2024 Edmonton Elks

[bone]

To the hardcore fans, if the B squad can keep it close, then you are right, people will take the positives from that. But that's not who the Elks need to win over. They don't need to win over the people you frequent this site. Who's ever here is a fan of the team and if they take the time to post here, clearly they follow the team quite a bit. They also don't need to win over the season ticket holders. Those seats are bought and paid for. So in all likelihood, a season ticket holder if going to the games whether they get smoked or not because you already paid for the seats.

They need to win over the fans who don't come or the fans who only come if they get free tickets from work/ a buddy that goes, or maybe come once a year if they have nothing else to do and the weather is nice. Moral victories only register with the fans who follow the team a lot and this group of fans is dwindling. For the casual fan who maybe if you are lucky might be able to name off 5 players just because they heard their name on the radio a few times, these are the fans they need to convert to more regular fans. For those people, they will just see another loss from a team that has lost a ton over the years and have all kinds of articles you can look up on line talking about all the losing records they set.

I am not trying to be Mr. Negative but the future of this team is in jeopardy IMO and I don't think Jones sees that as much as he should be. I kept hearing all last year about the progress and the process and "yes we want to win but blah, blah, excuse, excuse". If you wanted to win, you don't keep a QB in that skips balls off the turf for 9 losses in a row, or an OC that can't scheme anything to make your offense work what so ever for 9 losses in a row, or playing mad scientist with roster spot, etc, etc. I think there needs to be more of an urgency of getting off to a really good start and showing the fans, things will be different. They still have 6 QB's on the roster. MBT is your starting and playing most of the reps in the games. Ford is your back up, because he's got a skill set that is still raw and needs development but won you your only 4 games last year and if he isn't then Jones truly doesn't know what he's doing. So now you are down to your 3rd string who might never step onto the field or if he does, it's to get you 1 yard. So they have 4 guys for 1 job. I am going to guess they have a pretty good idea, which 2 at least are for sure cuts and the release letter is probably already typed, they just need to push send. So IMO they should be focusing on getting the team ready because IMO, there is no way, they don't have most of the starters already picked out. It's probably down to a couple of spots at best and maybe who is the #1 back up in a few spots.

So I think they should be giving the vets more reps so when game 1 starts, we don't see MBT throwing 1 way and his receiver running the other because one of them makes the wrong read because they don't have enough game reps or time using the new playbook. Or there isn't enough familiarity between MBT and his receiving core because as hard as they practice, it's not a game. So if they come out in game 1 and lose and then I hear them talk about just needing more time and reps to get familiar with the playbook and how receivers run routes, while they sat at home so the #10 receiver on the depth chart can get a quarter of game action. I'm going to be pissed.

I can't disagree with you on this, other than to point out that I can't imagine a single casual sports fan tuning into this game tonight regardless because of another pretty big distraction going on tonight for this town. Only the hardcores will be tuning into this one.

That said, with MBT being new to the team, I 100% disagree with not bringing him to this game to get some reps against some quality players other than the fact that I wouldn't want to expose him with the B squad O line risking injury. So I'm certainly more on your side from a team building perspective, but doubt this game moves the needle regardless of who plays for interest from non hard cores.

I'd even go so far to say if the Oilers advance to the cup final, we're likely only dealing with hard cores next week as well unless the Elks could move the start time to 3:00 and bring in projectors to allow a viewing party post-game. Could actually bring a lot of families in that would want to watch the game outside with a bunch of fans without the chaos of the Moss pit and other outdoor options.

[Esks4ever]

, but doubt this game moves the needle regardless of who plays for interest from non hard cores.

exactly this... worse now with the oil still in it. Hell it doesn't move the needle for me a semi-hardcore

[bone]

exactly this... worse now with the oil still in it. Hell it doesn't move the needle for me a semi-hardcore

Exactly. I'm not even sure I'll watch it tonight. Might just fire up the PVR tomorrow.

I'm treating it like a post-game tea. Low stakes game to settle my nerves down so I can sleep better after the hockey result.

[Looner]

I'd even go so far to say if the Oilers advance to the cup final, we're likely only dealing with hard cores next week as well unless the Elks could move the start time to 3:00 and bring in projectors to allow a viewing party post-game. Could actually bring a lot of families in that would want to watch the game outside with a bunch of fans without the chaos of the Moss pit and other outdoor options.

Damn what a great idea!!! You would think TSN would be on board as they'll get more viewers

[Looner]

AS far as the QBs go, I think we are looking at 2 evaluations, 1 for the short yardage guy and 1 for the PR/development guy. I get that we are almost in state of emergency here but to take your eye off of the future is a mistake that will show up soon enough.

[bone]

Damn what a great idea!!! You would think TSN would be on board as they'll get more viewers

Can't take credit for it. Someone on the Oilers HFboards mentioned it first and I immediately thought it was a great idea. Keeps the concessions running a bit longer and pumps up their sales and could draw in some Oiler fans that pay less attention to the Elks to take in the game.

[Looner]

Can't take credit for it. Someone on the Oilers HFboards mentioned it first and I immediately thought it was a great idea. Keeps the concessions running a bit longer and pumps up their sales and could draw in some Oiler fans that pay less attention to the Elks to take in the game.

love the idea and I'm still giving you credit as you're the one I heard it from LOL

[Hugoagogo]

Another sneak peek via the twitter of @TheElksHerd

[Sectionq]

I can't disagree with you on this, other than to point out that I can't imagine a single casual sports fan tuning into this game tonight regardless because of another pretty big distraction going on tonight for this town. Only the hardcores will be tuning into this one.

