9/29/2007 9:16:57 PM

Times Like This

When it rains…it pours with us it seems. Just as our defence is beginning to get healthy and reaching their form, our offence begins to rack up injuries that will certainly alter the way we operate. We lost T.J. Acree in Montreal, Mathieu Bertrand and Ricky Ray this past week, and some of us (myself included) are hanging on by a thread it seems. This game was labeled as a must win and we weren’t able to capitalize offensively on the ample opportunities that the defence presented us with, nor those that we created for ourselves. It’s easy to blame the injuries for our offensive woes as of late, especially with the loss of Ricky – but I believe we all have a hand in that what went on last night.

Toronto seemed to do everything in their power to hand that football game to us yesterday. Fumbled and threw an interception in their own zone, we even blocked a punt. Trevor said to me early in the first quarter that if we could manage to score one touchdown in that game, we would probably win it. The fact the we weren’t able to overcome the adversity set before us, was disappointing to me in the same way that the dropped ball that I had in the third quarter, and the missed block that I had on the last play disappointed me. Most wouldn’t expect us to rebound from losing our best player before halftime, just like most wouldn’t expect me to be able to catch anything with a broken thumb and a hamstring pull – but I’ve come to demand greatness from this team, much like I do from myself.

I still sense a level of distress or panic at times when bad things happen to this offence. As if a wave of constriction comes over us when we’re posed with an obstacle. All of the sudden we begin pressing it seems and, mistakes become compounded. Any missed block seems monumental, holes seem tighter for a running back, and when the ball is in the air it seems to hang for ever with the weight of the world hanging in the balance of its completion. It’s at these times when things are going wrong, and seem to be hitting the fan that we need to relax, and trust that we’re more prepared than our opponent. Trust that the hours that we’ve spent watching film, have us prepared for anything that they can throw at us, and that we are on the same page seeing the defence collectively and as a unit. Relax…and trust that we can individually make the difference in the game that puts our team over the hilt. Just relax…and play with the confidence that got us here.

We’ve lost a great player, there’s certainly no denying that. However, I’m sure that Eskimo fans felt the same despair when Jason Maas went down in the game that gave Ricky Ray his first opportunity to become “Ricky Ray.” Stefan LeFors is a good quarterback, and he’s about to get some chances to earn his place in this game. Coach Macioca said a few weeks back that he feels that we can win with any of our three quarterbacks. Having been around all three, and seeing them progress throughout the season – I for one believe him. Whether Stefan is leading us or Steven Jyles is under center, we as an offence need to rally around them so that they can relax…and make plays. In order for that to happen, our speed must be turned up, and we must sell out for any and every opportunity to make a play that comes up.

Just as we all had a hand in letting that game slip past us this weekend, we ALL will have a hand in the outcome of this season from here out. We’re down, but certainly not out. We’ve come too far to lay down now – we must press on. ©

KP8

Edmonton Vs Montreal #1/ Winnipeg #1
September 27, 2008

I learn much more in losses than I do in wins. Wins tend to mask things that your team may not be doing well, or that you individually may not be doing well enough, because they are glossed over and washed away with the glow of the win itself. Whether the loss is a blowout like it was in Montreal, or a close loss like in Winnipeg to me makes little difference because struggle is something that cannot be measured. The one thing that a blowout has in common with a close loss is that for either to occur one team must be struggling. What I've learned from the last 2 weeks of play is that while I do believe us to be a good team, we're not a good enough team to just show up and win the game against anybody in this league. While our talent is more than sufficient, I would go as far as to say that our talent can match any team in the leagues we still must execute and play a physical and competitive game in order to come out with a chance at winning. I must emphasize the word competitive because to me that's all this game ever comes down too. Scheme helps a great deal in that a good scheme can mask a lack of talent. However, in my opinion a talented team that loves to compete and yearns to beat the men across from them individually can do much more for a good scheme than the other way around.

