The Blair Necessities

Wednesday, August 7, 2019

This Week In The CFL

Thursday Night Football features the Calgary Stampeders visiting the Winnipeg Blue Bombers with the winner moving into sole possession of first-place in the West Division. Calgary enters the game having won three straight. After opening the year 5-0, the Blue Bombers find themselves on a two-game skid following a road trip through Southern Ontario. Winnipeg is returning to the friendly confines of IG Field where they are 3-0 this season. Kickoff is slated for 8:30 p.m. ET and Canadian rock duo Crown Lands will perform at halftime.

Friday Night Football features a double-header. First, Saskatchewan will head to Montreal at 7 p.m. ET with the visitors chasing their fourth win in a row. The Alouettes will be looking to get back into the win column following last week’s 30-27 overtime loss against Ottawa.

At 10 p.m. ET, Edmonton will play host to Ottawa, marking the first game in which a pair of Esks – Trevor Harris and Greg Ellingson – face the team they left in free agency. Ottawa is hoping to return to .500, while Edmonton is looking to improve upon its 3-0 home record this season.

The 2019 Hall of Fame game will conclude the week on Saturday with BC taking on Hamilton at Tim Hortons Field beginning at 7 p.m. ET. The Lions are coming off a bye week and will be in search of their second victory. This season, teams coming off a bye are 5-4. At 5-2, Hamilton holds first place in the East Division and is coming off a last-minute loss to Saskatchewan last week. Dane Evans will be making his third-career start as Hamilton looks to remain perfect at home.

ESPN2 will broadcast the Ottawa/Edmonton game.
ESPN+ will air Calgary/Winnipeg, Saskatchewan/Montreal and BC/Hamilton game this week.
TSN’s Live Mic Game will be Saskatchewan/Montreal game this week.

HALL OF FAME WEEKEND

· Saturday’s game between the BC Lions and the Hamilton Tiger-Cats will be the 2019 Hall of Fame Game following the induction ceremony on Friday night at Tim Hortons Field.

· This year features seven inductees: Jon Cornish, Mervyn Fernandez, Terry Greer, Ernie Pitts (posthumous) and David Williams in the Player category, and former Saskatchewan club president Jim Hopson and legendary University of British Columbia coach Frank Smith in the Builder category.

· For bios of each inductee, click here.

CALGARY THROUGH SEVEN

· This will be the first time since August 20, 1982 that Winnipeg and Calgary will play for sole possession of first in the West Division.

· After starting 2-2, the Stampeders now sit tied for first in the West Division with a 5-2 record.

· Despite two-time MOP, Bo Levi Mitchell, only playing two games thus far, Kamar Jordan playing none and the loss of Alex Singleton, the Stampeders continue to find ways to win.

· Calgary’s record through seven games over the past nine years:

o 2019 | 5-2 | Started 2-2

o 2018 | 7-0 | Grey Cup champion

o 2017 | 5-1-1 | West Division champion

o 2016 | 5-1-1 | West Division champion

o 2015 | 5-2 | West Division finalist

o 2014 | 6-1 | Grey Cup champion

o 2013 | 5-2 | West Division finalist

o 2012 | 3-4 | West Division champion

o 2011 | 6-1 | West Division Semi-finalist

O-LINE SCORING TDs

· In the Argonauts’ Week 8 win over the Blue Bombers, Jamal Campbell caught a one-yard touchdown from McLeod Bethel-Thompson. It marked the first reception and touchdown for the local Toronto native.

· Campbell became the fifth offensive linemen since 2014 to score a TD, with Ryan Bomben having tallied two:

o Sept. 3, 2018: Ryan Bomben (TOR) – 3-yard sliding catch

o July 16, 2016: Jovan Olafioye (BC) – 8-yard touchdown

o Aug. 9, 2015: Ryan Bomben (HAM) – 8-yard touchdown

o Aug. 24, 2014: Dan Clark (SSK) – 1-yard touchdown

o June 28, 2014: T-Dre Player (BC) – 3-yard touchdown

WILD WEEK 8

· At a glance:

o All four games were decided in the final three minutes

o Average margin of victory: three points

o Lead changes: eight

o Average points per game: 49

o Kick return TDs: three

· Two of the four games were won on fourth quarter, game-winning drives: McLeod Bethel-Thompson (TOR) and Cody Fajardo (SSK).

