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| Which pair of defensive ends are currently the best in the Canadian Football League? - 05/10/2009 |
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When defensive stud Cameron Wake departed from the Canadian Football League to the National Football League, many fans were left to wonder if they would ever see another dominant defensive end for a while. A good way through this new CFL season and it is apparent that there is not shortage of excellent pass rushers in the CFL. Not only have there been excellent pass rushers, but many teams have had the privilege of having a pair of solid pash rushers on their team. The Montreal Alouettes—with Anwar Stewart and John Bowman—the Saskatchewan Roughriders—with John Chick and Stevie Baggs—the BC Lions—with Ricky Foley and Brent Johnson—have all been blessed with two solid pass rushers. An honourable mention goes out to the Edmonton Eskimos and Winnipeg Blue Bombers, who have also had some solid play from their defensive ends, but their duos are not quite up there with Montreal, Saskatchewan and BC. Let's take a closer look at Montreal, Saskatchewan, and BC's pass rushers to determine which duo is the most dominant. The Montreal Alouettes: Anwar Stewart and John Bowman The BC Lions: Ricky Foley and Brent Johnson Ricky Foley has definitely developed into one of the league's premium pass rushers this season. Foley is tied for the league lead with nine sacks and recently had a three sack game against the Toronto Argonauts. Foley has also added 32 tackles. After a slow start, Brent Johnson has also been on a torrid pace. Johnson has recorded six sacks and 32 tackles. The pressure put on by these two defensive ends has been a huge reason for BC climbing back into the West race.
The Saskatchewan Roughriders: Stevie Baggs and John Chick Heading into training camp, the Riders weren't sure how John Chick would recover from his injury, or who the other defensive end would be. Those questions have been answered for the better. Though he didn't start off hot, Chick has been a force to be reckoned with. Chick has flirted with the league lead in sacks and currently has eight. He also has 15 tackles and 2 forced fumbles. Chick has returned to his 2007 form. Stevie Baggs, a virtually unknown commodity heading into the season, also has eight sacks on the season. He has also picked up 33 tackles. What has made Baggs so impressive is the fact that he flies around the field making tackles. He has played a role for the Riders similar to Fred Perry. He will make the big sack, but he will also tackle a receiver 20 yards down field.
The Verdict: Stevie Baggs and John Chick In this first version of CFL Q and A, Stevie Baggs and John Chick earn the honours as the best pair of defensive ends in the CFL. It was a close call to make. In my opinion, Brent Johnson and Ricky Foley finish in third among the three teams. Johnson and Foley both started off slow, and while they have turned it around now, they still have problems dealing with the run game. They are more pure pass rushers, unlike Montreal and Saskatchewan's defensive ends, who are better rounded. Montreal and Saskatchewan's pairs of defensive ends are very close. They can both rush the passer and are always excellent at stopping the run. I believe that John Chick and Stevie Baggs have been more dynamic than Anwar Stewart and John Bowman. Saskatchewan's defence has been impressive this season. They have rarely allowed a one hundred yard rusher, and this speaks volumes for how well John Chick and Stevie Baggs have helped stop the run. Do you have a question for CFL Q & A, send me an email at roughriderfreek@hotmail.com
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CFL Preview Week Eight: The Bye Week Part 1 - 21/08/2009 |
In week eight in the CFL, four teams have a bye. The Edmonton Eskimos, Calgary Stampeders, Toronto Argonauts and Hamilton Tiger Cats will all have to endure the gruelling bye week that no one ever enjoys! But, though it may be a bye week for some teams, it most certainly won't mean a bye for my weekly predictions! The more and more I think about it, I like the idea of this bye week. My record isn't the best in the world, and maybe I just need fewer games to pick. Friday August 21st Doubleheader The Roughriders will look to exact revenge on the Montreal Alouettes in Montreal this week. Montreal embarrassed Saskatchewan at home earlier in the year, so it should be an intense game. The Riders have been anything but consistent this season, but they are getting players back from injury slowly. Their offensive line has improved, and Wes Cates has finally found his game. If Wes Cates can get going against the Montreal Alouettes, it could take the pressure off of Darian Durant. Montreal is a tough match for any team. They can hurt you on offence in multiple ways and their defence has been stingy. Montreal is always a tough place to win at, and the Saskatchewan Roughriders have had their share of struggles their. Yet you can never count out the Roughriders, who win when they are not expected too and lose when they are favoured. Yet, beating a red hot Alouette team at home may be too much to ask. My Pick: Montreal Game Two: Winnipeg Blue Bombers at BC Lions In BC, it will be a battle of two gunslingers, as Lion's pivot Jarious Jackson faces off against Bomber's pivot Michael Bishop. Both sitting in their respective division basements, both teams will look to move up the standings. The Lions have been doing just enough to win ball games recently, winning two in a row. They will hand the ball to Jarious Jackson in this game. Jackson has impressed with the deep ball, but has also been inconsistent. While he will likely test the Bombers defence deep, he also needs throw the intermediate routes as well. Look for rookie running back Martel Mallet to continue his success. The Bombers on the other hand are in a lot of trouble. Michael Bishop has been inconsistent, and the team doesn't have any proven stars on offence except for Fred Reid and Terrance Edwards. Luckily for the Bombers, BC's run defence is pretty bad, so Fred Reid could have a huge game. If the Bombers can get Fred Reid going, and their defence plays well like it has in the past, they may have a chance to pull off the upset. My Pick: Winnipeg
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CFL Preview Week Seven: The Wild West - 13/08/2009 |
Could the real contender in the Wild Western Division please stand up? Six weeks through the CFL season and there are few certainties. The Montreal Alouettes and Hamilton Tiger Cats seem to be firm contenders in the East, but not one team in the West has stood up. Through a series of missed opportunities, we are still uncertain who the powerhouse in the West is. Three of the teams currently sit at 3-3 while the BC Lions pulled to 2-4 last week by beating the Saskatchewan Roughriders. Speaking of that game, it contributed to my two incorrect picks last week. In the other, I picked Winnipeg to upset Calgary, which almost did happen. After going 2-2, I am still below .500 with my picks. Prediction Time Thursday Aug 13th The Calgary Stampeders fought back last week to get back to .500, whereas the Edmonton Eskimos missed a glorious opportunity to sit atop the West by losing to the Hamilton Tiger Cats. In this years first instalment of the 'Battle of Alberta', tempers should be high. Ricky Ray continued his inconsistent play last week. He threw for a lot of yardage, but also tossed 2 interceptions. Still, Ray looks to be regaining his solid form slowly. Throw in the fact that Edmonton now has somewhat of a running game, and there offense suddenly isn't looking so enemic. Look for the Eskimos to attack Calgary's inexperienced secondary with Kamau Peterson, Maurice Mann and Fred Stamps. Calgary on the other hand is still of course without star receiver Keynon Rambo. Luckily however, players like Jermaine Copeland have stepped up. Edmonton has a stingy front seven, so running the ball with Joffrey Reynolds may be tough. If Calgary can establish him however, they could open up the passing game and terrorize Edmonton's defense. With two teams that look to be fairly equally matched, this game could come down to who can run the ball and control the line of scrimmage the best. This game will likely be a close contest, but Edmonton is playing at home. There natural grass is still one of the toughest turfs to play on, and that may be the advantage they need. My Pick: Edmonton Friday August 14th Things are starting to look up for the BC Lions. They got an ugly win against the Saskatchewan Roughriders last week and are facing one of the most struggling teams in the CFL, the Toronto Argonauts. Fresh of a shut-out loss against the Montreal Alouettes, the Argonauts are desperate for a win. For the game, the Argos have benched former MOP Kerry Joseph in favour of back-up pivot Cody Picket. The news was a bit shocking, seeing as Toronto has a lot of other problems than just the quarterback position. Still, a change was perhaps necessary. Pickett will look to rejuvenate a struggling Argos offense. To do this, it would be smart to get Jamal Robertson involved. BC's run defense is one of the worst in the league and they could get a big game out of Jamal Robertson. Similarly, the Lions need to establish the run with rookie sensation Martel Mallet. Mallet is a hard runner which is good because Toronto has a tough front seven. Buck Pierce didn't have an amazing game last week, but he did a little better job of taking care of the ball. This will be crucial against a Argos team that will be looking for any break they can get. Upon first glance, it would appear that the Lions will win this game. They are coming off of a victory and Toronto is struggling. The game is in Toronto however, and road games are never a sure thing. Toronto will likely get a good running game going against the Lions, which will help Cody Pickett settle down. If Pickett has any success at all, look for Toronto's stingy defense to take care of the rest. My Pick: Toronto Saturday August 15th They have beaten the Toronto Argonauts and the Hamilton Tiger Cats, now it is time for the Montreal Alouettes to prove they are indeed top dogs in the east by beating Winnipeg. In fact, Winnipeg has also beaten Toronto and Hamilton, but I'm pretty sure no one thinks there top dogs in anything. Winnipeg has recently seen new life with quarterback Michael Bishop added into the line-up. Bishop has been an immediate upgrade over Stefan Lefors and almost led the Bombers to victory over the Stampeders. Fans in Winnipeg have new faith since Michael Bishop arrived. But as a Roughriders fan all I can say is, give it a few weeks. Sure Bishop looks good at times, but he will ultimately choke when the pressure is on. Montreal is likely going to key on Fred Reid all game, forcing Michael Bishop to throw the ball a lot and likely turn the ball over. ON the other side, Anthony Calvillo should do enough to get an important road win. My Pick: Montreal Sunday August 16th The Hamilton Tiger Cats are 4-2? Is this the same team who has been so bad for so long? Every game so far, fans have been saying, "this is the real test for Hamilton." Well so far, they have passed most of those tests. They have swept the BC Lions in two games, beaten the Edmonton Eskimos, proving they are indeed for real. Still, they will get another test this week against the Saskatchewan Roughriders. The Riders have been so inconsistent this year. They look good one week against a tough opponent, and then falter the next week against an easy one. Ken Miller doesn't seem to be inspiring the Riders to do well, and it has surely shown in their play. Luckily, the team will be getting back defensive end John Chick, who should help stabilize the defensive line. Unluckily however, the team will be without star middle linebacker Renauld Williams for some time. This isn't good when DeAndra Cobb is coming into town. Cobb has been the story of the year so far. He is tearing it up in the ground game and should pose a problem to a weak Riders run defense. Gary Etcheverry's defense, which is good at creating turnovers, will have to also focus on shutting down Cobb. Without a running game, Quinton Porter will have to throw the ball to beat the Riders. This could only bode well for the Riders. On offense, the Riders need to get the ball out their playmakers. With Wes Cates in the backfield and receivers like Jason Clermont and Weston Dressler, the Riders have no shortage of talent. The offensive line also needs to do a much better job giving Darian Durant protection. Finally returning home after a two game road trip, the Riders will be playing in front of a loud home crowd. But will they give them anything to cheer about? I never thought I would pick Hamilton to win in Regina, but they have DeAndra Cobb on their side. Without Renauld Williams in the middle, I'm not sure Saskatchewan can stop the run this week. My Pick: Saskatchewan
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CFL Recap Week Six: The Call - 12/08/2009 |
Fans that happened to tune in to the Friday tilt featuring the BC Lions and Saskatchewan Roughriders were likely surprised about two things. Firstly, the Riders played so poorly after beating the Calgary Stampeders the week before. And secondly, a crucial call was missed in the first half that may have changed the momentum of the game. The call happened near the end of the second quarter. Sean Whyte had just punted the ball and Gerran Walker had attempted to catch the short punt in the air. Walker fumbled the football, and a crazy series of events pursued. The Lions' James Dennis failed to pick up the fumble, and then rookie linebacker James Yurichuk of the Lions kicked the ball forward. As the ball was bouncing toward Saskatchewan's end, Jason Arakgi tried and failed to pick up the pigskin. Eventually, O'Neil Wilson picked up the football and scored a 14-yard touchdown. So what was wrong with the play? Head official Tom Higgins said, "It was wrong, we made a mistake, and this is too big not to 'fess up to.'" It's hard because the official who is watching has to watch the football. How can he tell if someone is onside or offside when he's watching the football? This was a huge momentum changer in the game. Saskatchewan could have had time left in the half to increase their 14-12 lead, but instead they went into the half down 19-14, on a touchdown that should not have even counted. BC went on to outscore the Riders 16-10 in the second half and won the game 35-20. Of course, the bad call isn't taking anything away from the Lions' performance. The Lions were on a mission and took advantage of a sloppy Roughriders squad. However, that non-call still had a huge impact on the game. The Riders basically lost by one touchdown, as the Lions scored one late. Instead of giving up a touchdown late in the first half, the Riders may have increased their lead. Needless to say, the officials will need to do a better job on these crucial plays. While Ken Miller and the Riders should have challenged the call, the officials also could have as well, especially on such a pivotal play. Other Notes from Week Six: The CFL—Where Shutouts Happen: The Toronto Argonauts fell to the Montreal Alouettes 25-0 on Friday, failing to register a point for the first time in 17 years. Though offensive struggles have been nothing new to the Toronto Argonauts, a shutout is a new low for the team. Both Argo pivots, Cody Pickett and Kerry Joseph, were sacked a combined total of seven times, and neither threw over a hundred yards. Jamal Robertson's struggles continued as he only rushed for 20 yards. On the other side of the ball, the defense struggled to contain Anthony Calvillo and Ben Cahoon. Calvillo threw for 380 yards and Cahoon had over 100 yards. Do or Die For the Lions: In the Lions aforementioned victory over the Saskatchewan Roughriders, the Lions' big guns finally stepped up. Buck Pierce was 26/34 with 215 yards and a touchdown. Martell Mallet rushed for 99 yards and Paris Jackson had 92 yards receiving. New middle linebacker seemed to fit in well for the Lions. The win was crucial for the Lions, who would have fallen to 1-5 with a loss. Glatt's Got the Riders Number: Lions' linebacker Javier Glatt, who has currently been demoted with the signing of Jojuan Armour, registered an interception against the Saskatchewan Roughriders. Glatt has two interceptions on the season, both against the Riders. Hamilton Makes A Statement: The Tiger Cats beat the Eskimos 28-21 this week, in what was one of the most exciting games of the season so far. The Tiger Cats faced adversity throughout the game, but their defense stepped up big-time. They held the Eskimos to three points in the second half. Meanwhile, the offense did enough to get the job done. DeAndra Cobb tore it up on the ground, pulling off a huge run near the end of the game that set up the game-winning touchdown. Many doubted Hamilton heading into the season, but they are succeeding where a lot of other supposed contenders are failing. Bruce All Mighty: Tiger Cats receiver Arland Bruce, who was traded from the Argonauts because of his poor attitude, has been making a great impression on his new team. Bruce has been a much better tea player in Hamilton, and he has started contributing to the offense. Bruce had 78 yards for the Tiger Cats against the Eskimos. Shoot-Out in Calgary: The Blue Bombers have been struggling a lot on offense recently, but they did much better this week against Calgary. Winnipeg nearly pulled off the upset, losing 31-23. The exciting Michael Bishop threw for 209 yards and Fred Reid tore it up on the ground, running for 167 yards and two touchdowns. Yet, when all was said and done, the Stampeders got the job done. Players of the Week: Week Six Offensive: Anthony Calvillo In the Als route of the Argonauts, Calvillo threw for 380 yards. That is never easy against a usually stingy Argonauts defense. Defensive: Brent Johnson All year, the Lions have been lacking a solid pass rush with the loss of Cameron Wake. Brent Johnson finally stepped up against the Riders. He recorded three sacks and a forced fumble. Special Teams: Sean Whyte Whyte was 4-4 in the kicking department this week. He nailed four crucial field goals in the Lions' victory over the Roughriders.
