Overreaction Monday: 4 hot takes from Week 18

Welcome to Overreaction Monday where we look back on the previous week’s action and root out some angles that could be prone to hot takes that may or may not be a tad over the top. Either from fans and the media in general or, maybe just specifically me.

Then, I’ll render a verdict as to whether I think it’s an “overreaction”, a “fair” assessment, or if it’s “too soon to tell.”

This week: Did Philpot take the lead? To sneak or not to sneak. And maybe the Stampeders are who we thought they were.

HE CATCHES EVERYTHING AND THAT JUST MIGHT INCLUDE ALL THE HARDWARE

Montreal’s Tyson Philpot pulled down 11 catches for 207 yards in his team’s win over the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, bringing his season total to 1,735 yards.

He’s 302 yards away from outright holding the CFL’s single-season record and has three games to play.

“Philpot really should be considered the front-runner for the George Reed Most Outstanding Player Award.”

THE VERDICT: FAIR.

No shade towards the talented quarterbacks in the CFL, including Philpot’s teammate, Davis Alexander. But I mean, seriously, what else is a receiver supposed to do?

It’s not just the stats, which are fabulous and might end up being historic. It’s the artistry. It’s the athletic ability and the toughness in traffic. So many of Philpot’s catches have been of a high degree of difficulty in this incredible season of his. So many have been downright filthy. Obnoxious.

Load up the Tyson Philpot highlight reel. Outstanding stuff.

Most outstanding, in my opinion.

THERE IS NO PATHWAY FORWARD

Trailing 24-17, with fourth quarter sands of time draining, the Toronto Argonauts failed to score on successive quarterback sneaks from the one-yard line.

BC linebackers Darnell Sankey and Adam Konar got credit for the tackles while the Lions’ defensive line shot off the mark with impressive surges to blow up the intentions of Argo quarterback Nick Arbuckle.

“There’s no excuse to fail to get a yard when the defence is lined up a yard away. It should be automatic.”

THE VERDICT: OVERREACTION.

On Saturday alone, we saw at least four occasions where sneaks were stopped by the defence, and only two of those were Toronto being stymied at the end of their game against the Lions.

Both Montreal and Winnipeg turned the ball over on downs on sneak stops in their game, too.

And Friday night, Calgary stopped Saskatchewan quarterback Tommy Stevens cold on a second-and-one (hello, Damon Webb) and Stevens is about the most automatic of the automatics out there.

It might be the best bet in that given situation, but there is no such thing as a sure thing on a quarterback sneak.

Especially when Sankey is out there. In a Week 14 game in Montreal, he stopped the Alouettes on three consecutive sneak attempts at the goal line.

Future opponents of the Lions might want to consider the 11,700 square feet available in the entire end zone as opposed to the rather small and crowded confines of the sneak area in front of them.

THAT’S NOT THUNDER BUT IT IS A RUMBLING THAT SEEMS TO BE GETTING LOUDER

The Calgary Stampeders put on a real good show on Friday in beating the Saskatchewan Roughriders 37-31 at Mosaic Stadium.

That’s three straight and for now, at least, a spot in the playoffs as a fourth-place crossover team, potentially leading to a date in Toronto in the Eastern Semi-Final.

“The Stampeders are contenders after all.”

THE VERDICT: TOO SOON TO TELL.

If two wins over Ottawa weren’t convincing — and that’s fair — then Calgary’s ‘all systems go’ win against the Roughriders in Regina should be enough to nudge you in that direction at least a wee bit.

Of particular note was the performance of quarterback Vernon Adams Jr., who looked much like the Adams who began the season on a tear, as he dropped pins all over the field, including four in the end zone, completing 22 of 29 for 242 yards and no interceptions. His efficiency rating came in at 146.0 for the game.

“He’s doing the little things better and better,” said Calgary head coach Dave Dickenson after the game, “but also doing the things he was doing earlier. Being explosive, but still taking care of the football.”

Up next: a trip to Winnipeg. Then a home date against the BC Lions. Win those and 'too soon to tell' can easily become 'fair.'

WELL, THERE’S SOMETHING YOU DON’T SEE EVERY WEEK. EXCEPT FOR THIS WEEK AND LAST WEEK, I GUESS

The BC Lions may have dramatically taken a win out of Toronto with that goal line stand, but it was kicker Sean Whyte’s eight field goals that gave them every point of margin they’d need in a 24-17 victory over the Argos.

“Wowsers. A placekicker is gonna be a Player of the Week again.”

THE VERDICT: FAIR.

If Vincent Blanchard’s efforts in Week 17 (nine field goals in a double-overtime game) got him a nod, it’s hard to see how Whyte’s eight in regulation don’t get him noticed too.

Too bad the BC/Toronto game didn’t go into overtime. Whyte might have had a 10-field-goal game to his name.