· Winnipeg’s loss to Toronto after being ahead 20-0 matched the largest blown-lead in team history. It was the 6^th largest comeback win in Argonauts history. Toronto led for only the final 10 seconds in the game; Winnipeg led for a total of 57:41.

· The Ottawa/Montreal game featured the first overtime game of the season. There were two last season, five in 2017 and a record eight in 2016.

· Ottawa’s comeback victory broke a four-game losing streak – the team’s first since its expansion year (2014).

BIG PLAY DATA THROUGH 8 WEEKS

· 20+ yard rushes – 33

· 30+ yard passes – 76

· 30+ yard punt returns – 21

· 40+ yard kickoff returns – 16

· 30+ yard field goal returns – 4

· Total of 150 big plays so far this season (4.8 per game)

· Winning teams have 96 big plays; 54 for losing teams

QUICK SLANTS

· CFL rushing leader Andrew Harris (656) surprisingly scored his first two rushing TDs of the season last week against Toronto. His 152 rushing yards were a season-high (107 came before halftime) and the performance marked his 24^th career 100+ yard rushing game. In the previous 10 games going back to last season, Harris did not tally a rushing touchdown.

· Home team advantage: Home teams have won 20-of-31 games this season (.645) and three are still undefeated: Hamilton (4-0), Edmonton (3-0) and Winnipeg (3-0). Each plays at home this week.

· Road teams are 11-for-31 (.355) and the best two teams are Calgary (2-1) and Ottawa (2-1). Toronto is the only team without a road victory.

· Cody Fajardo, who was a number-two quarterback to begin the season, leads the CFL in completion percentage (74.6%), passer rating (108.1) and with 13 completions of 30+ yards this season. He has led 20 Saskatchewan scoring drives in his six starts.

· BC Lions head coach DeVone Claybrooks is still a perfect 8-for-8 on Coaches’ Challenges this year. His former boss, Dave Dickenson, and Rick Campbell are each 0-for-2.

· Argonauts quarterback, McLeod Bethel-Thompson leads the league with four 300+ passing yard games this season. Trevor Harris, Cody Fajardo, Mike Reilly and Jeremiah Masoli each have three.

· Solomon Elimimian is No. 7 with 768 career defensive tackles. He needs 33 to tie Eddie Davis (801) for 6^th all-time.

· Mike Miller is sits No. 7 all-time with 173 special team tackles. He needs one more to tie Roger Reinson (174).

· Charleston Hughes had two sacks last week putting him in double-digits for a fifth consecutive year and for the seventh time in his career. He needs two more sacks to tie Stewart Hill (126) for 8^th all-time. He is on pace for 26 sacks this season.

· Last week, SJ Green had his first 100-yard game of the season. It was the 28^th time he has hit the mark in his career and the effort moved him up to No. 24 all-time with 9,549 yards. He is 71-yards away from surpassing Jock Clime (9619) for 23^rd all-time.

· Riders’ receiver Shaq Evans continues to put up huge numbers. Last week he recorded seven receptions for 160 yards. This season, he tops the league in average yards per reception (20.2) and in the number of 100+ yard games (four). The last time a player averaged more than 20-yards per reception in a season was Kelly Campbell in 2008 (22.6).

· Ottawa’s DeVonte Dedmon is now second in the league in combined yards after tallying a franchise-record 382 total kick return yards against Montreal in Week 8. It was the second-most in a single game, trailing only Larry Taylor (428 yds for CGY at TOR on July 7, 2012).

· William Stanback has accumulated at least 84 yards from scrimmage in each of the Alouette’s games this year. He has accounted for 33% of the team’s yards from scrimmage.

· Following a 103-yard kickoff return for a touchdown last week, Terry Williams now has four kick return TDs in his career (3 Punt Returns, 1 Kickoff Return).

· QB Trevor Harris is on pace for 5,945 passing yards this season which would be a new career-high. He has a 5:1 TD to INT ratio (10 TDs, 2 INTs) and his interception percentage of 0.7% is the lowest in CFL history. He has only been sacked twice this season.

· Ricky Collins currently leads the league in receiving yards (615) and yards after catch (286).

· Justin Medlock has nailed 85 converts from 32 yards out – a CFL Record. He leads the league with six punts inside the 10-yard line.

