The Good, The Bad, and The Eskimos

Since my readership drops by about 75% when the NHL season ends, it's time to hone my craft by trying some different blog formats (because, after all, I write this blog for me, not you). Since I'm often accused of being critical (or worse), I'll ignore how furious the Eskimos defeat on Saturday made me, and write a "good/bad" column, which I've entitled "The Good, The Bad, and The Eskimos."

The Good – The talent is there.

I've heard some criticism of the Eskimos receiving core, but I would give them a passing grade. Maurice Mann has proven to be a legitimate #1 receiver, leapfrogging Kamau Peterson and Fred Stamps in the depth chart. (Sidenote: I'm not one to get excited by a late NFL cut or a long-time NFL practice roster guy – usually that means nothing when they come to the CFL. But when it's a receiver, it's almost always a good thing. At the end of the day, if you can run a route, possess legitimate speed and good hands, you're good enough to play). Behind Mann, they have a solid Canadian receiver (Kamau), a decent #3 (Fred Stamps), and while Jamaica Rector and Andrew Nowacki have not been sensational, they've proven they belong.

The biggest positive in the Eskimos defeat on Saturday was the play of Efrem Hill – who filled in for an injured Mo Mann. He made three fantastic catches, had one unfortunate drop (forgivable considering he was injured on the play), and knew the Canadian rules well enough to drag a single toe in play on two sideline catches. I can't stress this enough – he made two GREAT catches.

The Bad – Jason Tucker

As much as I like the current receivers, there isn't a player on Jason Tucker's level, who was a rare talent that we probably didn't appreciate enough while he was playing. As much as the media has always touted Ricky Ray's play (and I wasn't one to disagree), this is the first season we've seen Ricky sans Tucker. This warrants mentioning.

I learned something watching the NFL last season, which was painfully obvious but I hadn't fully considered. My beloved Philadelphia Eagles lost at home to the New York Giants in their first regular season encounter. The final score was only 36-31, but it was a convincing beat-down that (at the time) looked to end the Eagles season.

The Giants did whatever they pleased on offense – running for 219 yards, and a gaudy 4.9 yards per carry (considering the Eagles knew they were running the ball all the time, it was infinitely worse). Eli Manning threw when he had to, going 17/31 for 191 yards and two touchdowns. The Giants star receiver, Plaxico Burress, only made one catch all game – so logic suggests he was a non-factor.

Four weeks later, the Eagles travelled to Giants Stadium, needing a win against New York – who had established themselves as the Super Bowl favourite. In the four weeks between encounters, Burress has shot himself in the leg (note: sweat pants, hand guns… bad mix) and was out for the remainder of the season (and beyond). The Giants entire offense was rendered helpless. Manning went 13/27 for 123 yards, and the Giants could only run for 88 yards. Philly won, 20-14.

The teams met a month later in the playoffs. Same story. Manning was ineffective (15/29, 169 yards, 2 INTs), and the Giants ran for 138 yards, many of them after the Eagles began nursing a considerable lead.

Now, you could say the Eagles adjusted and "figured out" the Giants offense. But Eagles defensive co-ordinator Jim Johnson (who sadly passed away after a long bout with cancer last month) said the difference was the loss of Burress. Without Burress – who was a star receiver with height and the ability to go deep (just like Tucker) - the whole game changed. Without the need to double-cover Burress, The Eagles took that extra man and used him to stop the run. With no running game, the Giants had nothing.

It's obvious, but it's something we often don't consider in football. I wonder if the Eskimos are running into the same issues the Giants did.

The Eskimos – Decisions to make.

The Eskimos biggest concern at receiver should be finding a way to get Hill in the lineup. The problem? Edmonton has a number of Canadians at receiver (Kamau, Nowacki, and Kevin Challenger), meaning they'd need to fix the import ratio somewhere else.

The Good – The effort was there.

The Eskimos tried to run. After years of not trying, this is progress. Right? Right?!

The Bad – The execution was not there.

Because…

The Eskimos – The offensive play calling is insane.

