Tigertown Playoff Rally at Lime Ridge Mall

Want to get in the playoff spirit? The Hamilton Tiger-Cats will be hosting a playoff rally at Lime Ridge Mall this Wednesday. The fun starts at 6:45PM.

Marcel Bellefeuille, as well as players and cheerleaders, will be present. After the rally ends, there will be an autograph session with the players

Unfortunately, I will be sitting in a classroom as this rally is taking place. One of the downsides of going to school in enemy territory is missing things like this.

However, one of the upsides is that I get to walk around the streets of Toronto and taunt Argo fans by wearing nothing but Ti-Cat gear. In a way I'll be holding my own one-man rally in Toronto all week.

But I digress. If you're in town, head to the rally and show everyone what Tigertown is all about.

CFL Fan Survey

The CFL is conducting a fan survey to find out things about fans of the CFL.

I have yet to take the survey, so I do not know what type of questions it asks, but I imagine it is the standard fare about favourite team, ticket status, age, gender, etc. Basically the same questions that you find in many professional sports leagues' surveys.

The point of the survey seems to be to make cfl.ca a better site. So if you, like me, have some praise or criticism for the CFL's main webpage, fill out the survey. It's only 35 questions, and it says that it only takes ten minutes to fill out.

The CFL has been especially good at implementing fan ideas, so if you want to see things changed on the CFL's website, now is your chance to have your voice heard.

Morning-After Thoughts (Week 19)

And we are done. Ladies and gentlemen, that puts a wrap on the 2010 CFL regular season. And what a season it was. Now we get ready for the playoffs. Before the calendar turns we will have crowned the champion of the 98th Grey Cup.

