s7ark
RIP
- Jul 3, 2003
- 27,579
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Some posts:
Some posts:
I'm defending the fact I just don't think Franklin would do much better starting all the games him sitting and watching will help him in the future. Nichols put us in a hole yes but that could've easily happened with Franklin as well. Franklin probably starts next game and hopefully the team shows up with him or it will be much of the same
Haha part timer. Good one
If you can handle a couple of whippings by the hands of the Stamps then good for you. I'll be doing something more productive with my time on those days
Nothing left to see from Nichols, he's hot garbage and it's time to move on from him. Franklin will make mistakes but he oozes talent so they have to start letting him show what he can do with the bulk of the first team reps.
They are a good club and IMO, easily the best team in the league. The result tonight didn't surprise me in the least. I watched the Lions lose to Montreal last night and all I could think about was that they beat the Eskimos. I thought the Eskimos dependence on their defense was going to catch up to them. Hamiltons defense is just as good and their offense can score in bunches. I couldn't see how they were going to be able to stay in this game if Nichols was awful early as he usually is. When he threw that pick on the opening drive that set up Hamiltons first touchdown things just snowballed from there. The entire team knew what kind of night it was going to be and just quit. You have to be willfully ignorant not to see that and acknowledge it.
I think Nichols has to be done now. Hate to say it, seeing as he looked so good in 2012 before the injury. But for whatever reason, the team just doesn't respond to him anymore, and his play during the first half is a large reason for why we got hammered tonight.
thats cause Nichols isn't a leader...and never will be
this game isn't on him solely, but he started the downhill trend by throwing a pick on the very first drive
but fumbles, dropped balls and poor D cost us the game...implosion at all levels
If Franklin doesn't start next game, Jones' coaching security should be called into question.
Also, his defense got exposed as an overrated fraud tonight.
I guess nobody understands the subject of grooming a young QB so they are ready.. Franklin has learnt a lot watching from the sidelines and he could obviously still benefit from more. Time to throw him into the fire now though
All true
They got smoked and I don't wanna blame one player but ffs Nichols needs to go.
Seems like all his interceptions are total killers too.. either deep in the Esks' or opposition's territory and/or early in the game. Tonight it was his 4th pass attempt, last week his 2nd and 4th were picked off. The game before that (in BC) the defense stopped the Lions at the goal line and Nichols immediately threw an interception. Garbage.
I agree with what you're saying on principle and I thought Nichols should have been the starter because of it up until the BC game. That's when it became clear to me that he wasn't improving and it was beginning to hurt the team. He's lost this team now and you can see the difference in the energy level when Franklin plays. Not ideal to be starting Franklin but unless Hervey goes out and finds somebody else to lead this team I think you're doing more damage by not starting him. If he fails, what difference does it make anymore? You're not going to win with Nichols anymore, the team has stopped playing for him. I think he's ready to get a shot now.
Our next 4 games we play Toronto, Calgary, Calgary and then Hamilton again.
If Nichols starts these games I believe we have a 1% chance to win any of them.
If Franklin starts, I think it goes up to about a 6% chance.
We cannot win against good teams with Nichols, that is clear.
That is your opinion, and it isn't a fact.
Although I tend to agree with the bolded in isolation..
A couple relevant posts I made pregame. Made because theres been ongoing statements all season to the effect that this untried club is better than it is.
In reality, as I've alleged all season, the Esks have had an easy schedule, some fortune, and have been carried by the D and have two of their wins due to Franklin saving games. Just last week I was stating this D would not be able to carry the team all year and no D is. It doesn't take too long for a club to get demoralized if there are significant problems on one side of the ball. The offense has been putrid. Self destructing, not contributing much EXCEPT when Franklin is given the ball. Theres Franklin yesterday in a decided game pounding yards, throwing darts to opposing recievers, dealing with the same pressure Nichols had dealt with except MOVING yardsticks.
This is Franklins team for this stretch of tough games. It has to be. Nichols is done and contributing nothing, not even composure, and has unravelled quickly in games in at least the last 3 outings. All of which would be losses without heroic performances from the D.
Oh, we're now 0-2 against the good clubs in this league. We've looked confused and distraught in both of those games.
Some other looks. Walker continues to be a godsend. Man what a go to guy this has been and a relevation. Could you imagine watching the last couple games without this guy? KUDOS to Stoneman for spotting this guy in preseason. Good eyes.
Other side of that is Franklin. Kid has amazing composure. I wish he was seeing Reilly now instead of Nichols. Franklin rallied the team at halftime in the dressing room. This kid wants to be here, wants to be excelling here, and wants a big role here. The game unfortunately was decided by the time he got into the battle. But FRanklins ability to read and check down is bloody amazing. He looks off recievers and finds others so quick my jaw dropped 5 times. He did this on a wide open TD toss and found the open guy immediately after having other look offs. Franklin is so sharp this almost goes unnoticed. Also need to credit that he is fooling defenders with his looks unlike Nichols who telegraphs everything. Do people honestly think Franklin is learning from Nichols? He's superior QB in everyway.
Watson, best game as an Eskimo.
Some more problems;
Bell; Not carrying the mail well. I have a lot of trouble with RB that handle the ball like he does. Sure he fights for yards. He's a liability the way he handles the ball and doesn't secure it well. Responsible for another two fumbles yesterday and its becoming a pattern.
Stafford. Mixed feelings about this guy. The most likely receiver to give up on a route when a ball is overthrown. Again yesterday we see a pick on a ball going Staffords way which is happening too much for my liking. He basically watched an interception after breaking a pattern because he felt the ball was long. Unfortunately continued stride could have resulted in him at least battling for the ball. Coaching staff were screaming at him after one series. The guy is a bit of a headcase and a lot of a project. Surely has talent, but needs to develop a different disposition and battle on every down. Right now Walker is basically showing him up.
Bowman; good thing is you won't see a game like this out of him much anymore. I chalk it up to coming back from injury as well. He was not his usual tank self and had some off moments probably due to pain.
But Bowman, Walker, are the best 1,2 we have had in years. Hopefully Stafford can get his act in gear and be consistent. If Watson can play with this intensity we have some improved receiver core.
I've been saying it all Season Matt Nichols is trash.
the entire team forgot how to play football but it starts at the pivot. He's garbage. I can't believe some people were suggesting Nichols was better in some regards compared to Reilly.
And people calling for Jones head should really get the **** out. Ridiculous.
Pigheadedness is not a good trait for a coach. He keeps going to the Nichols well expecting water. His defense is pretty good (save for this game) but you can't win if your QB doesn't perform. More often than not, and this was true last year as well, the defense was relied upon to win. Last week was a prime example. Either go out and get a QB or make better offensive decisions.
How sad is it that Calgary's backup QB is better than anything we have.
Brutal game. I can't remember the last time I wanted to leave at halftime.
Pick yourself up, dust yourself off and prep for Toronto. This year is better than that. Everyone but Walker was bad ranging to horrible.
I'm definitely not a Nichols supporter but I don't think you can blame this loss solely on the offence.
Yes, that first interception help set the tone, but so did the fact that the D just couldn't make a stop. They got picked apart all night.
Obviously Nichols just isn't getting it done but last night the entire lineup sucked.