The Montreal loss was upsetting because we showed so little fight in such a big game, while the Winnipeg loss was disheartening because we came undone at times when it was crucial for us to remain focused and composed. There is no way of knowing whether or not we would have come out on top if we kept our heads last night in Winnipeg and didn't self destruct at in those key moments I can safely say that losing our composure pretty much ensured that we would not win that game. If we can find a way to improve our game situation awareness, and couple it with the same competitive streak that we showed early in the seasonwe'll be just fine. An understanding that when we're in field goal range, penalties, sacks and turnovers are the only thing that can turn the drive into a negative one. Understanding that when the defence has you pinned down, extra fight without securing the football is only going to make matters worse. It's about understanding that when a team has weak links in its chain defensively, they MUST be exploited repeatedly.

Once we can start to do some of these things, I expect that our fortunes may turn. If we can't find it within ourselves to recognize these deficiencies and take the time to fix them who knows what we will finish the season like. ©

Kp8

9/24/2007 8:10:48 PM

Edmonton Vs Montreal #2

If there was ever an endorsement for morning practices in this league, I believe that game could have been it. The wake-up call itself was what felt like 6am Edmonton time, and to be kicking off at what would have been 11 am back home was definitely a concern for some. Honestly, I wasn’t as worried mostly because we’ve been on the field, and already in competitive situations by 10:45 am every day this year in practice. Still though, you never know how things will shake out in a city like Montreal. So many times I’ve gone in there and come close but end up wanting. For us to go in there and claim a win without scoring a touchdown, was almost as impressive as a blowout to me – but much more nerve racking.

If the saying is true that defence wins championships, (which it is) then we made major strides towards being a championship team during this game. Our defence was relentless and stifling to a team that possesses quite a few explosive threats. Even though they were without their trigger man behind center, the threats were still very much in play with the return of Ben Cahoon. He’s beaten teams that I’ve been on seemingly by himself in past years, and has been one of the most elusive and clutch receivers in the league for quite some time. Between Jason Goss and Shannon Garrett doing the job on him, he was held to one catch for 8 yards the likes of which I’ve never seen. To me, that may have been the most impressive of all the day’s events. However, watching our linebackers flying around had to be a close second. I constantly pick at Siddeeq Shabazz and tease him that he needs to make a play once in a while, and he does the same with me. The joke is that since he’s been here, that seems to be all he’s done. To watch Siddeeq, Shannon and A.J. Gass flying around and filling gaps like they were, working in unison with Ron Warner, Rob Brown and the rest of that front seven is inspiring. When we go out and score quick touchdowns and move the ball at will offensively it seems to spark the defence and give them life. Similarly, the same can be said about the offence when the defence is smacking people around. All of the sudden the offensive line feels that same surge from our own defensive line’s aggression, and takes it out on the men in front of them. We as receivers got motivated watching Goss and Morgan lock down their receivers. It is motivating to know that the moves that we had to pull off of the shelf to get separation from them in practice were helping them blanket the Alouettes receiving corps.

Offensively, we had our ups and downs especially considering the fact that we scored no touchdowns. Our kicker showed why he’s been one of the best in this league for such a long time, and we were able to sustain drives and keep our defence off of the field. That’s one of the things that we’ve struggled to do at times this season so for us to sustain long drives, sometimes from our own end zone, and also at the end of the game when it was truly needed – made me proud.

Our team is maturing before our very eyes it seems. I feel us getting closer to each other, and trusting that each man in the huddle knows what he’s doing on every play – and understands what is needed of him. The challenge in my eyes for us in the near future will be how well we can overcome adversity. Toronto is a team that like us is dynamic, hungry and just as in tune to the magnitude of the situation that we’re both in. This series with them has potential to be an explosive one.
That was a great win, but we still have so much left to do. ©

KP8

9/22/2007 10:51:54 PM

The Road Monster

I used to travel all the time when I was young. For one sport, or another I seemed to always be away at some tournament, meet, tryout or camp. I remember friends asking me if it ever got lonely out there by myself on the road, or difficult in unfamiliar settings to compete at the highest level that I could. To be honest, I never found it very difficult to be away from home and compete. Some find that new cities pose new distractions, and the unfamiliarity of hotel rooms to be a nuisance at times. To me those only come into play if you allow them too. I think that part of the mystic about playing in cities like Montreal is the city itself.