1. I know there is the possibility of him retiring, but did Friday's game really have to be "The Doug Brown Appreciation Hour"? The guy is a good player, but c'mon. There was no need to slurp him like that. It made all the schmaltzy Brett Favre stuff of the last five years seem tame by comparison.
2. Did Drew Tate just make himself a lot of money? He will be a free agent following the season, and I firmly believe he can be a starting QB right now. My gut says he stays in Calgary and waits for Henry Burris to retire in the next couple of years, but I can also see a team like Toronto throwing a bunch of money at him that is just too much to turn down.
3. So it took three games this time, but Jesse Lumsden is once again injured. Can't say I'm surprised. Well, I guess I am surprised that it took this long.
4. Winnipeg may have finished 4-14, but all is not hopeless in the 'Peg. Winnipeg lost an astounding 10 games by a touchdown or less, nine of them by four points or less. If they somehow win half of those games, they finish 9-9 and make the playoffs.
5. First, the boat. Then, the plane. Finally, the ATVs and Ski-Doos. Seriously, Winnipeg, quit putting easily accessible vehicles in the end zone.
6. A very nice day for BC Lion WR Emmanuel Arceneaux. Two nice TD catches (though one is questionable) and over 100 yards helped BC get a much-needed win and put Arceneaux over 1,000 yards for the season.
7. While still looking every bit the young player that he is, there is something I like about Travis Lulay. He reminds me of Dave Dickenson. No, it's not just the the fact that they are both Gingers, but he has the same moxie that Dickenson displayed during his career. Lulay looks like the real deal.
8. Full credit must be given to the BC Lions for making the playoffs. Going into the Labour Day weekend, the Lions were 1-7 and calls for Wally Buono's job were growing louder and louder. During the final ten games, the Lions went 7-3 and now have a date with the Riders in Regina next week to see who goes to Calgary the following week. Raise your hand if you thought BC would make the playoffs. Yeah, didn't think so.
9. It was a bit of a noodle scratcher to see Glenn et al. play the entire game. I know Marcel Bellefeuille wanted to see the Offense get into a rhythm before pulling guys, but when Glenn came out to start the second half (after having displayed said rhythm by scoring 21 first-half points) I was surprised. To see Glenn take the final offensive snap was even more surprising. That said, Saskatchewan was in the very same predicament that Hamilton was in, and their starters played the entire game too, but they had the added motivation of not wanting to go into the playoffs on a five-game losing streak. Plus, had the Eskimos won, they would have been Saskatchewan's opponent next week. Maybe, instead of questioning we should be praising. In a time when teams are undefeated and sit their starters (*cough*Indianapolis Colts*cough*) it was refreshing to see two Head Coaches give a damn about winning what was, in fact, a meaningless game. Perhaps we should stricken the words "meaningless game" from our vocabulary.
10. Even though he's only been credited (so far) with two sacks, Jermaine Reid had a whale of a game replacing the injured Matt Kirk. From where I sat, Reid had three sacks, but the official score sheet has him listed with two. Either way, nice to see Reid step up when needed.
11. I have been saying all year that Arland Bruce is the best WR in the CFL. I may need to amend that statement. Fred Stamps continues to stake his claim for the title, and I'm inclined to at least give him a share of it. As impressive a WR as there is in the Canadian Football League.
12. Is there any tougher QB than Ricky Ray? The last few seasons have seen Ray get the tar beaten out of him, yet he dusts himself off and heads back to the huddle for the next play. Much respect for Ricky Ray.
13. Once Eric Tillman took over the Edmonton Eskimos, the team got better. He didn't make many moves, but I expect Tillman to solidify the roster in Edmonton much like he did in Saskatchewan. I would be stunned if the Eskimos miss the playoffs in 2011.
14. Edmonton, however, did miss the playoffs in 2010, and that will likely cost Richie Hall his job as Head Coach. Hall seems like a nice guy, and he is a very good Defensive Coordinator, but I would suspect that he is not long for the Head Coaching ranks. Now, let the speculation begin as to who will replace Hall. I bet Tiger-Cat Defensive Coordinator Greg Marshall will at or near the top of Tillman's list.
15. As much as it pains me to write this, a hearty congratulations must go out to the Toronto Argonauts for finishing the season 9-9. I don't think even the most optimistic of Argo fans would have thought a .500 record was possible in 2010.
16. This year is just seems that certain teams have other teams' number. The BC Lions were the only team to win at McMahon Stadium, and they did it twice. Toronto went 0-3 against the Tiger-Cats, with Hamilton's margin of victory getting bigger in each subsequent game. Perhaps the most astounding is that same Toronto team beat the Montreal Alouettes twice, and actually won the season series between the two on point differential.
17. It looks like the career of Toronto Argonaut DB Willie Middlebrooks could be over. He has a nerve impingement in his vertebrae that doctors have told him could result in serious injury if he continues to suit up. It's a sad end to a very good career.
18. Was there a worse way for the Alouettes to end the season? They lost to both the Argos and Tiger-Cats by a combined score of 70-4 in two of the last three weeks. They will see one of those teams in the East Division Final in 13 days. Their lone win in the last three games came on that only-in-the-CFL play to beat Toronto. They very easily could have lost that game as well. Montreal will still be favoured going into the East Final, but it's no longer a sure bet that the Als will get to Edmonton, regardless of if it's the Cats or Argos they play on the 21st.
19. With the season now at a close, the league leaders in all the statistical categories are set. Only two QBs – Darian Durant and Kevin Glenn – threw for over 5,000 yards, with Durant leading the league, with 5,542. Five RBs – Fred Reid, Cory Boyd, Joffrey Reynolds, DeAndra' Cobb and Wes Cates – eclipsed the 1,000-yard rushing barrier. Reid led the way, with 1,396. Twelve players amassed more than 1,000 receiving yards, with Andy Fantuz leading the way, with 1,380. This is the first time a Canadian has led the CFL in receiving since Dave Sapunjis in 1995. Barrin Simpson led a trio of players – Jamall Johnson and Kevin Eiben being the other two – who went over 100 tackles. Simpson finished with 104. James Patrick led the league in interceptions, with nine, Philip Hunt led the league in sacks, with 16, and rookie Rob Maver led the league in points, with 185.
20. It was an up-and-down season making game predictions. I had some atrocious weeks, and some very good ones. I pegged a few upsets, but missed the mark by picking Hamilton 18 times. I finished the regular season a very respectable, at least in my mind, 38-34. I will continue to make picks for the playoffs, and I will count them towards my overall total. With five games left to play, I would have to get all five wrong to finish below .500 for the season.