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Goodbye Schultzy: Remembering Scott Schultz - 06/08/2009 |
It's official, Saskatchewan Roughrider's defensive tackle and fan favourite Scott Schultz has retired from the Canadian Football League. Unexpected and sort of untimely, the announcement is definitely surprising and saddening for the 'Rider Nation'. A retirement during the beginning of the season is rare, but Scott Schultz is apparently pursuing a promising career opportunity in the insurance business. Though Scott Schultz is still young, the 31-year-old Moose Jaw native has had a lasting impact on the Saskatchewan Roughriders organization. In college, Scott Schultz spent his entire career with the North Dakota Fighting Soux. The gritty nose tackle was a team captain in 2000, and had 146 career tackles and 11.5 sacks. Schultz definitely had a successful career in college and was named first team all-NCC in 1999 and 2000. Scott Schultz was then selected with the first overall pick in the 2001 Canadian Football League College Draft. Schultz didn't make an immediate impact for the Riders, as he also spent time with the San Diego Chargers and Pittsburgh Steelers during his first two years. 2003 was the beginning of great things for the Moose Jaw boy. In 2003, Schultz had six sacks and 32 defensive tackles. He also started in both the Western Semi-Final and Western Final, where he recorded one sack. The next season, Schultz finished with 27 tackles and eight quarterback sacks. Throughout his career, Schultz perhaps had the most success when he was teamed up with fellow defensive tackle Nate Davis. Davis and Schultz created a deadly combo at the tackle position, helping form a tough defense for the Riders. Schultz and Davis also forged a solid friendship. But the crowning moment in Schultz's career, along with many of the long-time Saskatchewan Roughriders involved, was the Grey Cup victory in 2007. Schultz was a integral part of the Saskatchewan Roughriders Cinderella run to the Grey Cup finals, where they beat the rival Winnipeg Blue Bombers to claim the Grey Cup. Schultz shared in the glory of the victory. He was able to lift the cup high and proud, as he helped deliver glory to a promise that had been long starved of the Grey Cup. Scott Schultz meant so much to the Riders, more than the stats could ever tell. He was a consummate pro and a leader on the Saskatchewan Roughriders team. Anyone who has been to a Rider game has seen Scott Schultz right in the middle of team huddles, pumping up the team and the crowd. Schultz always brought a level of emotion to the game that made him a fun player to watch. Schultz also meant a lot to the community. He did and still works in Regina, and has always taken time to give back to Regina. He has been running a football camp for some time now, giving advice to players who share the same dream that he did. Always friendly with the media, Scott Schultz always came up with the most interesting one-liners He was always willing to take time out for the fans. Being a former high-school defensive tackle in Saskatchewan, I know that Scott Schultz was always a player you aspired to be. A player who always gave it his all and was always a tough match for any offensive lineman. I still remember meeting Scott Schultz for the first time and getting his autograph. It was a great experience. Whether it was signing an autograph, taking time to talk to the media, or bringing the crowd to its feet with an amazing tackle, Scott Schultz represented what it meant to be a Saskatchewan Roughrider. On behalf of the Rider nation I've got to say: congratulations on your retirement and a great career Scott Schultz, and we will miss watching you creating havoc in the backfield.
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"Fans of the CFL": A CFL Magazine - 04/08/2009 |
It is my great privilege to present the first ever issue of "Fans of the CFL".
Every issue can be found on our magazines website: http://fansofthecfl.blogspot.com/.
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CFL Recap Week Four: Settling the Quarterback Controversies - 26/07/2009 |
Take a seat and enjoy the ride, the league wide quarterback carousel in the CFL has begun to spin out of control. Instead of making a push for a permanent starting job, many starting quarterbacks this year have seemed to be giving the coach every reason to go with another option. In fact, besides last years MOP player Anthony Calvillo, no quarterback has shown any level of consistency. This was once again evident in week four, as many quarterbacks didn't even last the whole game. This inconsistent play has had led to many heated quarterback controversies in the league. In a game where the most popular player is usually the back-up pivot, fans have been given all the more reasons to beg for the back-up quarterback to get a chance. The coaches have seemed to do little to solve these controversies, further escalading the problem. But all of that is about to change. I am about to do what most coaches of the CFL have failed to do… decide which quarterbacks should be getting the start. Examine the pros and cons of each quarterback in hopes of ending this league wide quarterback controversy once and for all! Edmonton Eskimos: The Eskimos did pull off an amazing victory against the Saskatchewan Roughriders, but have struggled for most of the season so far. The quarterback position has been a heated area of discussion during this time frame. The main debate has been between two quarterbacks, the star Ricky Ray and the veteran Jason Maas. Ricky Ray: It is hard to imagine the man who has led the Eskimos to two Grey Cup victories involved in a quarterback controversy, but it is true. Rick Ray has been a consistent threat to go over 5,000 yards passing each season, and already has 1,011 yards this season. Unlike in the past however, Ray has experienced a lot of struggles this season. He has made some poor decisions and turned the ball over uncharacteristically. Ray can throw one of the best deep and short balls in the league, but he isn't very mobile, which can lead to more sacks. Jason Maas: Ironically the man who once lost his job to Ricky Ray may just have a chance to win it back. During all of the time he has sat on the bench, Jason Maas has developed into a smarter quarterback. He makes better reads now and throws a solid ball. Jason Maas has proven to be fairly injury prone in his career, and he hasn't played a lot of games in a row for a couple of season. This would lead one to question how consistent he would be as a starter. The Verdict: It is a no-brainer here, Ricky Ray keeps his starting job. Ricky Ray has been the face of the Eskimos franchise for years and he is the catalyst of their offense. The early struggles of the Eskimos can't be shouldered on Rick Ray's shoulders. Jason Maas is a veteran quarterback, but he hasn't been a permanent starter for such a long time. BC Lions: Buck Pierce or Jarious Jackson? That has been the dilemma facing the BC Lions so far this season. Such questions are bound to arise after a 1-3 start. Quarterback controversy has been a familiar thing in BC. A few years ago, Dave Dickenson and Casey Printers were involved in a huge quarterback duo, that ended when Printers were eventually released. Buck Pierce: With quarterback Buck Pierce, you know what you can expect. Pierce will make some plays for your team, but he is a fairly conservative player. He doesn't really possess the ability to stretch a defense deep. This season, Pierce has developed a tendency for turning the ball over. Jarious Jackson: Jarious Jackson has never really had a chance to step in the starters role, sitting on the roster behind player Dave Dickenson, Casey Printers, and most recently Buck Pierce. Jackson has shown flashes of brilliance in his career, most recently against the Edmonton Eskimos. He came in to relive the injured Buck Pierce and threw four touchdown passes. The Verdict: It's time to change things up in BC. Buck Pierce isn't the answer for the Lions, so Jarious Jackson should get a shot. Things can't get much worse in BC, and the Lions have seemed to respond well to the strong arm of Jarious Jackson. Winnipeg Blue Bombers: After the latest debacle in Winnipeg, Bomber fans are desperate for a quarterback who can get the job done. Should it be southpaw Stefan Lefors, second stringer Bryan Randall, experienced back-up Richie Williams, or new acquisition Michael Bishop. Stefan Lefors: Lefors got his back chance this year when he was traded from the Edmonton Eskimos to the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. Lefors was immediately vaulted to the starters role with Kevin Glenn being released. Let's just say things haven't worked out as he expected. Lefors has the worst quarterback rating among starting quarterbacks and recently threw for an appalling 30 yards in the Bombers loss against the Argos. Bryan Randall: Randall hasn't had much luck backing up Stefan Lefors. In limited time Randall hasn't had any success, throwing for two interceptions. Michael Bishop: Bishop is back! The erratic, exciting pivot who most recently saw time with the Saskatchewan Roughriders will look to earn a starting job in the CFL. Bishop's career has been marred by inconsistency. He was great at times for the Riders last year, but also struggled. The Verdict: Tough one to call here. None of the Bombers quarterbacks are very enticing. My call would be Richie Williams. Lefors and Randall have looked awful and Williams has experience. If Williams struggles the Bombers can look to Bishop to provide a spark. Hamilton Tiger Cats: Last but not least we have the Hamilton Tiger Cats. Hamilton is in the middle of a quarterback controversy, thanks to the play of former Bomber Kevin Glenn. Heading into the season, the plan was to develop quarterback of the future Quinton Porter, but Porter has fallen on tough times. Quinton Porter: Porter looked promising last season for the Riders, and he was awarded the starting role this season. Quinton Porter has a decent quarterback rating this season, and led the Tiger Cats to a victory against the BC Lions in week two. However, Porter didn't play well in any other game so far. Kevin Glenn: Glenn has been an amazing story for the Tabbies so far. He engineered a comeback victory over the Winnipeg Blue Bombers and has looked great every time he has come in to relief Quinton Porter. The Verdict: Quinton Porter may be the quarterback of the future, but Kevin Glenn is the quarterback of the present. Glenn has experience on his side and he is playing strongly. Quinton Porter can use the time on the bench to further learn the offense. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Power Rankings: Week Four 1) Montreal Alouettes 4-0 (LW:1)
2) Calgary Stampeders 2-2 (LW:6)
3) Hamilton Tiger Cats 2-2 (LW:3)
4) Edmonton Eskimos 2-2 (LW:8)
5) Saskatchewan Roughriders 2-2 (LW:2)
6) Toronto Argonauts 2-2 (LW:7)
7) BC Lions 1-3 (LW:4)
8) Winnipeg Blue Bombers 1-3 (LW:5)
Biggest Rise: Calgary, Edmonton +4 Check back twice a week for preview and recaps from the CFL. Also, check back every couple of weeks for a look at who is winning the race for the MOP award.
