Being a long time AL's fan, I've seen this before in the late 70's when the team was in disaray.
Unfortuately, we are at the same phase. What's happened?
1- we do not seem to have a scheme
2- we are too slow
3- we are old
4- we are predictable
5- we have a 7 yds offense
6- The defense though a mbit better is weak.
This will be the long season ---- No playoffs
We're getting like the Canadiens......
PLEASE POPP GET SOME PLAYERS SAVE THE SEASON MAKE CHANGES OR ALL IS LOST.
I believe I am younger than you are (I was born in 1970). I remember the Als of the late seventies, but I don't remember seeing them play. What I do remember is that the Als team of the late 70's, had a bad owner; a bad owner who threw tons of money at burned out NFL players (White shoes Johnson, Vince Ferragamo, the Raiders receiver who was a Super Bowl MVP, but I forget his name). They all failed in the CFL. I believe Marv Levy the great coach was also gone at this point.
We have none of these problems in 2007. The Als have a great owner, we are not hiring old NFL players for ridiculous money (and we have a salary cap...). A great coach (Matthews) did retire; but the Als management (Popp, Smith) is still there.
I am too disappointed with the Als so far this season. But, they are a few players/adjustments away from being a championship team. They have tons of talent on both sides of the ball, they have arguably the best kicker/punter, and a hall of fame QB, plus tons of young talent at receiver.
A little history lesson from way back in 2006; if my memory is correct, the BC Lions started with a 2-3 record. They looked shakey... We all know what they did after that...
The BC Lions this year remind me of the 2006 Als; they are 4-0, but they have been lucky in a few of those wins.
Just don't compare this year with the Al's worst years! It is not a fair, or an accurate comparison.
And furthermore, rasta, if Indydan is waxing optimistic about the Als, you gotta believe that all's not lost.
A little history lesson from way back in 2006; if my memory is correct, the BC Lions started with a 2-3 record. They looked shakey... We all know what they did after that...The BC Lions this year remind me of the 2006 Als; they are 4-0, but they have been lucky in a few of those wins.
Just don't compare this year with the Al's worst years! It is not a fair, or an accurate comparison.
I am giving this team until the end of game 9 to show me they're on the right track. That's half the season to prove they can right this ship and become a legitimate playoff threat. I am not optimistic, but in fairness I'll give them until game 9 to allay my fears.
That's more than fair :thup:
It's a streaky league. The Als could rattle off five losses between now and week 9, and still turn it around in time to make the Cup.
Indydan: Sam Etcheverry is also a hall of fame QB. And he has as much business starting for us as AC.
If we wait too long to declare this year a write-off then next year will be one too. Popp the coach telling us how good Popp the GM is-- ie the players are good, they just have to get used to the new system is not going to work. We have to write off the season now, get our future QB in there (whoever it might be) and let him learn, bring in some new OL and give them playing time etc. If this is done our erstwhile VP, GM, Director of player personnel, coach, delegator in chief, team bus driver etc will have us on the hook for another lousy season.
You say that this team can turn it around on its own and I say the same thing if they make those sweeping changes. Losing =/= getting better ever.
Right now we got a GM that thinks hes a coach, a QB that thinks he has no time to throw or make reads, an OC that thinks you can win games with nothing but 7 yard passes, and an RB that thinks it's 2005. Sweeping changes ARE needed. The sooner we realise we dont have the right formula the better. If we wait until the year is half over then the playoffs are a pipe dream.
Right now the als remind me very much of the eskimos of last year. Great QB with no time to throw, no running game, a good but overworked defence, horrible playcalling and very little imagination on offense. For anyone that forgot that was the formula that ended the esks playoff streak