Just something to change the vibe. ah You know, Wynton McManus is to be out for couple of weeks. um But yeah, like this team just kind of needs something to spice it up, change the momentum. But yeah, if they go into Ottawa next week and, you know, you throw another stinker,
00:29:07
Speaker
The vibes said haven't been that low on this team and in years, and in absolute years. So it's it's something's got change, and hopefully Chad's okay. And you know if if he's ready to go, I have the ultimate faith that like that can turn this team in the right direction going forward.
00:29:23
Speaker
Yeah, because I thought that the defense actually kind of held their own to a good extent in this game. Yes, the Riders did get a lot of points and and they were effective on offense.
00:29:35
Speaker
But I, you know, you see crumbs, especially with a banged up defensive of potential here. Like Andrew Chatfield is really standing out on the defensive line. He's been really effective. lot of sacks, ah guys like Jordan Williams, guys like Leonard, like it is.
00:29:51
Speaker
They're stepping up in different areas of the defense, and you hope that once the offense gets back together that all of that can kind of gel together. um But we mentioned Ottawa, and we will go to Calgary, where Ottawa gets their first win of the season, 20-12 over the Stampeders, a terrible weather game in Calgary.
Ottawa's Victory Over Calgary in Adverse Weather
00:30:12
Speaker
ah They said it was 8 degrees at kickoff and raining and windy. Our over was toast from the start, even with Dustin Crum starting and Drew Brown being out. ah An absolute battle by both of these teams just to play this game, slipping and falling everywhere. There's an injury on the opening kickoff from a slip, ah field goals pushed wide, safeties, botch punts, fumbles, recoveries. like This game truly had everything.
00:30:39
Speaker
And even before we get into it, this was a massive win for Ottawa to grind out and a really impressive win. You're going in without your starting quarterback on the road against an undefeated team.
00:30:51
Speaker
And you're able to throw together a win to get your first of the season. Yeah, it it was ah huge win for Ottawa. Like we said before, like the East is is wide open for the second and third spots to get into the playoffs.
00:31:05
Speaker
And Ottawa now the second team in the East in the win column. So that's huge. And like i said, without your backup quarterback, you're underdogs here, but you're at home. And they got a pretty good home record over the past couple years.
00:31:17
Speaker
So for them to just kind of step up, find a way. And you know, the way they did it was on the ground. Like Dustin Crum had nine completions for 111 yards, had a touchdown pass in there, but it was done on the ground.
00:31:29
Speaker
Uh, out of boy, a 10 rushes, 96 yards, Stand back. Finally, we get to see what he's capable of. Kind of unleashed him a bit in this game. Nine rushes for 82 yards. And then Dustin Crum almost had as many yards on the ground as he did in the air. 11 rushes for 64 yards. So it was just a ground game.
00:31:47
Speaker
They grinded them out in in just horrible weather. And I think another key part was they just weren't turning the ball over as much as the stamps were. And that pretty much was the difference in this game.
00:31:59
Speaker
Yeah, all it took for the running game that we were dying to see out of Ottawa was horrible weather. ah Like you said, like 96 yards out of boy, 82 yards stand back, 64 yards crumb.
00:32:13
Speaker
ah Great, great game on the ground. And I think the turning point in this game is at the end of the first quarter, third and four for Calgary in the red zone. Vernon Adams airs it out to Clark Barnes and it literally slips right through his arms.
00:32:27
Speaker
And for a game where Calgary scored no touchdowns, and loses by eight points. Feels like that came back to bite them hard. ah The next possession, Vernon Adams gets stripped.
00:32:39
Speaker
Ottawa recovers later in the quarter. They get stopped on the goal line for a touchdown. Overall, I thought Ottawa's defense played a great game ah and not the best game from Calgary's offense. They could not find the yards when they needed it. They still out gained Ottawa in this game. They 367 yards net offense.
00:32:57
Speaker
seven yards of net offense ah But the turnovers killed them. Interceptions, fumbles. ah Vernon Adam Jr. probably wants this game back. He goes 17 for 32, 218 yards and an interception.
00:33:10
Speaker
Interception comes at a really bad time, like three minutes left in this game. think the highlight for Calgary in this game was Dedrick Mills had another fantastic game. He gets 96 yards on 15 carries, four receptions for 27 yards.
