It’s walkthrough day for the Eskimos, so that means we should have a steady (but not quite steadily) updated stream of info coming through on both the Esks and the visiting Ottawa Redblacks, who are slated to arrive at Commonwealth this afternoon.
Some notables from the Eskimos’ depth chart, which you can check here:
John White will get the start at running back this week, with fresh signee Kendial Lawrence backing him up. Tyler Thomas (21 carries for 73 yards, zero touchdowns) is on the practice roster.
As expected, Gregory Alexandre is listed as the starting defensive tackle, in place of Don Oramasionwu, who is out for the season with a torn patellar tendon. He’ll rotate with Almondo Sewell and Eddie Steele.
J.C. Sherritt is in at will linebacker, despite missing practice on Wednesday. Odell Willis is in at defensive end, despite an ongoing battle he’s had with a leg injury this week.
Jamal Miles is listed as the primary kick/punt return man, with Patrick Robertson on the six-game injured list. Robertson’s knee buckled on a second-half return last Friday against Hamilton.
Chris Rwabukamba is listed as the starting safety, with rookie Mike Dubuisson backing him up. Dubuisson told me yesterday that he thought he could be starting on Friday night against Ottawa. Otha Foster is in at halfback for Marcell Young, who is on the one-game list with his knee injury.
Let’s jump into this week’s CFL picks. In my head-to-head with the Eskimos, well, we’re neck-and-neck. The specific picks have differed over the last two weeks, but both sides are 4-4 (Ryan King was 2-2 in doing the Esks bidding here last week). This week I’m taking on Adarius Bowman, who I learned has a strong East bias when he makes his picks.
Winnipeg (2-0) at Montreal (1-1)
Bowman: Both to lose (laughs) No, I can’t, I’ve got to pick one. I’ll take Montreal.
Me: Why?
Bowman: Because I want West teams to lose.
Ottawa (0-1) at Edmonton (2-0)
Bowman: Edmonton, all day. Two times for Edmonton.
Me: What do you see in Ottawa? Were you surprised by how competitive they were last week?
Bowman: No, not at all. I think that expansion draft that they did, I feel ike they did it for them to compete the first year and they definitely got players. Some people look at it as players that people didn’t want, but I don’t necessarily think it’s that. I think of it as players that needed to be used for this expansion draft. They’ve got a veteran guy in their quarterback, Henry Burris, I always respect that guy. We have to be rady to play, not necessarily looking at it as a new team back to the league, but as it’s a team in the leauge that has great players that’s prepared to play. We’re not taking it lightly.
Calgary (1-0) at Toronto
Bowman: Toronto! (laughs) I don’t like Calgary though, so that’s why I pick Toronto right there.
B.C. (0-2) at Saskatchwan (1-1)
Me: You can’t take an East team here.
Bowman: B.C. I don’t like Saskatchewan. I don’t like B.C. either, but I don’t like Saskatchewan (more).
Me: Why don’t you like Sask.?
Bowman: They’re defending champs, bro. So everyone’s going at them right now. I think they understand that too. I think that’s the one team that when you come out on the field, (the mentality is) ‘Y’all were the last guys that won so … it’s about proving yourself. If you can knock them off it makes you feel good as a team.
Me: Did it surprise you that they lost so badly last week to Toronto?
Bowman: It did, but I think that was a part of what I just told you. When you see they’re the guys that won it last year, teams have to get themsevels set for that. I feel like it makes a statement amongst themselves, beating the defending Grey Cup champs. No matter what point you’re at in the season I think that’s a blessing.
Me: What do you think B.C. is going through? That 0-2 start is surprising.
Bowman: It kind of surprised me too. I think B.C. is a great team, especially on their defence , they’ve got great guys out there. I think they’re probably getting a couple things together there on their offensive side, but I like Kevin Glenn. That’s a part of the CFL season, you go through your ups and your downs, but I’m sure that they’ll finally get it together but it was surprising to see them start like that.
Me: And B.C. has a history of those slow starts and then …
Bowman: And then they win 11 straight on your ass. I respect every team we play, week in and week out. I don’t really like Saskatchewan and Calgary, but I respect all the teams though.
Me: Do you do this stuff at all, making picks, fantasy football, anything like that?
Bowman: No, I don’t really do it. College hasn’t really started back up, but with college I keep up with Georgia, because my little brother plays there. I’ve got a couple of teammates throughout the league (that he follows), and after that I’m watching CFL. I watch everything, every CFL game that comes on.
Me: Have you tried the CFL fantasy league?
Bowman: I haven’t. A couple guys in (the locker room) do it, I just can’t keep up with it. Then I get mad about the people I pick. I tried it one year (with the NFL). I just found myself frustrated. I tried to change all my picks, but you’re stuck with those guys, so…
O’Leary’s picks
Winnipeg over Montreal, Edmonton over Ottawa, Toronto over Calgary and Saskatchewan over B.C.
The toughest pick for me to make this week was the first game. I can’t believe I’m about to write this, given how the last few years have gone for them, but Winnipeg looks like the more consistent team when you compare them to Montreal. The Bombers had a big comeback win against a Redblacks team that battled them hard last week and even though Montreal’s at home, there are still a lot of pieces coming together there (their win last week came against arguably the worst team in the league right now, in the Lions — cue Mike Benevides: “We suck.”).
I’m interested in that Calgary-Toronto game, too. The Stamps were so impressive last year in how they dealt with their injuries. If Jon Cornish is out (pending a Mike Reilly-esque concussion recovery), can Jock Sanders and Matt Walter make an impact for Calgary’s running game? This will be a fun weekend of football.
