CFL 2024

[Drivesaitl]

Exactly! Ford's first start of the year and you see that it lit a spark under the defense and special teams.

A question could be raised why professional athletes have to be sparked and elevated to find the game they are supposed to be bringing in the first place. For years we've had players that only decided to bring their A game once in awhile. Its been a problem. Even with high priced help like Lewis some games he's running patterns and moving his feet and others he's just there being an easy cover. Team has more issues than who is at QB. About the only player on the team that played well and hard, and good, every game was Rankin.

I'll question as well that any spark, ever, has been lit under our special teams. The kicker was good, the coverage was meh, and our return game is chronically worst in the league and it is every game. The D last season was giving up way too much and it doesn't matter who we have as QB does it. It shouldn't impact the D.

This team has cliques instead of unity. Its a problem that will need to be addressed at some point.

 

[Stoneman89]

A question could be raised why professional athletes have to be sparked and elevated to find the game they are supposed to be bringing in the first place. For years we've had players that only decided to bring their A game once in awhile. Its been a problem. Even with high priced help like Lewis some games he's running patterns and moving his feet and others he's just there being an easy cover. Team has more issues than who is at QB. About the only player on the team that played well and hard, and good, every game was Rankin.

I'll question as well that any spark, ever, has been lit under our special teams. The kicker was good, the coverage was meh, and our return game is chronically worst in the league and it is every game. The D last season was giving up way too much and it doesn't matter who we have as QB does it. It shouldn't impact the D.

This team has cliques instead of unity. Its a problem that will need to be addressed at some point.

Clearly you've never played football or likely a team sport, or have forgotten how it works. A QB is the most important person on a football team, and especially in the CFL where the 3 down game makes it critical to have a great field general. Quarterbacks inspire all the other parts of the team to step up their game. All you have to do is look at guys like Josh Allen, Tom Brady Patrick Mahomes or Doug Flutie.

Again, I will use your god-like status of Cornhole while he was here and your prior trashing of Mahomes as indications that the source of the opinion should be seriously questioned.

 

[rboomercat90]

When the Riders are in town to play the Schmoes, real fans wear Kelly green!!









….Runs for cover

I haven’t been to a Rider game in years. Do you guys still put watermelons on your heads?

 

[Tobias Kahun]

A question could be raised why professional athletes have to be sparked and elevated to find the game they are supposed to be bringing in the first place. For years we've had players that only decided to bring their A game once in awhile. Its been a problem. Even with high priced help like Lewis some games he's running patterns and moving his feet and others he's just there being an easy cover. Team has more issues than who is at QB. About the only player on the team that played well and hard, and good, every game was Rankin.

I'll question as well that any spark, ever, has been lit under our special teams. The kicker was good, the coverage was meh, and our return game is chronically worst in the league and it is every game. The D last season was giving up way too much and it doesn't matter who we have as QB does it. It shouldn't impact the D.

This team has cliques instead of unity. Its a problem that will need to be addressed at some point.

Probably because they're human?

Its pretty easy to see why not everyone is motivated by how much they earn, and how complacency slips in.

 

[bellagiobob]

 

[Stoneman89]

Pretty good contract for a guy that's probably going to play about 8 games.

 

[Stoneman89]

I haven’t been to a Rider game in years. Do you guys still put watermelons on your heads?

They've moved on to these.

 

[bellagiobob]

I haven’t been to a Rider game in years. Do you guys still put watermelons on your heads?

You don’t have to go to games to see that. Regular headgear in Sasky.

 

[brentashton]

I haven’t been to a Rider game in years. Do you guys still put watermelons on your heads?

You make it sound as if that’s a bad thing.



And yes. Yes we do. It also how we get our yuccaflux started.

 

[bone]

Somewhat sad to see Brown go as like others have said, he was often a bright light in dark times over the past few years.

That said, it seemed he only really performed once the team was so far back in the standings that they were essentially done. His first year, he just arrived late and was great, but the following years, he was very unproductive in the early parts of the schedule and part of the reason they started 0-9 and 0-7.

Hopefull Rankin/Leake can be quick starters next year as this team needs to finally have a good start.

 

[bellagiobob]

 

[PositiveCashFlow]

I thought we had near NFL level training facilities?

Also what was wrong with our training camp?

 

[bellagiobob]

 

[bone]

I thought we had near NFL level training facilities?

Also what was wrong with our training camp?

There's a much more detailed background at this link 2024 CFLPA Club Report Cards – CFLPA than the tweets. It gets into details about who was asked (all players on a roster in October), how many responded (495 which is an average or 55 per team), and the general nature of questions to generate the grades.

Specifically for training camp "Players were asked about the quality of their housing during training camp; if they had to share a room during training camp; about the quality of their meals during training camp; and if their club adhered to CBA practice time and padded practice requirements during training camp."

It sounds like the Elks went cheap on nutrition/food to the point where a comment was that cold pizza wasn't enough for nurishment around practices and post game. With training camp scoring so poorly I suspect they also went cheap on lodging for players attending camp.

Facilities was captured under Training and Medical Staff, so a C is disappointing, but coupled with the comments "My main concerns are lack of investment in both nutrition and strength and conditioning", it was likely less about the actual facilities and more about the staff and program. Interesting that the Strength and Conditioning Coach was a female hire, though the credentials seem reasonable.