00:33:24
Speaker
And made me think like he might be the best running back in the CFL currently. He leads the league in rushing yards and touchdowns. And it's kind of ironic to get outran in a a game where you probably have the best running back on your team and you lose because you got ran on repeatedly.
00:33:43
Speaker
Yeah, I mean, Dietrich Mills finds way to get his, no matter no matter the game. Like, we've seen that through three games when they're winning. He's, you know, feasting in the end zone, getting the yards necessary.
00:33:54
Speaker
This game, he he wasn't able to find the end zone, but I mean, nobody really, what like, stamps were... The Stamps had a safety and a rouge before they had a field goal in this game. So that kind of outlines what the Stamps offense was. It was a really sloppy game, but at least you have a bona fide number, like a star running back going for you. And that's something they'll be able to lean on.
00:34:17
Speaker
I think it's going to help Vernon Adams Jr. a lot going forward. Uh, cause I wouldn't say it was a question mark, but I don't think they were. i don't think they knew Dedrick Mills was going to put on this performance to start the year.
00:34:29
Speaker
And I thought, and I think they may have thought that Vernon Adams Jr. is going have to do a lot more with his feet. And I don't think that's going to be the case this season. I think it's going to be timely runs from him, extending drives, finding a way to get first downs and just kind of keeping the defense honest a bit.
00:34:46
Speaker
But yeah, Dedrick Mills has been an absolute star this season. and but It's just like, like you said, the stamps probably should have won this game on paper, but the turnovers, the mistakes, they're just, like you said, they were driving down the field, but then they just weren't doing anything with it. And it was just, Ottawa was the opposite where it was just, whenever they did get into the stamps territory, points were on the board and points were key in this one.
00:35:12
Speaker
Unfortunately, the over never came close. that That is the issue. We like, there's gotta to be some asterisks on our picks. We're picking so early. We're not weathermen. And a backup quarterback. they can't They can't keep teasing that Drew Brown's going to start. because like Do we have an update for next week? Because that could be just, I don't know. But Drew Brown, this injury is clearly a little bit more serious than they originally thought, I suppose. I don't think it's going to be you know crazy. But they thought he was supposed to start this
Winnipeg Blue Bombers' Continued Success
00:35:39
Speaker
week.
00:35:39
Speaker
He's been out two weeks in a row now. And for Ottawa to find a way to win this game with Ingo one and one without Drew Brown. And we know what their offense looks like with Drew Brown after week one.
00:35:51
Speaker
this Ottawa team can be feisty in the East. Yeah, absolutely. I think that just getting the win here, it didn't matter how you got it was huge for Ottawa. It's something they can build on, especially in the run game. Added a boy, a one night game for them. You could argue he gets a 52 yard run and then punches in ah the touchdown.
00:36:11
Speaker
ah few plays later that ended up being the difference in this one. ah Just a giant, giant win for the red blacks. um We'll see if that kind of carries over to next week. I can't find anything on Drew Brown. Very hushed lips, but it's early in the week. I'm sure we'll know after practice today ah who is taking first team reps.
00:36:29
Speaker
And we'll go to the last game of the week here where the Blue Bombers stay undefeated 27 to 14 over the BC Lions. Another backup quarterback game. Little asterisks there.
00:36:41
Speaker
um but Zach Larros, his first game back after serving the one game suspension, little rusty, but he still got it. Even in the first drive, like, A absolutely gorgeous TD to shown for the first TD of the game, multiple reads. He scrambles, throws off his back foot to the back of the end zone.
00:37:00
Speaker
ah Just gorgeous. um Goes 18 for 25, 179 yards, two TDs, two interceptions. ah Obviously that is not Claros is a game, but as we've talked about with quarterbacks here, even his middle of the ground game is enough to beat a team ah like the lions currently.
00:37:19
Speaker
One thing I had from Winnipeg is like they just have a running back factory like it is Quentin Cooley gets seven carries, 43 yards. Matthew Peterson, 11 carries for 42 yards.
00:37:31
Speaker
Even though your MOP, your star Brady Olivera is out, they still find a way to run the ball effectively. And they're committed to it, right? Like it's not, if it's not working on the first or second drive, they're not a team that's going to fully abandon it.
00:37:46
Speaker
They'll change it up. You're right. Like Peterson was in the game. That's like, okay, maybe this wasn't working. Well, well here's a change of pace with Cooley. And he had like, he had the better average. He was averaging six yards to carry as opposed to Peterson's 3.8, but it's just by committee.