While the Alouettes have been a very good team for as long as I’ve been in the league, I can’t help but think that city that they play in poses an advantage over each team due mainly to the newness of everything in it to non-French Canadians. It’s difficult to try to prepare new players for the Montreal trip in part because to walk down the street and get a meal ends up being somewhat of a geography and language lesson. The land can seem quite foreign all of the sudden with the language barrier suddenly introduced in full effect, as well as the bustling atmosphere of the city itself. It’s not at all the same feel as a Regina or Winnipeg road game. For many of our young Americans, this atmosphere may as well be Paris, France to them.

That being said, those of us in the know understand that regardless of where you’re playing, you should go through your regular routine. The routine may differ slightly from one’s normal routine at home, but it shouldn’t vary too greatly from what is comfortable to you. Often it seems that a Western team comes out to Toronto or Montreal and doesn’t bother to get off of the bus. One has to wonder how much of the lackadaisical approach to the game that shows up on the field is a result of the travel/ jetlag versus how much is a result of the city claiming victims prior to the game. Walking around, sightseeing, shopping, nightlife, etc. all of these things take their toll on a player and consequently a team’s chances at success.

Good teams find a way to avoid these pitfalls, and manage to show up regardless of where they are playing. To me it’s a matter of discipline, and understanding that the greater goal outweighs the moment. Our path to the play-offs seems to be one that would have us away from home virtually the entire way, as it looks thus far. It’s imperative for us to find a way to win on the road – big city or small, it can’t matter. We must take every field with the same passion and vigor that we do in Commonwealth, and the best way to do that is to lead up to the game the same way that we do at home. We cannot be blinded by the lights, and intoxicated by our surroundings – ours must be a clear, focused, concerted and collective effort.

Sleep well fellas, it’s an early start tomorrow. ©

KP8

9/19/2007 7:38:15 PM
Turn the Tide

This last win was the first of four opportunities that we are posed with as a team in succession, that give us an opportunity to control our own destiny in a playoff sense. That being said, there are two teams that lie in wait who won’t be so thrilled at our effort to cross over and steal a spot in the Eastern playoff scene. Even with the win last week our sense of urgency can’t slip at all, in fact it must be elevated in order to go into Montreal and edge out a win. Good teams go into Montreal and lose all the time, so we need to be every bit of the team that we’re capable of being from the time that we touch down at the airport. There can be no lapses this game, to win this game raises the eyebrows of every other team in the league – East and West. It’s no secret how difficult it is to win at McGill, and after the embarrassment that the Alouettes suffered here in Commonwealth, be certain that they’ll be firing on all cylinders – which is fine by me.

Fine by me because, I feel like we’re finally getting legitimately close to playing at the level that I’ve always thought us capable. It’s difficult to put my finger on one thing or a couple of things to identify as difference makers from that time to this, but if I had to it would be our attention to detail. Gone are the days where mistakes were filed under the category of “growing pains” or “learning curve,” we are at a point now where assignment mistakes as well as effort mistakes are illuminated. Not only are these mistakes showcased for all to see, with the new practice roster expansion the likelihood is much greater that one may find themselves on the sideline cheering instead of in the game battling with the team should these mistakes be yours.

The onus is on us as players during this stretch and time of year to be as crisp and sharp as possible, both in practice and in games. Effort should be an afterthought at this point really; we’re too far into the season to be worried about guys giving their all for the team. It’s the precision and execution that will keep us in the hunt. We need to band together and rally around each other in this stretch, because there really won’t be many people that believe we can accomplish this feat at this point. I feel that we’re starting to believe in ourselves and in each other, which is a necessity of any good team. It will be on the veteran leaders on this team to take the reins and lead this team from hear out. We must hold every single player accountable for understanding and executing these game plans precisely, because we can only be as good as our weakest link. Inexperience to the league and lack of game time cannot be an excuse anymore for this team – the hour is too late.

