So if you thought the last game was big.....

[Diesel]

So heading into our last game we set ourselves up to have a shot at being 5-2, stand alones in 2nd, with the potential to come into this game loose and feeling good about the first third of the season. A loss thursday, while never acceptable, would still put us at a 5-3 mark and still with a healthy leg up on the mid season run.

Funny thing happened on the way to opportunity.....


Now, this game is absolutely paramount to the psyche of our season. Make no mistake it's a must win, no matter how anyone might try and spin that it's not. Drop this game and the Prairie Newfies take a stranglehold on 1st and see their loss to Calgary as a speed bump. Worse yet, a loss mires us in mediocracy, with all the added skill and potential, yet no better than we were last year at this point basically.

This team has proven it's very adept at doing one thing over the past three years: Snatching Defeat from the Jaws of Victory


So, now this team is smack dab in a massive opportunity to pull the wheaties back to the pack, and make a statement to themselves and the league. The wheaties glass slipper may not fit anymore if they drop two in a row and start to realize the horseshoe up their collective arses is gone.

The Esks put themselves in a position to leave no real room for error and now we'll see an even bigger test of what this organization is truly made of. More importantly it will gave this team a chance to prove to the fans, both hardcore and casual alike, that the real Esks are on their way back in front of a large crowd.

Fail, and you create an atmosphere where a lot of people will be waiting around for hockey season to start and won't give a damn....
Whatcha gonna do Esks?

[Opus]

Re: So if you thought the last game was big.....

So heading into our last game we set ourselves up to have a shot at being 5-2, stand alones in 2nd, with the potential to come into this game loose and feeling good about the first third of the season. A loss thursday, while never acceptable, would still put us at a 5-3 mark and still with a healthy leg up on the mid season run.

Funny thing happened on the way to opportunity.....


Now, this game is absolutely paramount to the psyche of our season. Make no mistake it's a must win, no matter how anyone might try and spin that it's not. Drop this game and the Prairie Newfies take a stranglehold on 1st and see their loss to Calgary as a speed bump. Worse yet, a loss mires us in mediocracy, with all the added skill and potential, yet no better than we were last year at this point basically.

This team has proven it's very adept at doing one thing over the past three years: Snatching Defeat from the Jaws of Victory


So, now this team is smack dab in a massive opportunity to pull the wheaties back to the pack, and make a statement to themselves and the league. The wheaties glass slipper may not fit anymore if they drop two in a row and start to realize the horseshoe up their collective arses is gone.

The Esks put themselves in a position to leave no real room for error and now we'll see an even bigger test of what this organization is truly made of. More importantly it will gave this team a chance to prove to the fans, both hardcore and casual alike, that the real Esks are on their way back in front of a large crowd.

Whatcha gonna do Esks?

Well said Diez.......

I've been thinking about this myself for a few days, as well as reflecting on the results we've seen so far....

Game 1......play pretty much even through 3 quarters. Head into the 4th down by a measly FG, as the hometown Wheaties get the heebie jeebies that maybe losing Perry, Joseph, Hunt, and Austin was going to hurt them more than everyone even said it would. Afterall this was last years 4th place Eskimos giving the GC champs all they could handle....

Then the wheels fall off in the 4th, and everyone says: nothing has changed.

Game 2......start out gang busters against the Stumps, but dogged by the same stubbornness to avoid running the ball, our offense goes into a cocoon for most of the second half again.....allowing the Stamps to come a long way back and take the lead in the dying minutes. If not for one heroic final drive capped by the amazing Tucker catch to seal the win, we'd be 0-2 to start the season, through no fault of the actual talent on the field. The fact we were able to come back is proof positive that this team can win with the guys we've got.

Game 3......curb stomp the Argos, but this time we kept them close through most of the first half.....once again we see a jeckyl & hyde routine, but this time it's in reverse and we close out a game feeling real good about where we're at.

Game 4.......back to the old habits, but even still it never felt like we were in any worry about losing until the last minute of the game. After the 05 Milt incident, there is no way our D should be giving up last minute drives like that...unacceptable that defensive playcalling in the last minute could be so slip shod to allow that to happen. This was one more game we should have had iced, and the it took an all around effort to lose it strictly through playcalling on both sides of the ball.

Game 5.......Just another game start to finish that didn't feel like we were in jeopardy of losing.......yet WTF was it still close? Same old same old........

Game 6.......Thought the bad news was going to carry though again....on a road trip that saw us lose both Perry and Tucker, we come home and smell things up aside from a nice opening drive. Down by 10 this team usually would have folded up......but things go bizarre, we adjust at the half and own the final 30 minutes....once again Jeckyl & Hyde return and even throw in more ground game as if to try and fool us into believing.

Game 7......Another outstanding opening drive. We must have been feeling either very good about ourselves or very generous. Because after that, when we weren't seemingly moving the ball as needed, we were giving it up to the Leos for easy points against. Once again we see that our offense when in a tight game is pass first, pass second, and if one and two didn't work....pass again.....

So a 4-3 record, which could have been so much more. Not because I think we didn't deserve to lose...or the teams that beat us didn't deserve to win, but because they were game we could have really won......games we really should have won.

No doubt in my mind that this is a good team....and I don't think there are many people out there who realize it because they'll look at the record first and foremost.

...but hey, maybe we deserve that....IMO I think we should be stomping on some teams, but we're just not doing it.....and why would I think things will change just out of the blue? We continue to be hampered by sticking to the same stubborn formula which either allows teams to keep things close enough to beat us, or doesn't give us a chance to change on the fly to find something that works.......

Both BC and Toronto losses really should have been wins......this team is good enough to be sitting right with the Riders at 6-1.....and if we played a little smarter, we would be.

