The fault is squarely on Higgins!

[Oiler]

Major reasons why Esks lost this season:

The poor season directly rests on Higgins:

1. Can't have a QB who is one-dimensional. Maas is ok behind maximum protection but has no scrambling ability thus robbing the team of making good on broken plays.

2. Failure to have a scatback for can run for long gains. This is why Saskatchewan won.

3. Predictable offence, due to the 2 reasons above. Stupid shovel pass plays and a back who gets 1-2 yards 75 percent of the time.

4. No pressure from the defensive line. The failure of Kelvin Kinney and Dorian Boose for whatever reason was a major blow to the defence. Sorry, but Albert Reese and Wayne and Issa aren't the answer. Jeanty isn't either as he is very inconsistent off the edge.

5. Gaas has heart but cannot stop the run consistently. He is too slow and not a great tackler. Also Grant has not performed very well at the other linebacker position. Maybe play him at RB.

Basically Higgins stood pat with too much of the team after winning the Grey Cup.

Higgins has known these shortcomings the entire season and has done absolutely nothing about it!

The only good thing about this season is there is a hope Montreal may not win the G.C.

[Sandy - Edmonton]

Re: The fault is squarely on Higgins!

Major reasons why Esks lost this season:

The poor season directly rests on Higgins:

1. Can't have a QB who is one-dimensional. Maas is ok behind maximum protection but has no scrambling ability thus robbing the team of making good on broken plays.

2. Failure to have a scatback for can run for long gains. This is why Saskatchewan won.

3. Predictable offence, due to the 2 reasons above. Stupid shovel pass plays and a back who gets 1-2 yards 75 percent of the time.

4. No pressure from the defensive line. The failure of Kelvin Kinney and Dorian Boose for whatever reason was a major blow to the defence. Sorry, but Albert Reese and Wayne and Issa aren't the answer. Jeanty isn't either as he is very inconsistent off the edge.

5. Gaas has heart but cannot stop the run consistently. He is too slow and not a great tackler. Also Grant has not performed very well at the other linebacker position. Maybe play him at RB.

Basically Higgins stood pat with too much of the team after winning the Grey Cup.

Higgins has known these shortcomings the entire season and has done absolutely nothing about it!

The only good thing about this season is there is a hope Montreal may not win the G.C.

1) Disagree entirely....Maas had a great game, outplayed Burris by a large margin. Maas didn't cause the fumble to Ed Hervey that killed a drive. Maas didn't cause Tucker to drop a perfectly thrown ball in the endzone. Maas didn't put cause Fleming to miss 2 field goals.

2) Agreed. We don't have a runningback who can do a good job. It will be important to find a suitable replacement for Pringle

3) The Esks had plenty of offence today....although those shovel passes by Macocia are stupid.

4) Issa did a great job. I'd like him back next year. Have to make some moves in the offseason though - get some more pressure.

5) Gass didn't play that bad, but we can do better. Grant isn't a linebacker - he should be our RB or in the secondary.

I'm not in favour of firing Higgins...you can't win the Grey Cup every year. That said, Higgins should be held somewhat accountable for this game...

[Oiler]

Re: The fault is squarely on Higgins!

1) Disagree entirely....Maas had a great game, outplayed Burris by a large margin. Maas didn't cause the fumble to Ed Hervey that killed a drive. Maas didn't cause Tucker to drop a perfectly thrown ball in the endzone. Maas didn't put cause Fleming to miss 2 field goals.

But Maas couldn't get out of a sack situation wheras Burris or a Printers type would. Maas also threw a lot of balls that were delfected by the Riders.

3) The Esks had plenty of offence today....although those shovel passes by Macocia are stupid.

This is where RR was way better.

4) Issa did a great job. I'd like him back next year. Have to make some moves in the offseason though - get some more pressure.

One good game. We'll see. Hopefully they can get a better front 7 next year. This was a major reason why they won last year.

5) Gass didn't play that bad, but we can do better. Grant isn't a linebacker - he should be our RB or in the secondary. Time to replace Gass. They tried with Powell who was a lot faster but was very poor reading defences and stopping the run.

I'm not in favour of firing Higgins...you can't win the Grey Cup every year. That said, Higgins should be held somewhat accountable for this game...

Higgins himself admits it was his fault though it's though of as classy. It is his fault though sometimes it is natural to stand pat after winning a championship.

[GreenGreg]

Re: The fault is squarely on Higgins!

Disagree about Maas. Thought he played a great game and held the Esks in it.

[Party Time]

Re: The fault is squarely on Higgins!

i have to say Maas did a good job. Given the conditions i think our offence was alright. However, there were those turnovers which were very costly. The fake punt was a terrible call, whoever called that should face some consequences.

[Phrost]

Re: The fault is squarely on Higgins!

I dont think Maas should be blamed, once again he had a solid day..even in bad weather. Pringle though I think is at the end of his rope. He just doesnt have the explosivness CFL backs need.

[Oiler]

Re: The fault is squarely on Higgins!

