Inside the CFL: Cliches aside, football is very predictable

By GRAHAM KELLY on September 9, 2021.

Although the old cliches that once the ball is kicked off, anything can happen, and, on any given day any team can beat any other team, football is actually a very predictable game.

If you turn the ball over, take too many penalties and lose the battle in the trenches, you are going to lose. The Blue Bombers proved that dramatically in Regina last Sunday, winning 23-8. How dominant was the Winnipeg defence? Saskatchewan didn’t reach the red zone until the second last minute of the fourth quarter. Before the game, when Willie Jefferson left the airplane he said, “They ain’t played nobody special, nobody with no heat,” the English major from Stephen F. Austin College said. His team has the heat with the defence, of which he is the leader, surrendering an average of three points in fourth quarters. Eloquent or not, Big Willie puts his money where his mouth is.

Also predictable is how those in the game react to a loss. Rider quarterback Cody Fajardo said “This one’s all on me… It’s probably the worst game I’ve played as a professional.”

He threw three interceptions, a career high. He added that the Roughriders weren’t a bad football team, they just had a bad day.

The Edmonton Elks, who ended an eight game string of losses of Labour Day classics at McMahon Stadium, had a very good day. It was bombs away as veteran quarterback Trevor Harris exploited a young Calgary secondary completing 31-of-41 passes for 398 yards and four touchdowns, including throws of 52, 41 and 45 yards. He spread the ball around finding Derel Walker, Ernest Edwards, Jalen Toliver, Mike Jones, the great Greg Ellingson and James Wilder who also ran for 65 yards. Edwards and Toliver are rookies. The line did not surrender a single sack.

The Elks offence is very good, the defence will be even better with the addition of former Roughrider All-Canadian linebacker Derrick Montcrief, just back from the NFL. Against Calgary they made the big plays while the Stamps did not. In their 32-20 win, the Elks scored the last 15 points of the game, all in the final frame, the mark of a good football team.

After playing a superb game in Winnipeg the week before, Stamp receivers dropped passes, killing drives. The team looked tired whereas the Elks looked speedy and refreshed as they should have considering they hadn’t played since Aug. 19. (Don’t get me wrong. I’m not downplaying Edmonton’s win but it might be a bit premature to be booking rooms in Hamilton for December). On defence, Calgary tackling was atrocious at times, they put little pressure on Harris, took too many penalties and failed at key moments.

Considering all the newcomers in their lineup, Dave Dickenson warned last month there would be growing pains. Calgary plays like the young team they are, making great plays at times and then costly mistakes, often in the same game. They have to learn to control their emotions. They have to learn how to close the deal.

After previous losses, he’s found aspects of his team’s play to praise. Not this time.

“That was a tough one to have a lot of optimism from,” a dejected and perplexed Dickenson said. “We want to win a game, I think we can do that.”

The Stamps can redeem themselves in Edmonton Saturday. The last time they had such a poor start was 2004 when they opened the season at 1-5 and missed the playoffs. With only nine games left, six on the road, three against the Riders, Dickenson had better find answers fast.

As the old commercial said, “Thanks I needed that.” Caught up in the COVID outbreak that resulted in a game postponement, vilified as a bunch of disease spreading, self-centered jerks by many around the league, Elk players, coaches and management were stung to the quick to be labelled the villains of the pandemic piece. They feel they’ve been the victims and deserve some sympathy.

Players and coaches will tell you how difficult it is to win both games of a home-and-home series. If you win the first game, do you stand pat? The visitors won three of four last week-end, the exception, the Tiger-Cats. Will that scenario repeat itself in the next few days? Enjoy.