We’ve got an opportunity, perhaps our last opportunity this season to turn the tide. We have a chance to blaze a trail for ourselves into the post season albeit by an unorthodox route, but a place at the table nonetheless. We must understand the importance of each of these games and elevate ourselves to the occasion. To do this, we must band together. ©

*Note; My deepest condolences and prayers are extended to the family and friends of Tony Tompkins at this time. Often events like this occur which put things into such clear focus and perspective, we’re all with you T.T.*

KP8

9/15/2007 10:31:40 PM

Edmonton Vs Montreal #1

By the time the young lady was done the national anthem, I knew that we would win the game. Call it a feeling, or a hunch but I could sense all week that we were crisper and sharper than we had been in previous weeks. This feeling certainly translated into points in a hurry, and I find that when we receivers score early in the game it tends to spark the rest of the team into action. I love being a part of this receiving corps because we have so many guys that can beat you in so many different ways. I said earlier in the week that I felt that we should attack in all facets, to impose our will on our opponents and when we hit Jason Tucker on the first play with a long seam route that went to the house, that’s precisely what I meant. To follow that up with another score immediately sends the kind of shockwaves through the opposition that makes them question themselves, and think about what they may be missing on television at that precise moment.

I’m proud of my team for answering the bell on Friday night and it was wonderful to see and be a part of such a TEAM effort. However, I was very keen to tune into the general mood of the locker room post-game after this one. What I was trying to gauge was the level of relief, and fulfillment that came from that one win. I was pleased to find that the mood was one of excitement, but not satisfaction. I think that’s important because we have such a long road still to travel to be where we want to be, correction…where we need to be. For us to get on enough of a roll to make it into the playoffs at this point, we must show more than a one game spark. We certainly cannot afford to feel pleased or content with ourselves after that showing because I can guarantee that Montreal will not be so easily pushed over in our next meeting.

We should learn from the example that the B.C. Lions showed in their Labour day series with the Allouettes. After handling Montreal in the first game, the Alouettes responded at home with a thunderous effort and handed B.C. an unexpected loss. I would expect to see at least one of their missing stars from last week’s absence, and to be honest I must echo the sentiment of our head coach as far as that’s concerned – I’d much rather they both play because the win would mean more. To worry about who’s playing and who’s not, is to fear a team. I’ve seen every team except for Toronto in person, and forgive me, but I’m not afraid of any of them. While I don’t believe that we should fear any team, we certainly must respect the fact that this same Montreal team, which we were able to beat soundly this past week – will in all likelihood be a different and better team at home and rested. This week will be crucial for us from a practice sense in my opinion. We must take care to practice with a workmanlike attitude and raise our level of precision and efficiency in order to enter this game with the right mindset.

This was a good win, and I’m extremely proud of my teammates and coaches. I won’t relish it long however, as I personally need to get back to work. I know that my team will need my contribution along the way, and I have every intention of answering their call every time.
Enjoy the win fellas, and come ready to work on Tuesday. ©

KP8

9/13/2007 9:52:49 PM

East Coast Swing

Tomorrow begins a four game swing of games that will test us as a team at every turn. Beginning with a wounded Montreal team in Commonwealth that was injected a dose of confidence by beating B.C. convincingly last week. I’ve played with two of their active quarterbacks that will be dressed tomorrow, Marcus Brady and Jason Maas and each is seeking new life in Montreal in different ways, which to me makes them dangerous. I sense that they aren’t the same team that they were recently however, and I feel that they may be searching for themselves much like we are, trying to find their own team identity amidst the shadow of success that they have had in recent years.

When facing a team like this that is depleted in key positions with Calvillo and Cahoon out for this game, we must be careful to weather any spurts and runs made by the Alouettes. Adversity tends to band good teams together in most times. Then again…no team has been as injury ravaged as we have as of late in key positions, and frankly I’m sick of having to worry about weathering the storm of what another team may do against us. We need to think about nothing else but imposing our will on this team. We need to be thinking about making them adjust to us, and making them have to battle back from the adversity that we’ve caused while wreaking havoc on our home turf. I grow weary of tip-toeing around the teams in this league. Being careful not to rush a quarterback because he’s a run threat, or careful not to press these receivers because they’re elusive, or careful not to air the ball out against this zone because they have playmakers in the secondary.