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CFL Preview Week Four: It's Time to Regroup - 23/07/2009 |
I'm not going to sugar coat it, I got almost all of my picks wrong last week. It was ugly. After going 1-3 last week, my record now stands at 6-6. The reason? Toronto was on fire even though they had lost to Saskatchewan and Calgary had let me down for two weeks in a row. So naturally Calgary goes out and plays amazing, blowing out the Argos. In my other wrong pick, I thought Winnipeg would beat the Hamilton. After a 6-6 first half score and an interception return for a touchdown by Winnipeg, this looked very possible. Then Winnipeg reject Kevin Glenn comes in against his former team and lights it up! Definitely an unpredictable week three. I think many teams in the CFL were sharing my disappointment when it came to week three. The Edmonton Eskimos were lit up by Jarious Jackson and the Lions at home, allowing passing touchdown after passing touchdown. Saskatchewan also felt Edmonton's pain, as they fumbled and bumbled to an agonizing loss to the Montreal Alouettes. And the Argos lost badly to the Toronto Argonauts, making fans wonder if the team is for real after all. Prediction Time Thursday July 23rd Montreal's first game against the east this year sees them hosting the underdog Hamilton Tiger Cats. In a supposed battle of the titans last week against the Riders, Montreal proved they are the top dogs in the league. Hamilton on the other hand, continued their impressive early start to the season by beating the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. Pride and first place will be on the line in this bitter Eastern battle. Montreal's Keys to the Game: AC Throw and AC Run: Really two of the biggest threats for the Alouettes may in fact be league leading running back Avon Cobourne and Anthony Calvillo. We saw last week how effective Cobourne really is running the ball, and Montreal should continue to call his number last week. If Cobourne struggles, Anthony Calvillo will have to set the offense back on course. Take Care of the Ball: One of the big reasons that Montreal struggled against Saskatchewan in the first half was that they didn't take care of the ball. Careless fumbles led to a lot of missed opportunities. Hamilton is known to pounce on your mistakes this season, and they will be eager to get a momentum changing turnover. Put the Pressure On: Whether it be Keving\ Glenn, or Quinton Porter behind center, pressure will be the key to stopping Hamilton's offense. Hamilton has developed a good receiving core this year with Chris Davis, Prechae Rodriquez and Dave Stala, so it will be key to not allow Hamilton's quarterback time to get the ball to these playmakers. Hamilton's Keys to the Game: Run Cobb Run: Montreal loves to put the pressure on opposing offenses, so Hamilton should go to DeAndra Cobb early and often. Running is a great way to counter the blitz, and if it successful, it will open up the passing game where stars like Rodriquez and Davis can take over. Minimize Mistakes: Whether it be a missed tackle that leads to a long gain, or a turnover that leads to points, Hamilton can't afford any mistakes against Montreal. Montreal is so good that if you give them a chance, they will bury you. Don't Sit Back: Since Anthony Calvillo and Montreal's offense can hurt a team in so many, it might be tempting to sit back and not let any big plays go down. Hamilton however needs to be aggressive, blitzing and attacking Anthony Calvillo. If Calvillo has time, he will pick Hamilton apart. Both Hamilton and Montreal have proven to be very good football teams this year. Montreal has been pretty dominate in every game, though they showed some weakness against the Rides. Hamilton is riding a high following two straight wins, and they will play hard for a chance at first place. Montreal however is just to good. If Hamilton is indeed the Cinderella team this year, then Montreal is the big orge who will stomp on Cinderella. My Pick: Montreal Friday July 24th In another heated eastern rivalry, the Argos and Bombers will look to shake off last weeks losses and come up with a huge win. Winnipeg lost against the Hamilton Tiger Cats thanks to their old friend Kevin Glenn, and Toronto got stamped by Calgary. Winnipeg's Keys to the Game: Put up Points: As obvious as it sounds, Winnipeg needs to score points to win the game. Winnipeg only put up 13 points last season, six of those on an interception return for a touchdown. Mike Kelly needs to prepare a better game plan, and Stefan Lefors needs to be sharper. Run it Down Their Throats: Giles and Reid form one of the best running back combos in the league. Reid has a lot of explosiveness and Giles is very shifty. Toronto has some holes in their defense, and Winnipeg needs to wear them out with the running game. Shut Down Robertson: We saw what happened last week when Jamal Robertson was shut down. Toronto became one dimensional. Winnipeg has a good front seven and they will need to focus on stopping Toronto's running game, forcing Kerry Joseph to throw the ball all day long. Toronto's Keys to the Game: Protect Joseph: Kerry Joseph is a very mobile quarterback, but he needs protection from his offensive line. Calgary got a lot of pressure on Joseph which forced him off his game. Joseph is best when he has time to set his feet and get in to his throw. Establish a Running Game: When Jamal Robertson gets going, Toronto is usually very successful on offense. Rob Murphy, Dominic Picard and the rest of the line need to get a good push and spring holes for Jamal Robertson. Stop the Run, Win the Game: So far, Winnipeg hasn't had a ton of success throwing the ball. They have relied a lot on the run to win football games, and if Toronto could contain Fred Reid, they could win the game. Winnipeg is always a better team at home. Stefan Lefors plays better and the crowd is behind them. Toronto has benched Arland Bruce for the game, taking away a big playmaker for their team. It is hard to have much faith in the Argos, especially with a big playmaker like Bruce out of the line-up. Winnipeg might not have the advantage of knowing Toronto's plays in advance, but they should still do well. My Pick: Winnipeg *Game of the Week* Two western teams fresh off big victories will square off in BC, as the Lions host the Calgary Stampeders. Jarious Jackson was the story for the Lions in week three, as he was came in for the injured Buck Pierce and helped romp the Eskimos. Calgary finally got back to their winning ways against the Argonauts. Always a bitter rivalry, this game should prove to be one of the best this week. BC's Keys to the Game: Air it Out: BC needs to continue to air the ball out this week. With talented receivers such as Paris Jackson and Geroy Simon, the Lions have all the talent they need. Calgary's secondary is still young and inexperienced, and BC could get some big plays. Change it Up: As mentioned, Calgary's defense is young and the Lions should take advantage of this. BC should use a lot of misdirection plays that could catch Calgary off guard and spring BC for some big gains. Make Calgary Settle for Short Gains: Calgary went to the short passing game against Toronto last week and it worked effectively. Still, BC would be smart to let Calgary settle for these short plays because the more they do, the more chance there will be for them to make a mistake. If BC plays to close to Calgary's receivers, players like Keynon Rambo could burn them deep. Calgary's Keys to the Game: Avoid Turnovers: BC has a ball hawking secondary who loves to get interceptions. Burris needs to make smart throws and avoid turning the ball over. Keep on Eye on BC's Big Guns: Paris Jackson and Geroy Simon are both talented recievers, and they both killed the Eskimos last week. If Calgary loses track of either of these receivers in coverage, they could burn them for a big play. Both Calgary and BC are coming of big wins. However, it appears that Jarious Jackson, the man who orchestrated the win for BC won't be starting. Instead inconsistent Buck Pierece will get the start. I think this is a mistake personally, and it will swing things in Calgary's favour. My Pick: Calgary Saturday July 25th Saskatchewan's Keys to the Game: Give Cates the Ball: Wes Cates returned last week but he was a bit rusty. With another week of practice in, Cates should be ready to go and the Riders should give him the ball. Cates always has success against the Eskimos. Take Care of the Ball: The Riders cannot turn the ball over! It seems that the Riders have been very successful this season except for when they turn the ball over. The thing is, most of these turnovers have been fumbles, which shouldn't be happening. Where's Clermont: The Rider have neglected to use Jason Clermont this season. Clermont is perfect for catching short passes and turning them into big gainers. Edmonton's Keys to the Game: Protect Ray: Rick Ray has struggled during the season, but he hasn't gotten any help from the offensive line. The o-line needs to give Ricky Ray time to get the ball out to his playmakers. Run the Ball: The Eskimos have failed to run the ball at all this season. Saskatchewan is a bit weak against the running game, and Edmonton could have success in the game if they develop a running game. Put Pressure on Durant: We all saw last week that Darian Durant isn't good when he pressure on him. Edmonton's defensive line has been there bright spot this season, and they should try to create as much pressure as they can against the Riders. With plenty of former Riders returning to Mosaic Stadium, it should be a heated atmosphere. The Riders crowd is always loud and should cause problems for the Eskimos on offense. Ricky Ray always has the potential to have a big game, but the Eskimos are struggling a lot right now, and the Riders are still playing very well this season. My Pick: Saskatchewan
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CFL Recap Week Three: Ray Can't Do it Himself - 20/07/2009 |
In perhaps one of the more shocking outcomes in week three, the Edmonton Eskimos were humiliated 40-22 at home by the BC Lions. A few things have become evident about the Edmonton Eskimos after their latest defeat: their secondary needs some improvement, and their offense hasn't been able to engineer much of anything through the first three weeks. The most surprising thing about the loss in my opinion was the blame that was placed on quarterback Ricky Ray following the loss. Fans booed Ricky Ray during the contest, criticized him after the game, and a few sportswriters and fans have even suggested it is time for a change at the quarterback position. What Edmonton fans needs to realize is the fact that Ricky Ray's play isn't the Eskimos problem right now, it is the rest of the team. Ricky Ray is undeniably a great quarterback, but he still needs to have some talent around him to succeed. There has been added pressure on Ricky Ray all season thanks to the lack of a running game in Edmonton. Failing to develop any sort of a running game in the first two weeks of a season, the Eskimos never really tried to develop a running game against the BC Lions. And then there is the offensive line. Not only has the line struggled in the run game, but they have failed to provide protection to Rick Ray in the pass game. Teams are averaging three sacks a game against the Edmonton Eskimos, which means that a lot of pressure is being placed on Ricky Ray. Then there is the receiving core. I have said it before, but the loss of Kelly Campbell has really affected the Edmonton Eskimos. Campbell was the deep threat that complimented a bunch of mid range threats the Eskimos had. Without him, the Eskimos have been very conservative in the passing game. Maurice Mann has been having a surprisingly good season, but Kamau Peterson and Andrew Nowacki have been failing to stretch the defense vertically. Fred Stamps has had a disappointing season so well. Throw in the recent struggles of the Eskimos defensive secondary, and it really goes to show that Ricky Ray perhaps shouldn't be the man taking the heat. Ray has definitely made some mistakes this season. However, the man who has thrown for a career 28,218 yards and 156 touchdown passes while leading the Eskimos to two Grey Cup victories, doesn't deserve the heat he has been taking. Ray can only so much himself. Ray is a prime time player, and almost every fan of the CFL would like Ricky Ray on their team. If Eskimos fans would rather go to veteran quarterback Jason Maas, then they can go ahead. I for one, would welcome Ricky Ray on to my team with open arms. Other News and Notes From Week Three We're Going to Jackson: The situation appeared dire for the BC Lions. Buck Pierce had been injured after taking a nasty hit. The outlook quickly brightened for Lions fans, as Jarious Jackson entered the game, and on his first pass hit Geroy Simon on a deep pass that set the Lions up for an easy touchdown. Jackson had a masterful night, finishing with 362 yards and four touchdown passes. Jackson had help from his star receivers, as Geroy Simon two touchdowns and 122 yards receiving and Paris Jackson had one touchdown catch and 126 yards receiving. ' That's More Like It: In Calgary's 44-9 spanking over the Toronto Argonauts, fans kind of got a feeling that things were back to normal. The Argonauts struggled like they were expected to this season, and Calgary played well like they did in last season's Grey Cup run. Calgary didn't really develop a solid running game, but Henry Burris threw for 348 yards. Kerry Joseph had 306 yards for the Argonauts, but had two interceptions. Jamal Robertson didn't get anything going for Toronto. On Top of the World: Following their 43-10 victory over the Saskatchewan Roughriders, the Montreal Alouettes cemented themselves as the best team in the league right now. It wasn't a pretty game from start to finish, but Montreal took advantage of a lot of timely Saskatchewan turnovers and penalties. Avon Cobourne had a great game rushing for 145 yards and two touchdowns. Milestones in Saskatchewan: There were a few milestones in the Saskatchewan-Montreal affair. Roughrider receiver Andy Fantuz breached the 2,000 yard mark for his career early in the contest. But the bigger news came from Alouettes quarterback Anthony Calvillo. Calvillo's two touchdown passes moved him up to 333 and into a tie with Ron Lancaster for second on the all-time list. Congratulations are due to both Anthony Calvillo and Andy Fantuz on their accomplishments. Glenn Get His Revenge: The CFL has been all about revenge this season. The latest incident saw former Bomber's quarterback Kevin Glenn lead the Hamilton Tiger Cats over the Winnipeg Blue Bombers 25-13. Glenn came in to replace Quinton Porter in the second half and threw two crucial touchdown passes. Glenn had some help from receiver Chris Davis, who had 122 yards receiving and one touchdown pass. Ouch: Stefan Lefors only threw for 99 yards in Winnipeg's loss to the Hamilton Tiger Cats. Lefors appeared to be a bit injured in the game and was replaced by Bryan Randall with six minutes left in the game. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Power Rankings: Week Three 1) Montreal Alouettes 3-0 (LW:1)
2) Saskatchewan Roughriders 2-1 (LW:2)
3) Hamilton Tiger Cats (LW:5)
4) BC Lions 1-2 (LW:8)
5) Winnipeg Blue Bombers 1-2 (LW:4)
6) Calgary Stampeders 1-2 (LW:7)
7) Toronto Argonauts 1-2 (LW:3)
8) Edmonton Eskimos (LW:6)
Biggest Rise: BC +4 Check back twice a week for preview and recaps from the CFL. Also, check back every couple of weeks for a look at who is winning the race for the MOP award.
