@ CAL Postgame

Stein doesn't feel blame so Hills.

I've ragged on them all year for failing to make 2nd half adjustments, but they did it tonight.

Btw, Woods' stiff arm on Paredes on the last kickoff return was a thing of beauty.

Some coffee thoughts this morning...

It seems Coach O has subscribed to the theory that we want the ball in the second half which gives us the wind for the 2nd and 3rd Qtrs. After watching him doing this multiple times this season I'm not going to destroy him for sticking to his game plan. The key is winning those 2nd and 3rd quarters with the wind. I still love the idea of having the wind in the 4th, but last night they took the 3rd quarter kickoff and walked down the field and scored. Hard to argue that.

Seth Small might be the best kicker in the CFL, and we might lose him to the NFL. I wasn't a fan of kicking 57 because if you miss theyd have the ball at mid field, but also in a qtr with the wind I liked trying to pin them deep - however if you have a weapon like that you might as well use it. The guy is amazing.

There is a direct correlation between getting 3 takeaways and getting to 35 points.

Dane Evans had 5 yards in the first half and finished 17/25 for 244 and 1 TD. Once again 0 INTs. For all of the haters still talking about his turnovers, his 2 INTs last week were his only 2 in his last 5 games. That's 4 games without and INT. With limited weapons, injuries and a confused OC at times he's playing well despite what that hack Josh Smith has to say. Trevor Harris has as many lost fumbles, and he has 1 more INT than MBT (in 2 less games). Dane has settled in with the pack of "good QBs". Still a believer he'll take it to the next level when we surround him with a bit more.

Speaking of Josh Smith - i'll send him a beer if he mentions the Ticats special teams blunders. As dork pointed out that's 4 games in a row with big special teams blunders. Will anyone concede that losing Reinebold was a major loss? Will idiot suggestions that Reinebold voluntarily gave up his job because he saw the greatness in an up and coming ST Coach? We are succeptable to blocks, trick plays and other crap that happens in the weather, we werent before.

Wes Hills had 3 carries in the 2nd half. 1 on the first drive out of the half, then nothing until 3rd down. Unacceptable, stupid. His last was a fall forward on the final drive. He has to hold on to the football on that screen though. There's nothing in his draft bio about ball security so hopefully its something he can just work on.

No issue with O's decision to go for 3rd down on our own 20. Here's how I see it. Kicking the ball into the wind with a shaky punter would likely have resulted in Calgary being in FG position. 2 First downs and we wouldnt have got the ball back. I know hindsight but sometimes all of the options suck.
Punting (sucks)
Going for it (sucks)
So they kept the ball in their hands and tried to go out and win the game. If we get that first down, another one would have ended the game.
As for the play call - lots of talk about where Hills should have gone and what the play was designed to be, I'll have to watch it again.

Lawrence Woods gets an attaboy for his return - not noticed in all the heroics but in a season were Stein seems content to put anyone including Dylan Wynn back there to return kicks, it's a huge play that really set up the game winning plays.

Tim White is quietly having a big season - 1000 yards isnt much for me anymore with 18 games. If you're healthy all year and you're a decent receiver you should be close. He has 87 catches which leads the league, he's probably going to break 1200 yards and more importantly his biggest asset is "availability", just knowing he's going to be out there has to be a good thing for Dane Evans and Tommy Condell. I was hard on him for the Grey Cup kneel, but he's a solid receiver in that finally showed us the big play jump ball ability - at the best possible time. Note - Those plays make QBs look good. Other teams make their QB look good. We need more of it. Geno Lewis makes that play.

Not sure why Calgary punted straight off the kickoff. They definitely had time to run 2 plays and kick a FG or get a deep ball DPI. But thanks.

Lastly on Coach Stein. Earlier in the season he was faced with a situation against (i believe) Ottawa where we scored to go up 1, and he kicked the convert. Ottawa then had a FG attempt for the win but missed. When questioned he doubled down and said "I didnt want to leave them only needing a single for the tie" which is absurd because you left the damn win open. Last night he decided to go for 2, and got it. So obviously he learned from his mistake which is a big positive (we can all learn), my issue is the smugness in the response earlier this year, instead of suggesting "Yeah I might have done it differently if i got that shot again" he gets his back up when questioned. In this instance it appears he learned from the err of his ways. Good on him.

A win next week against Ottawa all but guarantees us a playoff spot - Sask isnt beating Calgary twice. What's crazy is if Ottawa stole one from Montreal last night a home playoff game would still be possible.
While the Ottawa game(s) wont be easy - This team now has a very good chance of just getting in. And we've said it all year, in this terrible East where Montreal and Toronto are NOT GOOD, nobody would be shocked to see this team get to a 3rd Grey Cup.

^^^
A few things...

Coffee thoughts - who do you think you are, Drew Edwards? Lol

Missing the 56-yd FG means either CAL gets the ball on their 40 if they concede the single; or they could be pinned deep if we stop the return.

Seth Small might be too good to stay in the CFL. To think that we had the DomaCRAPa/Larya combo to begin the season. According to Uncle Milty, he was offered a PR spot, but made the decision to move home to support his wife.

Looking back, I think I have changed my mind about the late gamble. Make the FD, and run out the clock. Incorrect execution, as it certainly looks like the play was designed to run to the left, but it also shows Orlondo has confidence in his Offence. Plus, it would be DomaCRAPa punting, so...

It infuriates me that on second and long, pass plays always seem to go to a stationary receiver in front of the line of gain. I called it during the game - they needed 8 yards, and the play went to Durant (I think) on a 7-yd hook pattern. All other teams that need 8 yards pass for 9.

I noticed that the Defence didn't fall completely back to their normal second-half collapse.

Actually missing a 56 yd FG means they get the ball at the 50 (where the ball was snapped from. It's the 40 OR previous LOS.

The final play of the game isn't getting enough attention.
We kick-off with 9 seconds on the clock, and do a mid-range pooch-kick.
Unbelievably, the player who fielded the kickoff perfectly was Calgary's unter, who then booted a deep punt with at least 3 players on-side.
Kiondre Smith fielded the punt (IIRC, it was almost over-the-shoulder) and SHOLD HAVE TAKEN A KNEE!!!
Instead, he runs around to kill the clock, AT TIMES LOOKING TO LATERAL THE BALL, before going to the turf with time expired.

Look, I give the guy a bit of leeway because he's a rookie, but that had the potential to give the game away. TSN actually had a camera showing Butler setting-up the play with the KO Team. This was an absolutely perfect play call in this situation.

Now, someone mentioned on The Prowl that Calgary had the opportunity to stop the clock, and run a play to get into FG range. Crash, what are the rules regarding the clock on a KO? Does it start at the kick, the point the ball touches the turf, or upon first touch by a player (of either team)? If three seconds ran of the clock on the kick, there really wasn't any time for anything but a Hail Mary play - hoping for a TD or DPI penalty (like what happend in the past to us in Calgary). Otherwise, they would have had 8s or so to get a play in and stop the clock. A FG ties the game, and we haven't done very well in Overtime...