As a CFL fan first and foremost, and as an Als' fan second, let me start by saying that was one terrific football game.

After a season or two of rather uninspiring football, the 2008 CFL season has been a delight to watch from an entertainment aspect.  Every game it seems has one or two real highlight reel catches, and one or two real solid hits.  Each game I have watched this season has been highly entertaining, something I have not been able to say the past few seasons.

As for this game, it had just about everything that makes CFL football such a joy to watch.  In the first half, we were treated to some terrific defensive play; in the second half we had both offences getting it in gear.  Numerous great catches, some exciting hits, frequent lead changes, controversial referee calls.....this game practically had it all.

So, what can we say from an Als' perspective?

Well, considering we were up against the defending Grey Cup champions who are, at this point in the season, the top team in the league, we sure showed that we can play with them.  But for a break here and there, we could have (should have) won this one. 

Offensively, the star was Anthony Calvillo, who seems rejuvenated under Trestman's new offence.  He was spreading the ball around marvelously among various receivers, so that no one receiver can be keyed on. But for one big mistake at the end of the game, when a called QB draw just wasn't there and AC seemed to panic and ended up throwing an ill advised pass that was tipped and then intercepted, he played nearly a flawless game.  The O-line provided very good protection, a far cry from what we saw last year.  We had little in the way of a running game, but against a Richie Hall defence I don't criticize the choice to go with a fast attack passing game plan; that is one tough defence to run against.

Defensively, Reggie Hunt made his debut as an Alouette, and it was a case of Jekyll and Hyde.  He gave us two key interceptions, both of which led directly to touchdowns; but as a run-stopping MLB, he leaves something to be desired.  Hill, Ferri, and Hunt are all OLBs, our lack of a run-stopping behemoth in the middle may be something that comes back to haunt us over the course of this season.

But that said, both the offences and defences played well enough for us to get a win, overall.

The negative in this game was our special teams play.  Kizer took a dreadful penalty to keep a Rider drive alive.  Armstead gave up a fumble on a kick return, and on the previous return he and our ST coordinator both seem to have suffered brain cramps at the same, and worst possible, time.  Over two minutes to go and the Als line up as if convinced the Riders are going to try an onside kick?  With a Richie Hall defence?  No way!  Then, when Armstead gets back to the ball, he takes a knee at the 10??  What in the world was he thinking???  Sure he had no blocking set up in front of him, but for heaven's sake at least run straight forward, he could have gotten to at least the 15 if not the 20 before the Riders' cover team got there.  Boneheaded move to gratuitously put us in a deep hole.

So there we were, blowing a lead in the dying minutes of the game; it marred an otherwise entertaining spectacle.  But we can take comfort in knowing that we can play with the best team in the league.

On the two controversial calls.........Sanchez' touchdown was reversed, which means the referee must have seen conclusive evidence that Cates never had possession hence incomplete pass and not a fumble.  I did not see such evidence from the replays shown on TSN, as in both cases an on-field official blocked the view.  The referee must have had access to a replay not shown on TV to find conclusive proof, so I will grant him the benefit of the doubt.

I also don't criticize the call on the Dominguez~Estelle completion in the end zone.  That was as close to a simultaneous catch as one will ever see, and as we all know, the tie goes to the receiver.  So it was touchdown Saskatchewan at that point.  What happened afterwards, the rolling on the ground, maybe in-bounds maybe out of bounds, Estelle ending up with sole possession, is all irrelevant, the TD counted and the play was effectively dead when they caught the ball.  Same as a QB jumping over the line to get a TD on a first and goal play from the one yard line.  Once he crosses the plane with the ball in his possession, it's TD and whatever happens after, such as him dropping the ball and the defence recovering, matters not at all.  Tough pill to swallow as an Als' fan, but it's the truth.

The referees therefore did not cost us the game.  We have to admit that the (slightly) better team on the day won.  We (Kizer, Armstead, Calvillo) made key mistakes at crucial times, and the Rider players didn't.  Simple as that.

So I am not hanging my head today.  We went into the defending champs' and league leader's home park, and darn near came out with a win.  Nothing to be embarrassed about there.  We also provided a particularly entertaining spectacle.

What we need to look at as this season progresses, are two problem areas (not the lines; I am quite happy now with what I have seen from both the O-line and the D-line; AC is getting good protection, and the D-line is getting sacks).  Run stopping capability from the MLB spot, and improved special teams play.  That may likely involve cutting our ties with Mr. Armstead, who has shown little on returns so far, and in this game was downright atrocious.  We sure don't need him at receiver, where we are deep (and SJ Green, Elijah Thurmon, and Larry Taylor haven't even gotten into a game yet), and he has not provided us with quality returns.  Let's give Green or Taylor a shot at it, or let Bratton handle it, he did have a TD return for us last year.

Now it's on to BC, a locale where we haven't had a lot of success over the years, to put it mildly.