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CFL Preview Week Three: Expect the Unexpected - 14/07/2009 |
CFL Preview Week Three: Expect the Unexpected There were a few sure things fans of the CFL were expecting heading into the season. They were expecting the Montreal Alouettes to be one of the dominant teams in the Eastern Division. Teams like Hamilton and Winnipeg were expected to struggle greatly, and even the BC Lions were expected to enter a rebuilding year. In week one of the 2009 season, the script was followed nicely. Montreal handled the defending Grey Cup champions easily, Hamilton and Winnipeg both struggled and the BC Lions also lost. In week two, there were a few surprises. Fans were expecting Montreal to beat the Eskimos, but the fact that Montreal put up 50 points was shocking. In a pair of upsets, the Hamilton Tiger Cats outlasted the BC Lions and the Winnipeg Blue Bombers handled the Calgary Stampeders. If week two taught us anything, it is that we should expect the unexpected. There are a number of intriguing match-ups this week, that shou bvld make for some difficult picks. Prediction Time Thursday July 16th In a battle of two struggling teams, the beleaguered Lions will stagger into Edmonton to take on the Eskimos. The 0-2 Lions have already lost two games they could have potentially won this season, and will look to take out their anger on the Eskimos. Edmonton on the other hand is 1-1, but is likely still reeling from their 50-16 defeat at the hands of the Alouettes. Edmonton has been having a lot of problems on the offensive side of the ball, and they will need to be more productive if they hope to beat the Lions. The running game can be an important part of the offense, and Edmonton's has struggled all year long. Whether it be Arkee Whitlock or Calvin McCarty, the Eskimos o-line needs to do a better job blocking. In the passing game, Edmonton needs to try and go deep. They tried to stretch the Alouettes defense on a few plays, but struggled. Unfortunately for Edmonton they are playing against a solid secondary. On defense, Edmonton needs to try and throw Buck Pierce off of his game by applying pressure. When Pierce to throw the ball he can make good reads. But when he is pressured he struggles. BC should also look to utilize the running game. Martel Mallet has improved each game, and if BC can get him going their offense could have success. More importantly, Buck Pierce and the rest of the offense need to make smart decisions and take care of the football. On defense, the Lions should put the pressure on Ricky Ray. The "immortal" Ray has struggled this year at times, largely due to pressure from the opposing defense. It is always hard to win in Edmonton, but the Eskimos are struggling a lot right now. Though the Lions are 0-2, they have played decently in their first two games. Edmonton is doing alright on defense, but they are struggling greatly on offense. If Edmonton can't score a lot of points, Buck Pierce, Geroy Simon and the rest of the Lions just may steal the show. My Pick: BC Friday July 17th Both the Toronto Argonauts and Calgary Stampeders are coming off losses, but these two teams are heading in opposite directions. The defending champs are 0-2 on the season, and have looked nothing like the team who won the Grey Cup. The Argos on the other hand, have looked solid like a team on the rise. Under the guidance of Bart Andrus, the Argos currently hold a 1-1 record. Calgary will have a chance at home this week to turn their season around as the welcome Toronto into town. Calgary has been struggling in all phases of the game. For the Stampeders to improve, they will need to go back to the basics. On offense, the Stamps need to work at establishing the run with Joffrey Reynolds. Last year, Reynolds led the league in rushing and the Stamps had one of the best records in the league. In both games this year they have failed to get him going. Henry Burris also needs to play better if Calgary hopes to best Toronto. Burris threw three more interceptions last week. Burris needs to go back to what worked for him last season and start living up to his contract. On defense, the Stampeders will need to focus on stopping the run. Jamal Robertson has been nearly unstoppable for the Argonauts this season. When Saskatchewan started to shut down Robertson, the Argos offense struggled. On defense, Toronto need to be aggressive, but not take bad penalties like they did against the Riders. If Toronto can shut down Joffrey Reynolds, it will make the Stampeders one dimensional on offense. Calgary has failed to live up to expectations so far this season. If I had looked at the schedule before the season had started, I would have never picked Toronto to win this game. But this isn't the Calgary team that won the Grey Cup, and this isn't the Toronto team that only won four games last season. My Pick: Toronto
Saturday July 18th In a battle of the titans, the 2-0 Saskatchewan Roughriders will face the 2-0 Montreal Alouettes. Montreal put is averaging 45 points a game this season, and Saskatchewan broke out for 46 points last week. Darian Durant cut down on the turnovers against Toronto, and the Rider offense was effective. Avoiding turnovers will be crucial against the Montreal Alouettes, as they will pounce on any mistake. Saskatchewan should try to develop the run with running back Hugh Charles, who had a pair of touchdown and showed a wicked back-flip against the Toronto Argonauts. The Riders should also look to big time targets Andy Fantuz and Weston Dressler. On defense, the Riders need to try and disrupt Anthony Calvillo. Calvillo isn't often sacked, but if the Riders can get some pressure on him, it could put him off his game. If Montreal will likely use a balanced attack on offense like they've been doing so far. Calvillo will spread the ball around to multiple players and use Avon Coburne when they need to, The best way to stop Sasktchewan is to put pressure on Darian Durant, but the young offensive line has been giving him a lot of protection. Montreal will also need to key on slot backs Andy Fantuz and Weston Dressler. My Pick: Saskatchewan (Tough Call) Game Two: Hamilton Tiger Cats vs. Winnipeg Blue Bombers Fan or not, you had to be happy for the Hamilton Tiger Cats last week, as they not only won a game, they won a game on the road in a different time zone. Winnipeg also has something to cheer about, as they dethroned the defending Grey Cup Champions on the road. Both teams will look to continue their success and the winner will move up in the Eastern Division. Hamilton got a much better effort out of Quinton Porter in week two, and new running back DeAndra Cobbs. They will need a continued effort from both of these players in week three. Hamilton needs to utilize their stars on offense. Quinton Porter needs to manage the game for Hamilton. Also expect a healthy dose of DeAndra Cobbs and Prechae Rodriquez. On defense, Hamilton needs to focus first most on the running game. Fred Reid and Lavaerus Giles have been solid on the ground for the Bombers, and shutting them down will put pressure on Stefan Lefors. On defense, Winnipeg needs to continue to be aggressive. They need to flow to the ball prevent the Tiger Cats from getting a big play. This is really a hard game to predict, as both teams were so bad in week one and good in week two. There will definitely be a lot on the line as both teams play in the East. The game really could go anyway, but I am always hesitant to pick the Tiger Cats. My Pick: Winnipeg (Another Tough Call) My Record: 5-3 (63%) |
CFL Recap Week Two: A long time ago in a galaxy far far away… - 12/07/2009 |
A long time ago in a galaxy far far away… the Western Division reigned supreme over the weaklings in the East Division. For four years in a row, teams from the West claimed the coveted Grey Cup over the East and teams from the West were so good they often crossed over to the East.
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CFL Preview Week Two: Forging an Identity - 09/07/2009 |
Week one of the CFL season has come and gone, and with it, we have begun to learn a bit more about each team. Some teams are happy with the first impression they've made so far. Others are hoping that they just had the opening day jitters. Take the Hamilton Tiger Cats for example. They opened the season with yet another disappointing loss, this one at the hands of the Toronto Argonauts. Hamilton needs to win this week to show fans that they aren't the same Tiger Cats of old. On the flip side, there are teams like the Toronto Argonauts and Saskatchewan Roughriders, out to prove that their week one wins weren't a fluke. A win in week two would make a strong case for either of these teams. When week two comes to a close, we may get a better idea about how each team will fare in the upcoming season. Games like this early in the season are crucial for teams looking to build a strong identity. Some teams will fall in a hole early at 0-2, some will strike even and 1-1, and others will sit on their throne at 2-0. Last week, I went 3-1 with my predictions, and this week I feel more confident. In fact, I would go as far as to guarantee I will be flawless this week. Prediction Time Thursday July 9th In a battle of two 1-0 clubs, the winner of this game may sit alone atop the standings in their division. More so, this game will feature two of the most dangerous quarterbacks in the league. The veteran gunslinger Anthony Calvillo will look to continue his early season success. On the other side, Ricky Ray will look to play a little better than in week one, where he was in no means flawless. Montreal ran over the Calgary Stampeders in their first game, using both the running and passing game effectively. The Als scored 17 unanswered points to start of the game. So how can Edmonton hope to stop Montreal on offense? Luckily for Edmonton, they did look very impressive on defense in week one, especially there front seven. They generated a lot of sacks and tackles in the backfield against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. Usually, a defense tries to focus on one area of the opposing offense, but this would be a mistake against the Als. Edmonton needs to focus on playing smart all around defense. They need to flow to Avon Cobourne whenever he runs the ball and gang tackle him. When Anthony Calvillo drops back to throw, Edmonton needs to generate pressure to throw the veteran pivot off of his game. Unfortunately, this is easier said than done. Without Jesse Lumsden carrying the ball, the Eskimos will need to look to new means on the ground. Whether it be Arkee Whitlock or Calvin McCarty. If the Eskimos are one-dimensional on offense they will struggle. Montreal on the other hand, needs to continue what they've been doing on offense… score points in bunches. The only flaw in Montreal's offense last week was that they lost some of their aggression as the game progressed. On defense, Montreal should try and throw Ricky Ray off his game. If Montreal can force Ray to make some mistakes, it could mess up Edmonton's offense. Both teams desperately will want to go to 2-0, but there a number of things going against the Eskimos in this game,. They are playing away from home against one of the hottest teams in the CFL. Throw in the question marks in their running game, and the odds don't seem to favour the Eskimos this week. My Pick: Montreal Friday July 10th Calgary's "Grey Cup" part last week was spoiled by the visiting Montreal Alouettes. Montreal simply played with more intensity than the defending champs. The only thing worse for the Stampeders than losing at home in week one, would be falling to 0-2. The "New Look" Bombers weren't awful in week one. They only lost by two points to the Edmonton Eskimos, but the Bombers definitely need to improve their effort if they hope to stick with the Stampeders. If Calgary hopes to avoid falling to 0-2, they will need to improve on offense. Calgary failed to develop a running game last week and their passing game was far from stellar. If it wouldn't have been for the solid play by Titus Ryan and the rest of the special teams, Calgary wouldn't have had a chance in week one. Establishing Joffrey Reynolds should be the biggest priority for the Stamps on offense. Every time Reynolds can burst out for a first down, it will put less pressure on Henry Burris. And of course, Calgary needs to take care of the ball. On defense, Calgary should key on Bomber's running back Fred Reid. Reid was solid in week one and could be a game changer for the Bombers. They should also look to put pressure on Stefan Lefors. Winnipeg showed a lot of creativity in their play calling in week one. This is fine, as long as they are able to move the ball consistently. The Bombers offense struggled in week one. To improve their offense, the Bombers need to pound the ball with Fred Reid, who had success in week one. Success in the ground will take pressure off of Stefan Lefors. Montreal had a lot of success against the Stampeders in week one when they got pressure on Henry Burris, and the Bombers should