00:38:00
Speaker
These guys are committed and clearly they're, they have something going. could be a reflection of their offensive line, right? They're just moving people up front and finding, giving these running backs lanes to, you know, get it going.
00:38:13
Speaker
Caleros, yeah, it wasn't the greatest start. Probably would have liked those two interceptions back, but for your first start, The game was never in danger. Like they got out there, like said, the opening touchdown to Sean, who is, you know, looking comfortable as the number one, didn't have the stats in this game, but it's because he's going to draw the most coverage.
00:38:32
Speaker
And then you have enough depth on ah offense, like Carrick Wheatfall stepped up with six receptions for 86 yards in this one. And it was just, this team can move on from guys like Kenny Lawler and lose Brady Oliveira to injury.
00:38:46
Speaker
and they just develop and draft so well that they don't skip a beat. And you know they're not going to be playing BC every single week, so they can't beat up on them for the rest the season, and we don't fully know what the Bombers are.
00:38:59
Speaker
but it's a pretty encouraging start. You win the first game with the backup quarterback against BC's, you know, supposed MOC, MOP candidate. And then, you know, week two, it's like, okay, we're back to our star.
00:39:12
Speaker
You're going against the backup quarterback and the game was just never in doubt. So I think it's a pretty encouraging start from the blue bombers to start the year two and O against BC. Uh, they're finally going to play a different team next week at home against Edmonton, uh, nine and a half point favorites. Um,
00:39:28
Speaker
you it's just It's a nice schedule for Winnipeg to ease their way into the season. I thought the same thing. A bit of a good bounce for Winnipeg. I guess that happens when you make it to your fifth straight great cup.
00:39:41
Speaker
Carrick Weetfall. We got to talk about Carrick Weetfall because he leads the CFL with four receptions of 30 plus yards. Those are the ones they categorize as big plays. He's got 213 receiving yards in two games.
00:39:56
Speaker
That's sixth in the CFL only through two games. He has become a top two, top three deep threat in this league. ah It seems like any time they need a deep play, he's somewhere down the field.
00:40:08
Speaker
I love an 88 on a receiver. like Everything about this guy just screams next big receiver in the CFL. He's been great. And just a perfect complimentary piece to a number one that can do it all. A route runner is going to find a way to get open, you know, check down passes. He's the guy.
00:40:26
Speaker
And that's, that's what you need. Like Kenny Lawler kind of was that guy. I wouldn't say he was like just a deep threat guy. He was more than that, but he was kind of more of a deep threat than Dalton Schoen was.
00:40:38
Speaker
And then this year you got Carrick Wheatfall stepping up, not specifically in Kenny Lawler's place, but kind of doing his job of just going deep, getting open, drawing the attention to him. And then when he's not open, it's going down to, you scone it's going down to Stearns. Like it's just such a nice complimentary.
00:40:58
Speaker
It's just built so well in Winnipeg right now. And it's just like, okay, this is... we We kind of thought the Argos were one of those organizations trending over the past couple years. But then you forget that the Bombers, like you said, have been to five straight great cups.
00:41:10
Speaker
This team has not skipped a beat. And it's just that you're doing this every year. And it's got to be reflection on the coaching staff, management, ownership. It's just... Everything they do seems to work out perfectly for them.
00:41:22
Speaker
Obviously, I'm sure they would have liked to have won a couple of the great cups in the past three years, but I think they're pretty happy and they probably have a decent look at it this year. Absolutely. On the BC side of things, ah this was a game where there were so many mistakes by the BC lines in this game that you can barely keep track of them.
BC Lions' Struggles Against Winnipeg
00:41:42
Speaker
um Jeremiah Masoli, God bless his heart. He was doing his best out there, but missed a lot of throws. throws two interceptions, a brutal lateral pass to James Butler that ends up becoming a fumble return touchdown to make it 17 to three. That was a bit of a dagger in the first half.
00:42:02
Speaker
He throws a bad interception in the last minute of the first half. BC starts the second half with a kick fumble. ah They have a bad red zone interception to start the first fourth quarter.
00:42:15
Speaker
Like it was just, it was mistakes everywhere. You got finished the game with two fumbles and two interceptions. They were never in this game, mostly because of their own fault. Yeah, and and you were kind of like, you could talk yourself into Jeremiah Masoli winning you a game, stealing one, making the right plays before this game started.
