The opening week it was in the CFL

By Lethbridge Herald on June 15, 2023.

Graham Kelly

Inside the CFL

While Nick Taylor became the first Canadian since Pat Fletcher in 1954 to win the Canadian Open, the Elks extended their CFL record home losing streak Sunday to 18 when they couldn’t punch it in from the Saskatchewan one-yard line, allowing the visitors to escape with a badly needed 17-13 victory, capping off an interesting first week of the 2023 season. The longest home losing streak in CFL history began Oct. 26, 2019. (Ottawa teams hold the next three home futility marks). The only teams that didn’t put on a decent showing were Calgary and Hamilton. Toronto had the bye.

After the game up north, Roughrider coach, the ever gracious Craig Dickenson said, “We’re happy with the win. We’ll celebrate wins anytime we can get them. It’s pro football and it’s not easy to win a game especially against an opponent that has a lot at stake, just like we do. I want to give credit to Edmonton . I thought they played a good ball game. I think they are going to be a tough out this year.”

As for his team, “I’m proud of our guys. We gave up one big play but other than that our defence was pretty good. Offensively, there’s a lot to learn to get better but overall it was a solid first game. We had some adversity which we overcame so it should be a confidence builder.” Saskatchewan only gave up two sacks against the Elks.

When asked about the losing streak, the ever grumpy Chris Jones growled , “That’s a very poor question. I mean, who can’t point to that? If we were playing on the road it would be just as big. Are we disappointed? Hell yes but at the same time there are a lot of things we have to correct to become the team we need to be. Thank God we’ve got a game over in B.C.”

One of the keys to victory was Saskatchewan’s dramatic goal line stand late in the fourth quarter. When asked about the fact his team couldn’t gain a yard, Jones called that a poor question as well, pointing out all the other mistakes his herd made.

He went on: “We’ve got a ton of rookies we have to live with. (Three in the secondary) They’re going to be good players. We’ve got to get them playing more disciplined football. That’s on me.”

Signalling last year’s airlift wouldn’t be repeated, Jones stressed, “The worst thing is to panic and throw the baby out with the bath water. That’s just not what we’re going to do. We’re going to hold together. Coaches have to do a better job. We’ve got to come up with game plans that are easier to do so we can play at a higher rate of efficiency in all phases of the game.”

A welcome relief for Elk management was attendance: 32,233, the best home opener total in 10 years and tops last-week in the CFL. With their guaranteed win program, all those patrons get in free for the next home contest June 25 against the defending Grey Cup champion Toronto Argonauts. Winnipeg was second with 29,057 packing the pews. Montreal attendance was 20,865 for their game against Ottawa. The Stampeders drew a miserable total of 17,942, their worst home opener in many a moon.

You don’t usually see many displays of good football at the CFL’s season openers. In Dave Dickenson’s first seven openers, the Stamps have won only two. That is a reflection of his approach to training camp. Quarterback Jake Maier saw hardly any action, the same as most veterans. Dickenson likes to use the pre-season to evaluate rookies but that means his starters aren’t ready to open the season. Timing between Maier and receivers was off, the defence at times looked confused. Special teams were excellent except Rene Paredes uncharacteristically missed his first two field goal attempts. They lost 25-20 to B.C. Still, said Dickenson, “It’s a team loss, it’s disappointing. It’s early. They played hard. We have to find a way to be better next week.” (In Ottawa tonight).

The Lions looked sharp last week. The Blue Bombers looked like the well-oiled machine they are. The Riders have the toughest schedule hosting Winnipeg tomorrow, then facing Calgary, Edmonton, Calgary and B.C.