My 2010 CFL Season Predictions You Crave

I'll be honest with ya...  I love the CFL season more than any other sport or league.  I always get amped up for the start of it and this year is no different.  Here's how I see the season playing out starting in the best division, the west division!

WEST DIVISION

1st - Edmonton Eskimos: This one hurts me to post obviously as a fan of the red and white, but if the green and gold can find the consistency that they lacked last season I don't see how they couldn't finish first.  Their offense should be second to none led by Ricky Ray and anchored by arguably the best receiving corps in the league.  The questions revolve around their defense and especially their secondary.  If the defense can gel quickly and they can be consistent, this will be a dangerous team all season.

2nd - Calgary Stampeders: A team that his historically been better as the hunter rather than the hunted, the Stamps still have a very solid offense and as long as the offensive line fulfills their potential they'll have no problem there.  Stopping the pass though could be a problem for this team.  We'll also see how valuable Sandro DeAngilis was to this team's kicking game now and if it impacts the Stamps that much.  I pick my team to go second in the west, but the truth is they could just as easily fall out of the playoffs as that's how tough the west will be.

3rd - Saskatchewan Roughriders: The Riders have some questions on the defensive line, but if those can be taken care of and they can put pressure on the opposing QBs, then this team can make a run at 1st in the west.  Their offense is still very good and the secondary is solid.  They do lack depth at QB so if Durant struggles or gets hurt, they could be in some real trouble there.

4th - B.C. Lions: They've lost a lot on defense and is Jarious Jackson really starting QB worthy?  I'm not so sure.  Not to mention their offensive line has lots of questions.  Their running game will be as good as any though and that should take pressure off the passing game.  Their defense is still good, but I don't think it's even half as good as the 12-win defense from last season.


EAST DIVISION

1st - Montreal Alouettes: The defending champs return with pretty much with the same roster that won it all last year save for a change or two in personnel.  They can play both sides of the ball very well and I'd argue the have the best coaching staff in the league - led by Marc Tresman who by all rights should be in the NFL by now, he's that good.  Until the champs get dethroned, I think you go with them.

2nd - Hamilton Tiger Cats: There is a lot to like about the TiCats this year..  They had a good roster last season and tweaked it some in the winter.  As a Stamps fan I like the addition of robo-kicker Sandro DeAngilis...  A lot more pressure on them though this year.  If things get tough, will they crack?  And are they good enough to match up against the Als?

3rd - Winnipeg Blue Bombers: This is about as Buck Pierce comes to working without a net now like he had in BC.  No real solid backup option, so the pressure is all on him to not only produce on the field, but to stay healthy on it..  Maybe the biggest improvement they made in the odd-season was at coach where Paul LaPolice will bring much needed stability to the club.  The Bombers will contend for a playoff spot, but will they be better than the last place team in the west?  Remains kind of doubtful, but they could make it interesting.

4th - Toronto Argonauts: Well at least the Argos seem to be heading in the right direction in terms of rebuilding after a couple of seasons of spinning their wheels.  The team defense will keep them in games, but can Cleo Lemon at QB help produce points for the team?  Jim Barker's history at coach is a roller coaster.  The Argos will be better than three wins like they had last year, but in a much tougher eastern division , it'll still be a long year in T.O.

CFL Week 1 Picks

The season predictions are coming very soon, but for right now lets get my picks in for CFL's week one since that is pretty much underway and I haven't had much time to post thanks to that whole NHL free agency thing and computer issues...

Montreal @ Saskatchewan
Pick: Montreal - The Riders may be extra motivated, but the Alouettes are the Alouettes.  What better way to start 2010 by going into Saskatchewan and punching the Riders in the mouth... again?

Toronto @ Calgary
Pick: Calgary - This won't be a repeat of 2009 where the Stamps open at home with a disappointing loss.  Cleo Lemon is supposed to be the Argos starter..  That should give the Stamps secondary time to get some experience and gel.

Hamilton @ Winnipeg
Pick: Hamilton - I really like the improvements the Ti-Cats made during the winter and they'll be on full display.

BC @ Edmonton
Pick: Edmonton - The Esks won't be as inconsistent at home as they were last year not to mention they have the best receiving corps in the league...  BC has a lots of questions on defense and on the offensive line which may crack under the pressure Edmonton will put on them.

