Friday, September 25, 2015

CFL Week Fourteen


Usually the bye week is a welcome thing for CFL squads, a chance to get a bit of rest and recuperation, or recalibration of some of the offensive and defensive units.

However, for Hamilton, the bye week would probably have been surrendered without complaint, if the Tiger Cats could have their starting quarterback returned to where he was one week ago.

As all CFL fans by now have seen, the Cats QB Zach Collaros was lost for the season, last weekend in the Cats game against the Edmonton Eskimos, a highlight reel season stopped short mid way through, with no episodes to come until next year.

The bye week now, a much more urgent affair, as Kent Austin looks to bring up to speed as quick as possible in his new starter's role.

While Austin and the Cats dig deep to keep their hopes of a Grey Cup berth alive, the battle for placements towards that goal continues for the CFL's eight other squads.

Winnipeg launches what they hope will be a playoff push on Friday night Football, with a pretty daunting task ahead of them, as the Calgary Stampeders arrive in River city, a tough challenge for a struggling Bombers squad who then face Edmonton next week. Giving them back to back games against the two top teams of the West.

Saturday's double header finds the BC Lions in Edmonton, with the Lions seeking to keep within distance of the two Alberta teams which have pulled away from the CFL West pack.

An Ontario showdown makes for the night cap on Saturday as the Ottawa RedBlacks host the Toronto Argonauts, with Ottawa looking to put some distance between themselves and their Southern Ontario cousins.

Sunday has the Montreal Alouettes heading to Saskatchewan, with the Als still motivated to make a push for post season play, perhaps through a cross over into the west, for the Riders, the prospect of playing out the season seems the main focus now, players and maybe even some of the coaches putting forward their resumes for the 2016 season.

Below, is our archive for week number thirteen

Check back regularly through the weekend for updated material.

Friday, September 25

Calgary Stampeders 25 at Winnipeg Blue Bombers 23
23,113

 Game Preview
-- Calgary Stampeders hope for return date at Investors Group Field
-- Blue Bombers hope to end the fall of Troy when they take on Stampeders Friday


Game Reviews:

 CFL. ca Game Wrap
CFL. ca Stats Review
CFL.ca Highlights
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Saturday, September 26 

British Columbia Lions 23 at Edmonton Eskimos 29
29,148


-- Lions line up still has some holes
-- Eskimos head coach Chris Jones has built a squad that's on track to be the best defence ever in the CFL


Game Reviews:

CFL.ca Game Recap
CFL.ca  Stats Review
CFL.ca Highlights

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Saturday, September 26

Toronto Argonauts 35 at Ottawa RedBlacks 26
24,586




Game Reviews:

CFL.ca Game Recap
CFL.ca Stats Review
CFL.ca Highlights

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Sunday, September 27

Montreal Alouettes 21 at Saskatchewan Roughriders 33
30,843


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Thursday, September 24, 2015

Top Performers Week Thirteen





Henry Burris continues to defy the calendar, as the veteran RedBlacks QB posted a remarkable number of stats from weekend play over the Saskatchewan Roughriders.  Burris led the Redblacks as they launched a comeback win over the Riders, mostly on the arm of their quarterback, who passed for 477 yards, grabbing 2 aerial TD's along the way. When he wasn't passing for touchdowns, Burris was running them in himself, scoring a major as part of his seven rushing attempts.

The B. C. Lions have a few problems to sort out this season, but the special teams attack isn't one of them, Chris Rainey made a spectacular against the Calgary Stampeders, scoring two TD's on run backs, one a punt return which went 103 yards, the other a second half kick off return  for another 103 yard major.

Stefan Logan provided a fair amount of the damage to the Winnipeg Blue Bombers defence on Sunday, as the Als running back scrambled for 138 yards on kick returns and a 78 yard punt return for a touchdown as part of the Als 35-14 victory over the Bombers.

No results from the fan voting for week number seven have been released as of yet.

