Well, we are at 3-3, and
but for a few miscues here and there we could be a lot better.
But I am very happy with
our team so far. First things first, every game this season for the Als
has been a very entertaining spectacle (as have most all games in the CFL this
year), and that is the principal reason why I watch CFL football.
Our offence is a treat to
behold this year. The Offensive line is much improved over last year's
imitation of Swiss Cheese; Perrett and Bourke are studs at the tackle spots.
Calvillo looks 10 years younger playing in this new offence, which is clearly
tailored to his talents. Our passing game is tremendous, we are getting
good mileage out of Watkins, Cahoon, and Richardson. Desriveaux and
Bratton have been very good when called upon; the only weak link would appear
to be Deslauriers. Cobourne has given us a bona fide running threat.
So I can't complain about
anything on the offensive side of the ball, major kudos to Coach Trestman.
The only weaknesses seemed to be an inability to properly manage the time clock
at the end of games, and sustaining drives late in games to preserve a lead.
Both are going to come with time. We're getting better.
Special teams; well we've
certainly had some problems here, but Larry Taylor is showing flashes of being
a very good returner so I look for him to break one sooner rather than later.
I also trust that Coach Squires won't make the same mistake twice and have the
right number of players out there...other than Ian Smart's TD in Vancouver, our
coverage on opposing returns has been rather good.
On the defence, we seem to
have some issues, but I can't quite put my finger on it. Again, part of
it is an inability to hold leads; the other is giving up 33 points to the
Hamilton Dysfunctional-Cats.
With the talent we have on
defence, can you imagine how tremendous they would be if Richie Hall were
running things?
I have to think that it's
the schemes we are running. Our Defensive line is up at the top of the
league in terms of sacks. Our linebackers, Hunt, Hill, and Ferri, may be
small but they're fast and extremely talented. Our secondary as well is
loaded with speed, desire, and talent (and will only get better with the return
of Estelle from injury and Boulay from the NFL). This is not the
personnel one would expect to surrender 33 points to a Marcel Bellefeuille
offence, sans Jesse Lumsden for
most of the game, and led by a backup QB.
After our game against
Saskatchewan, I wrote that we had that one won were it not for three brain
cramps at the worst possible times. Against BC, again it was three plays
that did us in, but in that case it was more great performances by BC players
(Barron Miles interceptions, Smart's runback) as opposed to brain cramps on our
side (save for Squires forgetting to count to 12).
Against Hamilton, we
didn't commit any glaring blunders, and we were able to recover from the misues
that we did commit (fumbles and an interception). The team is building
character and I see improvement as the season progresses.
In this last game, our
passing game was excellent...but this was against Hamilton's secondary.
Our running game was
excellent...but this was against Hamilton's defensive front and linebackers.
Our offensive line was
excellent, providing AC with the protection he needs.......but this was against
Hamilton's defensive line.
Our defensive line got sacks...but
this was against Hamilton's offensive line.
I could go on, but you get
the point.
Actually it was a pivotal
game. After two heartbreaking losses, had we lost to the
Dysfunctional-Cats, the season may have gone south in a hurry. Now,
having stopped the losing streak, we look forward to key games against
divisional rivals Winnipeg and Toronto; win those two and we're in the driver's
seat for fist place and, dare I say it, a home appearance in the Grey Cup.
The talent is there to do
it!