The surprise of the season thus far would have to be the success of the Edmonton Eskimos, a team which had most CFL fans shaking their heads at over the summer, has quickly turned around some of the scepticism, thanks mainly to a strong defensive game and helped out by the continuing evolution of Steven Jyles game.
Jyles, who arrived in Edmonton as part of the Ricky Ray trade, hasn't quite made the home fans forget about Ray and his success with the Esks, but he's been plugging away, having good games and some bad ones, turnovers proving costly, perhaps a sign of a QB that was trying to do just a little bit too much in a bid to show his leadership.
Even those bad moments however have proven to be a team building experience, his famous fumble in the late minutes of the Bombers game a few weeks ago, became a rallying point for the Esks, something that has shown the confidence the players on the field have in Jyles.
To add to his offensive weapons, the Esks have added Cory Boyd picked up from the Argos after the Double Blue released him last week, though it will be a game time decision as to whether he takes to the field against the Als.
The Esks, currently in first place in the West (yes we know technically its a two way tie) take on the Montreal Alouettes on Friday Night Football, another measuring stick for the team following last weeks come from behind victory over the Saskatchewan Roughriders.
That win in front of the largest crowd of the season in the CFL added to the Eskimos undefeated record this year at Commonwealth, a string they put on the line tonight.
The Als who are struggling to regain their usual form, will be looking to challenge the Eskimo defensive corps, a collection of players that have some impressive success this year so far.
Defence has been the stronger segment of the Eskimo game, scoring points against the Green and Gold defenders comes only after a lot of work and a lot of punishment. A fact borne out by the teams remarkable 99 points agains so far in 2012, far and away the best in the league for the season.
Montreal will be looking once again to Anthony Calvillo to put points on the board, something he's quite capable of doing, even in a year where he clearly hasn't been at his best. Still, when it comes to the Als and Calvillo, one should never count them out, the Als currently sporting a .500 record at 3 and 3, are always a dangerous team, one steeped in experience, which can overcome the hiccups that occur from time to time.
However, this has not been the kind of year that Als fans have become accustomed to, struggles in the first part of the season have made the Als more of a middle of the pack squad as opposed to the team that used to dominate the play.
Instead, it's the Eskimos that for now at least, appear to be the team to beat in 2012, something that we're pretty sure no one would have suggested at the Canada Day kick off.
Game Time 7 PM MT (6 PT, 9 ET) Commonwealth Stadium TSN
Montreal 38 at Edmonton 25 (32,760)
Pre Game
CFL Video Preview
Globe and Mail-- Acquisition of Boyd gives Edmonton options in the backfield
National Post-- Cory Boyd's Eskimos debut a 'game-time' decision
Edmonton Journal-- Eskimos put perfect home record on the line against Als
Edmonton Sun-- Hard to forget for AC
Montreal Gazette-- Jyles showing hea has what it takes with Esks
Canada.com-- Injuries open opportunities
Team Backgrounders
Montreal Alouettes
Edmonton Eskimos
Post Game
CFL.ca-- Game Recap
CFL.ca-- Video Highlights
Globe and Mail-- Calvillo throws four TDs to lead Alouettes over Eskimos
National Post-- Alouettes dominate battle of offence in win over Eskimos
Edmonton Journal-- Calvillo directs Alouettes to convincing win over Eskimos
Edmonton Sun-- AC Current
Montreal Gazette-- Als explode against Eskimos
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