The CFL's Shaw Top Performers for Week Twelve 

1st -- Henry Burris -- QB  -- Ottawa RedBlacks -- 100 points

2nd -- Chris Rainey -- RB  -- British Columbia Lions -- 50 Points

3rd --  Stefan Logan -- RB -- Montreal Alouettes  -- 25 points

Fan Vote -- Ballot Results not released yet--10 Points


CFL.ca review of the Players of the Week


Twelve Men on the Field Archive of the Shaw Top Performers Listings for the 2014 season
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Friday, September 18, 2015

CFL Week Thirteen


The weather is set for a changing as Canada moves from summer into the fall, with the hot summer days (well there were a few for some) set to give way to the sometimes, wet, frequently windy all of which can play havoc with any CFL team's game plans and season.

And while there may still be a few weeks left before the weather forecaster becomes the most important thing on a team's depth chart, you just never know when the fall makes its arrival

With the Labour Day classics and their return engagements now firmly in the past, the Thanksgiving day games of October will be the next items on the Social calendar, leaving three weeks for positioning before the teams and their fans prepare for turkey and giving thanks.

Week Thirteen launches with the British Columbia Lions facing a daunting challenge, looking to find their own way back into the win column, while taking on a Stampeders team that will be quite focused on taking care of the miscues that brought them a loss last week in Edmonton.

Saturday brings a double header of games that offer up some interesting themes, the twin bill opener comes from Hamilton where two of the CFL's hottest teams will collide at Tim Horton's field, as the Edmonton Eskimos take on the always ready Tiger Cats.

With the home side looking to solidify even further its grip on the top spot in the CFL East, while the Eskimos will be focused on the prospect of catching, or at least keeping pace with the Stamps in the West.

Saturday night comes to an end with the ever improving Ottawa RedBlacks heading into Saskatchewan, perhaps even the favourites on the weekend to add two points to the win column for their efforts.  Ottawa has been quite impressive in recent weeks, featuring both a strong offensive unit and a defence that is making it increasingly hard to take points away from the squad from the nation's capital

Week thirteen comes to an end featuring two teams that are a bit of a conundrum this year, both the Bombers and Alouettes have from time to time shown some promise, only to throw all that good karma away but one week later. Barring the prospect of a tie game by day's end, Week thirteen will most likley deliver the same fate to this weekends two participants.

Below, is our archive for week number thirteen

Check back regularly through the weekend for updated material.

Friday, September 18

British Columbia 23 at Calgary 35 
31,586

 Game Preview
-- Lions' defence resolute before Stampeders clash
-- Cornish gets a rush out of seeing B. C. Lions orange


Game Reviews:

 CFL. ca Game Wrap
CFL. ca Stats Review
CFL.ca Highlights
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Saturday, September 19 

Edmonton 25 at Hamilton 18
24,300


-- Eskimos' Mike Reilly, Tiger-Cats Zach Collaros are gunslingers ready for a shoot out
-- Hot Eskimos looking for some payback


Game Reviews:

CFL.ca Game Recap
CFL.ca  Stats Review
CFL.ca Highlights

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Saturday, September 19

Ottawa 30 at Saskatchewan 27
30,480




Game Reviews:

CFL.ca Game Recap
CFL.ca Stats Review
CFL.ca Highlights

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Sunday, September 20

Winnipeg 14 at Montreal 35
23,262

Game Preview

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CFL Top Performers Week Twelve




It was all offence in week twelve of the CFL season, with the play makers of the last seven days making their mark and putting points on the scoreboard over the course of the weekend.

Edmonton's Mike Reilly grabbed the top spot, the Eskimos bounce back game against the Stamps was successful thanks to the work of the Edmonton Quarterback, who in his second start of the year and first since week one, threw for 352 yards, completing 22 of his tosses, three of them for touchdowns.

The Ottawa Redblacks continue to show the CFL that one year after their entry into the league, taking on the team from the nation's capital is not a reason to hold guaranteed win night. The Redblacks walked into BC Place and took down the Lions, gaining the first victory on the west coast for an Ottawa based team since 1990. High among the reasons for the strong season so far is the work of of Jeremiah Johnson, the Redblacks running back continue to impress, by running for 100 yard in 17 rushes, collecting a pair of touchdowns along the way.

It's back to the Eskimos work on the weekend for the third player of the Top Performers list, with Adarius Bowman leading the way in the reception stats from last week, gaining 104 yards on six receptions, including a pair of catches that provide the Eskimos with two touchdowns.

No results from the fan voting for week number seven have been released as of yet.

