November 21, 2009
The Unheralded

My first playoff experience in Calgary taught me an important lesson which has stayed with me until this day. Our offensive coordinator at the time George Cortez waited until the Western Conference final to unveil a six receiver set, at which time it seemed that the Eskimos had difficulty adjusting to. As a rookie on a team with a ton of threats like Travis Moore, Marc Boerigter, Vince Danielson and Kelvin Anderson, I must have been the last thing on the mind of the opposition and managed to sneak away for 115 yds and 2 tds in a win to help earn a trip to the show. The lesson learned was that in playoff games, it is quite often the forgotten man who does the most damage.

Playoffs more than any other game with the exception of the Labour Day Classic, are games that provide a true prime time platform for all teams involved. And in doing so, allow all potential playmakers to stand and be counted for at the same time. What this stage also does is gives coaches an entire body of work to scout in preparation for each opponent as well as an entire week to prepare. In actuality, coaches are designated to prepare for each of the potential two teams just in case -so that they are thoroughly scouted once the games are played. In doing this extensive prep for each team, it is likely that those playing will make a concerted effort to neutralize the stars of each team that have been dominating all year. The smart money for defensive coordinators is to rally the bulk of the attention around silencing offensive studs like Simon, Jackson, Cahoon, Richardson, Coburne, Fantuz, Cates, Reynolds, Copeland, and Lewis to make one of the supporting cast put the game on their shoulders. At the same time, offensive coaches are quite aware of the talents of Chick, Baggs, Davis, Morgan, Browner, Anderson, Stewart, Cox, Estelle, Banks, Miles, Hunt and Johnson and will serve well to keep their distance from those players as best as they can. The question is, who remaining can utilize this stage and shine for their team at the time of year where the lights are truly brightest? Here’s my guess as to some you may want to keep an eye on the next couple of weeks.

Saskatchewan:

Donovan Alexander - The young non-import corner has played admirably this year. With all the attention on him as teams would rather not test Morgan, Davis and Frazier, Donovan has more than held his own. Look for him to be tested, and answer the call.

Tad Kornegay - A Western All-star this year at his first year in a very new position of weak-side linebacker, Kornegay has shown a unique dimension to putting an undersized player in that position. His speed and DB instincts make him problematic in the passing game, while his toughness and grit allow him to use that speed to make plays in the run game.

Stu Foord - Since entering the league from the junior ranks, Foord has done nothing but produce when given the opportunity. A career average of 5.7 yards per carry is nothing to scoff at, and the Regina native will no doubt draw energy from the hometown crowd in the Western final.

Calgary:

Milton Collins - This ex-receiver has more range than any other safety in the league with his long stride and speed. A protege of Wes Lysack at the safety position, Collins asserts his presence at every opportunity and will no doubt have plenty of chances to rattle some cages in the coming weeks.

Demetris Summers - A deceptive and smooth runner who blends power and vision with tremendous pass receiving, and kick return ability, Summers will have chances to make plays on many levels in these playoffs - and started hot against Edmonton with big returns.

Arjei Franklin - With so many horses in the Stamps stable of receivers there are a few forgotten men, and Franklin certainly is one of them. Sure handed and veteran savvy, look for Arjei to capitalize when called upon, and when attention veers towards Copeland and Lewis.

B.C.

Emmanuel Arceneaux - The young speedster has shown flashes of brilliance throughout this season. Montreal is one of the few teams left who still plays a fair share of man-to-man coverage so look for Arceneaux to be the benefactor of the playoff edition of the “Simon rules.”

Darren Toney - This rookie halfback has weathered the storm and seems to be settling into his weak-side halfback spot. Jamel Richardson had his number in previous match-ups, so look for Toney to try to make amends when it matters most.

LaVar Glover - While sitting out most of the year, Glover’s fire was no doubt burning to get back. Look for this veteran corner to have fresher legs than most at this time of year. A confident and instinctual player, Glover can produce fireworks when tested.

Montreal

Billy Parker - Much like the aforementioned Toney, this rookie halfback also settled into his position as the year went on. His size and aggressive nature can be both assets and liabilities on such a wide field, and Parker will definitely have opportunities to change the game in the coming weeks.

Brian Bratton - The forgotten man in this potent Montreal attack, Bratton is truly a selfless player at a position where you don’t see many. Blocking, crisp route running, and focus are traits that serve well this time of year and Bratton possesses all and more.

Andrew Hawkins - Much has been made about Hawkins blood relation to Geroy Simon, but his athletic ability truly allows him to be spoken of on his own terms. One of the quickest stop/start athletes I’ve seen in this league in some time, while still possessing the polish to play receiver full-time - Hawkins can pose match-up problems all over the field.

