Dave Campbell
ESKS.com
Two games between the Edmonton Eskimos and the Calgary Stampeders produced the intensity and healthy hate that two heated rivals should have toward one another.
At the end of both games, however, all the Eskimos could find for their efforts was heartbreak. A valiant effort on Labour Day which led to a 48-yard missed field goal by kicker Grant Shaw as the Eskimos lost 30-29. The second game, the Eskimo defense looked like their old selves again holding the Stampeders to 20 points. The offense could only muster one offensive touchdown through the entire game and a 43-yard field goal miss by Shaw who clanged the ball off the uprights left the Eskimos heartbroken again losing 20-18. Two losses by a combined score of 50-47 and most importantly, no points to show for in what is a tight West Division.
The Eskimos are 5-5, tied for third place in the West with eight games to go. Two games left against Calgary in which they only trail the Stampeders by three points for the tiebreaker, they need to win both of their remaining games for the tiebreaker to be in play. Two games are left with the BC Lions and the Eskimos already hold a victory over the defending Grey Cup Champions. One game is left with the Saskatchewan Roughriders; that series is tied. There’s much to be decided yet in the West Division but it’s a little alarming for a team that has lost three of its four and four of their last six games dating back to the Eskimos’ 3-1 start.
Injuries haven’t helped again. Punter Burke Dales is on the nine-game injured list with an ankle injury. Now fullback Calvin McCarty is out for tomorrow’s game in Hamilton against the Tiger-Cats with an ankle injury suffered in the Labour Day rematch game. Now a defensive line that doesn’t have Marcus Howard (hamstring) still will be without fellow rush end Julius Williams who’s out with a lower body injury.
How does general manager Eric Tillman sleep at night with all the injuries this club has had to deal with? Tillman says he knows what he signed up for.
“Well, it’s a part of this business. We’re blessed to do something we love and sometimes it’s more fun than others,” Tillman said. “I worked with the Mississippi Highway Department and operated a jackhammer. Once you get frustrated about injuries you remind yourself of what real work is. We do something that we love.”
It could be worse really; it could be two years ago when the Eskimos were the victims of two lopsided losses to the Stampeders and a loss in the Labour Day rematch game. Tillman says he would like different results, but points to the body of work led by him in a two-year period.
“Would we like to be better than 5-5? Yes. We could have easily won one or both of the last two games and been 6-4 or 7-3, but to Calgary’s credit they beat us, we didn’t win and we’re 5-5. Given our injuries, we’d like to be better but I can also put it in perspective for you,” Tillman said. “24 months ago next week I was hired. This franchise was 2-8 and just lost to Calgary 88-25. I’d say losing two games by three points, as disappointing as it is, as disheartening as it is, as frustrating as it is, we have a chance to be in first place.”
For head coach Kavis Reed, he’s just trying to get his team to play at a higher level of execution, especially on offense. Following the loss last Friday, Reed looked like Mount St. Helens about to erupt. His opening remarks to the media were “I’m not happy!” Asked what he wanted to see different he said “score points, tackle better” to name a few of his annoyances. Defensively, it looks like their back to form. Now if some of their defenders can just remember to use their arms to tackle instead to flying their bodies into the opposition, then they would be even a better defense.
Offensively is where the Eskimos need to really start showing better consistency. Kerry Joseph will get his third straight start today in Hamilton. He’s played well in his previous two starts. Almost 600 yards passing, three touchdowns, one interception, one rushing touchdown, over 70 yards rushing, completing 68 percent of his passes, a 108 QB rating. He’s looked more polished than Steven Jyles, but then again, Jyles has four wins under his belt while Joseph has one. The run game needs to get back to featuring Hugh Charles, the Eskimos’ best offensive weapon who’s just 32 yards away from 1,000 yards from scrimmage. The three-pronged backfield isn’t working so to Jerome Messam and Cory Boyd. Sorry, only one of you gets to play and you might have to take a back seat because it’s the year of Hugh Charles.
A golden opportunity presents itself tomorrow in Hamilton. The Tiger-Cats have proven this year that pre-season predictions are the equivalent to buying a roll of Charmin at the grocery store. That being said, if the Eskimos can score a win at Ivor Wynne Stadium tomorrow, they would almost ensure themselves of a crossover at the very worst.
Injuries and inconsistencies have been tough to deal with for the green and gold, but when you’re still near the top, you might as well keep reaching the top.
Wins cure heartbreak real fast.
NOTES: Defensive lineman Ted Laurent is expected to return to the lineup tomorrow after missing four games with an injured ankle. Defensive back Weldon Brown will miss his third straight game with a groin injury. Peter Thiel will start at fullback for the injured McCarty. Newly acquired kicker Brody McKnight has been added to the 46-man roster.
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