Blogskee Wee Wee's Most Outstanding Player Awards (Tiger-Cats Edition)

Earlier in the week, the Tiger-Cat nominations for the end-of-the-year player awards were announced. I was going to rush and make sure my picks were out before the official ones to see how close mine were to the actual selections made by actual writers. (After all, I'm not a professional, I just play one on the Internet.)

But the more I thought about it, the more I didn't quite understand why the picks were made before the regular season ended. Sure, one game will not drastically change many selections (and, in fact, I probably would have been able to make these picks on Labour Day and stuck with them), but this is the CFL and anything can happen.

So I made the decision to wait until the Tiger-Cats played their final game of the regular season before I published my picks.

Most Outstanding Player
In my mind there were really only two players who legitimately had a shot at this award: Kevin Glenn and Arland Bruce.

Kevin Glenn is becoming to this generation of fans what Danny McManus was to me when I was a teenager. McManus was the man; Glenn is quickly becoming the man.

Glenn has put together a season for the ages by throwing for 5,100 yards and 33 touchdowns. Glenn also completed a career-high 64.5% of his passes. Glenn had one of the best seasons a Tiger-Cat QB has ever had. This has been Glenn's masterpiece season. He was very good in 2007 when he was with Winnipeg (and was the East nominee for MOP), but Glenn has been even better in 2010.

The trade that brought Arland Bruce to Hamilton in 2009 might go down as the greatest trade in Hamilton Tiger-Cat history. He was the team's 2009 nominee for MOP, and he put together a fantastic season in 2010. His numbers are all great: 86 receptions for 1,303 yards and eight TDs, and all of those numbers were achieved with Bruce missing two whole games and most of a third. I wonder what kind of numbers Bruce would have put up had he been healthy all season.

Both guys have put together great campaigns, but the QB is always the most important player on the team, so it's especially hard to ignore what Glenn has done in 2010.

Most Outstanding Player: Kevin Glenn

Most Outstanding Defensive Player
At the beginning of the season, I predicted that Jamall Johnson would win Most Outstanding Defensive Player. He had a stellar 2009 campaign, and only didn't get the team nomination because it went to his fellow Linebacker, Markeith Knowlton. I thought Johnson would eclipse his numbers from '09 and make it near impossible for anyone to consider someone else for MODP.

Saying JJ would take home the award was not a slight on Knowlton, who is probably the most underrated player in the league (even if Kevin Glenn did win that title earlier this week). Knowlton continues to put up fantastic numbers, and he makes plays week in, week out. I think I, like many, underrate Knowlton's impact. But watching him closely this season has allowed me to really appreciate what he brings to the team.

But before I go crowning someone, there is one other player that deserves mention: Stevie Baggs. Baggs has not been back in the CFL long enough to be a legitimate candidate for MODP, but I would be remiss if I didn't make note of his great play since joining the Cats. I don't think I need to enumerate what he's done. If you're reading this, you are well aware of how great Baggs has been since donning the Black & Gold in September. Again, this is not a knock on Knowlton (or Johnson), but Baggs is already my odds-on favourite for MODP in 2011.

But this is 2010, and the best Defensive player on the team (and, in my opinion, the entire league) is none other than Markeith Knowlton.

Most Outstanding Defensive Player: Markeith Knowlton

Most Outstanding Offensive Lineman
Picking an award for an Offensive Lineman is very difficult. The best ones are the ones whose name you never hear. The life of a great O-Lineman is a life of near anonymity.

When it comes to being anonymously good, the man for this award is Marwan Hage.

I have been a critic of Hage's in the past. He is not the perfect Lineman, but he is a damn good one. Hage, having played for some terrible Tiger-Cat teams, mostly gets recognized for his humanitarian work (which is second to none), but only recently has he been getting recognized for his play on the field.