That said, with MBT being new to the team, I 100% disagree with not bringing him to this game to get some reps against some quality players other than the fact that I wouldn't want to expose him with the B squad O line risking injury. So I'm certainly more on your side from a team building perspective, but doubt this game moves the needle regardless of who plays for interest from non hard cores.

I'd even go so far to say if the Oilers advance to the cup final, we're likely only dealing with hard cores next week as well unless the Elks could move the start time to 3:00 and bring in projectors to allow a viewing party post-game. Could actually bring a lot of families in that would want to watch the game outside with a bunch of fans without the chaos of the Moss pit and other outdoor options.

I totally agree. The casual fan will be watching the Oilers. I like to think of myself as a pretty good fan of the Elks and I will be watching Oilers and probably not paying a ton of attention to the Elks game. 1, because the importance/excitement of a Western Final game vs a CFL preseason game doesn't compare. 2. Look at the line up. Nothing about that line up tells me the Elks have a chance of winning or worth watching.

But to the casual fan, if they lose, especially if they lose badly, all they will think is "look, they lost again".

[Sectionq]

oh my god.. its a ****ing preseason game... no one cares if they win or lose.

Its all about evaluating players... I am glad the starters ( most of them ) aren't heading to BC need to see what the rookies can do

Over the last 3 years including preseason, they are 12-44.

My post is not directed to fans like yourself who probably have auto renew on your season tickets. It's not directed to the fans who go to camp, who listen to all the interviews, listen to podcasts, tune into the football show every week and follow the team religiously.

It's directed for as I said, the casual fan who maybe would go to a game one or twice a year depending on the weather, which how the team is doing and their record, is a big time deciding factor between going to the game on a Saturday or going to see a movie. The casual fan doesn't give a damn like do you about who's battling for the 6th receiver spot but mostly play special teams, they want to see wins. So if the Elks lose again, their record will be 12 - 46 over the last 3 and a bit years. Like it or not, there aren't as many fans like yourself who go no matter what. Winning matters to people a lot and determines if they will spend money or not on the team.

[bone]

I totally agree. The casual fan will be watching the Oilers. I like to think of myself as a pretty good fan of the Elks and I will be watching Oilers and probably not paying a ton of attention to the Elks game. 1, because the importance/excitement of a Western Final game vs a CFL preseason game doesn't compare. 2. Look at the line up. Nothing about that line up tells me the Elks have a chance of winning or worth watching.

But to the casual fan, if they lose, especially if they lose badly, all they will think is "look, they lost again".

Possibly, so it would be nice if they show well, but frankly I doubt the casual fan even looks up the score of a pre-season CFL game when there's more interesting things happening in the rest of the sporting world right now.

[Esks4ever]

Possibly, so it would be nice if they show well, but frankly I doubt the casual fan even looks up the score of a pre-season CFL game when there's more interesting things happening in the rest of the sporting world right now.

and even a casual fan would realize that preseason means sweet fook all and most likely wouldnt make a comment like "they lost.. again" since they'd know what preaseason games are ( in any league) imo

[Esks4ever]

and even a casual fan would realize that preseason means sweet fook all and most likely wouldnt make a comment like "they lost.. again" since they'd know what preaseason games are ( in any league) imo

however they could say " sigh, they are going to suck again this year" that would be a valid response lol

[bone]

Over the last 3 years including preseason, they are 12-44.

My post is not directed to fans like yourself who probably have auto renew on your season tickets. It's not directed to the fans who go to camp, who listen to all the interviews, listen to podcasts, tune into the football show every week and follow the team religiously.

It's directed for as I said, the casual fan who maybe would go to a game one or twice a year depending on the weather, which how the team is doing and their record, is a big time deciding factor between going to the game on a Saturday or going to see a movie. The casual fan doesn't give a damn like do you about who's battling for the 6th receiver spot but mostly play special teams, they want to see wins. So if the Elks lose again, their record will be 12 - 46 over the last 3 and a bit years. Like it or not, there aren't as many fans like yourself who go no matter what. Winning matters to people a lot and determines if they will spend money or not on the team.

I'm pretty sure the 11-39 regular season is plenty reason enough to scare people away rather than the 1-4 pre-season stretch they are in as you actually have to dig pretty deep to even see what pre-season results are especially with the CFL site being a disaster the last 14 months.

The Elks redemption story (should it happen) will come on the strength of a good start to the actual season and as such everything should be focused at winning next Saturday and hopefully winning convincingly. If resting the starters this week helps achieve that, then great, then mission accomplished. if the starters look sloppy next week and look like they needed another half of football to get into sync, then that's bad and Jones will feel the heat pretty quickly. I really don't know which way works best and likely won't know until at least next Saturday night what may have been the best choice for this team.

[Looner]

Possibly, so it would be nice if they show well, but frankly I doubt the casual fan even looks up the score of a pre-season CFL game when there's more interesting things happening in the rest of the sporting world right now.

I could see casual fans waiting to see how we start the season before coming back but I doubt their decision will revolve around the outcome of this game.