The situation in the East is simply fantastic for fans of the CFL. All Week 20 games in the East matter as to who is in the playoffs and that’s how you want it to play out. I will be on site at the marque game of the week, Montreal at Hamilton. I am looking forward to seeing Hamilton’s new stadium and the facilities they have for the players and coaches. I can remember when I worked for the Ticats, Jamie Barresi and I shared an office which was fine except for when we had to meet with the players there. The players sat on the floor and watched practice and game film on two TVs we jerry-rigged to play the same video. We had to do this because the room had a weird shape and the guys closest to the exit could not see the big TV. The big TV was actually one I had at my house and had brought in to be able have a bigger screen! I have heard nothing but great things about this new facility that will provide the players with a professional work environment they deserve, looking forward to seeing that. Speaking of Coach Barresi, he is now the head coach of the University of Ottawa, and led them to a 5-3 finish and a first round playoff win over Windsor. He will now come home to Hamilton to take on McMaster this weekend in the second round of the playoffs. I am not sure that this situation has ever happened in the CFL. The Hamilton Tiger-Cats can finish first place, second place, or be eliminated from the playoffs! You don’t often have to prepare your team for all those possibilities within a week. But I think there is a very interesting coaching situation for the Cats, let’s talk about it. Hamilton’s playoff scenario is this: if they beat Montreal by eight points or more they clinch first place; if they win by less than eight points or Toronto loses they earn second place; and if they lose and Toronto wins, they are eliminated from the playoffs. Teams that finish in first place statistically have a greater chance of going to the Grey Cup, so does Hamilton change the game plan to put themselves in first place? I think I would. Let’s say Toronto wins the game Friday and Hamilton is eliminated with a loss, this is the harder scenario. Hamilton starts the game basically down 7-0 to the Als for first place. Do they become more aggressive to make up the point differential and go for first place? Aggressive might be a fake punt or special play on Teams to be able get a few extra offensive scoring possessions. Could it be a more aggressive defensive scheme or pressure package trying to limit Montreal scoring? Third and goal from the two-yard line early in the game, usually you kick the field goal but do you go for it to make up the points to try to get first place? All these things mentioned have a risk that when not executed can hurt your chances of winning the game, which is the ultimate goal for Hamilton because they would be eliminated if Toronto wins. Late in the game this will be employed but early in the game is when it could easily affect the outcome. Certainly late in the game, if Hamilton is up by three, you will see the best of both teams, because Hamilton will actually be trying to drive the length of the field and score a touchdown with the lead. That situation does not happen often. These are the decisions that a head coach must have a good understanding of not only at the end of the year, but at the beginning of the year. In 2009, when I was the offensive coordinator of the Saskatchewan Roughriders we were in the first of a four-game series with an opponent. It was late in the game and we were winning but I called a few more passes and scored a late touchdown. A coach from the other team after the game sought me out on the field and took offence to my offence (funny?) of scoring a touchdown when we could have taken a knee at the end of the game. I looked at him somewhat surprised and said we are playing you four times and there is the very real possibility that we will end up tied at the end of the year and the next playoff tie breaker is points scored. That is why we were scoring points late in the last drive, we don’t know how we will end up, so you assume you will be tied. Points-scored has to be thought of when you play an opponent twice or four times because you could be tied at the end. Playing someone three times, points is not an issue (unless there was a tie) because someone usually finishes 2-1. Back to Hamilton, let’s assume Toronto loses and a loss by Hamilton will not affect their playoff chances, they would have second place locked up no matter what happens in their game. Now you can see the Ticats being aggressive and be ready for anything that can help them score points. No huddle to get more plays, going for it on third down, onside kicks. Mistakes or poor execution of those plays can also hurt your field position which can help Montreal’s opportunity to score, so executing these calls is key. If you have a chance, look up Head Coach Kevin Kelley and the Pulaski Academy in Little Rock, Arkansas, a coach who calls for onside kicks every kickoff and will not punt throughout the season. The guy must be