August 17, 2018

Berg vs. Ferg: Who needs to figure it out fastest?

Johany Jutras/CFL.ca

Berg vs. Ferg returns for another season on CFL.ca as columnists Pat Steinberg and Marshall Ferguson debate over some of the league’s most contentious storylines. This week they debate over which CFL team is in more urgent need of a quick turnaround.

It’s almost the halfway point of the season, a time when the contenders begin to emerge and even separate themselves from the rest of the pack.

The Calgary Stampeders already did so long ago, while the Ottawa REDBLACKS, Winnipeg Blue Bombers and Edmonton Eskimos are in good position all sharing 5-3 records.

Behind them are two of the more confounding teams this season, the Saskatchewan Roughriders and Hamilton Tiger-Cats.

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After winning 10 games and falling one defensive stop short of appearing in the 105th Grey Cup, the Riders were primed for big things in 2018. In addition to a dominant defence featuring Willie Jefferson and newly-signed Charleston Hughes, they had also brought in Zach Collaros to try and address their woes at quarterback, while for the first time under Chris Jones there was some semblance of continuity in Riderville.

Well, it’s Week 10 and the Riders are 3-4, have just released their biggest star in Duron Carter and are in danger of falling behind in the highly-competitive West. The team has also parted ways with Jerome Messam following a criminal charge and signed former core guys Cameron Marshall and Rob Bagg.

Then there are the Hamilton Tiger-Cats. On paper the Ticats should be much better than their 3-5 record would indicate, owning the CFL’s second-best offence (403.5 yards per game) and third-best defence (314.5 yards per game). Their plus-28 point differential is actually better than first-place Ottawa’s and third-best in the CFL, behind only Calgary and Winnipeg.

For two teams expected to be better, which one needs things to change faster?

Pat Steinberg and Marshall Ferguson debate.

BERG VS. FERG: LAST WEEK’S RESULTS

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Last time, Berg and Ferg debated over Johnny Manziel.

» View previous Berg vs. Ferg

Poll Result: Who is the CFL’s most exciting player?

Last Week’s Poll:

Ferguson: D’haquille Williams (55%)

Steinberg: James Wilder Jr. (45%)

BERG (5-5): THE TIME FOR SASKATCHEWAN IS NOW

Pat_Steinberg_2016Pat Steinberg, CFL.ca
@Fan960Steinberg

The Saskatchewan Roughriders are in a tough spot. On the one hand, they boast one of the most intimidating defensive groups in the league, led by a ferocious front four. Conversely, the Riders continue to struggle passing the ball and as a result have one of the most anemic offences in the league. As good as they are without the ball, Saskatchewan has to figure out things out on offence quickly or they might get left behind.

The biggest problem for this Roughriders’ defence is they’re on the field too much. Saskatchewan is ahead of only Montreal and Toronto in net offence, which means they’ve had a lot of trouble sustaining drives. In turn, there have been too many occasions this season where the Riders have thrown their defensive group back on the field without ideal rest. That’s a tough ask going up against methodical West Division attacks like Calgary and Edmonton.

The biggest culprit is Sask’s pass game, because it just hasn’t been consistent enough. The Riders rank last overall in passing yards per game, which has turned them into a one-dimensional attack. Led by Tre Mason, Saskatchewan boasts a solid stable of running backs, which their second best rushing total attests to. Imagine, though, how much formidable that run game would if the Roughriders had even an average aerial attack.

If these issues don’t get rectified in Regina, we could be talking about an uphill climb for this team. At 3-4, the Riders are very much alive in the playoff conversation, but BC’s improved play on both sides of the ball is something that can’t be ignored. Winnipeg and Edmonton are 5-3 and will likely finishing above.500, so keeping them in striking distance will be a challenge.

Remember, even in the event of a crossover, a maximum of four teams from the West can make the playoffs. Saskatchewan is definitely still in that mix right now, but I worry they might be left trailing if they don’t get things on track offensively.

FERG (5-5): THE EAST IS THERE FOR THE TAKING

Marshall_Ferguson_2016

Marshall Ferguson, CFL.ca
@TSN_Marsh

No team has more to gain from ‘figuring it out’ than the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in 2018.

Through Hamilton’s first eight games of 2018 the Black and Gold have had every opportunity to claim the East as theirs and theirs alone.

Montreal continues to have an evolving roster playing a – full – handful of players at the all-important quarterback position.

Toronto began the year giving up a ton of yardage while suffering demoralizing losses both on the scoreboard and in the training room, specifically veteran passer Ricky Ray.

Ottawa appears to be the class of the East but has done so in a sideways manner by squeaking out wins against Montreal and BC while showing faults in a comeback collapse against the Argos.

In no way am I saying the Ticats deserve to have a better record than they have. You are what your record says you are, but I’ll be damned if the door wasn’t wide open for them to grab the East by the neck for the majority of the first 10 CFL weeks.

What’s gone is gone. The Ticats need to move past their current 3-5 record and focus on what is ahead but it would be dangerous to do so without learning from early-season lessons.

Hamilton has a dynamic passing attack, one of the best front seven groups in CFL defence and a kicker in Lirim Hajrullahu signed in free agency who is as close to automatic as they come.

Everything is there and readily available for Hamilton, especially with home dates against the Eskimos and Stampeders, three games against the Argos and home stretch of four straight divisional opponents coming over the final three months of the regular season.

Flip the switch, or forever regret 2018.

DON’T SIT ON THE FENCE!

While both sides are pretty convincing, someone’s got to take it. Whose argument convinced you the most?

You can vote for this week’s winner both on CFL.ca and Twitter. Meanwhile, continue the conversation by tweeting @Fan960Steinberg and @TSN_Marsh.

The winner will be revealed in the following week’s Berg vs. Ferg.

Fan Poll
Which team needs to figure things out the fastest?
Saskatchewan Roughriders
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Hamilton Tiger-Cats
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