Next three games probably make or break the season...

[Beerfish]

All three at home, BC, Winnipeg, Montreal. We have to win at least 2 of those games and probably all 3 if we have 1st place aspirations.

On a side note, boy did Dan Barnes ever rip the Eskimos in his 'editiorial rant' in the journal today....ouch. We were hard on the Esks for the bad performance here but he really takes a rip as if the Esks had played this way every game this season. I'm personally not super worried about the defense just yet. We just have to tackle that's all. The offense is another story as although the Esks rack up yards each week we can't score td's and our kicking game is suddenly suspect again.

[Esks4ever]

Re: Next three games probably make or break the season...

exact same problems last year... well on Offense that is.... not use to having a questionable D ( right now ) and an Offense who can't find the Endzone, and a poor kicking game all at the same time

[Deathsdoorstep]

Re: Next three games probably make or break the season...

I wouldn't panic even if they lost all 3. I expect the Eskimos to have a losing record after 9 games, and a 9-9 record after 18.

[Steve Vale]

Re: Next three games probably make or break the season...

On a side note, boy did Dan Barnes ever rip the Eskimos in his 'editiorial rant' in the journal today....ouch. We were hard on the Esks for the bad performance here but he really takes a rip as if the Esks had played this way every game this season.

And here is a copy of Barne's article - bolds are mine (http://www.canada.com/edmontonjourna...2c13cd&k=80529):

When did CFL's champs turn to chumps?
Dan Barnes
The Edmonton Journal

Monday, July 03, 2006


The most lopsided Eskimo loss since 1999 has completely exposed the defending Grey Cup champs.

They quit on one another long before the final whistle signalled the end of a 46-10 embarrassment in Winnipeg Saturday night. The Eskimo defence allowed a backup quarterback to stomp all over them and run up the score in the fourth quarter. The Eskimo offence did precious little to help their own second-stringer, Jason Johnson, who was thrown to the wolves for the final 10 minutes with predictably miserable results.

Where's the pride? Where's the leadership?

There is no way to sort through the carnage and extract the worst part because a humiliation like that one calls into question their character, and there can be no more damning condemnation of a team than that one.

How does a defending champ stink it up, almost to a man, in just the third tilt of the season? They're not tired. They're not so far ahead in the standings that they can afford to waste one or so far behind that the give-a-damn meter should register so low. These aren't the dog days of the 18-game schedule, so why did they play like mutts? Are they so thin on offence that the loss of Mookie Mitchell hamstrings their entire attack? Do they have no ability to adapt on the fly? Do they actually have a running game anymore?

Anyone can see they are painfully thin at quarterback and if Ricky Ray can't get it done on a given night this season, it probably won't be done at all. He jockeyed the team up and down the field in Winnipeg, padding his stats and moving the chains with eight-yard passes, but couldn't throw one into the end zone. It was a failure reminiscent of his lengthy and miserable stretch without a passing TD last year. The resulting loss was second only to a 54-8 humbling in Hamilton seven years ago, their just desserts for a day spent messing up in the red zone.

And given their bumbling on defence, how could it have been wise to discard former all-stars Joe Montford and Don Brady?

If the Eskimos trot out another sadsack act Friday at home against B.C., quit when the going gets tough and fall to 1-3 in front of the faithful, they deserve every last epithet the fans can unleash. If they stand up to the Lions, who look like the best team in the West, then they can go on claiming that Saturday's stink bomb was an aberration. At least, until the next time they lose so badly.

And you get the feeling, since they are one Calgary miscue from being 0-3, that this season might well contain as many losses as wins.
© The Edmonton Journal 2006

[EEfan]

Re: Next three games probably make or break the season...

I don't think a 9-9 record will get you into the playoffs this year, I figure if we continue to win our home games, and can get maybe 3 on the road, we will be ok.

[Beerfish]

Re: Next three games probably make or break the season...

I wouldn't panic even if they lost all 3. I expect the Eskimos to have a losing record after 9 games, and a 9-9 record after 18.

If we lose all three we would be 1-5 with 4 of those games coming at home, we would be tits up if that happens, plain and simple.

[Sgt. Nuke]

Re: Next three games probably make or break the season...

He's right about quitting before the game was over. Mobes was the only guy noticably playing with any heart in the last 10.

[esks4life]

Re: Next three games probably make or break the season...

Any west team that loses 2 games in a row, possibly 3, is in tough for a playoff spot IMO.

[esks123]

Re: Next three games probably make or break the season...

There's still the crossover this season though isn't there. If Hamilton loses their next 1 or 2 games, and Toronto only gets 1 win out of their next 4 without Damon Allen, I could see a crossover(if it is in effect this year).

[Oiler]

Re: Next three games probably make or break the season...

There's still the crossover this season though isn't there. If Hamilton loses their next 1 or 2 games, and Toronto only gets 1 win out of their next 4 without Damon Allen, I could see a crossover(if it is in effect this year).

With 8 teams no crossover.

[Andrew]

Re: Next three games probably make or break the season...

I have no worries, after that horrible display of tackling I'm sure the D will pretty embarassed and pick up there game big time. The offence just needs to finish there drives. I bet the tackling drills in practice are way up, and I'm sure most of Ray's scrimages will be in the redzone. We'll be fine next week.

[Andrew]

Re: Next three games probably make or break the season...

No room for crossing over

[Diesel]

Re: Next three games probably make or break the season...

I might not agree with the sentiment in the article but after the display they put on Saturday, they deserve a new one ripped into them.

[terencius]

Re: Next three games probably make or break the season...

" The peasants are revolting". The masses are un-happy in E-town.

Well the season isn't over yet, and the eskimos have some work to do. But I am not counting them out yet. I refuse to count out the Eskimos, if, as, and until, they are 4 points out of a playoff spot with 1 game remaining. 34 years is a long time.

[earl2]

Re: Next three games probably make or break the season...

" The peasants are revolting".

I take offense to that. I may not be Brad Pitt, but I don't think I'm revolting...