I am not a football coach. I am not a football expert. I haven't played football since I was 11 years old.

Certainly, I am not a football genius.

But I can tell you – anyone can tell you – that you need some variety in your running game. Just a bit. Sadly, the Eskimos have settled on a playbook for the last three seasons that features all of two running plays – the quarterback sneak, and the shotgun hand-off to a running back.

It is the most predictable and painful offensive attack around. To make things infinitely worse, every opponent knows it's coming! The Eskimos only run on first down, and they always use the same formation! Always! ALWAYS!

Check out how the final two plays of every Eskimos in the second half:

14:52 remaining in 3^rd Quarter

1^st and 10: McCarty run for seven yards.

2^nd and 3: Ray incomplete pass.

12:37 remaining in 3^rd Quarter (after one first down)

1^st and 10: Whitlock run for one yard.

2^nd and 9: Ray incomplete pass.

4:59 remaining in 3^rd quarter (after one first down)

1^st and 10: Whitlock run for three yards.

2^nd and 7: Ray incomplete pass.

13:17 remaining in 4^th quarter (after one first down)

1^st and 10: McCarty run for three yards.

2^nd and 7: Ray intercepted.

5:45 remaining in 4^th quarter (after one first down)

1^st and 10: Whitlock run for three yards.

2^nd and 7: Ray incomplete pass.

2:34 to go in 4^th quarter

1^st and 10: Whitlock run for two yards.

2^nd and 8: Ray complete pass to McCarty for six yards (punt).

Five of the six running plays above were the same play call – shotgun formation, direct hand-off, up the middle.

Now, I know some people will say "well, it was raining, so they had to make conservative play calls." But Ray still threw 37 passes – and attempted to go deep a number of times. And even if it is raining, what type of team calls the same pattern of plays over, and over, and over (repeat that three more times), knowing it hasn't worked before?

Here's the kicker – the Eskimos have two fullbacks who see semi-regular action in offensive schemes – Mathieu Bertrand and Graeme Bell – but neither of them is used to block on running plays. Ever!

As Albert Einstein said, "the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results." And if Einstein doesn't know Canadian football, who does?

The good – Old Ricky Ray

Despite his hillbilly name, receding hairline, and limited arm strength, Ricky Ray had proven to be one of the best (if not the best) quarterback in the CFL. His impressive record confirms this, and he's shed the Frito Lay moniker.

The bad – New Ricky Ray

Ray's statistics suggest he's having a subpar season by his own high standards. His completion percentage is the same as always (high 60's), but his touchdowns and passing yards are slightly down and his interceptions are slightly up – but only slightly. However, the numbers suggest he's near the top of the league in pretty well every category (his quarterback rating is second, only behind Anthony Calvillo's).

But something is off. Ray is missing a number of throws that he should have no issue making, and has picked up a nasty habit that plagues bad CFL quarterbacks (see: Bishop, Michael) – refusing to take a sack or throwing it away.

Ray, in my opinion, cost the Eskimos the game with two bad throws. The first was his Hail Mary in the second quarter, when an under-pressure Ray threw it as far as he could to no one in particular. Hamilton intercepted the pass, and since no Eskimos receivers were around, ran it back 70 yards (full credit for a fantastic lateral on the way). Instead of 12-7 Edmonton with the Eskimos maintaining possession, it's 14-12 Tiger-Cats.

Ray's second interception was just as bad. With the game tied 21-21 in the fourth quarter, Ray forced a pass on 1^st and 10 from the Hamilton 21 into triple coverage. Predictably, the Ray lob pass was intercepted. Even though the score was 21-21, you got the feeling the game was over.

Surprisingly, Quinton Porter showed all the poise that Ray should have – throwing the ball away where necessary, and not forcing a play when it wasn't there. It's been a long time since "Hamilton," "quarterback," and "poise," have been used in the same sentence, but it seems fitting right now.

The Eskimos – What to do?

I'm not a knee-jerk reactionary guy. Show some patience, hope Ray shapes up, but if the Eskimos continue to stumble through the season.. let's just leave it at "questions will have to be asked."