2024 Edmonton Elks

[Esks4ever]

Omg we won a game!!!!!! Wtf is this feeling?

WAIT! are we allowed to do that ?

[Esks4ever]

Wow everyone played well outside of the opening play. Leake reminded me of John Avery in the early 2000s. The OL looked good for once and Julien put on a punting clinic. 31 kept reminding me of CMC

its amazing.. when you have a mobile QB who can easily threaten the sides it completely opens up the run game. Last win was also in Sask with Ford at QB. Brown got 173 yards on the ground. Yesterday Leake got 169 yards on 12 carries.

Why did this take so friiggin long. No knock on MBT, but ford just provides that extra dynamic.

[Esks4ever]

Speaking of Ford, I think it was Gregor or Tencer ( they are all the same to me ) posted a old tweet regarding Jones drafting Ford. Jones' thought pattern was to have Ford change positions.

So he drafted Ford in hopes he'd change positions. Ford said no... There's the start to the pretty Bull**** from Jones. Really hope it hasn't completely soured Ford on Edmonton. Would love to see him here long time.

[EskiPhenom]

yeah Julien has become a bit of a weapon

I unironically have Julien as the Elks MVP for the first half of the season.

[Sectionq]

I am happy they won but that win pissed me off. Not because I am anti Ford but because it just shows me how stupid the people that run the team are. Why the hell do you wait until your season is screwed to try something different!!

I am glad they won but the Elks organization look like clowns for waiting as long as they did.

[EskiPhenom]

its amazing.. when you have a mobile QB who can easily threaten the sides it completely opens up the run game. Last win was also in Sask with Ford at QB. Brown got 173 yards on the ground. Yesterday Leake got 169 yards on 12 carries.

Why did this take so friiggin long. No knock on MBT, but ford just provides that extra dynamic.

It seems very clear by now that Jones never gave up on his own inflated self opinion that he knows best, even against all conventional wisdom showing he was wrong. There are times that has worked out long ago (Eddie Steele was a good enough athlete to play o line in a pinch for a few games), but over time Jones completely lost the plot. As an example, trading away Beard to sign a downgrade in Korte, at an overpay as well, was a travesty.

Ford is the perfect example. Ford has every tool needed to be the next Damon Allen. Give him game time, coach him up, and let it happen. Hindsight being 20/20, it's safe to say that aside from injury, he should have had every start ever given to Cornelius, and the MBT signing was an even more egregious waste of cap space that our consistently overpaid WR room.

Candidly, Hervey has been the same way both in BC and in Hamilton. Without consistent incoming talent supplied by the likes of Paul Jones, the "smarter than thou" trope falls apart in a hurry. Neither have set their ego aside, and the results have been predictable. I'm not saying that to rub salt in the wounds while both are down - I just think it's a pity that they never realized that they were better together than apart and both haven't addressed their flaws.

While I don't believe MBT is a 'bad' player, the fact that he claims to have played hurt his last 2 starts - to dreadful results - shows his limitations at the best of times. This team is already not built for a limited mobility pocket passer: the oline isn't good enough and the offense Jackson calls rarely features enough designed runs to keep defenders guessing. The youthful defense shows some positive flashes, but needs time off the field with longer drives and will have some breakdowns each game. If MBT is having an "off night, for whatever reason, that's curtains on getting a W.

If Ford isn't passing well, which he didn't in the second half on Saturday, it might not matter. The offense remains dangerous. His presence in the field demands at least one QB spy, and the spy better be FAST. That's one less tackler on a run in the correct position, or one less defender in coverage. That matters on a team with some big weapons at QB, WR, and RB, lots of speed, and a style suited to finding open space on the fly.

I'm tired of this team taking half measures. Cut MBT, sign Ford to a real contract to keep him here, and see what we can find over the next few years to improve the Oline. Its the best "sell" this organization can make today to show fans that they understand which way the wind is blowing, and they want to put an entertaining brand of ball on the field.

[EskiPhenom]

I am happy they won but that win pissed me off. Not because I am anti Ford but because it just shows me how stupid the people that run the team are. Why the hell do you wait until your season is screwed to try something different!!

I am glad they won but the Elks organization look like clowns for waiting as long as they did.

We just need to accept the by the time this team was 0-4, the season was already lost. Maybe Ford leads a rally to a 6-8 win season, but the staff is still a Jones staff and the new ownership will certainly put their own stamp on things with new president and in turn, GM hires. Realistically, none of these people should be back for 2025 unless there is a Raiders-like mid season turnaround and the players are all bought in.

This year's team will very likely entertain us with exciting football for the rest of the season. They might even win a few games. A title isn't happening. However, that's such a step forward from the last 3 years of trash that I'm ok with it.

For the first time since the initial 2 years of Jason Maas as head coach, this team has hope. That's powerful enough for now.

[Hammer24]

Speaking of Ford, I think it was Gregor or Tencer ( they are all the same to me ) posted a old tweet regarding Jones drafting Ford. Jones' thought pattern was to have Ford change positions.