The Tiger-Cats' O-Line has been phenomenal all season (minus the terrible Week 1 contest versus Winnipeg), most notably by giving up the least sacks, which has allowed Glenn to put up the numbers he has.

As a former Centre, I tend to give a little more love to the men who patrol the middle of the Line. But Hage deserves credit for having a great season.

Most Outstanding Offensive Lineman: Marwan Hage

Most Outstanding Canadian
I have to be honest, I cannot think of a reason not to give this to Dave Stala; can you?

Since coming to Hamilton last season, Dave Stala has turned himself into one of the most reliable and durable players in the CFL. When Stala was with Montreal, he fought the injury bug; since coming to Hamilton, he has been the model of health.

Stala has been the best Canadian Receiver since Mike Morreale. While not a speed demon by any stretch of the imagination, Stala has been as clutch as they get when it comes to picking up first downs. The nicknames "Sticky" (because he rarely drops a pass) and "Second-down Stala" (because all he seems to do is pick up first downs on second down) are not just cute alliterations.

Stala set personal highs in catches (86) and touchdowns (6), while notching his second 1,000-yard receiving season.

Stala has become one of the most beloved members of the current Tiger-Cat roster. With Stala being a Hamilton boy, some will say it's because of that that Stala is so popular. But unlike the last guy who was proclaimed a "Hometown Hero," Stala backs it up on the field.

Most Outstanding Canadian: Dave Stala

Most Outstanding Special Teams Player
Should I even bother to make an argument? I mean, we all know this award is going to Marcus Thigpen.

However, since I don't need to regale everyone with what Thigpen has meant to the Special Teams in 2010, I'll spend some time giving another underrated player some publicity.

Since arriving in Hamilton at the beginning of August, Eric Wilbur has been up there with the best Punters in the CFL.

After the disaster that was the Justin Palardy experiment (but much respect for him becoming a damn fine Kicker for the Blue Bombers), Wilbur provided the Tiger-Cats with exactly what they needed in the punting game: accuracy and distance.

Wilbur seems to get better and better each week. I hope that he gets to come back next season and prove that 2010 was not a fluke. Using an import spot on a Punter is not something most teams like to do, but with Wilbur I think the positives outweigh the negatives.

That said, Marcus Thigpen still gets my vote.

Most Outstanding Special Teams Player: Marcus Thigpen

Most Outstanding Rookie
The Wilbur-Thigpen debate could be carried over to this award as well. Since I spent the entire section of Special Teams Player on Wilbur, I'll spend this one on Thigpen.

What Thigpen has done in the return game is nothing short of brilliant. Why the Roughriders ever let this guy go is beyond me.

But recently, Thigpen has also been establishing an offensive identity as well. Thigpen has become that Weapon X-type player, where he is a threat no matter where he lines up. Hm, perhaps his nickname should be Weapon X? Maybe I'll throw that out there and see if it sticks.

Thigpen is the first and only player in CFL history to score a touchdown in five different ways (rushing, receiving, kick return, punt return and missed field goal return) in one season... and he did it before Labour Day. It is kind of incredible to think that someone like Hall of Famer Mike "Pinball" Clemons never accomplished that feat.

Perhaps the best rookie in the entire league, he is most definitely the best rookie on the team.

Most Outstanding Rookie: Marcus Thigpen

Had I posted this prior to the unveiling of the actual team nominees, I would have gone six for six. Maybe I can be a professional? (Please note the sarcasm.) Hey, Drew, next year, pick me, will ya?

West Division Semi-Final Set

Coming into today, we knew that the final CFL playoff spot would be decided one way or the other. Either BC or Edmonton would be booking a flight to Regina to take on the Roughriders in the West Division Semi-Final.

For BC to make the playoffs, they needed to beat Hamilton.

Check.

But that wasn't enough. They also needed Saskatchewan to beat Edmonton.

Check and mate.

So next Sunday, it will be the BC Lions visiting the Saskatchewan Roughriders in the West Division Semi-Final. The winner of that game will face the Calgary Stampeders to determine the West's representative in the Grey Cup.

Playoff football is almost here. I can't wait.