For us to have success now and in the future, it’s imperative that we establish a tone. By establishing a tone, I mean that we need to march to our own beat in these games. While it’s fine to make adjustments as we see what these teams are going to do to us, I feel the most important thing is that we take the offensive, establish a style that we can be known for. Let teams that must play us in the future see an aggressive, in your face, risk taking team when they watch film on us. It has been said that we’ll need to win 4 games out of our remaining 5 vs Eastern opponents to make the playoffs. Whether that is true or not, only time will tell. I truly believe that we have what it takes to get into the post-season on our own accord and make some noise when we get there. But whether we do make it in or not, I want to go into the last third of the regular season without question marks, without trying to brace ourselves for another’s onslaught, and without the passivity that we’ve shown in the first 10 games. If we lose every game from here on out, then so be it…but I want us to play with fire, aggression, and bite.

I want to come off of the field tomorrow and feeling like I was in a street fight – and not alone either. I want to feel like I’m spent when I leave the field tomorrow, because I’ve given all of myself for my teammates. If we get knocked down, that’s fine with me as long as we struck first. Tomorrow, and from here on out I want us to throw the first punch – and dare somebody to do something about it. We must play like a team that has nothing to lose, a team that nobody expects anything out of. I want to teeter on the brink of wreck less in the eyes of others at times. A team like this, nobody will want to play in November.

I am a fighter. Nothing has ever been given to me, and I wouldn’t have it any other way. I believe that the men that I line up with are fighters as well, and it’s time that we showed some fight. This won’t be an easy run, as we’ve made the road for ourselves quite rocky. However, it sure would make a good story.
Everybody loves a good story right? ©

KP8

9/12/2007 9:23:34 PM
Searching…

When NFL cuts roll around in late August, early September it can be a trying time of year for a CFL player. At this point in the season, there’s only a couple of teams who’s seasons are going the way that they imagined them which means new blood is in the water. On a winning team, it’s tough to argue with a successful combination. The secondary on a team that’s 7-2 would in most cases be safe from tampering, but not always. If the NFL cut is intriguing enough even a successful team would be enticed into a potential upgrade. When a player like Juran Bolden is released from the NFL even a solid secondary like Winnipeg has would be silly not to take a shot at him. His success level and track record in this league speaks for itself. A move like this for a proven player is understandable as a player because of the experience level of the player involved, bringing in CFL rookies at this time however, is completely another matter.

I’ve never coached so I can‘t pretend to know what that type of pressure is like, and I’ll probably never get into coaching for fear of ulcers and such. That being said, when under duress it’s natural to reach for the uncertain in effort to find a spark, or even that piece that you may need to your teams puzzle. From a player’s perspective however, bringing in new players at this time of year at the same position that you play, is and should be taken downright offensively. In the same way that a vet should take exception to the depth brought in to replace him in training camp, new players coming in September is no different really. Except for the fact that the new players have less time in which they need to show what they can do before they are put under the lights.

When the revolving door begins in the CFL, those who have the presence of mind to keep their jobs would do well to stay sharp, and make sure that there’s a large gap between yourself and the new players. If history in this league has told me anything, it’s that the majority of these new players coming in at this time of year are not coming in to raise the temperature on the sideline. As a veteran the last thing you want is for a coach to be able to look at your practice habits and not see much of a vast upgrade when compared to a new player at the same position. Chances are, he’s just signed a contract for much less than you currently make so it’s not really in your best interest to let those options enter the minds of management under the new SMS.

Depending on the level of severity or need of the team, these players as we’ve seen in Edmonton can be playing virtually as soon as they land in some cases. I feel ours were extreme cases though, as injuries had decimated the team. Such is not the case on all teams however, I can recall being on teams where what seemed like entire defensive backfields, and receiving corps arrived and supplanted those that had been playing prior, in a matter of days - without an injury to speak of.