The CFL's Shaw Top Performers for Week Twelve 

1st -- Mike Reilly -- QB  -- Edmonton Eskimos -- 100 points

2nd -- Jeremiah Johnson -- RB  -- Ottawa RedBlacks-- 50 Points

3rd --  Adarius Bowman -- SB -- Edmonton Eskimos  -- 25 points

Fan Vote -- Ballot Results not released yet--10 Points


CFL.ca review of the Players of the Week


Twelve Men on the Field Archive of the Shaw Top Performers Listings for the 2014 season
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Friday, September 11, 2015

CFL Week Twelve


Bounce back week for three of the CFL's six combatants in week number twelve, as the return engagements in Edmonton, Winnipeg and Toronto mark the second half of the Labour Day home and home series.

The Argos will be looking to regroup after last week's licking in Hamilton as Toronto hosts the Ti Cats at Rogers Centre for the Friday Night Football kickoff to the weekend of football.

Saturday brings a double header of rivalry, with the Roughriders looking to carry on with their momentum from last weeks victory over Winnipeg at Regina, the Bombers who surely are feeling the heat in their hometown as the discontent reaches near rebellion stage in the city will be seeking to make their stand at this year's edition of the Banjo Bowl.

Edmonton hosts the nightcap for the Saturday action, with the Eskimos seeking a little finish from their efforts of last week, where they came close to providing for the Labour Day upset in Calgary. The Stamps who did not have their usual offensive output on Labour Day Monday will no doubt be ramping up their offensive play, as they continue to work on securing the first overall placement in the CFL heading towards Thanksgiving next month.

The week twelve action wraps up on the west coast, where the Lions, now faced with six weeks without Travis Lulay will turn to John Beck to try and keep the momentum of last week alive. They face a well rested RedBlacks squad, which last saw action in week ten when they delivered the final push for Saskatchewan to make the wholesale management changes of the start of this month.

Below our archive for week number eleven.

Check back regularly through the weekend for updated material.

Friday, September 11

Hamilton Tiger Cats 35 at Toronto Argonauts 27
17,694

 Game Preview
-- Ticats look for season sweep against Argos on Friday
-- Argos' Harris must step up against Ticats


Game Reviews:

 CFL. ca Game Wrap
CFL. ca Stats Review
CFL.ca Highlights
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Saturday, September 12 

Saskatchewan Roughriders 7 at Winnipeg Blue Bombers 22
35,156

-- Dyce progressing in role as head coach
-- Matt Nichols is the ninth starting quarterback Bombers have had in last 50 games ... Can he be the right one?


Game Reviews:

CFL.ca Game Recap
CFL.ca  Stats Review
CFL.ca Highlights

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Saturday, September 12

Calgary Stampeders 16 at Edmonton Eskimos 27
38,906




Game Reviews:

CFL.ca Game Recap
CFL.ca Stats Review
CFL.ca Highlights

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Sunday, September 13

Ottawa RedBlacks at British Columbia Lions
1 PM PT, 4 ET

Game Preview

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CFL Top Performers Week Eleven




Another  big week for the Tiger Cats, a squad which looked clinical in their dispatch of the Toronto Argonauts on Labour Day, with no shortage of players to be considered for the Shaw Top Performers of the week.

In the end, the judges settled on Zach Collars as the top player of the week, taking note of his 400 yards and completion totals of 26 on 38 attempts.  Four of those 26 finding their way to the end zone adding on to the impressive totals of the day that gave the Cats their 42-12 victory over Toronto.

The Stampeders defensive play gets a shout out in week eleven, with the selection committee saluting the work of Charleston Hughes at Defensive End for the second spot on the week.

The Cats claw their way into the final spot for the week, with wide receiver Terrell Sinkfield at the end of many of those Zach Collaros tosses during Labour Day, Sinkfield's stats on the weekend play gave him 110 receiving yards and two touchdowns on the way to the Hamilton victory.

No results from the fan voting for week number seven have been released as of yet.