 

[timekeep]

Just read this too, I'm sure that LT will improve some of these things but the best were five teams that were B's and B-'s.

Only two As were awarded, which went to Saskatchewan for football operations and Hamilton for equipment. No team scored an A+ in any category on the report card.

Only two Fs were assessed, which went to the Elks in the categories of nutrition and diet and training camp.

With grades across the eight categories averaged to create aggregate scores, the CFL’s nine teams rank as follows.

Hamilton Tiger-Cats — B (3.00)
Saskatchewan Roughriders — B (3.00)
Ottawa Redblacks — B- (2.83)
Winnipeg Blue Bombers — B- (2.79)
Toronto Argonauts — B- (2.67)
Montreal Alouettes — C+ (2.25)
Calgary Stampeders — C- (1.75)
B.C. Lions — C- (1.67)
Edmonton Elks — D+ (1.46)

 

[Cloned]

A damning indictment of Jones, Cui and the BOD.

 

[bone]

Just read this too, I'm sure that LT will improve some of these things but the best were five teams that were B's and B-'s.

Only two As were awarded, which went to Saskatchewan for football operations and Hamilton for equipment. No team scored an A+ in any category on the report card.

Only two Fs were assessed, which went to the Elks in the categories of nutrition and diet and training camp.

With grades across the eight categories averaged to create aggregate scores, the CFL’s nine teams rank as follows.

Hamilton Tiger-Cats — B (3.00)
Saskatchewan Roughriders — B (3.00)
Ottawa Redblacks — B- (2.83)
Winnipeg Blue Bombers — B- (2.79)
Toronto Argonauts — B- (2.67)
Montreal Alouettes — C+ (2.25)
Calgary Stampeders — C- (1.75)
B.C. Lions — C- (1.67)
Edmonton Elks — D+ (1.46)

A positive here is Ed's old team scored the best in this survey and he brought the AGM with him from Hamilton, so I'm optimistic they'll be focussing on improving a lot of these areas. If they weren't the architects of that program, they were at least part of it and know what a good program that the players respect looks like.

 

[bone]

Another positive I'm reading out of this survey is that where Edmonton seemed to do it's worst last year (strength and conditioning) is that their new coach once performed this actual role so I suspect he'll view it as a priority even before seeing these results.

 

[bellagiobob]

Good trade. If he wants to come here at a reasonable price, would make for a good backup.

 

[Drivesaitl]

Probably because they're human?

Its pretty easy to see why not everyone is motivated by how much they earn, and how complacency slips in.

Well it does for fans too. Perhaps why they don't have hardly any. If the team can't get up for games why should I? Thats the thing with the Elks and has been for the entirety of the rebranding. About time the players on the field manage to win some games and give people a reason to even care about the club.

If the whole thing is players can't be bothered and think they're not getting paid enough in CFL or here, then don't even bother. Get a job at Target in Oklahoma I guess.

I'm probably not getting your point though.

 

[bone]

Good trade.

Depends on how they can re-work the deal with Fajardo. If not, that's a lot of money tied up in 2 QBs which likely means releasing him anyways.

Fortunately, Fajardo should know there is no other starting jobs in the league and with Tre being the least experienced (other than the guy in Montreal) and with a bit of injury history, this may be one of his better opportunities to get a few starts and try to re-establish himself.

Just like how I thought Edmonton was Tre's best opportunity to start in the CFL, I also think Edmonton presents the best opportunity in the league for a backup hoping to re-establish themselves as a starter.

I also suspect Maas would speak positively about Edmonton to Fajardo helping him consider it as an option as I suspect he would still hold Maas in high esteem despite how this off-season went.

 

[bellagiobob]

Depends on how they can re-work the deal with Fajardo. If not, that's a lot of money tied up in 2 QBs which likely means releasing him anyways.

Fortunately, Fajardo should know there is no other starting jobs in the league and with Tre being the least experienced (other than the guy in Montreal) and with a bit of injury history, this may be one of his better opportunities to get a few starts and try to re-establish himself.

Just like how I thought Edmonton was Tre's best opportunity to start in the CFL, I also think Edmonton presents the best opportunity in the league for a backup hoping to re-establish themselves as a starter.

I also suspect Maas would speak positively about Edmonton to Fajardo helping him consider it as an option as I suspect he would still hold Maas in high esteem despite how this off-season went.

I’m assuming they’ve already had preliminary talks with his agent to see if there is a fit. Doubt Ed makes the trade without a bit of legwork already done, but losing the rights to MBT is a nothingburger anyhow, as he wasn’t coming back here.

 

[Stoneman89]

I’m assuming they’ve already had preliminary talks with his agent to see if there is a fit. Doubt Ed makes the trade without a bit of legwork already done, but losing the rights to MBT is a nothingburger anyhow, as he wasn’t coming back here.

Good trade. If he wants to come here at a reasonable price, would make for a good backup.

Someone on here is going to be heartbroken with his latest hero moving to Montreal.

 

[MoontoScott]

Someone on here is going to be heartbroken with his latest hero moving to Montreal.

Keith Richards is going to Montreal??

 

[brentashton]

Keith Richards is going to Montreal??

Keef for Finance Minister!!