The Canadian Press
Week 19 is in the books. Let’s take a look back at some of my favourite moments from the film reel.
We begin in Ottawa where the REDBLACKS and Ticats were battling back and forth in a matchup that was everything I had hoped it would be for the last two months.
Then Brandon Banks got injured.
The Ticats seem lifeless after their mighty mouse went down and beyond covering the Tiger-Cats locally I think CFL fans anywhere who like dynamic playmaking are likely feeling the same way I am about that injury.
What a sad way to start the Tale Of The Tape… Let me distract you with a kicker breaking a pro football record!
Good for the kid. The moment of buildup when you realized at the bar, or your basement, or listening in your car that the attempt was from 52 yards away – a range Ward had not attempted from yet in his stellar rookie season – likely sent shivers down your sports-loving spine. It was a great moment that could’ve only been made better by a taped video message by Colts Kicker Adam Vinatieri congratulating Lewis on the jumbotron, but maybe that’s asking too much.
Anthony Cioffi has been sensational for the Redblacks all year long and impresses me every time I watch him play. Friday night he pulled a move that made me think twice about advocating for all things Cioffi.
Jeremiah Masoli took a shot down the seam to Luke Tasker and with the ball already well gone, Cioffi lowered his head and delivered the most violent blow possible.
The CFL needs the targeting rule featured in NCAA games in my opinion. Anything less can’t deter plays like this. 15 years ago this is a highlight-worthy hit. In 2018 it’s completely unacceptable and regardless of your team affiliation, you should realize how awful plays like this can be for the quality of the game. It looks even worse on the end cut.
After the Redblacks took down the Ticats I headed over to a local bar in Ottawa to take in Edmonton and BC live from Vancouver. What a great late season west division battle this one was with big names making big plays all over the place. This devastating one step cut by Chris Rainey jumped out to me. Fast players run through a cut. Exceptionally fast players accelerate out of cuts. Rainey is one of those and watching him pull away from the crowd is comical.
The viral social clip of the weekend goes to Duke Williams. Not for a catch, or a run, but for this soul-crushing display at the bottom of the screen to a BC defender – who shall remain nameless out of respect – who decided that physically challenging a receiver of Williams size and strength was a wise move.
So, so wrong.
My favourite X’s and O’s play of the weekend came on this beautiful design by BC Lions’ Offensive Coordinator Jarious Jackson.
A triple option look into the boundary to confuse Esks Kwaku Boateng before shovelling the ball back underneath to the original fake man in Tyrell Sutton.
It’s gorgeous on so many levels, well executed and gives great angles to all offensive lineman involved including a pretty nice second level block by rookie Andrew Pierson making his third career start at centre in place of injured Lions Cody Husband and Peter Godber.
In the end, BC pulled off the win as Edmonton just couldn’t get out of their own way. It was perfectly summarized by this Nate Behar fumble. Edmonton’s a team with so much talent that I picked to win the Grey Cup but just seems to have been in a funk for far too long that are now at risk of missing the playoffs altogether.
On Saturday the Manziel show took over Toronto. A place once rumoured to be a possible landing spot for his services before the James Franklin trade happened.
I actually thought Manziel showed a bit of progression in this game going through reads and throwing the ball more accurately with a couple glaring exceptions.
The run shown above looks so simple but check out the great block to seal the left edge at the snap by William Stanback and the offensive line working down the field making blocks in space.
Manziel made a couple fantastic throws in this one as well including this vintage off balance rolling cross body whirl.
Unfortunately for Alouettes fans, Montreal just couldn’t get out of their own way thanks to a couple of key non-Manziel related gaffes. First a fumble by Antonio Pipkin in short yardage.
Then pulling Manziel even though the end zone is well within his arms range in order to find “fresh legs” in Antonio Pipkin. The irony, of course, being that as soon as the ball was snapped Pipkin stood still as a state with those alleged fresh legs while Manziel ran at a brisk pace through the tunnel and straight back to Montreal.
I have no idea why Khari Jones or Mike Sherman did this on the final play and realistically it’s really not that big a deal as a very mature and honest Manziel said after the game, but it just sent the wrong message and no doubt made an already frustrated Heisman trophy winner even more spiteful of his current situation.
For the fourth and final game of the weekend, we went off to Calgary for the Riders and Stampeders. A game I considered my truest lock of the week with Calgary no doubt pulling off the win after losing last week at home to BC.
Calgary had spectacular playmaking on the outside in new receiver Chris Matthews..
Got a special teams touchdown…
And even had Lemar Durant scoring red zone touchdowns with ease before celebrating with Quick Six in the end zone!
Given those facts without context, I’d say Calgary won by 20.
Nope.
Zach Collaros went off and even had a bit of luck on his side to help Saskatchewan closer to a home playoff date
The Riders are such an interesting contrast from week to week. I really have no idea what their offence will bring in time for the playoffs but I can’t wait to find out!