00:42:34
Speaker
And then it started and you go, ah okay, this, you we know why Jeremiah Masoli has been a backup for the past couple of years. It was kind of evident. He's just kind of a veteran guy. That's probably great for someone like Nathan Rourke. ah But unfortunately, Nathan Rourke was not healthy in this game. And Jeremiah Masoli had to take it upon himself.
00:42:52
Speaker
um Like you said, that the dub. The fumble touchdown was backbreaking. And then they just couldn't get any response. And i ah Winnipeg has a great defense. So I do think it's a reflection of that.
00:43:05
Speaker
But it's also just like the BC. It was just he's looking for McInnes every single play. It felt like ah the running game was never really going. It was just a sloppy, sloppy game from BC.
00:43:18
Speaker
I don't know if it's a completely burn the tape game because you know like Jeremiah Masoli is at quarterback. but That's it's tough to get beat back to back weeks by the same team.
00:43:28
Speaker
And I know Nathan Rourke wasn't in this game, but there should have been some adjustments, something that you could have seen out of Winnipeg last week. where you know you can say, all right, we can focus on this, we can help stop this, or we can go attack this on defense.
00:43:43
Speaker
More specifically, like on the offensive side of the ball, you had to have seen something from that Winnipeg defense that you could kind of attack. didn't didn't show up in this game and it just wasn't good they never really had a chance after that shown touchdown and it was just all bombers in this one yeah it really was uh the one bright spot for bc is if we mentioned carrick we fall as being a top three deep threat in this league keon hatcher has emerged as being one of those other three guys six receptions 92 yards he's got a long of 38
00:44:14
Speaker
thirty eight Uh, that was a huge benefit for them in this game is just having at least a bit of an option down there. Justin McInnes had a good game. Uh, but then talk about insult to injury.
00:44:25
Speaker
ah Late in this game, you got Asatui Eli getting a big man touchdown in the fourth quarter. That just rubs extra salt in the wound. His first touchdown, he actually like ran a route and caught it like a receiver. it that That was so awesome to see. But man, if you were a BC Lions fan, you're like, you gotta be fucking kidding me.
00:44:47
Speaker
that an offensive lineman is scoring touchdowns on us. Yeah, he was moving. Like you said, like it wasn't like ah he escaped, he got lost in coverage, and he was wide open. it was He outran a linebacker to the sideline and made a skill play. It was very impressive from Eli. um They're going to have to keep an it. Winnipeg's probably going to be trying to do kind that stuff all year, so teams are going to ask be wary of that.
00:45:11
Speaker
Yeah, absolutely. But we will move into our three stars of the week here. Lots of candidates available here. I think my mind, you know, after talking through those first four games, my mind goes to Daniel Adedoboye. 10 carries, 96 yards, a touchdown, long of 52.
00:45:30
Speaker
Also had receiving work in this game, especially on the receiving touchdown. i just think when you look at these games, if there was one player who essentially won their team, the game, especially in a ground game, like the red black stamps was, it was him.
00:45:46
Speaker
Yeah, hard to disagree with that. ah It was just nice to see the Red Blacks get that ground game going again. like That was a huge missing piece for the first two weeks, and they got it going, and it was a huge reason why they beat the Stamps.
AJ Ouellette's Standout Performance
00:45:58
Speaker
ah For the second star, revenge game. I'm going with AJ Ullat, kind of just stuffed the Argos in a locker a little bit. 17 carries, 91 yards, a touchdown. and a reception for 15 yards. So over 100 total yards in the game, a touchdown.
00:46:14
Speaker
It just, he has not skipped a beat since he's left the Argos, and it does leave a sour taste in your mouth just watching and being so good. And the Argos are still kind of searching for that number one option in the running back room.
00:46:26
Speaker
So AJ Ouellette, you get your flowers for week three, second star of the week. Yeah, absolutely. And the third star, I think we're going have our first repeat Star here, Davis Alexander, before he and exited that game, goes 20 for 24, 254 yards and three touchdowns, essentially in one half.
00:46:46
Speaker
It was ridiculous. He moves to seven and oh as a starter. He's a game away from tying the CFL record for wins ah to start your career. Just and unbelievably impressive.
