Good health equals wealth in the CFL’S tough West Division
In ultracompetitive environment, injuries could decide who gets home playoff games
Unfortunately for most of you, I’m back this week. The wellknown Bob Carstone actually wanted another column!
As Rob Vanstone (who edits this column but still missed the glaring error in the opening paragraph) had often said to his detractors: “If you don’t like my columns, blame Bob Hughes. He hired me!”
Anyway, I’m back, having survived cutdowns following the pre-season and the opening week of the regular season.
Week 1 in the CFL always provides an interesting set of games. All teams are excited and fired up to play, or they should be.
It started out Thursday in bizarre fashion with the longest game in CFL history — the Edmonton Eskimos’ 33-30 victory over the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.
The game, twice delayed by severe weather, ended at 1:17 a.m., Winnipeg time.
The moonlit charter plane ride back to Edmonton was undoubtedly more pleasant after a victory. However, it is never a complete win from the general manager’s chair unless you come away healthy as well.
To the naked eye, it appeared that the winning squad sustained some injuries that could cause concern in the weeks ahead.
Such is the degree to which reality can temper revelling in a victory.
For 30 minutes or less, you can enjoy the win. Following your short spasm of actual fun, discussions with medical personnel, the coaches and personnel staff typically ensue.
The gymnastics of your rosterjuggling start to happen and you do it over and over and over again. This likely started post-game in the locker-room, with the process to continue until Day 1’s practice.
In the ultracompetitive West Division, in which there seems to be so little to choose between the top teams, a key injury or two could decide which teams receive home playoff games.
This is what makes the Saskatchewan Roughriders’ 27-19 victory over the visiting Toronto Argonauts on Friday that much more enjoyable to the Green and White’s football operations personnel.
It was a solid win — a good start to the year, which is what the Riders needed — and there was very little TV time for the training staff.
(Former athletic therapist) Ivan Gutfriend always scowled when injuries drew him to the field. The GM and coaches always held their breath.
A quick synopsis of the Riders’ 2018 debut: Great weather, great defence played, a quarterback (Zach Collaros) who probably smiled all weekend — a clean game all around for Team Green. Could you ask for much more? How’s the discussion about who should start at quarterback going, anyway? The defence rests!
In the West, you have to keep pace. The only West team that lost (Winnipeg) fell to last place. In the East, the only team that didn’t play (Ottawa Redblacks) is in first. Go figure.
That will change as season progresses. Well, it had better.
Now, here goes nothing — the predictions, including insights (?) from what’s-his-name ...
SASKATCHEWAN AT
OTTAWA (THURSDAY, 5:30 P.M.) Taman: Oh, the memories of games in Ottawa (Taman’s Last Stand of Aug. 30, 2015, especially). Nightmare, migraine, etc., etc. Redblacks by three. Taman gone by three the next afternoon.
Vanstone: Revenge game for Ottawa after home-field playoff loss to Riders. Redblacks by two.
WINNIPEG AT MONTREAL (FRIDAY, 5 P.M.)
Taman: More flashbacks to horror in the East. Tino Sunseri is going into the game? What’s going on here? Brendan, please hold for a call by Craig Reynolds. Alouettes by two.
Vanstone: It’s a Montreal game. Bombers by seven.
HAMILTON AT EDMONTON (FRIDAY, 8 P.M.)
Taman: What are we doing now? I am hopelessly scarred, and my predictions consequently influenced by my past against the East. Tiger-cats by three. Vanstone: The Johnny Manziel era draws ever closer. Just watch. Eskimos by 13.
CALGARY AT TORONTO (SATURDAY, 5 P.M.)
Taman: Office cleaned out. Argonauts by one.
Vanstone: Road to 18-0 for Stampeders? Stampeders by five. Records after Week 1: Vanstone 4-0; Taman 3-1.
Disclaimer from B. Taman: My predictions were made under duress. Games between Saskatchewan and Ottawa make me cringe (see: 1976, 2015).
And now for a new feature ...
FANTASY PLAYERS TO WATCH
Taman: Hamilton quarterback Jeremiah Masoli. He played a very good game against Calgary until making a crucial mistake late in the proceedings. The Eskimos’ secondary should yield plenty of yards against Hamilton. So why is Sandstone already lobbying for Manziel?
Vanstone: Eric Rogers, back in Calgary after attempting to make an imprint in the NFL, caught one pass for 13 yards Saturday against Hamilton. Watch for him to soon resemble the game-breaker who amassed 1,448 receiving with the 2015 Stampeders.
Memo to B. Taman: Remember Rogers’ Hail Mary touchdown reception right before halftime against Saskatchewan in 2015? Taman: (Unprintable.)
Taman’s Take appears weekly.