The CFL's Shaw Top Performers for Week Nine 

1st -- Zach Collaros -- QB  -- Hamilton Tiger Cats -- 100 points

2nd -- Charleston Hughes -- DE  -- Calgary Stampeders-- 50 Points

3rd --  Terrell Sinkfield -- WR -- Hamilton Tiger Cats  -- 25 points

Fan Vote -- Ballot Results not released yet--10 Points


CFL.ca review of the Players of the Week


Twelve Men on the Field Archive of the Shaw Top Performers Listings for the 2014 season
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Sunday, September 06, 2015

Grabbing some of that Toronto media sunshine is proving elusive for the CFL this year

The Toronto market is always one of the most challenging for the CFL, the threat of an NFL incursion always seemingly on the horizon along with a wide range of other sports options that suck the media cycle dry sometimes before the league can even elbow its way into a conversation.

This year in particular, the Argos have been shuffled beyond the front page of the sports pages, lost at times to the tidal wave of coverage on the Blue Jays of late, the Pan Am Games which apparently was Toronto's debut in the world of international sport (at least if Toronto's media offerings of the summer were an indication at that time).

Then there was the Women's World Cup of Soccer which did grab our attention through the start of the CFL season, add on the never ending watch on the Leafs and the Raptors and you get the idea, column space or TV and radio coverage is something that you have to fight for.

Things weren't helped along this year for the Double Blue by their travelogue opening schedule, where the Argos became Fort McMurray's home town team for a few games, before gaining more travel time across Western Canada than most of the early explorers for the HBC.

Finally the Argos managed to find a home date in a home stadium, in their hometown. (well OK that one is a bit of stretch, they're really treated like squatters at Rogers Centre)

So, now they're back in town, ruling the CFL standings in the east and looking pretty damn impressive.

A feat accomplished despite the fact that the team's franchise player, Ricky Ray has not suited up for one regular season game, they really should be the thing of Toronto legend right?

Well, not quite ... true the coverage is starting to pick up, the window though is short, a Blue Jays run down the stretch will roll into the Leafs training camp opening .... space again we imagine will become limited.

Still, one hopes that the Toronto Star at least can slot their stories into the right category.

This week, Bruce Arthur offered up a bit of catch up for Argo fans, putting together some interesting thoughts on the latest from the CFL, a fairly instructive review of the state of the league at the moment.

As well it also provided a glimpse into the work of new Commissioner Jeffrey Orridge and what he has ahead of him as he looks to lead the CFL into the future.

CFL commissioner Jeffrey Orridge has his eye on the ball: Arthur

The only problem and perhaps it is the largest problem for the CFL, is that when it comes to the impression of the league in the Big City, the league's imprint is shall we say a tad limited, to that point the Star placed Mr. Arthur's story of Saturday in the "Amateur Sports" section .



That's no reflection on Bruce Arthur's report, which was a balanced look at the CFL and one that highlighted some of the issues of the past and the challenges of the future.

However, the line up positioning by the Star's composition desk in itself probably outlines the largest issue for Commissioner Orridge when it comes to the CFL's relationship with the media in Toronto.

At times, when it comes to some of the media players in the nation's largest market, the respect for the one of the country's longest running and celebrated national sports institutions,  is at times pretty hard to find.
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Friday, September 04, 2015

CIS Headlines: Archive of University Notes for September 2015



Our archive of notes from August on the CIS training camps heading into the September launch

Canada West

Alberta Golden Bears

September 4 -- Competition for Goden Bears starting quarterback "very, very close"
September 1 -- Golden Bears football looks to take next step into playoffs


Calgary Dinos

September 17 -- Dinos break Canada West record with 80-18 romp over rival Bears
September 17 -- 1983 Vanier-Cup winning Dinos team getting its due
September 16 -- Dinos' kicker Mark needs one point to set new CIS scoring record
September 11 -- Dinos running back runs roughshod in win over Bisons
September 10 -- Dinos aim for redemption against Bisons, who upset them in 2014 Hardy Cup
September 4 -- Dinos ruin Blake Nill's return to McMahon stadium
September 4 -- Dinos ground down T-birds to win season opener
September 4 -- Football Dinos beat former coach, Thunderbirds
September 2 -- Dinos focused on themselves, not the subplots surrounding season opener


 Manitoba Bisons

September 1 -- Tackling his battles
September 1 -- Sizing up the competition

 Regina Rams 

September 4 -- Gibson era set to begin at University of Regina


 Saskatchewan Huskies 

September 4 -- Two Brians have battled for 20 years
September 4 -- Dale a dose of optimism for Huskies