00:46:57
Speaker
Too good to leave off. it's so It's the reason why he's the favorite to win the MOP. Reason why he's been you know our first repeat on the stars of the week. He's just been unbelievable this season. Hopefully he doesn't miss any games with that injury. We don't know exactly what's going on there, but hopefully it's all good.
00:47:13
Speaker
I think we got to give the honorable mention to the big man. ah You got to give him some love. ah Asotui, Eli, getting his first career touchdown in the CFL. We love to see the big man get some love in the end zone.
00:47:24
Speaker
Absolutely. Another honorable mention, Stephen Dunbar Jr., seven receptions on seven targets, 97 yards. If you were looking for positives from the Elks in that game, he was one of them.
00:47:36
Speaker
um But we'll move now into our power rankings re-rack here. another we got This is the toughest one we've had to do so far. Obviously, the top three teams win again. It was Saskatchewan, Winnipeg, Montreal.
00:47:51
Speaker
this is ah This is a tough one because... To me, I think this is actually where we start to shake it up a bit because it is hard to not put the Montreal Alouettes first.
00:48:01
Speaker
Agreed. They've been dominant in all three games. ah I don't think Saskatchewan was dominant against a team that's 0 for this season. So I i don't disagree with that. I think you could almost swap Montreal and Saskatchewan and kind of leave Winnipeg because play a different team, Winnipeg.
00:48:18
Speaker
No, I'm joking. We just don't know what they are yet with the Bombers. We know that they can dominate the Lions, but we'll still give them the respect of the the reigning West champions. Yeah, I agree. I just think when you look at Winnipeg's, both of those wins, I think that they are likely the second best team. we will wait to move Saskatchewan further.
00:48:39
Speaker
um Now it gets interesting as well ah because Calgary and Ottawa and BC in the middle, where we rack those teams now, like Calgary should have won that game and they did not. I don't think that you can keep your spot.
00:48:53
Speaker
the The middle is a crapshoot right now. yeah It's really early in the season. um Like you said, Calgary should have won this game. BCA just got beat back-to-back weeks by the Bombers. Ottawa wins the game in maybe the ugliest fashion that we've seen this season. So like what how much stock do you put into that?
00:49:11
Speaker
ah We know they're a better team with Drew Brown at quarterback. I truly don't know what to do with this. I don't think any of the teams in the bottom three can jump up ahead of these three. um i think that game was so impressive from Ottawa.
00:49:25
Speaker
in terms of just grinding out a win that you go and it's tough because they just beat calgary so do you do maybe just throw ottawa in the four spot and then drop calgary and bc down a spot each so calgary would be at the five bc at the six yeah yeah yeah reward the team that won this week i i think that should be our kind of our I don't know, criteria, I guess you could say, for for the power rankings, but a lot of it is off-field. I'm not going lie to you. yeah
00:49:56
Speaker
Yeah. um The bottom three, you got Edmonton and Hamilton are The only 0-3 team is Toronto. Yeah, but you know both those teams have had buys. I think you could throw Edmonton to the basement.
00:50:10
Speaker
I think so, too. And it's tough to move Hamilton up off of a bye week. Sometimes you win on the bye week. Yeah. Sometimes it happens. It's rare, but it can happen out there. Especially if you got multiple, like you do in the CFL, you can get a win off the bye week.
00:50:26
Speaker
And the craziest part is just Toronto and Hamilton both being 0 for, They're just, it the East is just so wide open. Like yeah they're just in it. Toronto put up a good fight against a really good team. So I think I'm fine with leaving them there. And then Edmonton is just, they haven't been in a game. I know they've only played two, but it's just, they haven't really been close, you know? yeah Yeah. So we go Toronto, Hamilton, Edmonton.
00:50:51
Speaker
Yeah, I think I like that. We have some movement, but minimal, right? and No overreactions, really. i kind of I like where we're at. Yeah, Montreal, Winnipeg, Saskatchewan, round out the top three, the middle of the pack, Ottawa, Calgary, BC, bottom, Toronto, Hamilton, Edmonton.
00:51:08
Speaker
There you go. There are the power rankings heading into week four of the CFL season. We will get now to our quick thoughts on week four. ah We mentioned some of the spreads earlier.
00:51:22
Speaker
The Elks taking on the Blue Bombers on Thursday night. That is a plus nine and a half point spread. ah The Owls going to Hamilton on the Friday, unsure of Davis Alexander's ah availability in that game.