· BC is coming off a bye week for the first time this season. Since 2015, they are 2-5 following a bye.

(CFL Communications)

Monday, August 5, 2019

Riders Trade With Edmonton For WR Kenny Stafford

The Saskatchewan Roughriders have acquired American wide receiver Kenny Stafford in a trade with the Edmonton Eskimos.

In exchange, the Roughriders have sent American wide receiver Christion Jones to Edmonton.

Stafford (6’3-204 lbs) is entering his seventh year in the Canadian Football League, having spent time with the Calgary Stampeders, Montreal Alouettes and Edmonton Eskimos.

The 29-year-old has played in 70 career games earning 2,626 receiving yards and 18 touchdowns and an average of 13.5 yards per reception.

Stafford is a Grey Cup Champion, winning it in 2015 as a member of the Edmonton Eskimos.

This season with the Eskimos, Stafford has 30 receptions for 366 yards and 2 touchdowns.

The Saskatchewan Roughriders have also announced the followed roster moves:

ADDED TO THE PRACTICE ROSTER

National linebacker Layne Hull

Hull (6’2–210 lbs) joins the Roughriders after finishing his collegiate career with the University of Regina Rams. Hull completed his 2018 season with 39 total tackles, one-and-a-half tackles for a loss, a half sack, an interception and four pass break-ups. In his first season with the Rams the Willowbrook, Saskatchewan native started every game at will linebacker, was fourth on the team in tackles and second on the team in sacks. Before coming to the University of Regina in 2017, Hull played for the Okanagan Sun helping them win the BCFC championship in 2015 and earning CJFL All-Canadian honours in 2016.

RELEASED FROM THE PRACTICE ROSTER

American wide receiver K.D. Cannon

Saturday, August 3, 2019

This and That

--Welcome to Saturday and the usual thoughts running through my muddled mind. They may be one-day late, but as always, they come in no particular order

--It's Cody's show now and the new hero in Riderville saw his love affair with the fans deepen immensely Thursday night. In a game that looked as if the home side would give it away despite outplaying their opponents for much of the contest, Cody Fajardo cemented the fact that he is the new gunslinger in town with his last second heroics.

Playing on an ankle that he thought he had broken, he calmly came out and led his team down the field for a last-second game winning touchdown drive to give the Riders their first "quality" win of the 2019 season as they beat the 5-1 Hamilton Tiger-Cats.

Say what you will about the 27-year-old from Nevada-Reno, but he doesn't let the moment get in his way. The adrenalin had to be pumping as he took the field for that last drive knowing a touchdown was needed to win. He showed no nerves and drove the final nail into the coffin himself as he outraced two defenders to the pylon to get the game-winning points. Money!

As mentioned after the Collaros trade, the onus is now on the organization to extend Fajardo as he is no longer a one-year project. The future is the present when it comes to the quarterback situation. The question now is what would YOU offer Fajardo? Would three years at $300,000 be too much? It's a question that will be debated around Riderville and the CFL until name is on said extension. I would say 200,000 to 250,000 would be fine with bonuses attached----plenty of bonuses. One has to think the conversations have started with Fajardo and his agent. If not, why?

--Still with Fajardo. I think we all saw or heard about his corndog comment after the game. You can't tell me you couldn't get a food truck outside the stadium or have a vendor inside the stadium selling "Cody's Corndogs" for $5 with some of that money going to Kidsport or another charity. How about Fajardo's Fajitas? How about both! They would sell!!

--Has the Rider "D" returned? They certainly took it to BC in the win at BC Place allowing the Lions to gain less than 100 yards and they were stifling for the most part Thursday night. Head Coach Craig Dickenson said the unit had to get used to playing with one another even though there were a lot of returnees. I don't necessarily buy all of that, but if they weren't on the same page in the first four games, they are now. I think next week's game in Montreal will be a dandy.

--With Winnipeg losing in Toronto (OOPS!!), it not only begs the question about whether or not the parade is still on at Portage and Main as some were suggesting a few short weeks ago, but it begs the question about parity in the West. There isn't a lot separating the Bombers, Stamps, Eskimos and Riders. The Western Division showdowns are going to mean a lot again this year. Is it Labour Day yet?