I dont think Maas should be blamed, once again he had a solid day..even in bad weather. Pringle though I think is at the end of his rope. He just doesnt have the explosivness CFL backs need.

I am not saying he is a bad QB, but stats don't nessarily equate to chanpionships. I don't see Maas winning one unless he gets 100 percent protection all the time which is impossible.I like a Printers or DD type who can get out of trouble and make somethiung out of nothing. RR was also flat footed but he has a bit more speed than Maas.

[MEEZY]

Re: The fault is squarely on Higgins!

Major reasons why Esks lost this season:

The poor season directly rests on Higgins:

1. Can't have a QB who is one-dimensional. Maas is ok behind maximum protection but has no scrambling ability thus robbing the team of making good on broken plays.

2. Failure to have a scatback for can run for long gains. This is why Saskatchewan won.

3. Predictable offence, due to the 2 reasons above. Stupid shovel pass plays and a back who gets 1-2 yards 75 percent of the time.

4. No pressure from the defensive line. The failure of Kelvin Kinney and Dorian Boose for whatever reason was a major blow to the defence. Sorry, but Albert Reese and Wayne and Issa aren't the answer. Jeanty isn't either as he is very inconsistent off the edge.

5. Gaas has heart but cannot stop the run consistently. He is too slow and not a great tackler. Also Grant has not performed very well at the other linebacker position. Maybe play him at RB.

Basically Higgins stood pat with too much of the team after winning the Grey Cup.

Higgins has known these shortcomings the entire season and has done absolutely nothing about it!

The only good thing about this season is there is a hope Montreal may not win the G.C.

1. I agree to an extent about Maas. Although he played fairly well this year, he just doesn't seem to be able to get it done in big-game situations. It could be that his supporting cast (2001, 2004) isn't at the calibre of that surrounding Ricky Ray, but it's hard to tell for sure. However, I disagree with regards to his scrambling ability; Maas is a pretty good scrambler.

2. Agree completely.

3. Again, I agree. Why they utilized the shovel pass again today, I'll never understand. One of them almost went for a pick...

4. Agree.

5. I don't completely agree here; Gass has good straight ahead speed. But I think where he runs into trouble is when he has to move laterally. He's also the type of guy to get the team fired up, so I wouldn't be so quick to write him off.

For me, the only good thing about this season is that hopefully it's Ned Flanders' last in Edmonton.

[Sandy - Edmonton]

Re: The fault is squarely on Higgins!

I am not saying he is a bad QB, but stats don't nessarily equate to chanpionships. I don't see Maas winning one unless he gets 100 percent protection all the time which is impossible.I like a Printers or DD type who can get out of trouble and make somethiung out of nothing. RR was also flat footed but he has a bit more speed than Maas.

In 2001 he had a horrible defence with him. Remember Quicy Coleman getting burnt that year.

Dave Dickenson hasn't won a Grey Cup yet...what makes you think he's a championship QB. He's been around much longer than Maas as well..

Until Printers wins one, same thing....

[MEEZY]

Re: The fault is squarely on Higgins!

whoever called that should face some consequences

Tom Higgins admitted that it was his call.

[Oiler]

Re: The fault is squarely on Higgins!

In 2001 he had a horrible defence with him. Remember Quicy Coleman getting burnt that year.

Dave Dickenson hasn't won a Grey Cup yet...what makes you think he's a championship QB. He's been around much longer than Maas as well..

Until Printers wins one, same thing....

Ture, Printers haven't won anything but that could change this year or next. I think DD was part of a Grey Cup in Calgary IIRC.

They both are more exciting than Maas and that puts more fans in the seats for one.

[Sandy - Edmonton]

Re: The fault is squarely on Higgins!

Ture, Printers haven't won anything but that could change this year or next. I think DD was part of a Grey Cup in Calgary IIRC.

They both are more exciting than Maas and that puts more fans in the seats for one.

Exciting? Now what kind of football argument is that.

But let's just play along....Maas wasn't exciting this year? All those passes to Tucker for long scores? Maas can read a blitz, something that many QB's have a difficulty doing. Ray wasn't as good against the Blitz, and he didn't have as quick of a release.

DD wasn't part of any GC in Calgary. That was Garcia and Crandell.

Dave Dickenson choked in the playoffs in 2000.....threw 2 INT, while he only threw 6 in the regular season.

[lloyd]

Re: The fault is squarely on Higgins!

Maas played a good game, couple poor decisions cost them. for example that rush he tried. That ball to Tucker was blanket coverage, Tucker didnt drop it. It was the red zone offense that had to step up. To say it was Maas's fault it a weak argument... he exceeded everyones expectations this year.

[Sandy - Edmonton]

Re: The fault is squarely on Higgins!

Look how long it took for Calvillo to win a Grey Cup.

The QB is an important part of a team...no doubt. That said, the QB is not the entire team. Warren Moon, Dan Marino, etc. didn't win a Championship. That said, any team would have taken them....

Give Maas time.

Supply a better team around him.

[Angelus]

Re: The fault is squarely on Higgins!

Both Dave Dickenson and Jason Maas have a Grey Cup Ring. Neither of them earned them while starting.