crazy and must lose every game right? A state Championship, a loss in the finals, and a semi-final appearance in three years tells another story. Although some of his data may not correlate with the CFL, he believes on kickoffs the difference in the field position is only about 15 yards if an onside kick is recovered by the receiving team and coach Kelley’s teams recover one out of every three onside kicks which is a turnover, and we know turnovers are one of the most telling stats in winning football games. In the CFL, a failed onside kick would probably be a 30-yard difference in field position which is certainly a reason not to do it every time. Kelley never punts because his philosophy is you have to score more points to win the football game and you cannot score without retaining possession of the football. That is why he will always go for it on fourth down, to keep possession of the ball. So if your team is in a fourth and 3 situation four times in a game and they average 5.5 yards per rush, why not go for it? Kelley believes he will make three out of four conversions and will keep the football. Interesting thoughts and I thought of this philosophy this week to see if the Ticats would employ some of these tactics to get to first place. Either way it will be a great weekend for football, punt or no punt. Cheap Air Jordan For Sale . A 23-year-old rookie, Stroman is 4-2 with a 3.44 earned run average in 12 games this season, the past seven of those being starts. He logged the first scoreless outing of his career on Friday versus Oakland in a no-decision. Wholesale Air Jordan Free Shipping . And thats about it. After the Salukis 73-65 loss at Murray State on Tuesday night, Hinson called his players "uncoachable," "a bunch of mamas boys" and compared the disciplining of his young team to housebreaking a puppy. http://www.cheapairjordan.com/ . - The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are going to meet with Richie Incognito to determine if one of the central figures in the Miami Dolphins bullying scandal can help their struggling offensive line. Discount Air Jordan . According to TSN Hockey Insider Darren Dreger, the New York Rangers winger skated with extras and goalies today. Air Jordan Shoes From China . Join World Soccer Pickem 2014 for your chance to win $5,500 in cash prizes by picking the winner of each game all the way through to the tournament final. Will you ride a favourite such as Spain or Germany, or cast your lot with an underdog like Ivory Coast or Mexico? Perhaps key victories from Netherlands or the United States will be your key to victory.Daniel Alfredsson is finally ready to call it a career after 17 NHL seasons. The long-time Senators captain is expected to retire Dec. 4 in Ottawa. The Senators host the New York Islanders that night at the Canadian Tire Centre. Alfredsson, 41, appeared in 1178 career NHL games with the Senators and Detroit Red Wings, scoring 426 goals and 682 assists for 1,108 total points. The Red Wings, for whom he played in 2013-14, were waiting on a decision as to whether Alfredsson would play again this season, but instead he has decided to retire. The Gothenburg, Sweden native broke into the League in 1995-96 after being selected in the sixth round (133rd overall) by the Senators in the 1994 NHL Entry Draft. That season he racked up 26 goals and 35 assists, earning the Calder Memorial Trophy as the league’s top rookie. He would appear in three straight All-Star Games for the Senators between 1996 and 1998 and was named team captain in 1999-2000 while incumbent Alexei Yashin missed a year with a contract stand-off. Alfredsson’s captaincy in Ottawa extended all the way to the end of the 2012-13 season. Alfredsson led the Senators through several post-season wars against the provincial rival Toronto Maple Leafs and would be highlighted by an Eastern Conference Final appearance in 2003 and, later, a Stanley Cup Final appearance in 2007.dddddddddddd Alfredsson led the 2007 Stanley Cup Playoffs in scoring, potting 14 goals and 22 points as the team clipped the Pittsburgh Penguins, New Jersey Devils and Buffalo Sabres before losing to the Anaheim Ducks in five games in the Cup Final. He remains the Senators all-time leader in several statistical categories including games played, goals, assists, points, power play points, playoff goals, assists and points. He was selected to six NHL All-Star Games, captaining his own team at the 2012 event in Ottawa. He was awarded the 2011-12 King Clancy Memorial Trophy for his on- and off-ice leadership as well as humanitarian contributions as well as the 2013 Mark Messier Leadership Award. Alfredsson represented Sweden at numerous international tournaments, including five Olympic Games. His greatest international achievement was winning the 2006 Olympic gold medal in Torino, Italy. He was also a member of Sweden’s silver medal-winning 2014 Olympic team and won a pair of IIHF World Championship silver and bronze medals ranging from 1995 to 2004. He was also on the Swedish team that placed third at the 1996 World Cup of Hockey. ' ' '