Happy Canada Day!

Later today (10 AM MST to be exact) NHL free agency hits the ground running and I'll be helping cover it over at Defending Big D of course.  Later in the day I'll be back with a little Canadian Football season preview and my week 1 picks...  In the meantime, Happy Canada Day!

Song Of The Day & A Quick Link

Over at Defending Bid D this morning, I try to reassure Stars fans that things really aren't that bad even though it may feel like it.  Check it out if you'd like and feel free to comment.  Honestly, I don't believe things are that bad with the Dallas Stars, I mean it's much better to be a Stars fan right now than say a Houston Astros fan.

Anyway...  Song Of The Day (which I hope to do on a regular basis) is "Disconnected" by Trapt because that's what was up with my internet this morning when I got up and got ready for work.  I have a very "reliable" cable provider at times...

I'm Comin Home!

When I was 9 years old in little league, I once stole home plate during a game.  I was so proud that I was able to do something that very few people ever have done.  Now granted it was T-ball and stealing bases wasn't "technically" allowed, but I didn't give a damn.

In the 24 years since that fateful swipe, I had never been able to reduplicate that great feat in video game form... until last night and only because I botched a virtual squeeze play attempt...

In the last month or so I've been able to hogtie a woman, throw her on train tracks and watch a train run over her (thanks Red Dead Redemption) and now I've been able to steal home plate on one of the Molina brothers.

I don't think there is anything left for me to do within the video game world now.

Goodbye Mo..

http://www.defendingbigd.com/2010/6/29/1543087/mike-modano-will-not-be-offered-a

I guess tonight I should take down the Modano jersey hanging over my bed...

Ya know I thought I'd be more upset about this, but I guess since I not only knew it was coming but kind figured it was best for the team to move on without him...  I'm ok with this announcement.

All good things... as they say.

Meet The New Blog... (Kind Of The) Same As The Old Blog

The truth is I'm an insecure writer.

I know the saying "you're your own worst critic" can apply to so many people and I am certainly no stranger to that feeling.  It's not that I don't think my writing is poor.  On the contrary.  I prefer not to do things I know I'll really suck at to avoid personal letdowns and disappointments.  It's the reason I stay away from video games like Halo and Call Of Duty - I'm mostly horrible at shooters, so why bother.  But I know I am pretty decent at this writing thing... Not great or else I'd be writing for the New York Times on a desk overfilled with Peabody awards just like I had envisioned what my life at the age of 32 would be like when I was 17 and in high school, but the lack of Peabody's hasn't seemed to hurt my love of writing.

I've been writing blogs for as long as I can remember.  "StarsScene" - which if you followed me here from there, I thank you - was started in 2008, but I had been writing in blogs even longer than that.  None of them though were really "personal" blogs that were just about what was on my mind at the moment be it sports, music, movies, politics, etc...

That's what this blog will be.

One moment I might have a long winded rant about hockey (expect a few of those really) but in another I might want to spit out a quick blurb about a new CD I picked up / downloaded the other day or a book I just read.  I may not post for days (I'll try to limit those) then again I may post four things in one day.

I don't expect all of my thoughts and words to thrill any readers that may come across this blog. I doubt my writing will any kinds of awards even on the net. Hell half the time I post anything I usually have 'writers guilt' right after where I ask my self all sorts of lame questions like: "Can anyone else understand what the hell I am trying to say, and do they even want to?" and "I wonder if any readers get upset that they fall asleep as they read my stuff and their head violently hits their desk / keyboard / back of chair." Again these thoughts don't last long as I know I'm a bit better than that and you dear reader wouldn't be here if I wasn't at least a little bit amusing...  But again, you're (meaning me) am your (meaning my) own worst critic.

I do also write as part of a team for Defending Big D about the Dallas Stars so feel free to check out our work there. (I'll try to let you all know when I post work there) I also Twitter.. a lot.  There are a couple of other blogs out in the universe that I've always wanted to write for as well and hope to have some stuff done there in time. (stay tuned)

Welcome to the Intermission! (That is such a corny line for a blog intro.  I should use that.. a lot.)