Good luck to all players still playing, the quality of the games alone will have me tuned in. Normally, I can’t bear to even watch the playoffs after my team is eliminated, but there are some truly great team dynamics forming for this one so I feel compelled to watch - it’s must see TV. Plus, it is always interesting to see who will define the moment...and who will let the moment define them.

Kp8

Comments:

From Joe

Thanks for the great articles on CFL.ca throughout the year. You transcended typical \"athlete articles\" with some excellent writing, insight and insider knowledge without being formulaic or full of sports cliche. i\'ve enjoyed watching you in Hamilton and Winnipeg (despite some hard times there) and was very pleased to see you excel in Eskimo green and gold. Now i am even more impressed with your skill on account of your articles throughout the season. Keep up the great work, on and off the field!

From Kp8

Thanks Joe,

I appreciate the comments! Glad that someone was reading, I had fun doing the cfl blog this year. I'll continue to write often on this site.

Enjoy the offseason!

So Much Opposition
November 6, 2009

November in the CFL has several struggles for a team built in to the month itself. It marks the last week of the season and beginning of playoff football which means that teams are usually playing the best football of the year, the weather is official a factor that must be considered at most CFL venues, and injuries have usually taken their toll on most if not all teams at this point. Each of these factors individually could spell disaster for any given team, on any given day but this time of year brings about another issue that has teams reeling throughout the league currently, and could pose even more problems in the future - flu season.

The outbreak of the H1N1 virus has successfully spooked the masses into a mild hysteria. I don’t consider myself an easy scare, and I honestly didn’t pay the swine flu talk any mind until two days ago when I came down with flu symptoms myself. It wasn’t myself that I was worried about however, my concern was with the high number of the same symptoms that I saw present in the locker room this week. More than a handful of players were sent home from our team this week with flu symptoms, and I know that the situation was quite similar with the Lions - our opponents this week. In a game like football which involves so many working parts in order for one play to be successful, to have multiple starters out from practice due to illness can severely hinder a team’s functionality.

Much has been made in both Alberta and Ontario regarding pro athletes receiving preferential treatment in the way of vaccinations for this virus. The Calgary Flames, Toronto Maple Leafs, and Toronto Raptors apparently were issued the vaccine while the general public was turned away. While I can certainly understand the outrage that comes with knowing that those in privileged positions are getting preferential treatment, with as much money invested in these athletes as there is - I’m actually kind of surprised that more teams haven’t jumped the line. I mean am I the only one that remembers the Magic Johnson HIV instance? So many people stand to lose so much money should these players miss games due to illness, I would have thought that the powers that be would have slipped the vaccine out to the in season entertainment prior to the first news of the virus hitting the media airwaves. I do truly think it’s a shame that our society prioritizes the way that it does, at the same time though...I’m not surprised.

Excluding the other leagues as they clearly operate in much higher tax brackets, it’s easy to see how the potential of this particular flu season can do severe damage to the quality of the CFL post season. The B.C. Lions sent home Geroy Simon, Jujuan Armour and Korey Banks from practice this week. Saskatchewan has been battling flu as well, and in Edmonton Tristan Jackson, Maurice Mann, Efrem Hill, Calvin McCarty and myself have all been battling temperatures over 100 degrees Fahrenheit as well as the symptoms that come with it. At some point in this CFL post-season, it is highly likely that at least one team will be forced to play without some impact players do to the 2009 flu season - and in doing so could cost themselves a playoff game...or even a Grey Cup.

Teams across the league are no doubt taking every precaution to protect their players from large scale infection. Isolating players from the rest of the team, distributing flu shots liberally, handing out hand sanitizer to all who will take it, and even passing out breathing masks to help prevent the spread. The fact is however, that in this particular sport the chance for infection is greater than most due to the close proximity with which everything is done in football. In meetings, locker rooms and showers players are all aligned side by side, often in small rooms. Players often ride to and from work together in this league as carpooling is perhaps more frequent than others do to so many players traveling so far from their homes to come and play here. Not to mention the very nature of the work that we do calls for a constant invasion of one’s personal proximity. Offensive and defensive linemen for example spend all day pushing and pulling each other less than an arms length away from their counterpart. Needless to say, being breathed by the opposition is probably not the issue most prevalent on the players mind in the heat of battle.

Players and coaches certainly have their work cut out for them this particular November as they try to rise above the green bacteria cloud that seems to be hovering over many CFL cities. It will be interesting to see what teams can find ways to avoid being crippled by influenza or h1n1, and which succumb to the symptoms associated with these viruses. Ironically, losing in the playoffs and the flu seem to have similar symptoms - both will leave you feverish, (or at least feeling hot and bothered), body aches are common in both cases as is the chills, and fatigue, not to mention once you have to watch the team that beat you standing where you feel that you should be...you’ll feel like vomiting. Swine flu or not.

Kp8