The bottom line as a player is that when you’re on a team that is scratching and clawing for every inch it can get in order to get a win, that pressure and hunger for a win must be expected to affect everyone in the organization… especially higher ups. It’s important to understand both the pressure to perform that we feel as players, but also the pressure felt by those in power. To understand that pressure, is to know that when the bullets are flying it tends to become every man for themselves very quickly, which is not an inviting thought on any team. One always wants to think that his team has loyalty to him, and that he’s not being pushed out behind the scenes. While competition is healthy and should bring out the best in everyone involved, “Nobody likes to feel like they’re working with a loaded gun to their head” as coach Maciocia often says. Then again, when you’re a head coach and you can’t seem to shake the stench of losing, you’ll do whatever it takes to heal up your team dynamic.

The only cure for us players that I know of is winning. ©

KP8

9/9/2007 8:10:16 AM
Edmonton Vs Calgary #3 Labour Day Rematch
Reflection

Everything that I do is a reflection of me. It could be something positive or negative but every single thing that I do is somehow indicative of who I am, and what I’m about. That holds true not only in football , but in life. The characteristics, deeds, personality traits and actions that I put out to the world in everyday life are what I will be evaluated on when dealing with people, or when remembered. So naturally, I try to put my best foot forward at all times. It doesn’t always work out like that though, like anyone else, if you catch me at the wrong time of day or in the wrong mood I can be aloof and disinterested. I can come off as arrogant or even a know-it-all, but given time you’ll usually see that I’m a pretty decent guy on the whole.

In football, all things are recorded by the eye in the sky. Several camera angles catch our every move on the field, and often even on the sidelines. It is very difficult to get away with anything extra-curricular without someone seeing, be it in real time, or in film study. If you look slow and lethargic to yourself while watching the film, imagine how you must look to opposing coaches. If you look stiff and un-athletic to your own coaching staff, expect to be picked on that week by opposing coordinators. If you come across as a cancer in your demeanor on tape, there’s a good chance that word will spread of your cancerous behavior since everybody in the league gets the same tapes. Coaches, GM’s, scouts, refs, players, etc. all will view you in whatever light that you put yourself in on game day.

The good thing about that is that you as a player have a choice of how you wish to be seen. To be seen as a “ball-hawk” all one must do is find a way to be around the ball constantly. To be seen as a “tough” or “physical” player, just find a way to win a number of collisions throughout a game and you’ll be on your way. When I watch us on film game after game, I see a number of things. A number of different types of plays reflective of basically 12-15 guys on any given week. At times you can go down the line from player to player and see at least 11 of us offensively who know what we’re doing from an assignment standpoint. In the same play you may see 3 of us who aren’t quite sure how to do it effectively, or are unsure of our chances of success as we attempt to do our job. At other times you can see 10 guys who are absolutely sure of what they are seeing in front of them, what their assignment is, and certain of how to execute that assignment effectively. The other 2 may not be so sure though, and in this game…that uncertainty in either assignment or execution can spell disaster, and for us usually does.

I really believe that our success or lack thereof as a team will continue to come down to how we wish to be seen individually. It’s impossible for one of us to control another, let alone for one to control 50. The vets can’t force the rookies to watch more film, and the linebackers can’t force the defensive line to be gap sound. The quarterbacks can’t force the receivers to win on vs press coverage, and the receivers can’t force the line to protect. All I as a player can do to get my team back on track is to try to be an example. Allowing myself to be pushed out of bounds at the 12 yd line on the first play last week, is reflective of my lack of awareness of the proximity of would-be-tacklers in space. That’s something that I plan to remedy immediately so that I don’t cost my team 6 points again. A lineman giving up a sack should view that sack in the same way. Or a running back who misses a cut, a DB who misses a tackle, and so on. The team is too big of an entity for us to each as individuals try to fix ourselves. If we each attempt to fix ourselves individually, and hold ourselves to the highest of standards, that will in turn fix the team.