UBC Thunderbirds

September 17 -- Homecoming was an experience to remember
September 16 -- Homecoming, while a close call, was a huge success
September 13 -- Football squeezes by Regina in front of homecoming crowd
September 13 -- UBC's biggest football crowd in a quarter century goes home happy
September 11 -- Football is in for some major changes
September 11 -- UBC has to win Homecoming
September 10 -- Family footsteps a T-Bird Stadium tradition for UBC"s Mitch Barnett
September 5 -- UBC students move into residence for 100th anniversary year
September 4 -- Dinos flex muscle, Calgary simply too physical for UBC to handle in its Canada West grid opener
September 3 -- A financier, a new coach, and a star quarterback: a new hope for UBC football
September 3 -- Football talk with UBC's Nill (audio)
September 3 -- Football to face Nill's former team in tense first game

OUAA

Carleton Ravens 

September 6 -- Ravens take out Week 1 frustrations on Warriors
September 6 -- Carleton Ravens, Ottawa Gee Gees win at home
September 2 -- TD Place agrees to host Panda Game
September 2 -- Ravens football fall to Golden Gaels

 Guelph Gryphons

September 7 -- Gryphons improve to 2-0 with win over Laurier
September 4 -- Gryphon offence starts with veteran centre Nesbitt
September 3 -- Newton's law: Practice the way you play for Gryphons
September 3 -- Scarfone catches on with Gryphon offence

Laurier Hawks

September 5 -- Laurier's Morelli ready for his big chance


 McMaster Marauders

--


Ottawa Gee Gee's

September 6 -- Ottawa Gee-Gee's, Carleton Ravens win at home
September 2 -- Gee-Gees football returns to TD Place for Panda Game revenge
September 2 -- Gee Gees football is seeking hardware on deep playoff run

 Queen's Golden Gaels

September 4 -- "Like another playoff game"
September 2 -- Gaels' Wamsley earns national recognition

Toronto Varsity Blues 

 --

 Waterloo Warriors

September 6 -- University of Waterloo Warriors lose 57-0 at Carleton
September 5 -- Scorched Warriors aim to resume climb up mountain


Western Mustangs

September 4 -- Western Mustang receiver George Johnson is on the list of top 20 CFL prospects
September 4 -- Western Mustangs banking on running game
September 1 -- Western team starts strong in national rankings
September 1 -- Western Mustangs' Matt Uren persevere through pain

Windsor Lancers

September 4 -- Unrest grows within Lancer football ranks
September 3 -- Lancers find bright spot in offensive line despite 76-7 loss
September 3 -- New CEO Graham Brown looks to grow CIS
September 2 -- Graham Brown to become CIS CEO

York Lions

--



Quebec

Laval Rouge et Or

September 5 -- Rouge et Or win season opener, 12-9

Montreal Carabins

--

Sherbrooke Vert et Or

--

Concordia Stingers




Bishop's Gaiters

--

McGill Redmen




Atlantic

 Acadia Axemen

--

 Mount Allison Mounties

 --

 Saint Mary's Huskies

 --

 St. Francis Xavier  X-Men

 --
Simon Fraser University Clan (NCAA Div 2 football)

September 17 -- Paopao comes full circle, veteran grid guru, OC mentors Clan senior Quarterback Stanford
September 3 -- Countdown is on as Simon Fraser prepares to open Kelly Bates era
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Thursday, September 03, 2015

CFL Week Eleven


What's considered the CFL's real season launches with the Labour Day Battles, with some of the leagues most fierce rivalries set to take to the field over the final weekend of our now fading summer.

And while not a rivalry like the rest of the week end will provide for, the week eleven schedule opens in Montreal where the Alouettes will be looking to keep on their newly found winning ways. Heading into Montreal finds  the BC Lions hoping to reverse some of their losing skid of the last two weeks.

CFL fans get a two day break over Labour Day before the heart of the rivalry games get underway, with the Bombers and Riders taking to the field on Sunday at Mosaic Field.  Saskatchewan will find an interested home audience this weekend, anxious to see if the dismissals of Brendan Taman and Corey Chamblin have an immediate affect on the fortunes of the home side.