--An announced crowd of over 29,000 came to Thursday night's game. A Tweet from a CFL Fan in Quebec questioned the CFL's idea of a doubleheader saying the first game starts too early in the West, there is an overlap no one wants and the late game is too late for those in the East. It's a valid point. There are others around these parts who don't like Thursday Night Football with the big reason being travel. I understand that, but Rider fans have to realize, it is not about them, it is about the league. The CFL and TSN are doing what they can to make Thursday Night Football a thing and from talking to TSN people, numbers would show it is catching on. In fact, the numbers for some Thursday night games are better than some Friday or Saturday night games.

Just because you don't like it doesn't mean the league should abandon the idea. The Riders don't like Thursday night games for many reasons, but when the CFL says all teams are hosting one Thursday night game, you have to abide by the rules. It may not be ideal here, but it is in other markets. Things that are ideal here may not be great in other markets. It is a problem for the CFL, but you can't please everyone. That being said, a Thursday night doubleheader on a long weekend is ridiculous. A 7 o'clock start on Thursday would have been ideal. A game on Monday would have been great as well.

I understand the league's rationale of not wanting to play Sunday because of the NFL. Numbers show it is not conducive to go up against the monster that is American Football so the CFL has stepped aside. I liked the Saturday tripleheaders last year and I would like to see more of that moving forward. Games at noon, 330 and 7 Saskatchewan time would work for me. Would it work for you? Is a Friday night doubleheader at 5 and 7:30 any different than a Thursday night one with the exception of we don't have to get up the next morning to work? You can't please everyone so you're going to have to live with it. Sad, but true.

--I will confess I thought when the schedule came out that Thursday night would be a gong show at Evraz Place with football and the QCX on. Craig Reynolds and his team along with REAL's Tim Reid and his team did an outstanding job in collaborating to get it done. It worked as a single-day attendance record was shattered on Thursday so expect this again next year.

I understand there were some parking problems, but I got there early and had none. It was a great night for all by the looks of it with those who were inside the stadium having a great time on a hot night. Well done to everyone involved.

--Jeremy O'Day got it right with the trade of Zach Collaros. Collaros couldn't step back in as Riders quarterback after what Cody Fajardo has done. Fajardo has done more in a third of a season than Collaros did during his Rider career. The signal that this team is now Cody's had to be sent and when Jim Popp came calling, O'Day was quick to say adios to someone who had become an albatross due to his repeated trips to the injury list.

What can Toronto possibly gain by this? Collaros is not the magic tonic needed to get this team out of what they are. Isn't it better to groom Bethel McLeod-Thompson and Dakota Prukop than let Collaros go back on the field where chances are he gets hurt again----hey they do play Hamilton two more times this year so go finish what you started Simoni Lawrence! This deal makes no sense for the Argonauts, but it is one the Riders were likely more than willing to make. Let's also be true to ourselves. As Rob Vanstone aptly pointed out, Collaros was never given the opportunity here because of injury---injuries that started in the first pre-season game he played in when he was folded up by two Calgary Stampeders. It just went downhill from there. We will never know what type of impact Collaros could have had in Rider green.

--If the Toronto Blue Jays are contending for an American League East title in the year 2021 than one won't blame GM Ross Atkins if he has a grin from ear-to-ear. One has to wonder if Atkins will be around by that time though. While the return for Marcus Stroman was alright, many are questioning why you would trade three players for a triple A centerfielder who isn't that good and has struggled at the major league level. Joe Biagini for Derek Fisher would have been great, but Aaron Sanchez and a top prospect? Sanchez's trade level is low, but why not let him try to raise that stock in the final two months and then make a better deal. In the field, the future has arrived, but this team needs pitching and a lot of it. They have no real ace and one has to think it will be that way for a while. The early return on Atkins is a huge fail when it comes to deadline day. He told Arash Madani there is a plan. I don't know if Arash believed it and I don't know if fans hearing it believed it. I'm glad I don't have to worry about that team. I'll just go back to wondering why the Cubs have no bullpen and if what they did can get them out of that hole. I remain skeptical.

--If the Houston Astros don't win the World Series, they only have themselves to blame. What a rotation they have now assembled.

--Some Oilers fans ( not this one) are losing their mind because new New Jersey Devil Nikita Gusev is going to wear 97. Who cares?!!! If Gusev wants to wear the same number as Connor McDavid, you go for it kid. If someone wants to wear 87, you do it. There is no monopoly on the number.