look to continue this trend. While it would appear that the Stampders will win this game easily, people also said the same thing about the Bombers-Eskimos game last week, yet it was a close one. Winnipeg is at home and Calgary struggled in week one. However, they were playing a tough Montreal team, and I have to have some faith in the defending champs. My Pick: Calgary Game Two: BC Lions vs. Hamilton Tiger Cats The second game of the double header also features two more winless teams. In week one, BC suffered a lot of turnovers in their loss against the Saskatchewan Roughriders where as the Hamilton Tiger Cats simply were out played by the Toronto Argonauts. Both teams will look to avoid going 0-2. I liked what I saw out of Lions running back Martel Mallet. Mallet ran the ball hard against the Saskatchewan Roughriders, and the Lions should continue to use him against the Hamilton Tiger Cats. The offensive line needs to protect Buck Pierce better this week, so he has a chance to get the ball out to Paris Jackson and Geroy Simon. On defense, BC should key on Hamilton's biggest star, Prechae Rodriquez. Hamilton couldn't get the job done at home, and now they will have to travel to the confines of BC Place. Quinton Porter had some success for the Tabbies in week one, but he will need to be better in week two. Hamilton should try to utilize the running game against the Lions. Much like the Riders got pressure on Buck Pierce in week one, the Tiger Cats should also try to throw Pierce off of his game. Both teams will be desperate to get their first win of the season. Hamilton needs to give the fans something to cheer about. Unfortunately, it will be tough to get a win at BC. The Lions struggle last week against a tough Riders defense, but should find succes against the Hamilton Tiger Cats My Pick: BC Saturday July 11th The Saturday tilt between the Argos and Riders is intriguing enough to be this weeks game of the week. Both teams will hope to improve to 2-0, Kerry Joseph will face his former team once again, and the Riders will travel to the place where they won the Grey Cup in 2007 and play against the quarterback who got them there. In week one, the only flaw in the Riders performance was the turnovers. Darian Durant showed that he has the potential to be the Riders starting quarterback. He moved the ball effectively when he didn't turn it over. Against the Argos, the Riders will need to take care of the football. The offensive line will also need to give Darian Durant protection so he can get the ball out to his playmakers. Hugh Charles also showed success on the ground last week and the Riders would be smart to use him often. On defense, the riders need to contain Kerry Joseph, who can always hurt a team with his legs. They will also need to keep an eye on player of the week Jamal Robertson. Robertson ran wild against the Hamilton Tiger Cats in week one. Saskatchewan's defense generated a lot of pressure against the Lions, and should continue to do so against the Argos. Toronto executed their offense effectively in week one, and they didn't even have to rely on Kerry Joseph running the ball. Toronto should continue to pound the ball with running back Jamal Robertson. On defense, Toronto needs to put pressure on Darian Durant. We saw last week that if Darian Durant has pressure on him, he may make mistakes. This could lead to turnovers. Both teams had success in week one. Toronto was merely flawless and Saskatchewan was stellar besides their turnovers. Toronto may feel confident at home this week, but they need to realize they aren't playing against the Tiger Cats any more. My Pick: Saskatchewan My Record 3-1 (75%) |
CFL Recap Week One: The Good, The Bad and The Ugly - 05/07/2009 |
The first week of a new CFL season is in the books… doesn't it feel good to be watching football again? Speaking about feeling good, I went 3-1 with my predictions this week. My only wrong pick? Hamilton over Toronto. I don't feel bad about picking the lowly Tiger Cats to beat the Argonauts, because Hamilton not only improved over the off-season, but they also handled the Argos quite well last season. Overall it was an intriguing opening week in the CFL. Their was an exciting Grey Cup rematch, a Toronto Argonauts playing dead, and a bitter western rivalry decided in the last seconds of the game. What better way to further examine week one then by looking at "The Good, The Bad and The Ugly" of week one in the CFL: Saskatchewan's Defense: In the Roughriders 28-24 victory over the BC Lions, the Riders D took center stage. Gary Etecheverry's defense generated a lot of pressure on Buck Pierce, registering nine sacks. They were just as stellar in the secondary as they recorded three interceptions. They did give up 24 points, but seven of these were off an interception and on the rest BC was given great field position following Rider turnovers. Titus Ryan: The bright spot in Calgary's lose to the Montreal Alouettes? Titus Ryan. Ryan had a kick return touchdown, sparking the Calgary Stampeders. The rookie receiver also caught three passes for 44 yards. Bart Andrus: Give credit to Bart Andrus, he looks to have begun righting the sinking ship that has been the Toronto Argonauts. The Argos beat the Tiger Cats 30-17. Toronto looked well prepared for this contest. Kerry Joseph looked solid, throwing three touchdown passes, and Andrus used the running game effectively as Jamal Robertson rushed for 134 yards. Andrew Nowacki: Nowacki was the best receiver for the Eskimos in their 19-17 win over the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. He had seven catches for 79 yards and one touchdown. On a night when the Eskimos struggle to generate a lot of offense, Nowacki was a reliable option. Opening Day: Kudos to the schedule makers, who had the season start on Canada Day with a double header. You could just sense the atmosphere not matter where you were. The Bad Reffing in the Saskatchewan-BC Game: Witnessing the Riders- Lions game first hand, I was very disappointed with the reffing in the game. Now I am a Riders fan, but even I believe that there were some questionable calls on both sides. Calls that shouldn't have been made and calls that should have been made and weren't. It was definitely an off night for the referees. Hamilton's First Half Defense: It was disappointing that Hamilton allowed 30 points at home, it was that Hamilton's defense allowed 30 points in the first half! If Hamilton wouldn't have gotten off to such a bad start, they would have had a chance against Argonauts. Stefan Lefors: Though it was cool to see a left handed quarterback throw the ball, Lefors didn't produce for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. He completed less than 50 percent of his passes and only threw for 174 yards. Back to the drawing board in the Peg. Missed Opportunities: BC, Winnipeg and Calgary all had chances to tie or win their games near the end of regulation. BC's Ryan Grice-Mullen got behind the Riders db's and dropped a sure touchdown pass that would have won the game for the Lions in the dying seconds of the game. Calgary had marched the ball into Montreal's end of the field in the fourth quarter, when Chip Cox picked up a fumble and took it back for a touchdown, sealing the victory for the Als. Winnipeg lined up for a field goal that would tie the game against the Edmonton Eskimos. Alexis Serna missed a field goal that would have tied the game against the Edmonton Eskimos. The Ugly Turnovers: It was a bad week for turnovers. Almost every starting quarterback threw at least one interception and there were a number of punt blocks. This was especially true in the BC-Saskatchewan contest, where there were a combined 15 turnovers in the game. Injuries: Not only were there a number of players sitting out due to injuries, but a number of players fell to injury. Riders offensive lineman Belton Johnson fell to an injury, Lions running back Ian Smart was carted off the field, Jesse Lumsden re aggravated his shoulder injury against the Blue Bombers and even Toronto's kicker was injured in their game against the Tiger Cats. The Edmonton-Winnipeg Game: The Thursday night tilt simply stank! Both teams struggled to a 0-0 tie at half time and never really generated a lot off offense in a defensive struggle. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Power Rankings: Week One 1) Montreal Alouettes 1-0 (LW:0) 2) Toronto Argonauts 1-0 (LW:0) 3) Saskatchewan Roughrider 1-0 (LW:0) 4) Calgary Stampeders 0-1 (LW:0) 5) Edmonton Eskimos 1-0 (LW:0) 6) Winnipeg Blue Bombers 0-1 (LW:0) 7) BC Lions 0-1 (LW:0) 8) Hamilton Tiger Cats 0-1 (LW:0) Check back two times a week for preview and recaps from the CFL. Also, check back every couple of weeks for a look at who is winning the race for the MOP award. |
CFL Week One Preview: Calgary-Montreal Headlines Exciting Opening Week - 30/06/2009 |
With the CFL season started, tune in to CFL Buzz often for complete coverage. I will be coming out with two articles on the CFL per week during the regular season. In one, I will preview the games to come and offer my predictions and in the second, I will recap the games, hand out some awards and display power rankings.
Thursday July 2
Friday July 3
My Pick: Saskatchewan My Record: 0-0 |
CFL 2009 Season Preview: Calgary Stampeders - 30/06/2009 |
"It's a highly debated question among fans of the CFL, can the Calgary Stampeders repeat as Grey Cup Champions?" Henry Burris finally won the big game. In a picture perfect season, the Stampeders won the coveted Grey Cup over the Montreal Alouettes in Montreal. Things weren't always perfect for the Stampeders last season. The defense was highly inconsistent and the offense was off their games at time, but when it came down to the wire, the Stamps perform. The Stampeders survived against the BC Lions and used an all-around effort to defeat the Alouettes. The Stampeders also had a number of individual accolades last season. Joffrey Reynolds won the rushing title and Henry Burris was the Western nominee for Most Outstanding Player. Mike Labinjo was solid for the Stamps and kicker Sandro Deangellis was nominated as the Special Teams Player in the Year. The Stamps managed to keep their roster intact during the off-season, and should be posed for another run at the Grey Cup. Let's take a closer look at the Calgary Stampeders:
What's New? In the offseason, the Stamps focused on securing their own players rather than bringing in new talent. The Stamps managed secure some key players. The team finally reached a deal with star quarterback Henry Burris and slot back Nik Lewis, securing two of the teams veteran leaders. Punter Burt Dales, return man Markus Howell and defensive players Dwaine Carpenter and shut down corner Brandon Carpenter. The team also added a pair of receivers, Titus Ryan, Vincent Marshall and Cedric Thompson and Derrick Watson. In the Canadian Draft, the Stampeder's didn't have a lot of picks but ended up one of the winners of the draft. The team added solid linebacker Tristan Black, offensive lineman Steve Myddelton, coveted slot back Scott McHenry and defensive end Osie Ukwuoma in later rounds. When all was said and done, the Stamps retained their core players and their coaching staff.
Concerns The Stamps weren't flawless in their Grey Cup run last season and they won't be this season. In last nights preseason game, Henry Burris looked rusty and it may take him some time to adjust to the offense again. The main concern surrounding the Stampeders is their defense is their defense. Mike Labinjo should be solid once again wherever he lines up in the front seven, but the rest of the front seven is questionable. Calgary's secondary has improved but has been prone to giving up the big play. If Calgary's defense struggles it will put that much more pressure on their offense. And of course, will Calgary have the desire to repeat as the defending Grey Cup Champions? It hasn't happened in awhile.
Summary With head coach John Hufnagel, offensive coordinator George Cortez and coach Dave Dickenson, Calgary has developed a very solid football core. Just by watching them in preseason it is apparent that they have been working on a lot during the offseason. If Joffrey Reynolds experiences any kind of a drop off this season the team should have their replacement in Derrick Watson. Watson is a tough as nail, downhill runner. Henry Burris should once again have all of the tools he needs to run the offense and the defense should be decent. Calgary cruised to the top of the West last season and they may well again this year. But of course, as with any defending champion, whether or not Calgary has the desire to repeat as Grey Cup Champions. Defending Grey Cup Champions, that still has to sound good for a Stampeders fan. My Prediction: 12 wins, a first place finish and a home playoff game. Outstanding Player of the Year: Henry Burris
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CFL 2009 Season Preview: Saskatchewan Roughriders - 29/06/2009 |
"Durant, Bell or Jyles? Who will be the man to lead a talented Roughriders offense into battle?"