For new GM Jeremy O'Day and the newly promoted field boss in Bob Dyce, the task of rebuilding the team is one thing, but showing progress for the always engaged RiderNation means that you have tens of thousands of bosses watching over your shoulder.

Winnipeg heads into that hornet's nest looking to keep their playoff ambitions alive in the CFL West, a new addition at QB in Matt Nichols finally delivers some potential permanence for the position for now, buying the Bombers some time to put together a longer range plan.

Monday provides for the double dose of rivalry, the Argos are off to the Hammer, where never a warm reception is found and the Double Blue take on a Hamilton team smarting from last week's loss to Montreal, focus no doubt won't be a problem for the Black and Yellow.

The weekend wraps up in Calgary where the battle of North and South Alberta will play out, the high flying Eskimos will be looking to knock the Stamps off the CFL's top spot, a win not only pushes the Esks into a first place tie, but will also provide for some momentum heading towards the back end of the CFL season.

Below our archive for week number eleven.

Check back regularly through the weekend for updated material.

Thursday, September 3

BC Lions 25 at Montreal Alouettes 16
21,885 

 Game Preview
-- Genius or garrulous? Manny’s mouth has Alouettes riled up
-- Quarterback Marsh embraces chance to start for Alouettes


Game Reviews:

 CFL. ca Game Wrap
CFL. ca Stats Review
CFL.ca Highlights

 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Sunday, September 6 

Winnipeg Blue Bombers 19 at Saskatchewan Roughriders 37
33,427 


-- Bombers and Riders will play Labour Day Un-classic for Prairie gagging rights
-- Victory-deprived Riders are due for a celebration


Game Reviews:

CFL.ca Game Recap
CFL.ca  Stats Review
CFL.ca Highlights

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Monday, September 7

Toronto Argonauts 12 at Hamilton Tiger Cats 42
24,390




Game Reviews:

CFL.ca Game Recap
CFL.ca Stats Review
CFL.ca Highlights

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Monday, September 7

Edmonton Eskimos 7 at Calgary Stampeders 16
35,400


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Chamblin and Taman pay the price for Riders woeful season

In the end it became a two for one firing in Regina, the Riders management collective finally hearing the calls from pretty well every corner of RiderNation that change was needed, not at the end of the season, but before the Labour Day Classic.

For many watching last weeks Riders game in Ottawa, the decision was made in the late stages of the first half, when head coach Corey Chamblin inexplicably chose to make an example of his starting quarterback on the day, an errant pass into the end zone seemingly the signal to Chamblin to bench Brett Smith, a move that unleashed nine games worth of frustration and bewilderment from the long suffering Rider faithful.

As things seem to have turned out, the actual discord on the Rider sidelines was between the Quarterback (who took the blame for the situation) and Offensive Coordinator Jacques Chapdelaine, with Chamblin it seems choosing not to over rule the OC's staffing prerogatives.

Still, it was a puzzling move for a struggling team, while the pass was  no doubt a brain cramp, Smith had put together some fairly impressive drives to bring the Riders at least back into a contest that appeared lost for the most part of the first quarter.

And while, sitting the rookie QB for a few plays to reassess his play might have been a good move, the decision to keep Smith on the sidelines more than anything else added on to what had become a growing list of disenchantment with Chamblin's handling of the Riders.

The dismissal of Shambling wasn't in the end a surprise, the storm clouds had been gathering over Mosaic Field from pretty well since week one, each loss adding to the division between those who felt that the coach deserved more time to ride out a horrid time, to others who felt that he was far too often deflecting responsibility for the state of the team and its record.

With each week passing by, the side of the line on the ledger calling for the Riders to make a change grew exponentially with each Rider loss. The conversations on the province's radio talk show taking on one growing theme, the tine for Change was at hand, disregard your fans at your own peril.

A message that the Rider Board clearly heard, not only when it came to the on field situation, but with the management of the team at the GM's level.

For General Manager Taman, his reluctance to take the step of dismissing his coach appeared to be the contributing factor to his departure, though rumblings out of the Riders offices seem to suggest that some of the contractual obligations that Taman has tied the team to, didn't help his cause to stay the course and try to turn around what has been a horrid year.