So he drafted Ford in hopes he'd change positions. Ford said no... There's the start to the pretty Bull**** from Jones. Really hope it hasn't completely soured Ford on Edmonton. Would love to see him here long time.

I could never understand the legitimacy of that concept. When it was Jones' turn to be on the clock Tre Ford, Tyrell Ford and Tyson Philpot were all available. Why would he take Tre with the intent of having him change positions? There are obvious risks that it wouldn't pan out. What would he convert him to? Most likely receiver or DB. Maybe RB. Why take a conversion risk when there are outstanding talents available, no conversion required. Philpot went to Montreal with the next pick and Tyrell Ford went 4 picks after Philpot. Odds of Tyson or Tyrell have successful careers as WR or DB were certainly much better than Tre at those positions.

The only justification to take Ford to change positions would be as a Plan B if after a couple years it was evident he couldn't succeed as a QB like a Brad Sinopoli.

[adb]

Speaking of Ford, I think it was Gregor or Tencer ( they are all the same to me ) posted a old tweet regarding Jones drafting Ford. Jones' thought pattern was to have Ford change positions.

So he drafted Ford in hopes he'd change positions. Ford said no... There's the start to the pretty Bull**** from Jones. Really hope it hasn't completely soured Ford on Edmonton. Would love to see him here long time.

Yeah I hope he re signs here as well but I am thinking that it might be unlikely if BLM continues to falter in Steel Town. In that scenario there might be a good chance Hervey goes after him. He hasn't exactly been treated well by the organization here to this point so why would he re sign with the Elks? If the money is close I think he might decide to go home. I hope I'm wrong as I really like him as a QB. He is still green as grass and has not proven anything yet but he compares favorably skillset wise to a Doug Flutie or a Damon Allen and if he has even one third of a career of either of those 2 guys then he'll end up in the HOF. Hopefully that happens with the EE but I wouldn't bet on it.

[Esks4ever]

Yeah I hope he re signs here as well but I am thinking that it might be unlikely if BLM continues to falter in Steel Town. In that scenario there might be a good chance Hervey goes after him. He hasn't exactly been treated well by the organization here to this point so why would he re sign with the Elks? If the money is close I think he might decide to go home. I hope I'm wrong as I really like him as a QB. He is still green as grass and has not proven anything yet but he compares favorably skillset wise to a Doug Flutie or a Damon Allen and if he has even one third of a career of either of those 2 guys then he'll end up in the HOF. Hopefully that happens with the EE but I wouldn't bet on it.

it'll be the new Owner(s) task to try to convince him to stay.

[Looner]

Pretty pumped about our first W of the season and was just rewatching the highlights. Watched the opening kickoff a little more in depth and for some reason Jackson was 7 yards behind everyone and probably 10 yards off to the side. Then one of the Riders players chipped Rankin off his lane and into Green's leaving a HUGE hole.

kickoff.png

[tigerdar]

it'll be the new Owner(s) task to try to convince him to stay.

money talks and we're paying MBT 450K a year I do believe cut him and sign Ford for maybe a bit less but still a fine contract.

[dinger]

Credit to Heavy Dee on the other board. Here's a good 30 minute listen if you're bored - interview with Trent Brown ripping apart upper management

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1dcZ9d3hUvM

KK had the presence of mind to let TB rant. Many on this forum, some valuable contributors who have left, championed Trent Brown for the President's job.

[glenvb]

money talks and we're paying MBT 450K a year I do believe cut him and sign Ford for maybe a bit less but still a fine contract.

If we cut MBT and Tre cools off or (worse yet) gets injured... then what? I'd keep MBT at least until the end of the season.

[Looner]

A few positive thoughts on a game for a change:

• Usually when we have a negative play like the opening kickoff, we go on a long spiral that puts us out of the game, Ford came out and drove the ball for a field goal to stop the bleeding, this was the most important drive of the game IMO
• Running game is 1000x better with Ford in there. He's a running threat like no other QB in the league and our Oline isn't good enough to have a QB that isn't mobile
• Defence made stops when they had to. I thought the roughing the passer near the end was kind of garbage as his hand barely brushed his head.
• Defensive play calling was better, saw some blitzes that actually worked
• Leake is FAST but showed patience at the line as he waited for his holes to open up and then he hit them with speed
• Punting was fantastic again, Julien has done some good work on his angling and its showing.
• Ford has shown that he can make throws from the pocket and growth from last year. I really feel like MBT has shown him how to be a leader and helped him with his pocket presence. The throw to Jones was a thing of beauty, hit him right in stride.
• Purifoy is our defensive MVP in my opinion. He brings the heat when he tackles and usually makes 1 huge impact play per game, his sack near the end was HUGE.
• Dline is a work in progress but they seem to be getting better. I really like what Elliot Brown brings.

Its only 1 game but anytime you can beat Sask in Sask, its a great day.