I may be an idealist, but I honestly go into every game with the intention of attaining perfection. If there are any minuses on my grade sheet the next day, I’m disappointed with myself because I feel like perfection is attainable if you attack it on a play-by-play basis. To line up each play and have the confidence in what your assignment is from play study, the understanding of how to execute that assignment against the look that is in front you from hours of film study, and the god-given ability to play that play with a unique speed and agility in order to attain success. That’s it…that’s all we need to do. Then line up and do it again about 60 times.
It all comes down to how you wish to be seen as a player, just like life comes down to how you wish to be seen as a person. ©

KP8

9/6/2007 4:07:05 PM
Must Win

The term is thrown around loosely by players sometimes, and it is spoken infrequently by coaches. With good reason for the latter because if you’re calling out must win games often during the regular season, it means your team must not be doing very well. Having lost the first half of this Labour day matchup, I can’t rightly stress the importance of winning this game. The first half of the season is over and the second half began on Wednesday for us which happened to be our only day of practice this week, and this half will tell what the legacy of this edition of the Edmonton Eskimos becomes.

With Jason Tucker and Omarr Morgan returning, we have some strong components coming back into the fold, which will certainly help us. At the same time, we’re still without some key people and losing Dan Comiskey for the remainder of the season will certainly not be a picnic to deal with either. On a short turnaround like we have this week playing this past Monday and again on Friday, I’m actually surprised that we have as healthy a team as we’re fielding. It could definitely be a lot worse in my opinion. I know that my body still feels like it does in the middle of the practice week, and I don’t do nearly the banging that some positions do during the game so naturally, there must be some serious aches and pains that are going on behind the scenes.

That being said, Calgary is going through the exact same thing. They had the exact same time frame with which to rest and recuperate, and will experience the same fatigue and challenges that we will once the ball is kicked. In addition to that, they’ll have to deal with the potential emotional letdown of winning such a big game such a short time ago. It’s very difficult to reload emotion in a short time once it’s expelled, and there are few games as emotional as the Labour Day Classic in Alberta. Had we won that game I would be writing about my concern about a potential emotional letdown on Friday for us, but since that wasn’t the case, we have vengeance on our side. Often in this high energy, home-and-home rivalry it seems that it’s a very difficult task to win both games of this series. I’m not certain about the stats, but I’d be surprised if they showed one teams dominance over both games in the set as of late.

Believe it or not, I’m actually hoping that Calgary doesn’t experience an emotional letdown at all when they come into Commonwealth tomorrow night. Instead, I hope that they are firing on all cylinders much like they were when we were in McMahon earlier in the week. That way if we should find a way to beat them, we’ll know that we’ve beaten a good team. Not just gotten lucky that a good team was riding high off of an emotional win. Coach Maciocia said it best today I think when he explained that this half of the season should be considered a completely new one. We need to take the approach that we want to have the best record in the CFL for this new 9 game season. If we’re able to do that, to finish first in this new season, then we’ll be in fine shape for any and everything that we want to do.

Game 1 of the new season is tomorrow. Can you feel the excitement? ©

KP8

9/4/2007 10:33:43 PM
Edmonton Vs Calgary #2 (Labour Day)

Amidst the rivalry, the hype and the momentum that built up for the previous two weeks leading up to this contest, there was actually a game to play. It pitted two teams starving for a win and searching to find themselves entering the second half of the season with a bit of momentum. I was proud of my team for the battle that they put up. In some positions we had players playing that had not even practiced with the team, and I was definitely impressed by how we rallied around those players. Those guys will get better each week and while some may say that it is really not fair to throw them into the fire unprepared like that, but that’s the business that we’re in. I’ve seen receivers flown in on a Monday, force fed a playbook through Wednesday, and expected to play a pivotal role in the game on Friday night. If it doesn’t work out that way, then I’ve seen that same player on his way home by Sunday evening. It’s a brutal process, and it sets the players up for failure but should they find a way to make a play or two out of that rough situation, it could also make a name for a virtual unknown in this league. I believe that’s what was happening with Lenny Williams before he went down to injury yesterday, as he was flying around making plays in only his second or third game here.