--Are we really going to have a debate as to whether or not Chris Kunitz is the best hockey player to come out of Regina. Yes, Ryan Getzlaf and Jordan Eberle might have better numbers, but you can't compare the resumes. Congrats to Chris on a great career!

--Charlotte Flair vs Trish Stratus at Summerslam??!! Yes please!

--That's all I got. Enjoy the August long weekend!

Friday, August 2, 2019

Never Give Up

Never give up on your dreams. Yes, I know that's a cliche, a trope, something we've all heard forever. But it's true.

Two weeks ago, a pair of brothers tried their luck at the speed pitch challenge at Coors Field, as part of a night out at a Rockies game. One of them, Nathan Patterson, lit up the radar gun with some eye-popping fastballs:

This feat of arm strength came a few months after Patterson turned heads on social media with another showcase of his pitching repertoire ... while his left arm was in a cast.

This is all, uh, rather impressive. 94+ mph? On a fan speed pitch radar booth? That's what we all think we can do, only to feel the crushing disappointment when the gun flashes up a number we'd rather not tell our friends about.

But this story gets better than that.

Here's 23-year-old Nathan Patterson, he of the golden arm seen above, signing a contract with the A's. Yes, really.

Patterson provided a bit of insight into his story for this piece:

His journey began last August at a Nashville Sounds game (they were the A's Triple-A affiliate at the time). He hit 96 on the radar gun at a speed pitch, which surprised him because he hadn't thrown "for a few years before that."

Inspired by that outing, he began training a couple months later, but was then hit by a car and had surgery on his non-throwing wrist in December (hence the cast mentioned above).

He began talking with the A's in February 2019, kept training, throwing and joined a men's league to stay fresh. Then that trip to the Rockies game came about and, "a few days later the A's gave me a call."

As for Patterson's background, he played competitively up until senior year of high school, but says, "I didn't really have a good arm then."

Chalk this one up to hard work, then.

Congratulations, Nathan! And again, everybody reading this ... don't give up on your dreams, especially if you can pitch like that.

(MLB.Com)

Cody Saves The Day ---Riders Get Last Second Victory Over Hamilton

Last second TD gives Riders win over Hamilton

With the Queen City Exhibition going on outside Mosaic Stadium, the Saskatchewan Roughriders took the 29-thousand inside the park along with Rider fans across the province and country watching on TV on a roller-coaster ride Thursday night that ended with a 24-19 victory over the Hamilton Tiger-Cats.

The Riders had many opportunities to put their Eastern Division opponent away, but they could not find the endzone and found themselves trailing the game late in the 4th quarter by a score of 19-13, but a Gabe Ferraro field goal closed the gap to three with 3:16 to play.

The defense then forced a huge two-and-out giving Cody Fajardo and the offense the ball at the Hamilton 42 after a 38 yard punt return by Kyran Moore. Fajardo, who was 25 of 31 passing on the night for 313 yards, capped it off by tucking the ball under his arm and running for the pylon as he beat the Hamilton defender to the goal-line for the winning points with just 24 seconds to play.

“It’s been a long time since I’ve had a game like that where its come down to the last play.” Fajardo said. “Our defence and special teams kept us in it. I kept telling our offence its a one score game and we can win this game with the ball in our hands and they responded.”

Fajardo also joked after the game that before he went home he was going to celebrate with a corndog from the exhibition which he lived up to.

With the win, the Riders improve to 4-3 with all of those wins coming in their last five games since starting the season 0-2. They will be in Montreal to play the Alouettes on August 9.

Thursday, August 1, 2019

Riders Depth Chart/Game Day Tidbits

--The Ti-Cats are 3-0 against Western Division opponents this year. One of those three wins was a Week 1 victory over the Riders at Tim Hortons Field.

-- Cody Fajardo leads the CFL with 15 TD drives led out of 70 possessions - a #1 ranked % of 26%.

--Wiiliam Powell goes into the week sitting third in rushing at 469 yards (pace: 1400+ yds).

--Charleston Hughes needs 4 Sacks to tie Stewart Hill for #8 all-time with 126 and is now 5 back to John Bowman (127).

--Loucheiz Purifoy leads the CFL with a kickoff return average of 30.2 yards per attempt

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