00:51:37
Speaker
So we get an Alouettes minus two and a half point spread. The Lions at the Rough Riders, interesting one on the Saturday, which is a five and a half point favorites for the Rough Riders.
00:51:50
Speaker
And then the Argos at the Red Blacks, Red Blacks favored by two and a half points. We'll start on the Thursday night. um with the Elks going to Winnipeg. Tough, tough starting schedule for the Elks to have to go ah BC, Montreal, and then at Winnipeg is a tough sled.
00:52:11
Speaker
Yeah, and... and I like this number. Like, I think that's kind of right where you have it. yeah You know, blue bombers win by like 10 points. Like it just feels like Winnipeg is going to kind of do the same thing to Edmonton that they did last week to BC. Not the first time they play them, but like last week it was just, you get out, you get the opening touchdown.
00:52:29
Speaker
You keep just kind of tacking points on the board and you just don't let BC on the board until it's kind of garbage time. And then they try and just huck it down the field and they put some makeup on the scoreboard. I think that's kind of what the Elks have been doing all season through the first two games.
00:52:44
Speaker
lot of makeup, lot of fourth quarter, a lot of second half points, lot of just, they have to abandon the game plan because of bad starts. And I really don't see that changing in this game. Yeah, I would love to see a good start from the Elks. We talked about them just showing some fight last week in this one. I would just love to see a good start, make it an entertaining ah first half.
00:53:04
Speaker
Probably the hardest place to play in the CFL is at Winnipeg. So not the ideal place to go when you're already oing to ah But this will be an extremely uphill battle for the Elks.
00:53:17
Speaker
Winnipeg could win this game easily by, i don't 15%. Yeah. Double. I it's yeah. Yeah. It's like, you preview this game. It's like, no, it's the worst part is like, you mentioned the Alex were like good start.
00:53:29
Speaker
They put the first points on the board against much. I know was only a field goal and you'd like to get the seven to start, but even when they do get off, it's like, they're not carrying that momentum throughout the first quarter. It's just like, okay, Montreal makes the adjustment.
00:53:42
Speaker
And then Edmonton just forgets how to play offense. Sometimes hey it's, The Elks are a strange team and they just need to find a middle ground. I will repeat that until they do.
00:53:52
Speaker
They need to find a middle ground and I don't, it's not promising to find it on the road on a short week at Winnipeg. It's just, this game is not set up well for Edmonton. No, it is not. um We will go to the Friday now.
00:54:07
Speaker
Al's on the road to Hamilton. Hamilton coming off of the buy two and a half point spread. This one, I think, especially, especially goes without saying if Davis Alexander isn't playing, the Ticats are alive in.
00:54:21
Speaker
Yes, and I think that the line is reflective of they're unsure if Davis Alexander is going to play. know, Hamilton at home off a bye, pretty ideal spot to be. And then Montreal, it's just, yeah, it's going to be a feel thing, i think.
00:54:39
Speaker
Hamilton will be alive in this game with Davis Alexander on the bench, but I also don't think, you know, they're guaranteed win. I think McLeod can do enough in Montreal's defense has been so good this season.
00:54:51
Speaker
Erased that fourth quarter against Edmonton. I don't think that's a real reflection of what they are. ah So I think, the Owls can kind of do enough to like, just stymie like the, the Tiger cats, Bo Levi Mitchell, try and lock down Kenny Lawler and just make them beat them elsewhere, where the Owls have enough players on offense. They kind of just get it done. They like, we haven't, it feels like we haven't even really talked about Austin Mack, who has been one of the best receivers since he's come to the CFL over the past two seasons. So the, the depth on offense that Montreal has
00:55:25
Speaker
is pretty impressive. And I think that they can still win this game with McLeod, but I think it'll be an absolute battle. And one of those that like kind of comes down to the last drive. If we don't see Davis Alexander take the first s snap.
00:55:36
Speaker
Yeah, absolutely. Very excited to watch this game, especially considering that Hamilton is winless. They're going to be hungry to get one here in front of home fans. ah The Lions at the Rough Riders on Saturday, super interesting spread in this game, five and a half points for the Rough Riders.
00:55:54
Speaker
This one is, you know, hopefully, hopefully you get Nathan Rourke back in this game because it's, again, tough to kind of judge either team without that starter being in there.