So are we that team or are we the schizo team that will play half a game before bowing out of the game or race for first?

Like you said Diez....." Whatcha gonna do Esks?"

We'll know a little better Thursday.

[chub]

Re: So if you thought the last game was big.....

Well here's hoping that Friday's Edmonton Sun cover reads "Bring on the Oilers Already!" lol.

But seriously...this is a must win for both teams....as stated in the other thread...this game will likely come down to the battle in the trenches because the weather may not be favourable to a passing game.

[Deathsdoorstep]

Re: So if you thought the last game was big.....

Well, right now the Eskimos are 4-3, so if they lose on Thursday they aren't 5-3, they'll be 4-4.

[Opus]

Re: So if you thought the last game was big.....

Well here's hoping that Friday's Edmonton Sun cover reads "Bring on the Oilers Already!" lol.

But seriously...this is a must win for both teams....as stated in the other thread...this game will likely come down to the battle in the trenches because the weather may not be favourable to a passing game.

which according to the vast majority (at your home site) would give your team the edge.

I disagree, I like our lines against yours on both sides of the ball.

Those who would put full stock on Cates as the difference maker must realize his shiftiness won't be getting him out of jams....while our back is bigger and more north / south (if we actually use him that is).

[Opus]

Re: So if you thought the last game was big.....

Well, right now the Eskimos are 4-3, so if they lose on Thursday they aren't 5-3, they'll be 4-4.

That was in reference to if we'd won at BC and lost this one to the Riders......

As in we squandered an opportunity to make this game mean a lot less, but no it's meaning is truly crucial.

It would also mean a loss in the season series to the Wheaties already.

[Deathsdoorstep]

Re: So if you thought the last game was big.....

That was in reference to if we'd won at BC and lost this one to the Riders......

As in we squandered an opportunity to make this game mean a lot less, but no it's meaning is truly crucial.

It would also mean a loss in the season series to the Wheaties already.

hey, at least we're not going into this game convinced that we will lose. A lot different from last year. DM still can't manage a game worth a damn, but this year's team WILL make the playoffs. At that point anything can happen. The wheaties can host and lose their playoff game and it won't matter.

[Beerfish]

Re: So if you thought the last game was big.....

Win and we are in line to challenge for 1st or 2nd in the west. Lose and were are clawing at 3rd or the cross over in my opinion. BC is coming on after a slow start. Cowgary is not going to collapse and has shown some really good things offensively. Rider have the hot start, though i don't believe they can keep up that pace.

I agree, must win if the Esks want to do any real damage this year. Stop Wes Cates at all costs.

[chub]

Re: So if you thought the last game was big.....

which according to the vast majority (at your home site) would give your team the edge.

I disagree, I like our lines against yours on both sides of the ball.

Those who would put full stock on Cates as the difference maker must realize his shiftiness won't be getting him out of jams....while our back is bigger and more north / south (if we actually use him that is).

I think that both Offensive lines have an edge over the D-lines. In particular, the Riders' O-line is going to have an edge against the Esks D-line, especially sans Fred Perry. Likewise, without John Chick, the Esks dont have to worry about a Rush end for the Riders.

That said, the Riders have practiced and put an emphasis all season on the running game, and that in itself is an advantage....they consistently get it done even though teams know Cates will get the ball....that comes down to execution.

AJ Harris is an unknown, and I wouldnt call him a star just yet, but we all know what Cates can do, and right now he leads the league in Rushing....

[cmbuk]

Re: So if you thought the last game was big.....

how poor the east is, i say lets crossover!!! LOL

nah, we will win on thurs.... not even a drop of doubt in my mind.. 31-20

harris 19, yes 19 carries..... ( ok i may be exaggerating a little there, but we will win by ten or more..)

[Diesel]

Re: So if you thought the last game was big.....

If it's a wet game then I like Harris more than Cates. Cates is a scat back and his cuts get nullified by wet conditions. Harris @ 225lbs is more of a power runner who doesn't rely on quick change of direction moves to create space. Problem will be does he get more than 8 effin carries?

[Opus]

Re: So if you thought the last game was big.....

I think that both Offensive lines have an edge over the D-lines. In particular, the Riders' O-line is going to have an edge against the Esks D-line, especially sans Fred Perry. Likewise, without John Chick, the Esks dont have to worry about a Rush end for the Riders.

That said, the Riders have practiced and put an emphasis all season on the running game, and that in itself is an advantage....they consistently get it done even though teams know Cates will get the ball....that comes down to execution.

AJ Harris is an unknown, and I wouldnt call him a star just yet, but we all know what Cates can do, and right now he leads the league in Rushing....

The point being made was one about how they stack up on a slick grass track......Thursday night will tell the tale.

Frankly our ends haven't missed a beat with Fred's absence either. Certainly we miss his experience and leadership, but Murphy and Guillory have stepped up nicely.

IMO if we contain Cates (which will be much easier on a field where it is difficult for him to make moves or get to the outside), we have an advantage playing straight up with Ray vs. Crandell if it comes down to a game through the air.

[Opus]

Re: So if you thought the last game was big.....

If it's a wet game then I like Harris more than Cates. Cates is a scat back and his cuts get nullified by wet conditions. Harris @ 225lbs is more of a power runner who doesn't rely on quick change of direction moves to create space. Problem will be does he get more than 8 effin carries?

exactly.....

[boydo]

Re: So if you thought the last game was big.....

Now don't quote me, but a buddy down the hall at work just said that the game is sold out...but I haven't confirmed that yet. Anyone? Anyone?

[Opus]

Re: So if you thought the last game was big.....

considering I just went on TM and could get a block of 15 tickets in upper P........I don't think it's sold out.....