Each week, The CFL on TSN panel will break down three hot button topics from around the Canadian Football League. This week they discussed which sub-.500 team could make noise in the playoffs, the Eskimos hiring an offensive advisor and Corey Chamblin's guarantee about Jon Cornish not reaching 100 yards this week.
First Down: Which of the teams that don't have a winning record have a chance to make some noise in the playoffs?
a)Hamilton b) Winnipeg c) Edmonton d) Saskatchewan
Chris Schultz: The Roughriders. I like their athletic offensive line, and their defensive rush ends. Come October and November, the environment there is awesome.
Milt Stegall: I agree. I think the Riders have the best combination of a solid defence and a potential elite quarterback.
Jock Clime: I'm taking the Eskimos because of their defence. When you get into the playoffs, defence can win games for you even if your offence isn't clicking. If they can take care of the football, they can make some noise.
Second Down: What do you think of the Eskimos hiring an offensive advisor?
a)Like it b) Don't like it c) Doesn't matter
Clime: It doesn't matter. Some advisor up in the booth talking into the coach's ear isn't going to make a bit of difference on the football field. Coaches talk all the time anyway.
Schultz: I agree with Jock. Most of the guys on the team will have no idea what the advisor is actually doing. He's just a different set of eyes with an opinion. It doesn't matter.
Stegall: I don't like it. If you don't think your offensive coordinator is doing a good job, get rid of him. You don't bring in another guy, who could be reporting to someone more important in the front office.
Third Down: What do you think of Riders' coach Corey Chamblin guaranteeing that Jon Cornish wouldn't surpass 100 yards on Sunday or someone would get cut?
a) Like it, b) Don't like it c) Doesn't matter.
Clime: I like it. You have to do everything you can to motivate your team. It's do or die time for the Riders. I don't like it when head coaches go the media and single out individuals, but if you're going to make this type of commitment publically about one of your units, it's all good as far as I'm concerned.
Stegall: I don't like it. This type of talk happens all the time in the locker room, but it rarely gets out to the media. Now that it's out, it takes away the focus for the most important part of the game - winning. I don't like it.
Schultz: It doesn't matter. We're already in September. They already know who they're going to cut if they don't reach Chamblin's goal. It might not be one cut, it could be two or more if the Riders can't contain Cornish.