Major personnel moves, talks of a new stadium and a gm scandal made the offseason rather intriguing for Rider fans. What made the offseason longer for Rider fans was the disappointing end to the season. The Riders started the season with an impressive win streak but then quarterback Darian Durant succumbed to an injury. The Riders went out and acquired quarterback Michael Bishop from the Toronto Argonauts to replace Durant. The results, were disastrous to say the least. Bishop did throw for 2,224 yards with the Riders but he also threw 12 interceptions to seven touchdowns. Bishop looked spectacular at times but often had trouble taking care of the ball. His inconsistency came back to hurt the Riders as the team was defeated by the BC Lions in the Western Semi-Final. Heading into a new season, the Riders will look to get over the dissapointment of last season. Let's take a closer look at the Saskatchewan Roughriders: What's New? The Riders made the news in the offseason for all the wrong reasons. General Manager Eric Tillman was charged with Sexual Assault, news that shocked the Rider nation. Starting middle linebacker Maurice Lloyd signed with the Edmonton Eskimos during free agency, and outside linebacker Anton Mackenzie left for the BC Lions. Defensive coordinator Richie Hall finally got the head coaching job he'd been looking for with the Edmonton Eskimos. Gary Etchevarry takes over the Defensive Coordinator spot for the Roughriders despite having ambitions to be a head coach at the collegiate level. In a couple of somewhat surprising trades, the Riders dealt Kitwana Jones to the Edmonton Eskimos and former Grey Cup MOP James Johnson to the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. The team added veteran slot back and home-grown product Jason Clermont to the team, Saskatchewan also recruited a lot of players in the offseason, such as receiver Todd Blythe, running back Justin Beaver and defensive ends Joe Sykes and Mike Stadnyk. When it came to the CFL Draft, the Riders didn't have a lot of picks to work with. The team ended up picking local products Tamon George and Nick Hutchins. Concerns The Riders roster is filled with question marks. Who will step into the line backing core? Which quarterback will grab the starters reigns? And will the defense play at a high level without Richie Hall? Whether it was a crucial move or not, Maurice Lloyd was undoubtedly a huge part of the Riders defense last season. He was widely considered to be the second choice behind Cameron Wake to win the Defensive Player of the Year award. Mackenzie was not as flashy as Maurice Lloyd, but he was also just as successful. The Riders believe they have found their replacement linebackers in Renauld Williamns, Sam Olajabuto and Tad Kornegay, but these players are all unproven. And, whether it be Durant, Jyles, or Bell who starts for the Riders, all three will have to prove they can be consistent starters. Dalton Bell hasn't played in the CFL, Steven Jyles has been inconsistent, and Durant has only played a few games. And then there's the Gary Etchevarry. He likely has the smarts to be a defensive coordinator, but he has no where near the experience of a Richie Hall. Summary When all is said and done, the Saskatchewan Roughriders have a very talented roster. Despite a few turnovers, the roster that helped the Riders start 6-0 last season is in tact. Andy Fantuz and Weston Dressler look better than ever in training camp and will likely help ignite a potent Roughriders offense. Wes Cates should continue to be one of the most dominant running backs in the CFL. If one of Saskatchewan's quarterbacks pan out for them this season, they could have one of the better offense's in the league. On defense, the Riders always seem to step it up and a new defensive coordinator will likely not affect it that much. Once again their success on defense could depend on whether some new players step up. The Saskatchewan Roughriders already are facing a lot of adversity going into the season, and they are once again being labelled as underdogs. This shouldn't bother the team as they've bore this label for the past several seasons. If anything, the team seems to embrace their role as underdogs. With what appears to be a solid mood in the locker room, Saskatchewan should pose a challenge to any team in the West this season.
Outstanding Player of the Year: Wes Cates Jon H "This is our League" |
CFL 2009 Season Preview: Edmonton Eskimos - 29/06/2009 |
"After ending a two year playoff drought, "The City of Champions" will look to contend for the Grey Cup this season." Heading into the 2008 CFL season, the Edmonton Eskimos were looking for their first playoff berth in two seasons. A two-year playoff drought for "The City of Champions" had almost been unheard of in Edmonton. When all was said and done, Edmonton won 10 games and crossed over to the East Division. Edmonton pulled off a minor upset in the Eastern Semi-Final by beating the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. However, the Eskimos weren't able to beat the Montreal Alouettes in the Eastern Final. There were definitely a lot of positives to draw from the Eskimos season. Most importantly, the Eskimos ended their playoff drought, but they also got some great individual performances. Kamau Peterson continued his resurgence and had another successful season. Jason Goss was solid as well and the Eskimos began to develop a running game during the later parts of the season. Heading into 2009 with plenty of changes, what will the future hold for the Edmonton Eskimos? Let's take a closer look at the Edmonton Eskimos:
What's New? The Eskimos found a new head coach during the off-season. The team signed Saskatchewan Roughriders defensive coordinator Richie Hall. Hall comes to the Eskimos with an impressive resume as a defensive coordinator. With their new head coach under contract, Edmonton focused their attention on the heated free agency period. When the dust settled, the Eskimos made a lot of moves during free agency. The Eskimos acquired defensive end Kai Ellis in a trade with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, Jason Nugent in another trade with the Bombers, and Kitwana Jones in a trade with the Roughriders. They also signed safety Scott Gordon, offensive lineman Kyle Koch and running back Graeme Bell. Edmonton's big splash during free agency came when they added middle linebacker Maurice Lloyd and running back Jesse Lumsden. Lloyd, an all-star middle linebacker, has been one of the driving forces on Saskatchewan's defense for the last couple of seasons. Widely considered to be the second choice behind Cameron Wake to win the Defensive Player of the Year, the Eskimos will count on Lloyd to add some aggression to their defense. Jesse Lumsden will look to rejuvenate his career with the Edmonton Eskimos. The talented running back has never really been able to show his full potential because of injuries. When healthy however, Lumsden can be explosive. The Eskimos loss in the off-season was a fairly big one. Receiver Kelly Campbell left the team and signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Concerns Though he undoubtedly deserved a chance to be head coach, one has to wonder if he will be a good fit in Edmonton. Hall's success as a defensive coordinator has been amazing, but the situation is kind of reminiscent of when defensive coordinator Rich Stubler was promoted to the head coach of the Toronto Argonauts. Stubler had also been successful as a defensive coordinator but struggled greatly as a head coach and was fired during the season. Edmonton's defense also has its question marks. Maurice Lloyd should have a huge impact on the Eskimos defense as well as Kitwana Jones, but the rest of the front seven hasn't really proved a lot. Edmonton's defense hindered them last season and it may continue to do so this year. And, though the Eskimos offense has been successful in recent seasons, they may in fact take a step back this season. Kelly Campbell's departure has left a void in the receiving core and the team still lacks a proven running back. Calvin McCarty has never been consistent for a whole season and Jesse Lumsden is injury prone.
Summary Edmonton has finally started to improve after missing the playoffs for two years in a row, but will it be enough in a tough Western Division? Calgary and Saskatchewan will be tough opponents, and Edmonton may not have enough talent on their roster to beat them. If there is one constant the Eskimos have going into the season, it's Ricky Ray. Ricky Ray always put up high numbers and will definitely give the Eskimos a shot to compete. The Eskimos will be counting on players like Jess Lumsden, Kamau Peterson and Maurice Lloyd to step up. Edmonton should be able to finish higher in the standings then the revamped BC Lions, but they may have to settle for third place in a tough Western Division.
My Prediction: 6-9 wins, a third place finish in the Western Division and a playoff berth. Outstanding Player of the Year: Ricky Ray Jon H "This is our League" |
CFL 2009 Season Preview: BC Lions - 26/06/2009 |
| "No matter how many Wally Buono and the Lions try to spin it, the team lost a lot of key players during the off-season. This has led the casual fan to wonder if the Lions will be in rebuilding mode this season." It seemed like the BC Lions were good, but never great last season. The team had its highlights, and got some great individual performances by some key players. Defensive end Cameron Wake had a monster year with 23 sacks, running back Stefan Logan had a break out season with 889 yards and Geroy Simon and Paris Jackson continued their solid play in the receiving core. But, when all was sad and done, these players could not lead the Lions to a Grey Cup appearance. The Lions, who lost out on a home playoff game in the last game of the season, traveled to Saskatchewan for the Western Semi-Final. BC shocked Saskatchewan and advanced to the Western Final against the Calgary Stampeders. Despite playing a good game against the Stampeders, the Lions were defeated. For many reasons, you could say the Lions season was good but never great, largely due to the fact that whenever they took a step forward, they seemed to take another one back. The Lions traveled to a hostile Mosaic Stadium in the playoffs and beat the Roughriders, yet they couldn't beat the Stampeders in the last game of the season when the Stamps were resting their starters. Heading to the off-season, one had to believe the Lions would look to add a few players to help push their team over the top, but instead the team lost a lot of players to free agency. All of this makes one wonder what things will be like in BC this season. Let's take a closer look at the BC Lions: What's New? The Lions off-season didn't exactly start the way they wanted. In a move that was disappointing, yet not unexpected, Defensive Player of the Year Cameron Wake left the Lions and joined the NFL. The Miami Dolphins signed Wake to a four year contract. Wake was not the only defensive player to leave the Lions. Linebacker Jamall Johnson joined the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and linebacker Jason Pottinger was traded to the Toronto Argonauts. BC also released veteran linebacker Otis Floyd. On the offensive side of the ball, the Lions lost the bidding war for perennial lineman Rob Murphy, who was signed by the Toronto Argonauts. The team also released slot back Jason Clermont. Perhaps the biggest loss on the offensive side was running back Stefan Logan, who was signed by the Pittsburgh Steelers. Logan would have been the starting running back for the Lions. To counter balance some of the losses, the Lions added a few players during free agency. The team's best pick up was Saskatchewan linebacker Anton Mackenzie, who was part of Saskatchewan's dominant line backing core. Defensive end Nautyn McKay-Loescher was also added as a replacement for Cameron Wake. The Lions did manage to re-sign a lot of their key players, such as Paris Jackson, Aaron Hunt and Baron Miles. After the Jason Pottinger trade, the Lions held three first round picks going into the CFL Draft. The Lions used these picks to select running back Jamall Lee, linebacker James Yurichuk and slot back Matt Carter. Concerns How can the Lions hope to replace Cameron Wake and his 23 sack performance? With oft injured defensive end Nautyn McKay-Loescher? Wake was a key force on BC's defensive last season, and his aggression struck fear in the hearts of opposing offenses. Losing Cameron Wake to the NFL will definitely weaken the Lions defense. BC's linebacking core also has huge question marks. The team lost Jamall Johnson, released Otis Floyd and traded Jason Pottinger away. The team did add Anton Mackenzie, but what other options do they have? It looks like Mackenzie, and Javier Glatt are the only proven options available. Javier Glatt is a good linebacker, but he has never really been a great one. On offense, the Lions running game may be a weak point. Starting running back Stefan Logan is gone and offensive lineman Rob Murphy left for Toronto. The lack of a running game will put more pressure on Lions starter Buck Pierce. Besides Paris Jackson and Geroy Simon in the receiver core, Pierce doesn't have any other solid options to throw the ball to. When it comes right down to it, there are a lot of question marks in BC with few answers. Summary Few can argue that Wally Buono has been a successful coach in his career, and with him at the helm, the Lions always have a chance. But will all the loses in the off-season, one has to wonder if BC will slide down the standings this season. The team still has talent. Paris Jackson looks to be a rising star in the league and Geroy Simon is always reliable. On defense, the team still has a stellar secondary and all-star defensive tackle Aaron Hunt. Unfortunately for the Lions, they lost more players then they gained in the off-season. Whether or not the Lions have success could come down to a few things. Will they find a solid running back? Can Buck Pierce be a consistent starter? And will the defense take a huge step back after losing Cameron Wake? Another thing to keep in mind is the weak East division. Last season the Eskimos crossed over to the East and I wouldn't be too surprised to see the Lions do the same this season. But don't expect the team to finish high in the West. Because, though Wally Buono may not want to admit it, the Lions are in a rebuilding year this season. My Prediction: Around 6-8 wins, a fourth place finish in the West and a possible crossover playoff berth in the East. Outstanding Player of the Year: Paris Jackson Jon H "This is our League" |
CFL 2009 Season Preview: Hamilton Tigercats - 25/06/2009 |
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"The losing stops now!"
