Most people are familiar with a “Game Ball.” It goes to a player who played exemplary football; someone who went above and beyond. Fewer, are familiar with the “Jock,” an award that goes to an idiotic play.
When handing out these awards this week it is important to look at the stats. So here they are.
Find the rest of the Bombers’ stats from that game here.
This week we are going to do things a but differently and start with the Jock.
Jock
The Jock could have gone to Winnipeg’s offence. After the Bombers’ defense created 4 takeaways, the Bombers’ offence was unable to put points on the board. With a 3-0 lead at halftime, if the Bombers lost the game, the Jock would likely go to their offence. But the Bombers won 24-14; Oliveira got his first 2 touchdowns of the year, and the Bombers are on a 6 game win streak…so the offence is off the hook.
The Jock could also go to Castillo for his double doink! Yes, they were long field goals, and maybe you just cannot count on your kicker making long field goals – but I actually think you can if you have Castillo. Look, the reason the Bombers put Castillo out there for those two long field goals is simple…because he makes them regularly! If he was a guy that never hit past 50 yards, we would not even be talking about him here. The Bombers put him in for those two field goals – as opposed to punting or going for it on third down – because that was in Castillo’s range. However, the Bombers won the game and those missed field goal became inconsequential.
I am actually going to go to the other team, Edmonton, to hand out the Jock.
The quarterback play was not great for Edmonton. And I get it, Edmonton needed to, and needs to win. Having said that, I find it very peculiar that Edmonton pulled Ford to put Bethel-Thompson in. Especially, since Edmonton’s Head Coach, Jarious Jackson, said before the bye week that Ford was going to start.
For me, Bethel-Thompson is wildly inconsistent! He is either hot or not. There is no middle ground with him. Also, when you pull Ford, you do not have the same run threat at quarterback. That run threat for Edmonton helped Rankin to rip off 157 massive yards! But once Bethel-Thompson was in…that threat of a running quarterback was gone and lanes closer for Rankin.
If putting in Bethel-Thompson would have worked, I am still not sure that it would have been the right play. ‘Why?’ you ask. Because doing so, after Jarious Jackson announced way early that Ford would start, now creates a quarterback carrousel.
What is Jarious Jackson going to do, and supposed to do when they face the Bombers again in a few short days? If they play Ford, you have to believe that he will be wondering how short his leash is, and that may very well negatively impact his play. Ford has to learn the game, and as Matt Dunigan says, ‘You learn the game on the field.’ Or say Edmonton starts Bethel-Thompson. You better believe he will be thinking, ‘It is put up or sit down time.’
I am not sure if Jarious Jackson made a decision out of fear, desperation, or if they somehow reasoned putting in Bethel-Thompson; but I am not sure they thought of the longer implication. You have to play the guy that gives you the best chance to win, and I believe (and believe Edmonton thinks) that is Ford.
So for taking Ford out, and putting in Bethel-Thompson, who was awful – throwing the ball into the dirt and just not making good choices – Jarious Jackson you get the Jock.
Game Ball
There are a couple of candidates here and let me start with this guy!
Remember, he was cut in training camp by…Edmonton. If I were to give him a nickname it would be ‘Doctor Jones.’ Remember the pop group Aqua? They had a song called ‘Doctor Jones,’ and the lyrics went a little something like this:
Doctor Jones, Jones, calling Doctor Jones Doctor Jones, Doctor Jones, get up now (Wake up now) Doctor Jones, Jones, calling Doctor Jones Doctor Jones, Doctor Jones, get up now (Wake up now)
And boy, did he ever get up, and wake up!
But then, I have to also serious consider Oliveira. One the same play, he broke 1,000 yards rushing for the 3rd season in a row and got his first touchdown!
“In doing so, he became only the fourth Canadian to accomplish the feat in CFL history.” – source
For me, I am going to do something that I rarely do…give 2 Game Balls! 1 goes to Jones and the other goes to Oliveira!
Maybe you have a different choice after watching the highlights.
What do you think? Let me know in the comments section wherever you are reading this.