00:56:07
Speaker
Rough Riders here. If you are, you know, the team that we think you are, you go out and you beat the Lions in this game and you cover the spread. Yeah, it's ah it's it's five and a half right now.
00:56:21
Speaker
I can't tell if that's indicative of Rourke starting or not, right? Like it's just, you know, that five and a not a small number. It's not a massive number. It's kind of right in that sweet spot where we saw that, you know, Elks, Al spread last week, kind of in that where it's just like, we think Saskatchewan is a better team, but BC still has a chance in this game. So I think if if BC has Nathan Rourke at the helm in this one,
00:56:46
Speaker
this is a game you can win and kind of send a message to the Rough Riders where it's just like, you are not yet in that upper echelon and we're still here and we're still going to fight. um But i I think Trevor Harris, they just got through a dogfight with the Argonauts and it's just them finding a way to win that game. i think it's a huge boost. You get back on home turf I think the spread's a good number. It's going to be a tough one to pick, but I think if Jeremiah Masoli gets the start, I do believe that this spread will be covered.
00:57:18
Speaker
I agree. I agree. Last game of the week, as we mentioned earlier, a huge, huge game for the Argos here. I put a must-win label on it. Argos at Red Blacks, two and a half points favoring the Red Blacks here at home for the Red Blacks. Argos on the road.
00:57:38
Speaker
yeah had Argos, you got to pray that Drew Brown isn't starting in this one, especially considering your defense kind of being up and down week to week. And then you also got to really hope that Chad Kelly's starting in this one.
00:57:50
Speaker
um Tough season so far for QB injuries, especially when you're trying to, you know, preview these games. You really don't know what the hell is going on. um But yeah, do just comes down to a must win label for for the Argos. Doesn't matter how you get it. You have to win this game.
00:58:06
Speaker
yeah As a viewer, I do want to see the two starting quarterbacks play. I just think that's good for the league. And like you said, there's not been a good start for quarterback injuries in the CFL, which I don't think helps kind of viewership, attendance, yeah other things. But it's just...
00:58:23
Speaker
The Argos, man, you showed some fight last week against the Riders, and then you have a mental lapse and you lose the game. Can you put four quarters together? Because like you said, they they go down the field last week to get the touchdown. It's like, oh my goodness, we're fine. They're finding it. They're back, back to what we saw them last year with Nick Arbuckle winning the great cup.
00:58:42
Speaker
And then it's just you're getting out of your zone and it's just you you never find it. Then you find it late and then you give it up. And then the Red Blacks, they found a way to win greasely last week, but no one asked how. They just asked why or I don't know. They get they got the win.
00:58:59
Speaker
Yeah, I missed that one. But it's just the Red Blacks are a dog fighting team, it seems. and The Argos have only been able to do it once this season. Oh, it feels like a must win though. You're right. And, you know, I don't, I don't know. This is like the toughest game for me to pick.
00:59:16
Speaker
If I had to, I will not be touching this total or side. Otherwise i will not be touching this game, but I just want, you know, the starting quarterbacks to play and just find a way to win in a tough environment in Ottawa.
00:59:28
Speaker
Absolutely. ah That is our week four preview here. We will now get to our week four picks to close it out here. Five and three heading into week three.
00:59:39
Speaker
We go three and one in week three because of some weather, I would like to say. ah We hit on the L spread and Saskatchewan spread stays as the system so far.
00:59:50
Speaker
ah And Winnipeg obviously covering. We don't get the over 50 and a half in the Red Black Stamps game. We are now eight and four, Patrick. We are up four units and a good, good start to the season.
01:00:03
Speaker
This is probably the toughest week to pick so far. Yeah, by a mile, in my opinion. We don't know. the We're picking so early in the week. We have no no idea on on a couple starting quarterback situations here.
01:00:15
Speaker
And you know now we're adding weather into the game. So it's just it's a tough battle, it's especially when there's just no clarity on starting quarterbacks this week. Yeah, I think to start us out, we will stick with a system that we we think we also fell upon here.
01:00:33
Speaker
With the Ticats over, I think even with McLeod in this game, Al's Ticats over 50 and a half is something that I'm comfortable with. Yeah, I mean, the Ticats defense has not been strong this year.
01:00:46
Speaker
um And yeah, like said, McLeod can still throw the ball. So I think that kind of bodes well for Montreal and they can still put points on the board. And you know, Hamilton will find a way to. um I'm going to follow suit with a total here, and it's going to be in the Thursday night game.