It is not secret, for the last several season, the Hamilton Tiger Cats have been the "Bad News Bears" of the Canadian Football League. Poor playing, poor management and poor coaching have led the Tiger Cats into a downward spiral. A playoff birth in 2004 has been the only shed of light on the Tiger Cats franchise in some while. Last season, Hamilton had expectations of turning their fortunes around. While they did have some bright spots in their season, when all was said and done Hamilton finished with only three wins and last place once again. How can a team that has been in several rebuilding years in a row continue to be the laughing stock of the league? How can Hamilton build off of a three win season? Though they did only win three games, Hamilton did learn a few things during the season. First off, they may finally have their starting quarterback in Quinton Porter. Porter showed promise last season and will only improve with more experience under his belt. Hamilton's management has given a renewed effort to improving the team through free agency, focusing more on the offensive line than in the past. And of course, the Tiger Cats have explosive running back Kenton Keith. While he has not seen the playing field in a while, there is always a chance he will do this. But, until these players all perform at a high level, and Hamilton starts winning ball games, it is all speculation. Let's take a closer look at the Hamilton Tiger Cats: What's New? After Marcel Bellefeuille had taken over as head coach for Charlie Taafe during the season, people wondered if Bellefeuille would retain his job in the off-season. The Tiger Cats didn't wait long into the off-season, signing Bellefeuille to an extension. With the coaching staff in place, Hamilton could focus on improving their team through free agency. Hamilton had a number of holes to fill going into a loaded free agency class. Hamilton had been rumoured to be involved in a lot of big moves, including talks surrounding prized free agent offensive lineman Rob Murphy. In the end the Argonauts picked up Murphy, but the Tiger Cats did find their own offensive lineman in Alexandre Gauthier. Gauthier has been a solid tackle for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers for the last couple of seasons. Later in the off-season, Hamilton added Dan Goodspeed through a three way trade. The acquisitions of Goodspeed and Gauthier, plus lineman Simon Rottier, who the team drafted first overall, should give the Tabbies some stability on the offensive line. On the defensive side of the ball, Hamilton added defensive tackle Matt Kirk, defensive end Brandon Guillory and linebacker Otis Floyd. Perhaps more importantly, the Tiger Cats re-signed one of their most promising defensive players in Chris Thompson. The Tabbies also added veteran quarterback Kevin Glenn from the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. Glenn is expected to challenge Quinton Porter and provide leadership. Hamilton didn't suffer too many losses during the off-season, but did lose running back Jesse Lumdsen to the Eskimos and quarterback Richie Williams to the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. Concerns When you have been bad for so long like Hamilton has, there are always going to be questions mark heading into a new season. Hamilton looks to have a promising roster on paper, but that doesn't mean they will be successful. If young quarterback Quinton Porter experiences a drop off this season, Hamilton will have to hope that Kevin Glenn can rekindle some of his old magic. Hamilton's running backs also look decent on paper. Kenton Keith has had great success in his career, and Terry Caulley and Tre Smith have both been good for Hamilton in the past. But Keith hasn't always been the most consistent player in his career and Caulley and Smith have experienced injury problems. Whoever does earn the starting running backs job will be running behind an improved, but not yet proven offensive line. On the defensive side, Hamilton will have to improve on their defense which has been porous at times. With a front seven anchored by lineman Brandon Guillory, Matt Kirk and a solid line backing core, Hamilton should be able to stop the run decently, but there secondary has always been a question mark. Hamilton will have to hope the defensive back Chris Thompson continues his all-star play of last season. Summary If Hamilton struggled this season and missed the playoffs, it wouldn't really surprise any body. It seems like whenever you think Hamilton has turned a corner, they fall flat on their face. The same scepticism will be equally as high this season with question marks galore. Can an inexperienced coach in Marcel Bellefeuille lead the Tiger Cats? Will Hamilton's offensive line really improve? Can Hamilton's defense turn the corner? I however, remain cautiously optimistic. Baring injuries, the Tiger Cats should have a solid running back running behind a good offensive line. Quinton Porter should be a efficient quarterback this season and the receiving core has also improved over the years. Hamilton's defense may struggle, but they should be able to shut down teams enough to give their offense a chance. The Eastern Division is weak this year, so now may be the time for Hamilton to cement themselves as contenders and not pretenders. It's time to shed some light on a franchise that has been in the dark for so many years. My Prediction: Around 8-10 wins, a second place finish and a home playoff berth in the East. Outstanding Player of the Year: Kenton Keith Defensive Player of the Year: Markeith Knowlton Canadian of the Year: Chris Bauman Lineman of the Year: Alexandre Gauthier Special Teams Player of the Year: Nick Setta Rookie of the Year: Simeon Rottier Jon H "This is our League" |
CFL 2009 Season Preview: Montreal Alouettes - 24/06/2009 |
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"It's time to take care of some unfinished business!"
The Montreal Alouettes treaded down familiar waters last season. The team had an amazing regular season and cruised to the top of a weak Eastern Division. Most Outstanding Player Anthony Calvillo was at his finest, and with help from playmakers Kerry Watkins, Ben Cahoon, Jamal Richardson and Avon Coburne, he helped the offense function brilliantly. The defense was a bit inconsistent, but still solid as Montreal made it to the Grey Cup Finals in Montreal. But, despite the home field advantage and a roster that was loaded with talent, the Alouettes suffered yet another Grey Cup disappointment by losing to the opponent Calgary Stampeders. It was agonizing, yet not an unfamiliar loss for the Alouettes, who have had plenty of troubles in recent Grey Cup Games. They lost in the 2006 Grey Cup game to the BC Lions and also in 2005 to the Edmonton Eskimos. Heading into a new season, once again with the aftertaste of defeat still in their mouths, the Alouettes will look to break their Grey Cup slump. Veteran quarterback Anthony Calvillo has committed to another season, and 16 touchdown receiver Jamal Richardson passed on the NFL. With other playmakers such as Avon Coburne, Ben Cahoon and Kerry Watkins, the Al's look to have all the tools to make it back to the Grey Cup Finals. But will they buckle down when it matters most? Let's take a closer look at the Montreal Alouettes: What's New? The Montreal Alouettes didn't have a very eventful off-season, but since they already had such a talented roster, it wasn't really necessary. Instead, the Alouettes focused on re-signing the key components of their team. Montreal gladly welcomed back Anthony Calvillo for another season, inking their star quarterback to an extension. They also welcomed back Jamal Richardson, who had a breakout season in the receiving core. Receivers Brian Bratton and Ben Cahoon were also inked to extensions. On the defensive side of the ball, Montreal re-signed defensive end Anwar Stewart and defensive back Mark Estelle. They also added defensive lineman Jerome Haywood and defensive back Stanford Samuels. During the CFL Draft, the Alouettes focused on improving their offensive line as two out of their firs three picks were offensive lineman. Their big pick was local lineman Dylan Steenbergen, who should help an aging Alouettes offensive line. In the loss category, Montreal didn't suffer many major blows, but did lose offensive tackle Luke Fritz to the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. Concerns There don't appear to be many glaring weaknesses on the Alouettes roster, but there are still come concerns surrounding the Grey Cup runner uppers. The obvious question heading into the Als season is whether or not they will be able to avoid another Grey Cup defeat. But perhaps a better question is: will they have the motivation to get back? While it seems unlikely Montreal will lose in a weak East Division, the mood of the team is definitely questionable after yet another disappointment. Will Montreal have the right mindset going into the season? And while the Als do have a near perfect roster on paper, that doesn't always translate into an amazing season. Just ask Winnipeg, who took a step back words last season with basically the same roster that got them to the Grey Cup game. Montreal does have a few areas of concern. Their offensive line is aging, which could lead to sloppier pass protection and run blocking. And though he is coming off of an MOP season, Anthony Calvillo isn't getting younger. Perhaps the biggest question is the defense. Montreal's defense has always seemed to be rather average, and they have seemed to falter recently in big games. Summary Montreal didn't make a lot of signings during the off-season, but they also managed to keep their roster intact, which should bode well for them. Montreal's offense should still be arguably one of the best in the league. Anthony Calvillo is still playing at a high level, and with receivers like Ben Cahoon and Jamal Richardson, he will have plenty of targets. Watch out for star running back Avon Cobourne, who will be running the ball behind a talented offensive line. The Als defense has never been the best in the league, but they are fairly consistent none the less. Really, there is no question that Montreal will be atop the Eastern Divison. There are so many question marks surrounding the other teams in the East, whereas there a few questions surrounding the Montreal Alouettes. In fact, it may not be a stretch to say Montreal is a lock to make it to the Grey Cup in the East. But when it comes down to it, will Montreal have what it takes to win the cup? Anthony Calvillo may only be around for one more season, so if the Alouettes are waiting for the perfect time to win the Grey Cup, the time is now! My Prediction: Around 12 wins, a first place finish in the Eastern Division and a home playoff game. Outstanding Player of the Year: Anthony Calvillo Defensive Player of the Year: T.J. Hill Canadian of the Year: Ben Cahoon Lineman of the Year: Scott Flory Special Teams Player of the Year: Damon Duval Rookie of the Year: Dylan Steenbergen Jon H "This is our League" |
CFL 2009 Season Preview: Winnipeg Blue Bombers - 12/06/2009 |
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"Following the release of Kevin Glenn, Ryan Dinwiddie and Stefan Lefors appear to be the front runners for the starting quarterback job in Winnipeg. But will either of them be able to orchestrate the Bombers offense?"
It was crazy times in Winnipeg this off-season. Crazy times. There has been a front office shuffling, a new head coach added to the team who has already generated controversy, and tantalizing discussion about a new stadium. The Blue and Gold were also involved in a number of trades and said goodbye to some veteran playmakers on their team. When all is said and done, a shakeup may have been need in Winnipeg. For a team that was a supposed injury away from winning the Grey Cup in 2007, the Bombers looked anything but Grey Cup bound in 2008. The team started off the season with an atrocious 4 game losing streak, and never seemed to rebound from there. Winnipeg did manage to finish second place in a weak Eastern Division, but went on to lose to the Edmonton Eskimos, who had crossed over from the West. So what does the future hold for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers? What can a team that has recently experienced both highs (Grey Cup appearance) and lows (multiple losing streaks) expect this season. The Eastern Division looks to be weak again this season, and Winnipeg has a lot of talent on their roster. Lets take a closer look at the Winnipeg Blue Bombers: Whats New? The Blue Bombers started the off-season by reshuffling their coaches and management. The team released fiery head coach Doug Berry, and general manager Brendan Taman resigned. To fill their vacant head coaching position, the Bombers turned to former offensive coordinator, Mike Kelly. Kelly, who had success with the Bombers in the past, immediately stated his promise to turn the Bombers struggles around. It seems however, that he spent more time creating controversy through some of his comments. Kelly openly blasted the past Bombers management and also took a shot at the province of Saskatchewan. Needless to say, Kelly made things very interesting during the off-season. By the time the free agency period had been concluded, the Bombers had made some good moves, but also lost some key players from their team. The Bombers lost two solid offensive lineman, Alexandre Gauthier, and Dominic Picard to free agency. What perhaps made the moves harder to take was the fact that both players went to Eastern teams. Gauthier landed in Hamilton and Picard landed in Toronto. The Blue and Gold also traded away another solid lineman, Dan Goodspeed later in the off-season as part of a three way trade with both Hamilton and Saskatchewan. To sure up their offensive line that took a bit of a beating, the Bombers acquired lineman Glen Janurary and Steve Morely from the Saskatchewan Roughriders and also picked up tackle Luke Fritz from the Alouettes and Kelly Bates from the Lions. Through trades, Winnipeg also managed to pick up defensive ends Kai Ellis, Fred Perry and Riall Johnson, defensive back James Johnson, slot back Brock Ralph, and receiver Adarius Bowman Soon after free agency, the Bombers also retired Milt Stegall. The illustrious receiver has had a record breaking in Winnipeg and his leadership will be missed. In the CFL Draft, the Bombers didnt have any significant picks to work with and didnt have any notable picks. Perhaps the biggest news of the off-season was the announcement that the Bombers will likely get a new stadium in 2011, which would help them in a future bid to host the Grey Cup. Concerns The biggest issue heading into the season for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers is who will be the starting quarterback? Ok, Im sure youve heard it already, but when the battle for the starting job is between a third string quarterback and an unproven backup, it is a point that will be continually hammered in until it is settled. Stefan Lefors, a third string quarterback in Edmonton, was traded to the Bombers this season. Sitting behind Ricky Ray and Jason Maas in Edmonton, Lefors had a few chances to play, but did shine on occasion. We dont really know a lot about Stefan Lefors, and the fact that he has thrown more interceptions then touchdowns in his career has to make one wonder if he will be able to be a consistent threat. What is a Dinwiddie? A question many fans asked when Ryan Dinwiddie started the Grey Cup game in 2007 over the injured Kevin Glenn. While Dinwiddie didnt play terrible in the game, he did throw three interceptions as the Bombers lost the game. In 2008, Diniwddie saw limited playing time. While he did show some flashes of excellence during the season, his inexperience is a huge question mark. With two inexperienced quarterbacks fighting it out for the job, will it even matter which one wins it? The Bombers offense is talented on paper, with up and coming star Fred Reid running the ball and a talented receiving core, but if the Bombers dont get solid play from their quarterback, it may not matter. There are also huge question marks on the offensive line. The Bombers line was led last season by players like Alexander Gauthier and Dan Goodspeed. With both of these players gone plus Dominic Picard, the Bombers may in fact experience a drop off in 08. Are players like Glen January, Steve Morley, Kelly Bates and Luke Fritz, who were brought in via free agency, ample replacements? I dont think so. While Luke Fritz and Kelly Bates are fairly solid lineman, Glen January was inconsistent last season for the Riders and Steve Morley didnt even play. On the defensive side of things, the Bombers look to have a fairly solid front seven, but their defensive backfield may continue to be a weakness for them this season. Summary With player like Derrick Armstrong, Romby Bryant and Fred Reid on the offense, the Bombers have plenty of star power, but the question marks in both the quarterback position and the offensive line are too strong to ignore. How much faith can the Bombers put in Stefan Lefors and Ryan Dinwiddie? One has to wonder what the mood is going to be in the Bombers locker room with Mike Kelly running the show. Kelly has talked like he has big plans for the team, but he been spending more time apologizing for his comments then improving the team this off-season. Winnipeg took strides backwords last season, and since they really didnt improve during the off-season, one has to think they will continue to slide this season. Of course, in a weak Eastern Division, anything is possible. But the outlook doesnt look good for a team that was one injury away from winning the Grey Cup game. My Prediction: Around five to eight wins, and a third place finish in the Eastern Division. Outstanding Player of the Year: Fred Reid Defensive Player of the Year: Barron Simpson Canadian of the Year: Doug Brown Lineman of the Year: Luke Fritz Special Teams Player of the Year: Alexis Serna Rookie of the Year: Mike Morris Jon H "This is our League" |
CFL 2009 Season Preview: Toronto Argonauts - 10/06/2009 |
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"Toronto spent a lot of money during the off-season, picking up some big name free agents in the process. But will it be enough to right the sinking ship that was the Argonauts franchise last season?"