The Riders now turn to Jeremy O'Day, a Taman hiring who moves up from Assistant GM, while Bob Dyce, now takes over the coaching duties and much like his new partner in the GM's office will hold the job on an interim basis.

Those watching the manoeuvres in the Riders camp will note that Chapdelaine, who has had extensive CFL experience was passed over, perhaps a sign that the weekend's drama has not gone un-noticed.

The nine game audition for the new Rider tandem starts with Sunday's always anticipated Labour Day Classic with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, a Rider win on Sunday may not guarantee either O'Day or Dyce the job at the end of the season.

But a victory over the Bombers would surely make the pair widely celebrated across the province and lift some of the accumulated gloom of the first two months of the CFL season.

Riders back to work after cleaning house
Riders moving forward with new regime
Riders hit re-start under Dyce
Off-field issues contributed to Taman's firing
Bob Dyce takes the Riders' reins
Genesis of Roughriders mess dates back to 2014
What went wrong after 2013 Grey Cup
Dyce, O'Day officially take over interim roles with Saskatchewan Roughriders
Roughriders roll dice with O'Day, Dyce
Roughriders fire Taman, Chamblin
Chamblin left Roughriders' brass with no alternative
Saskatchewan Roughriders fire head coach Corey Chamblin, GM Brendan Taman after 0-9 start
Roughriders fire coach Corey Chamblin, GM Brendan Taman
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CFL Players of the month for August




Having had a pretty remarkable month of August, the Tiger Cats Zach Collaros has claimed the CFL's Top Performers of the Month,  Much of Collaros' success came through 14 passing touchdowns and by recording 1,417 passing yards. Numbers that added to his league leading totals of 2,632 yards with a QB efficiency rating of 110.9

Derek Walker's work through the month of August has provided Eskimo fans with much to rave about and defensive backs around the CFL cause to be found in film sessions in the days following contests with the Edmonton squad.  With 472 yards in three games to launch his CFL career, Walker has quickly become a player to watch.

The Ti Cats collect their second of the top three spots for August thanks to the defensive play of Eric Norwood, the Cats Defensive End has been a prominent fixture in the backfield of opposing teams, amassing 18 tackles, five sacks and two fumble recoveries for touchdowns through the month of August.


All three players will have their bonus points added to the Top Performers listings through to the end of the season.

The CFL's Shaw Top Performers for August

1st -- Zach Collaros  -- QB -- Hamilton Tiger Cats -- 200 points

2nd -- Derel Walker -- WR -- Edmonton Eskimos -- 100 Points

3rd --  Eric Norwood  -- DE -- Hamilton Tiger-Cats -- 50 points


CFL.ca review of the Players of the Month

Twelve Men on the Field Archive of the Shaw Top Performers Listings for the 2014 season
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CFL Top Performers Week Ten




Another sweep for the CFL's Top Performers, with the Edmonton Eskimos claiming all three spots in the Week Ten review. The third time this season that a team has collected all three spots in the weekly review of the Best pefrormances of the week.

James Franklin's impressive work agains the Argonauts last weekend caught the notice of the selection committee, as the Esks QB completed 29 of 38 passes, throwing for 335 yards and showing some strong on field leadership in Edmonton's 38-15 victory over the double blue.

The offensive display continued with the work of Kendial Lawrence, who collected 263 total yards against the Argos, grabbing second place for the top Performers of the week. When he wasn't making the highlight reel on offence, Lawrence's special teams play proved impressive, his 64 yard punt return for a TD making for a pivotal moment in the game.

The Esks completion of the Top Performers sweep went to Derel Walker, a favourite target for Franklin's passes, Walker collected over 164 yards on seven receptions, including his first career CFL touchdown.

No results from the fan voting for week number seven have been released as of yet.

The CFL's Shaw Top Performers for Week Nine 

1st -- James Franklin -- QB  -- Edmonton Eskimos -- 100 points

2nd -- Kendial Lawrence -- SB  -- Edmonton Eskimos-- 50 Points

3rd --  Derel Walker -- WR -- Edmonton Eskimos  -- 25 points

Fan Vote -- Ballot Results not released yet--10 Points


CFL.ca review of the Players of the Week


Twelve Men on the Field Archive of the Shaw Top Performers Listings for the 2014 season
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