Well it was not quite what the Bombers or Bomber fans were hoping or when the clock hit 0:00 in Hamilton last Saturday. Not even close. Almost all my predictions were wrong!
Field goal, touchdown, field goal, forced fumble for a touchdown, touchdown, touchdown, no score on last play of the 1st half, punt, interception resulting in a 8 play series for a touchdown, punt, touchdown, sack for 1 yard loss to end the game, that is what Hamilton’s series looked like.
I will spare Bomber fans from having to read what their series’ looked like, but if you can check out the play by play for that game for yourself.
To really sum up the game all you need to know is how the quarterbacks faired. Zach Collaros threw 2 touchdown passes but also 2 interceptions. Prukop also snuck in for a touchdown.
However, Dane Evans looked uncharacteristically inspired throwing for 5 touchdowns and no interceptions.
Depending on what team you were cheering for, you can call this the highlight or lowlight reel.
Or if you prefer an approach that is a bit less painful you can always check out this tweet:
If you have read this segment before the game ball always goes to Winnipeg. Hey, that is the team I am covering.
I am not really sure who to give the game-ball to. If you look at Winnipeg’s defence, they had a ton of tackles…but that is because Hamilton had many long drives.
*Dalton Schoen did make some great catches but he also had some drops, so he cannot get the game-ball.
*Liegghio did go 3/3 but his longest was from 36 yards, that is not game-ball material. Now Liegghio did have a 70 yard kickoff, but that alone just does not qualify for a game-ball.
*Maybe you like the gunslinger Collaros as he tossed for 342 yards, which is a large reason why Winnipeg was able to cut the lead to 10 at one point. However, 2 interceptions and a fumble that was scooped and scored a touchdown simply takes Collaros out of the conversation.
Maybe the game-ball needs to go to the opponent?
*A real case could be made for Dave Evans. Again, 5 touchdowns, 0 interceptions, 327 yards! For his work Evans was named a CFL Top Performer.
*Or maybe the game-ball goes to Hamilton’s Wes Hills who ran the ball 10 times for 58 yards.
*Quite possibly the game-ball could go to Hamilton’s offensive coordinator, Tommy Condell. Hamilton actually ran the ball and was committed to the run! That is a rare sight from Hamilton and I am not sure the Bombers expected it. Wes Hills rushed for 58 yards, Dane Evans for 19 yards, and Sean Thomas-Erlington for 19 yards.
As a team Hamilton deserves to get the game-ball more than Winnipeg. There, I said it. But I am not going to do that.
*I am rather going to pick a player from Winnipeg who had a really nice game. A player that fans hoped would be good but were not sure since he was not targeted at all in his 3 games in 2021, and previous to this game was targeted only 10 times. A guy who had his best game, even though they lost. A guy who was targeted 7 times in the game and came up with 6 receptions for 72 yards – previous to that he only had 55 yards total in the other 7 games he played this year! If you have not guessed it, for all the reason listed above, Brendan O’Leary-Orange, you get the game-ball!
The Jock
I know the “Fire Richie Hall” fan club may have had some new members signed up. Even those that previously let their membership expire were looking to renew their membership. I know fans want Richie Hall to get the jock. However, it was not Richie Hall’s fault, and I will explain why later this week in my Truth Bombs article.
I will cut right to the chase.
*The jock is going to Winnipeg Offensive Coordinator Buck Pierce. Why? The answer is simple, and it was consistent. When Dakota Purkop went in it was way too obvious that he was not going to throw the ball or even hand the ball off. He was in to do one thing, run. There were at least two occasions where if Prukop would have pitched the ball the running back would have had massive gains! Why? Hamilton had no respect that Prukop might do anything else but run.
For the record, I have no problem with Prukop running the ball. I do have a huge issue with it being so obvious! That is why on 5 rushes Prukop only ran for 11 yards! At 2.2 yards per carry the only player on either team that had a worse rushing average was Hamilton’s Tim White – 1 carry for 1 yard.
For having a vanilla play calling game when Prukop went in, Buck Pierce, you get the jock.
What did I get right? What did you disagree with? Let me know in the comments.
No pressure from the front. Big gashes in the running lanes. Sloppy tackling. Being outrun and out hustled. Huge gaps in coverage including veterans like Winston. It’s the entire defence that gets the Jock. Games ball goes to Dane.
I I usually agree or dind no disagreement anyway. No this week
Michael
September 22, 2022 at 8:48 pm
No pressure from the front. Big gashes in the running lanes. Sloppy tackling. Being outrun and out hustled. Huge gaps in coverage including veterans like Winston. It’s the entire defence that gets the Jock. Games ball goes to Dane.
I I usually agree or dind no disagreement anyway. No this week
Keep we coming. Great read 👍
Vickie Short
September 22, 2022 at 11:56 pm
The term “SLaughter” is a bit harsh for a team that scored 31 points, but I guess it’s a bitter pill I’ll have to swallow.