It was a horrible, horrible football game. What made it worse is that my wife, who joined me for the first time in close to a decade, was re-introduced the game I love dearly in such a dispassionate, disconcerting way. I would not blame her if it is another 10 years before she considers it again. I lost track of how many times I reiterated that “It’s usually not this bad”. Final score: Winnipeg Blue Bombers 33, Hamilton Tiger-Cats 17.
I spent some time considering why Hamilton lost. Was it that Winnipeg was a better team? Perhaps marginally, at best. Maybe there were injuries that were catastrophic? Aside from Marwan Hage, the starting centre, there weren’t. Was it coaching? Weak preparation? Poor execution? I think I am getting warmer…
The offence was abysmal. If it weren’t 11:35pm I would likely have found a more suitable, harsher adjective, but “abysmal” will work for now. There wasn’t a running game to be found. Quarterback Kevin Glenn coudn’t hit the broad side of a barn on this night. The offensive line was, well, barely there. They provided no protection and no run support. The receivers made a few bad drops, notably a long ball to Chris Williams on the South sideline.
The defence was marginally better. I concede they were on the field way, way too much so I will let them off the hook a bit. Still, if Hamilton is to compete into November the secondary needs to be addressed… tick tock, tick tock…
On a day that the team promoted as being a “Fan’s Choice” day, I would gladly have foregone choosing the team’s first play from scrimmage, the cheerleaders dances and a halftime cameo from Chris Williams for the chance to have watched an entertaining football game.
I have seen hundreds of games at Ivor Wynne in my 25 years as a season seat holder. Today was far from the worst, but given the talent on the roster I am every bit as disappointed.
