November 4, 2011
Dave Campbell
ESKS.com
The formula was very simple for the Edmonton Eskimos last Saturday in Vancouver. Beat the BC Lions and they would capture first place in the Western Division and earn a spot into the CFL’s Western Final on November 20th. The Eskimos found out that wins don’t happen on paper and the Lions are a formidable opponent. Before you could blink, the Eskimos were down 14-0. They recovered well, but it wasn’t good enough as the Eskimos would go on to lose 29-20. The next day, the Eskimos became fans of the Montreal Alouettes as they hosted the Calgary Stampeders. A win by the Als would have locked up at least second place and for the Eskimos and a home playoff game on November 13th. The Stamps rose to the occasion and won a close football game in Montreal.
What we have heading into the final week of the regular season is a three-way tie for first place with the Eskimos, Lions and Stampeders all having 10-7 records. The Eskimos host the Saskatchewan Roughriders tonight, a win and the Eskimos will lock-up at least second place. A loss by the Lions to the Alouettes tomorrow night and the green and gold will finish first. If the Eskimos lose and the Stampeders lose to Winnipeg tomorrow afternoon and the Lions win, Edmonton finishes second. If the Eskimos lose and both the Stampeders and Lions win, then the Eskimos will finish in the third place.
That’s the kind of year it’s been in the CFL this season, parity rules. Look over in the Eastern Division; both the Bombers and Alouettes have 10-7 records. That’s right; five teams are sitting with 10-7 records. The only team that has their position set in stone is the Hamilton Tiger-Cats who will finish third in the East.
The Eskimo loss last Saturday is still lingering and quarterback Ricky Ray knows the team missed a great opportunity to grab first place in their division.
“We had a great opportunity to seal it up last week and just were not able to get it done,” Ray said. “You know, it was a tough football game, we just didn’t come through. You just line up and play the next team through this week and try to make the best of your opportunities.”
So who’s thrilled to see five-teams in total battle for first in their divisions? Commissioner Mark Cohon is, TSN is, fans and media are for sure giddy. What about Eskimo Head Coach Kavis Reed?
Umm, not so much.
“It’s not a very good situation because we know the margin for error is miniscule”, Reed explained. “We have to make certain that we execute in terms of our assignments very flawlessly, but it starts with our game plan. Our game plan has to be concise and one where those guys are not thinking, but going out there and playing football. At this stage of the game we are what we are and we need to go out and just play football.”
Reed pointed out that the coaching staff has been instructed to focus on the Riders tonight and no other team. Not the Stampeders, not the Lions. Only on the 5-12 Riders who are coming to town looking to put a dent into the Eskimo aspirations for a home playoff game. The Riders have some attributes going for them that may make them a dangerous team to play. 1) They have nothing to play for except pride, they have nothing to lose. They’re footloose and fancy-free. 2) Their defense over the past few weeks are playing at a high level 3) It’s head coach Ken Miller’s final game as a member of the Riders.
The Eskimos have a couple of attributes going for them as well this evening. 1) They’re fighting for playoff positioning. 2) They’re the better football team.
Wins are not guaranteed by any means, but the Eskimos should beat the Riders, bottom line.
All the Eskimos can do is win tonight to lock up home field, and then sit and wait to find out if they’ll need to win one or two games to get to Vancouver for November 27th.
NOTES: Right guard Greg Wojt re-injured his right ankle last week against the Lions; he’ll miss tonight’s game meaning Patrick Kabongo will start. Good news for linebacker JC Sherritt. He underwent successful surgery to repair a broken finger. Also, his sprained ankle is healing well and Kavis Reed is confident Sherritt will return for the playoffs. Linebacker/defensive end Greg Peach will miss the game with a knee injury; Lee Robinson will take his spot in the defense. The Eskimos announced their 2011 award nominees and for the fifth time Ricky Ray is the team’s Most Outstanding Player. Jerome Messam is the unanimous choice for Outstanding Canadian. Messam is 19 yards away from his first 1,000 yard season. Linebacker Rod Davis is the team’s Outstanding Defensive Player, guard Greg Wojt is the Outstanding Lineman, Sherritt is the Outstanding Rookie, and linebacker Corbin Sharun is the team’s Outstanding Special Teams Player.