01:01:00
Speaker
I'm going to go over in the Elks and Blue Bombers. I think basically what we've seen from the Blue Bombers is they're a first half team. They get out to a lead and they hold it. And then the Elks are going to just start putting putting points on the board in the fourth quarter, the second half. And it's going to be touchdowns and they're not going to give up. And I think it's going to be a late over here.
01:01:20
Speaker
ah so yeah, I'm going with the over in that Thursday night game. What's the number on that one? 50 and a half. 50 and a half same as the uh alice tiger cats one yeah and then all right this is where it gets sticky yes very much so i think man this is tough we can talk it through yeah i'm the same team here you don't want to you don't want to not know when to leave the party in In terms of the Rough Riders spread system, like last week it was razor thin.
01:01:53
Speaker
It really looked like it was going to be a backdoor cover there for the Argos. And it's like, all right, is that the sign that this is dying out? Can BC cover this? That is where I'm at right now is I don't know if I want to take that Rough Riders spread, but then you can't.
01:02:08
Speaker
You can't go on the other side either because you don't know if Nathan Rourke's playing. the There's three games here where you're just purely gambling on who's going be the starting quarterback. not Forget the side or the total. You're gambling on the quarterback here, which is just such a such a guessing game.
01:02:25
Speaker
ah To me... Yeah, I don't know. Go off feel, truly. like I can't tell you yes or no because I don't know. right like It's not like I know who's going to start for the Lions here.
01:02:36
Speaker
i think if Rourke starts, it'll be a very much back and forth game. ah But I think if Masoli starts, we might be in trouble. Yeah, and even you know in terms of totals, I think that this is a game that I would jump on the total for if Nathan Rourke was starting.
01:02:53
Speaker
me see if I can get a little little news on Nathan Rourke here. There's one I might just take. i don't know how you feel about it, but what do you think about just going with um one matchup that we know that there's going to two quarterbacks in?
01:03:09
Speaker
The Bombers at home, we haven't seen them play many other teams. They've been dominant. Nine and a half. I think the total is that big for a reason. What do you think about taking the home team there and just kind of sending a message to the Elks?
01:03:21
Speaker
Because they've covered nine and a half against the Lions twice in a row, and I think the Lions are a better team than the Elks. Yeah. Yeah, I'm fine with that. a lot of people were on the Elks last week to cover a big spread, and I think that Bombers nine and a half I'm very okay with.
01:03:36
Speaker
Yeah, they were we're bringing in backdoor territory with this number and how the Elks play. But I think if we stick to that game, I think at least one of the two with the over and the bomber spread we'll cover in this one.
01:03:49
Speaker
I agree. And then, you know what? we'll We'll take a chance here on Saskatchewan covering five and a half. Yeah. If it ain't broke, don't fix it. We'll we'll abandon it. Yeah. We'll be the last to leave the party. How's that? We'll overstay our welcome.
01:04:02
Speaker
We will overstay our welcome, especially if Masoli's in and then you got it at five and a half. You feel great about it. Oh, if Masoli starts, this is going to move the rider's direction for sure.
01:04:13
Speaker
Yeah. All right. So then we have Al's Ticats over 50 and a half. Elks Blue Bombers over 50 and a half. Blue Bombers plus nine and a half. Minus minus nine and a half. Sorry. That'd great number.
01:04:26
Speaker
Minus 6,000. ah Bombers plus are minus nine and a half and Saskatchewan minus five and a half. Yeah, I like it. We're on a roll right now. I hope the people are kind of tailing us. It's it's nice. If yeah if If Davis Alexander starts that game, that's going to move to six and a half at least. Yes.
01:04:47
Speaker
So I was thinking about the same thing. Yeah. I was thinking about gambling on that one, but it's just like we haven't seen McLeod start a full game. Hamilton's at home coming off a bye. I like the total move because I think even if Davis Alexander starts or McLeod, that total can go over. But if you're at home and you're feeling a little frisky, that is that is the one that will move the most depending on the starting quarterback.
01:05:10
Speaker
Yeah, absolutely. That's some good advice there. ah That'll do it for us at the goalpost this week. Another week of CFL football. We're in full swing in the summer here. Get out there. Enjoy it on the on the weekend and watch some CFL football. But until next week, Patrick, I'll see you.
01:05:25
Speaker
See Damian.