September 16, 2011
Dave Campbell
ESKS.com
Ah September.
The month where all the kids are back in school much to the delight of most parents. The leaves begin turning colour; you have to start wearing sweaters in the morning and evening.
For teams in the Canadian Football League, September is where you switch your focus from playing in warm weather to cooler weather. It’s the time of the year where teams who have positioned themselves for either a run at a home playoff game or a playoff spot. The margin for error becomes smaller.
The Eskimos know this all too well. The team sits second in the Western Division with a respectable 6-4 record; they sit just two points back of the Calgary Stampeders for first place. The Eskimos are currently in what General Manager Eric Tillman calls “Year One” in the restructuring of the organization. So many changes were made in the off-season that the consensus around the CFL felt perhaps 4-6 at the 10-game mark would be a good record for the young Eskimos. The team raced out to a 5-0 start helping their cause in their quest to make it back to the post-season. Tillman says he’s not so much focused on his team’s record right now; he’s more focused on a top-two finish in the West at the end of the regular season.
“Our objective was to secure a home playoff game”, explained Tillman. “It’s been since 2004; our fans have waited a long time for that. That’s the staple of a successful franchise. We understand the expectations are high here. As strong as this division is, that’s a challenge. That’s the goal that we set and, at 6-4, we like where we’re positioned.”
The team hasn’t enjoyed much success as of late and look out because in the rear view mirror are the BC Lions and the Saskatchewan Roughriders. While the Eskimos have dropped four of their last five games, the Lions and Riders have started win streaks of their own. The Lions have won three straight to sit four points back of the Eskimos, the Riders have won two straight under the beloved Ken Miller as head coach.
Football is a game where the wins mean the most. The first month of the season can be just a critical as the last month. The again, the Lions and Riders are proving as well that getting the wins at the right time of the season, well that’s huge too.
So, you have three teams in the West separated by six points from second to fourth. The Eskimos are only two points back of Calgary for first and hold the all-important tie-breaker having won the season series. Eric Tillman, from his point of view, is just happy to be very much a part of the playoff conversation.
“We see a terrific race and it’s a race of highs and lows”, explained Tillman. “Saskatchewan is playing very well, so is BC. It’s going to be entertaining for the fans. It will certainly be a period where every game matters now, not only for first place but second place and possibly third.”
The Eskimos are getting healthy at that right time and it’s starting to show on the field. In the last two games, receivers Fred Stamps, Adarius Bowman and Marcus Henry have returned along with defensive end and now converted linebacker Greg Peach. The offense has scored 55 points in their last two games. Defensively, the Eskimos have surrendered just 37 points.
The biggest concerns facing the Eskimos right now are a rushing attack that can’t seem to gain any consistency, which is coupled with an offensive line that is still trying to find their chemistry. You have to believe their passing attack will get back to the level or close to it from the first five weeks of the season. Defensively, there’s not much to complain about. The kicking game is solid and their return game appears to have some life for the first time this season thanks to Jason Armstead. Let’s not forget about the cover units, perhaps the best in the CFL.
The eight-game marathon is about to begin.
You’re all invited to the party. Or is that parity? The CFL West has plenty of it.
NOTES: The Eskimos welcomed back linebacker Mark Restelli this week. Restelli recently attended the training camp of the Miami Dolphins, but was released after the final pre-season game. He’s expected to make his 2011 debut Friday in Hamilton on special teams. Cornerback Rod Williams is expected to return to the line-up Friday. He’s missed the last three games with a hamstring injury. The Eskimos released four players this week. Gone are running back Daniel Porter, wide receiver Prechae Rodriguez, defensive lineman Robert Henderson and defensive back Denatay Heard. The Eskimos have just one win in Hamilton since the 2003 season.