October 16, 2017

Landry’s 5 takeaways from Week 17

The Canadian Press

Hello, Davon Coleman. Really? Dancing “The Carlton” after you get a sack? Well, “it’s not unusual” to see you in the backfield so I guess it’s appropriate. I slow clap your efforts and hope to see more pop culture homage dance moves from you in the future. “Hammer Time” would fit well, given the city you’re representing. “The Elaine” would be nice.

Here are this week’s takeaways.

1. THE REDBLACKS ARE FINALLY HEATING UP, RIGHT?

 

Hey, we saw this movie last year at this time. Is this a new tradition? Like watching “It’s a Wonderful Life” every Christmas?

Could it be that the Ottawa REDBLACKS are getting ready to really compete at precisely the right moment?

In 2016, the REDBLACKS were expected to dominate in the East after bursting through to a Grey Cup appearance the year before. They did not, instead remaining mediocre until the last three or four weeks of the regular season when they lurched into a definitive forward gear, each week building off the week previous and capping the crescendo on the last Sunday in November.

After two consecutive road rallies for victory, the REDBLACKS are teasing the same thing in their Grey Cup sequel. There are similar themes in this movie, too, like the emerging play of middle linebacker Tank Reed, who’s had a very good season but perhaps was lacking a signature, standout game in 2017. Well, his dominating eight tackle, one sack performance in Regina was that and if Reed is rolling, the rest of the defence will likely follow.

The REDBLACKS finally found out how to win the close ones and it is a surprising equation: Get far behind and then stage a furious comeback.

2. KAMAR JORDEN IS APOLLO MISSION WORTHY

 

Holy liftoff, Batman, did Jorden ever get up there on that touchdown catch of his against Hamilton. Wouldn’t surprise me if U2 used that video clip on a loop, projected onto a giant screen behind them, whenever they do “Elevation” in concert.

What was it that Anne Murray sang in “You Needed Me”? So high upon a pedestal that “I could almost see eternity.” What was that like, Kamar? What did eternity look like? Did the rest of the players on the field appear to be ants? Could you see your house from up there? The Great Wall of China? Did you have to go into quarantine after returning to Earth? Has Elon Musk tried to buy the rights to your propulsion system yet?

We shall measure the height of all leaps against that one, from now on. Like “80% Jorden,” or “on a scale of Landry to Jorden, that’s a Roosevelt.”

3. THE CALGARY STAMPEDERS CAN INDEED LAY AN EGG

 

Dropped passes, missed passes, ordinary defence, rumour of a run game and below par pass protections. Even had a shanked punt from their robo-punter mixed in there. That was a very un-Stampeder-like game, a far cry from what we are used to seeing from them this season; a season dominated by their cold-blooded, ruthless precision at almost every turn.

Ah, well. Everybody gets a cheat day, right? You hold hard and fast to your diet for months but then you cave and order something at the drive-thru and, yes, you biggie size that sucker. So the Stampeders left the house in ripped sweat pants, sandals and a dirty tee, headed for the grocery store where they bought a tube of chocolate chip cookie dough. What of it? It happens.

Now, if you’re a Stamps’ fan, you might feel even better about your team. Because they beat a football club that has been playing a mighty good brand of pigskin lately and they did it with far from their best effort. So, sure, the Calgary Stampeders are capable of laying an egg. But they are also capable of cracking it open and making a nice omelette anyway. Especially when the other team hands them a frying pan in the final moments.

4. JERRELL GAVINS WILL DO ANYTHING

I know this now because I saw him dive full speed, head first at Trent Richardson’s thighs, in order to make a tackle. Have you seen the size of Trent Richardson’s thighs? Guy’s legs are like prairie silos. Oh, Gavins made the tackle, alright. Then popped up like it ain’t no thing.

Didn’t even see him pat down his body to ensure all parts were still there. Jerrell Gavins. The CFL player most likely to take you up on a dare. Any dare at all.

5. POINTS IS POINTS

 

Many head coaches say it and many head coaches follow the script, opting for field goals early in games, even when far behind, because you never know when those points might come in handy.

Often, fans are frustrated because fans are generally more aggressive in their play-calling than head coaches are. The Edmonton-Toronto game gave us an object lesson in why coaches generally choose the more conservative route.

On Saturday night, Argos’ coach Marc Trestman decided to go on third and five from the Edmonton 15-yard line, down 14-3 in the second quarter. Had the Argos taken the likely points from a 22-yard chip shot, that late Eskimos touchdown would have forced a tie instead of giving the Eskimos the lead.

This is not an exercise in laying blame for the Argos’ three point deficit as the clock hit zeroes. Because there are many one play, one decision, one penalty moments that an Argos fan can find in that game that were just as crucial. It’s just a moment to remember the next time you see a head coach decide to take the guaranteed three instead of going for the gusto, is all.

Now, had Trestman’s gamble paid off, with the Argos’ capping that gamble with a touchdown, they’d have won and we’d be having a different conversation about that, wouldn’t we?

AND FINALLY… C.J. Gable is running strong in green. HULK SMASH!