Once again, at times, we looked great. I’m getting as sick of saying that as people are of hearing it I’m sure, but it’s the truth. We show more than flashes of greatness against virtually every team that we play, and it frustrates everybody who is invested in this organization to no end; players are no exception. To watch a halftime lead slip away live and in real time yesterday was infuriating enough, but to watch it again on film when every mistake is highlighted and everyone can see how one mistake can take apart an entire play is simply maddening. The precision that we show on one drive offensively is replaced on the next by ineptitude. The killer instinct shown when we absolutely need a score in the second quarter, replaced by complacency in the same situation in the fourth quarter. While I believe that we are a good team, I don’t believe that there is any team in this league that will win on 30 minutes of decent play on any given night. The teams are simply too balanced in my opinion. With the injuries piling up on the defensive side of the ball, and guys pulling together and playing out of position it was vital for us as an offensive unit to keep them off of the field. If we would have been able to compose ourselves, execute plays and sustain drives in the second half, I’d be writing about a win right now. Alas, I digress…

When we started the season I felt that there were a few guys on the team that actually could see what greatness was present among us. At least a few who had been around the league enough to tell what the talent level was that they were looking at on the practice field. Now I believe there to be several, as some of our younger talent is maturing before our eyes and finding belief in themselves in the process. Some of these young players that were viewed as question marks will be stars in this league in the next year or so. We’ve got some of our believers coming back from the training room to grace the field in the coming days, and I believe that will incite belief from some of those that may be on the fence. Once every one of us believes in ourselves and in the man next to us to get the job done, it will be evident to all who see us play. When that time comes that we all trust and believe in each other, and in ourselves we will become the team that a few of us can see through the fog of what we are currently, but not before. Not until that belief sets in will we show the level of consistency, confidence, and playmaking ability to project ourselves into the upper realm of teams in this league. Until we believe wholeheartedly in ourselves and each other we will continue to have spotty performances, squander leads, and make feeble attempts to come from behind. The film will continue to show how close we are, and we’ll continue to kick ourselves for days after for squandering yet another chance…until we decide to believe.

We’ve got nine more chances to win each other over, the clock is ticking. ©

KP8

9/1/2007 8:59:11 PM
Labour Day

When I first arrived in Calgary and made the team, one of the first things that a fan said to me was regarding the Labour Day Classic, “I don’t care if you guys don’t win any other games all year, just beat Edmonton in the Classic!” he said. That certainly wasn’t the only time I heard that particular opinion regarding the game while I was there. Coming from the University of New Hampshire, our big rival was the University of Maine. Certainly a big rivalry in those parts, make no mistake about it, but not exactly Michigan Vs Ohio State or anything like that. I was a starter in my first year in Calgary and I can recall the veterans trying to make me understand what the magnitude of the Labour Day Classic actually was. Nothing could have prepared me for how electric the atmosphere was once I saw it firsthand.

Having played in 3 separate CFL Labour Day rivalries, I can honestly say that the battle of Alberta is my personal favorite. While the animosity is strong in both the Hamilton/Argo and the Rider/Bomber games, this Alberta matchup seems to be so deep seeded in its resentment that it is impossible not to let it seep into your own demeanor. I remember feeling that I had no quarrel with those Eskimos up north, and couldn’t see myself feeling any different about them then I did towards any other team. I was quite wrong when it was all said and done. The atmosphere that the fans create is so wild and electric that you can almost feel the pulse of the stadium flow through you. The close proximity of the two cities plays its part because it allows both sides to enjoy support on some level regardless of which team is hosting the game.

The fact that you know in the back of your mind as a player that you’ll be seeing these same guys only a few days later plays on your mind as well. Knowing that you’ll have very little time to recuperate is not something that you can allow yourself to think about during the first game or one would surely try to salvage some energy for the second battle. Competing against the same man across the line from you in such a short time becomes very personal indeed. Very much like a heated practice battle, the familiarity that develops is what true competition is all about. When all tricks and scheme is thrown out the window, because so much film has been digested. When muscle memory kicks in from so many reps against the same opponent. That’s when the battle is at its purest to me.

This two game contest could be the end-all-be-all for both teams involved. If one team could find a way to win both of these games it could catapult them to through the standings, and into the final third of the season with momentum. While losing both games could send one team spiraling out of contention, and into a gaping chasm from which the climb out may be too much to bear. If there was ever a time for the real 2007 Edmonton Eskimos to stand up and be accounted for…Gentlemen this is the day.

Prepare for greatness fellas, and it shall be yours. ©

KP8