We all understand that people have different opinions and we at CFL Daily Dose are no different, which is why we started CFL Point/Counterpoint. For each CFL Point/Counterpoint, two authors will present their cases and you decide who’s right.

After disappointing losses in Week 1, Edmonton and Hamilton both look to rebound in Week 2. Who will bounce back this week, Edmonton or Hamilton?

Edmonton has what it takes to bounce back.

by Chris Powell

Last weeks loss to B.C. was as good a wake up call that any team could hope for. Giving up 194 yards rushing on 19 carries (10.21 yards per carry) is terrible. There’s really no way to hide that stat, or even attempt to downplay it’s importance. Jamal Robertson put a toothless Lions team on his back and carried them up and down the field.

We won't see this happen again this year, but the Esks and their fans will have something to celebrate after this week.

On the upside, for Edmonton, is that they only gave up one offensive touchdown. The Lions scored six field goals in a game that featured sloppy play from most of the guys on the field, sealing their victory by keeping Edmonton out of field goal range when they had the ball.

The bright side out of all of this is that running back Arkee Whitlock had a decent game: 116 yards on 16 carries (7.25 ypc) and a touchdown and towards the end of the game Ray looked to be more trusting of his receivers than he did in the first part of the game.

While that is all well and good, they have to 1) score more than 10 points to beat the Alouettes and 2) keep Ricky Ray on his feet. Ray, who is one of the best quarterbacks in the league, can’t do any damage if he is constantly getting knocked down. For the Eskimos to bounce back Ray has to stay clean, which means the boys up front have to get on the same page, and protect him.

Now to this point, I know it looks like all I’ve done is pick the Eskimos apart and essentially I have. They did little last week to praise, but that will happen this week. Will they beat Montreal this week? Maybe not, but they will be much better than they were last week. This week presents a tough test for the Esks, but they will pull through valiantly.

Hamilton has fought through adversity before

by Jonathan Hamelin

This week, the Edmonton Eskimos are welcoming in an angry Montreal Alouettes squad that scored 51 points last week. The Hamilton Tiger-Cats are welcoming in the Calgary Stampeders, a team who failed to earn a convincing victory over the woeful Toronto Argonauts last week.

You’ve got to love Hamilton’s chances to rebound in Week 2.

The big three of Arland Bruce III, Kevin Glenn and De'Andra Cobb won't be stopped this week against Calgary.

Last season, Hamilton fell 30-17 to the mediocre Toronto Argonauts at home in Week 1. It was not a promising way to start the season, but the Tiger-Cats bounced right back the next week and stunned the B.C. Lions 31-28 on the road then downed the Winnipeg Blue Bombers 25-13 at home in Week 3.

The only difference here is that instead of having to rebound on the road, Hamilton gets to go home, where they had success against Calgary last season.

In their meeting in Hamilton last season, the Tiger-Cats won 24-17. Joffrey Reynolds had a solid game for Calgary, rushing for 127 yards, but the Tiger-Cats valiantly shut down the rest of the offence. Henry Burris was 10/25 for 114 yards and Calgary only scored two touchdowns.

Also, it is hard to imagine Hamilton’s big three of Kevin Glenn, De’Andra Cobb and Arland Bruce III being held in check for a second week in a row. In Hamilton’s opening week loss, Glenn only threw for 197 yards, Cobb only had 22 yards and Bruce only had three catches for 44 yards.

These three players are very talented and will step up in Week 2 against Calgary and help the Tiger-Cats produce a lot more points on offence. Last time they played Calgary at home. Cobb had 85 yards rushing and Bruce III had 105 yards receiving and two touchdowns. Glenn did not play.

Fired up from their poor performance in Week 1, fans can expect a big game out of Hamilton’s defence. Also, there is always a chance that returner Marcus Thigpen will return a kick for a touchdown.

Calgary is a team that still has some questions to answer following their performance against Toronto in Week 1. They are a good team for a struggling Tiger-Cats squad to play.

Edmonton faces a much tougher task. They are facing a potent Montreal offence. In Week 1, the Eskimos allowed 168 rushing yards to Jamal Robertson of B.C. The Alouettes didn’t use Avon Cobourne much in their Week 1 loss to Saskatchewan, but if they establish him against Edmonton the Eskimos will be in trouble. Unlike B.C., Montreal will have success going to the air, giving the Alouettes two ways to hurt Edmonton.

Both Edmonton and Hamilton will improve as the season goes on. Unlike Edmonton, Hamilton will get on track this week.

Related Posts:

• Is it time for the Eskimos to bench quarterback Ricky Ray?
• Important three games for Esks future plans
• Tiger-Cats vs Argonauts
• Hamilton: It’s Moncton or nothing
• Fourth time’s the charm for Hamilton and Winnipeg