CFL Beat: Week 1

It’s here! It’s here! It’s finally here! Professional football! Yes, it’s not the NFL but I am rejoicing all the same that I finally have something to tide me over until September arrives. Once again, I’ll be recapping the games from previous weeks, and previewing the current week’s coming games for the rest of the summer and fall – looking forward to one of the most riveting seasons in years from the CFL.

WEEK 1 RECAPS

Hamilton 42 vs. Toronto 20: Yes, I’ve already fucked things up for Week 1. This game happened last night, technically, the first-ever home game for the Argos at BMO Field, their new (shared) digs with Toronto FC. Chad Owens, longtime Argonaut, also made a homecoming, now dressed in the black and yellow of the Tiger-Cats for the very first time, and scored a touchdown. Hamilton started Jeremiah Masoli at QB due to Zach Collaros still being out from his recovery from a torn ACL that occurred last September. Turns out that even with Masoli in, the offence didn’t miss a beat, as he went 27-37 for 318 yards and 3 TDs. The score was close temporarily in the 3rd quarter when Toronto made it 23-20 from a Ricky Ray pass to Vidal Hazelton for his 2nd TD of the game, but the TiCats pulled away after that. The one scary moment of the game was when Argos special-teamer Jermaine Gabriel had to be stretchered off after trying to make a tackle on Hamilton returner Brandon Banks, but he was waving as he was carried off and had been pushing to walk off the field under his own power, so looks like he’ll be alright, fortunately.

PICK: Toronto (I did select before the game, promise!)

RESULT: Hamilton

WEEK 1 PREVIEWS

Montreal vs. Winnipeg, Friday, June 24th, 8:30 PM EST: Longtime vet Kevin Glenn, now playing for his 8th CFL team, beat out rookie Vernon Adams (of Oregon) for the Als’ starting job at QB, which will hopefully bring the stability they’ve desperately needed at the position since legend Anthony Calvillo retired. Winnipeg has gone through a ton of roster turnover, but with starting QB Drew Willy healthy once again, they now have a serious arm to lead their offense. New free acquisition and stud RB Andrew Harris was looking doubtful earlier in the week for the Bombers, but he’s been ruled good to go and says he’ll be playing. The Alouettes and Blue Bombers played once in the preseason, with Winnipeg winning 36-13. Granted, it’s just a preseason game and of course we can’t read much into it, but all the same, Montreal remain the underdogs in this first matchup of the season.

PICK: Winnipeg

Ottawa vs. Edmonton, Saturday, June 25th, 7:00 PM EST: The Eskimos are the only team the REDBLACKS have never beaten in their two seasons thus far in the league; it’s also a rematch of the 2015 Grey Cup, which saw Edmonton come out on top 26-20. Adding to the intrigue is the presence of Jason Maas, the Eskimos’ new head coach, who was hired away from Ottawa after the end of the season in a firestorm of controversy over compensation for the hire. Ottawa remain the underdogs in this game; the loss of starting RB William Powell for the entire season, which happened in their first preseason game, will also hurt the team greatly. Rookie Travon Van (University of Montana) will get the start in Powell’s place.

PICK: Edmonton

Calgary vs. B.C., Saturday, June 25th, 10:00 PM EST: Wally Buono has returned as coach of the Lions after previous coach Jeff Tedford resigned, after only a year on the job; Buono was the man who last led the Lions to the Grey Cup, in 2011. He’ll be busy managing his coaching and GM duties jointly, and while he’s a great football mind, his roster is in dire need of some help. QB Jon Jennings is a nice story after a breakout year last season, but aside from him, the roster, particularly on offense, is sorely lacking. Calgary manhandled BC in the West semifinal last year, winning 35-9 on their home turf, and the team has much of the same look this year as it did last. Bo Levi Mitchell has a cannon arm, and RB Jerome Messam is one of the most explosive runners in the league. Barring something disastrous, Calgary will win again without too much trouble.

PICK: Calgary

BYE: Saskatchewan

Game Picks This Week: 0-1

Game Picks This Season: 0-1

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The Maestro
The Maestro is a mystical Canadian internet user and New England Patriots fan; when the weather is cooperative and the TV signal at his igloo is strong enough, he enjoys watching the NFL, the Ottawa Senators & REDBLACKS, and yelling into the abyss on Twitter. He is somehow allowed to teach music to high school students when he isn't in a blind rage about sports, and is also a known connoisseur of cheap beers across the Great White North.
https://www.doorfliesopen.com/index.php/author/the-maestro/
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Unsurprised
Sill Bimmons

He might be new to the shaved head game.

I did that once.

http://i799.photobucket.com/albums/yy272/craigjoeproject/13ger.jpg

Once.

/seriously you do that once you never do it again
//The Scarlet D is a perfect name for it

Moose -The End Is Well Nigh
Unsurprised

I just saw a photo of a guy with horrific sunburn (including the outline of his backwards baseball cap, which makes it even funnier) and all I can think of is how the Factory of Sadness collects raw pain even from moments of celebration.

Unsurprised

*guy who was at the Cavs victory parade

Sill Bimmons

Omitted but inferred.

Unsurprised

I need a new avatar

Sill Bimmons
Sill Bimmons

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Sill Bimmons

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The Right Reverend Electric Mayhem

So I’ll be the one who finally asks the big question: now that Britain has voted to exit the EU, will Canada try to vote for independence from the United States?

Unsurprised

Whither Quebec?

The Right Reverend Electric Mayhem

Quebec can still suck it.

Sill Bimmons

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Unsurprised
Unsurprised

The greatest product of the CFL

http://www.vancouversun.com/cms/binary/11356985.jpg

Unsurprised

GO LIONS!

packman_jon

Pants that reached up to a woman’s boobs?

Unsurprised

No. Labatt (and Molson’s).

Moose -The End Is Well Nigh
Teddy's Bridge Over Troubled Water

I’ll give those ladies some bones…

Chicken bones to be exact. They make a good soup!

litre_cola

I would much rather read this than any Canadian sports website! Great work!

Moose -The End Is Well Nigh

…. or US sports website.

Sill Bimmons

US sports website on the CFL:

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Moose -The End Is Well Nigh

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Moose -The End Is Well Nigh

I can adapt once Drumpf gets elected.

Unsurprised

Isn’t that just Guardian from Alpha Flight?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guardian_(Marvel_Comics)

Unsurprised

Oops. Apparently he came slightly earlier.

ballsofsteelandfury

PHRAASING!!