To spend, or not to spend? That was the question for the Toronto Argonauts as they headed into the off-season. Following a dismal 4 win season, one that saw the Argos miss the playoffs, it was evident that change was finally necessary in Toronto. Immediate change, that was somewhat surprising, as Toronto had boasted one of the better defenses in the league over the last couple of years and their offense had been fairly consistent. Of course, everything fell apart last season. The Boatmen's defense, which once struck fear in the hearts of even the most worthy adversaries, suddenly turned into one of the weakest. Toronto's bend but don't break' defense turned into a bend and break' defense. On offense, the team was plagued by inconsistency. Newly acquired pivot and former Most Outstanding Player Kerry Joseph never really had a chance to adjust to Toronto's offense, as he was constantly scrambling for his life behind a weak offense line. Throw in a weak running game and inconsistent play from the receivers, and it wasn't a surprise that Toronto's offense was a recipe for disaster. Will things change this year? Will a team that has apparently taken such a huge step back words be able to reverse their footing? Let's take a closer look at the Toronto Argonauts: What's New? Heading into an off-season without a head coach, the Argonauts quickly went to work and interviewed potential candidates. Eventually, the Argonauts ended the speculation and picked former University of Montana Quarterback Bart Andrus. With 25 years of coaching experience, most notably with Tennessee Titans as an assistant, Andrus has an impressive resume. He will look to have success coming into his first CFL season, much like Montreal head coach Marc Trestman had last season. By the time free agency rolled around, two things were certain, there were plenty of big name players available, and Toronto had some money to spend. But, for a consistently cautious team when it came to signing players, no one was sure what to expect for the Argos. All thoughts of a cautious approach were quickly silenced when Toronto signed a pair of coveted free agent lineman. One was Dominic Picard, a versatile lineman from the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, and the big one, former lineman of the year Rob Murphy. The Murphy signing really stood out for the Argos, as it was almost completely unexpected. Fans believed that the potential suitors for Murphy were the Hamilton Tiger Cats and his current team the BC Lions. It was in fact believed that Murphy had a deal signed with the Tiger Cats, but Toronto stepped in with a larger contract offer, and Murphy joined the boatmen. With Picard, and perennial force Rob Murphy anchoring the offensive line, Kerry Joseph should enjoy a bit more protection this year, and the running game may also benefit. But Toronto was not only busy on the offensive side of the ball, as they were part of one of the biggest moves on the defensive side of things. Toronto traded defensive end Riall Johnson to Winnipeg for star middle linebacker Zeke Moreno. Seek and Destroy has been one of the best middle linebackers over the last couple of seasons, and the move, coupled with the trade for linebacker Jason Pottinger and two solid linebackers in Kevin Eiben and Willie Pile leads one to believe that Toronto will have a solid line backing core this season. In the CFL draft, Toronto's managed to pick up defensive tackle Etienne Legare. Legare will likely play along side Adriano Bellie and should help the defensive line. On the other side of things, Toronto suffered some player losses. Return specialists Dominque Dorsey fled for the NFL and the team said goodbye to a number of veterans on the offensive and defensive side of the ball. Most notably was the release of veteran Mike O'shea, whose age was beginning to show last season. Concerns Where to begin? Though the acquisitions of Murphy and Picard on the offensive side of the ball will help stabilize and ailing Argos offensive line, it doesn't solve the problem entirely. There aren't a lot of reliable options on the offensive line, and with two new players, it will take time for the line to gel. This will lead to mistakes on the offensive line, which could in turn lead to a lot of pressure and sacks on pivot Kerry Joseph. Speaking of Kerry Joseph, the Argos will need a huge effort from him this season if they hope to improve. A quarterback is always a crucial position, and Joseph needs to effectively run the offense. But even if Joseph gets good blocking from his offensive line, he won't necessarily be successful. Joseph was inconsistent last season and besides Arland Bruce, didn't really develop chemistry with his receivers. Joseph will need to improve his accuracy and continue to use his legs to terrorise opposing defenses. Another huge question is who will carry the rock? Jamal Robertson was effective at times in the backfield last season, but his play was hardly consistent. The only other options seem to be Jeff Johnson, or Tyler Ebel, who was injured all last season. Since Kerry Joseph does struggle throwing the ball at times, Toronto will be in trouble without a solid running game. Unfortunately, a defense that was once a sure bet to be solid for the Argonauts no longer is. Now, questions will be raised about the Argos defense as we lead up to the start of the season. The aforementioned linebacking core looks solid, and the defensive line has potential. But you have to remember that Toronto's front seven got run over last season, especially by Jesse Lumsden, and a couple of new players may not change that. The once star studded secondary can also be viewed as a question mark. Summary With the East being bad for so many years, Toronto has managed to make the playoffs most years by securing a home playoff spot in the east. Last year, the Argo's learned that if you don't make improvements to you own team, you are eventually going to move backwards. Toronto's management went out and snatched up a lot of free agents to help. The east is once again weak this year, which makes a playoff appearance not completely unrealistic for Toronto. Winnipeg faces questions surrounding their quarterback situation and Hamilton has been bad for so long. While Toronto could fight for a possible second place finish, they would need a lot of things to go right. If Toronto develops a solid running back, their offensive line provides protection for Kerry Joseph, and the defense improves, Toronto may make the playoffs this season. But, I highly doubt it. My Prediction: Around 4-7 wins, and a last place finish in the Eastern Division. Outstanding Player of the Year: Kerry Joseph Defensive Player of the Year: Zeke Moreno Canadian of the Year: Kevin Eiben Lineman of the Year: Rob Murphy Special Teams Player of the Year: Whoever emerges as the starting kicker in Toronto Rookie of the Year: Etienne Legare Jon H "This is our League" |
CFL Season Preview: Chatting with the Columnists - 27/05/2009 |
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Training camps are days away from opening up and a new CFL season fast approaches!
Stay tuned to "CFL Buzz" during the next month as I offer a preview for each team in the CFL and predict where they might finish in the standings. As I was preparing to write my season previews I thought, what better way to kick off the preview then to talk to my fellow columnists on www.riderprider.com. I asked Bert (writer of the Blog) and Matt (writer of Getting Defensive with the Riders) a series of questions, with topics ranging from the off-season to the CFL Draft. Thanks again to both Bert and Matt for answering the questions. Here are the responses: In the off-season, there were some big signings and trades. What do you believe was the biggest move player wise in the off-season and why? Bert: Mo Lloyd to EDM. Possibly the most game-changing player in the league. He automatically makes the Eskimo defence a threat and leaves a gaping hole in the middle of the Riders defence. Sask and Edm face off several times this year and the Mo factor could make the difference in close games. Matt: Richie Hall leaving Saskatchewan was the biggest signing. Not because he is going to be such a good head coach, but because it hurts Saskatchewan's defence so much. Hall was the best defensive co-ordinator in the league. The Riders lost the head of their defence and with him some of the elite players on their defence followed in Kitwana Jones and Maurice Lloyd. Hall was the biggest signing because he caused a chain reaction with both teams affected. In the off-season, there were also a lot of new coaches hired by teams in the CFL. Which head coach will have the most success in their first year? Bert: I don't see there being much success for any of the new coaches this year. But if I had to chose I would say Richie Hall. Hall's Eskies have done nothing but improve personnel wise and Hall's coaching philosophy will relate well to the players. His Achilles heel may be that he is not willing to give up control of the defence so he can concentrate on coaching the team. Matt: Bart Andrus will be the most successful coach this year because he is in the East. The West is really strong as usual and Richie Hall will have a really tough time winning with the Eskies in that division. The other new head coach with Kelly in Winnipeg lacks a proven QB and the Bombers will struggle this year. Andrus at least has a veteran team and a weak division which should provide some results for the boatmen. Which coach will have the least success? Bert: Mike Kelly. He has made some suspect moves while completely overhauling his team. He will either be the genius or crash and burn. I see the ladder as the most likely scenario. Matt: Marcel Belfeuille. The guy loses everywhere he goes in the CFL. Calvillo's worst season since joining the Alouettes was the only season Belfeuille was his offensive co-ordinator. Also, Belfeuille coaches Hamilton, enough said. The CFL draft was televised for the first time this year and there was overall a lot more coverage. What were your general thoughts on the draft? Bert: I didn't watch it. It was good that it was televised, but it lacked hype. I suppose it will become more interesting as the years go on and the game keeps growing. A deeper talent pool and improved CIS coverage will help amp up the draft in years to come. Matt: It's hard to evaluate the draft because the players drafted aren't evaluated and publicized as much as college players in the states. The Canadian players are usually three years away from starting in the CFL and it's difficult to evaluate them now. Over the last couple of season, Eastern Teams have been dominated by Western Teams. Do you believe that the Eastern Teams will make a comeback this season? Bert: The eastern teams will continue to be bottom feeders this year. When you look at the moves Winnipeg and Hamilton made, it seems like they didn't do enough to improve their teams. Four Western teams will make the playoffs once again this season. Matt: CFL doesn't mean as much to fans in the East as it does to fans in the West. The East is three to four years away from being as competitive as a whole division as the West. Four West teams will make playoffs again this season and Montreal will be the only competitive team from the East with Toronto up and coming. Looking across the board, which team do you believe has the most solid roster across the board and why? Bert: Calgary. No big losses in the offseason. If they stay on the roll that they started last season, the Stamps will be hard to stop this year. But then again, they didn't make any improvements to their roster either while other teams got better. Matt: Calgary. They won the Grey Cup last year and never lost basically anyone. Which has the weakest? Bert: Winnipeg. Kelly's moves are leaving most critics, including myself, scratching their heads. Putting all your faith in the Eskimos third-string QB from last year is one of the biggest question marks going into the season. Matt: Winnipeg. They have no quarterback and their defence is getting old. LIGHTNING ROUND Rambo or Simon? Bert: Rambo Matt: Simon Cates or Reynolds? Bert: Cates Matt: Cates Calvillo or Burris? Bert: Burris Matt: Calvillo Congi or Deangellis? Bert: Congi Matt: Congi Will the Hamilton Tiger Cats make the playoffs? Bert: No Matt: No Will the Calgary Stampeders repeat? Bert: No Matt: No Who will emerge as a starting quarterback in Saskatchewan? Bert: Durant Matt: Durant (No question... baring injury) Will Jesse Lumsden stay injury free this season? Bert: No Matt: No FINAL THOUGHTS What order do you believe the teams will finish in the east and west? Bert: West - Calgary, SK, BC, Edm; East - Mtl, Tor, Hmt, Wpg Matt: West - Calgary, Sask, Edmonton, B.C; East- Montreal, Toronto, Hamilton, Winnipeg Who do you think will win the Grey Cup and why? Bert: My Heart says Saskatchewan but there are too many intangibles. The logical choice would be Calgary. However the CFL is never logical. My guess would be Montreal. Why? Because they are too old and it is highly illogical that they will win after being perennial bridesmaids. Matt: Montreal - Calvillo's last year, going to finally win a second Cup Jon H "This is our League" |
Canadian Football: Living the Fantasy - 12/05/2009 |
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The summer months are fast approaching, which means we are also nearing an important time for fans of fantasy sports. CFL Fantasy Football will soon be arriving!
Sorry if I got you excited there. Though CFL Fantasy Football is nowhere near as popular as NFL Fantasy Football, it has definitely grown in popularity over the years as it has improved. Many hardcore fans of the CFL have started to play CFL Fantasy Football along with other fantasy games. So, if you are planning to venture into the world of CFL Fantasy Football this season, who are you planning to choose? To win at CFL Fantasy Football, much like any other sport fantasy game, you will need to be prepared and know which players will give you the best chance to end up victorious. With that being said, here is an early look at the players that you should take, avoid or take a look at in this upcoming CFL Fantasy Football Season: Quarterbacks Take Them Ricky Ray: Chances are you won't be disappointed taking Ricky Ray. The Edmonton Eskimo's quarterback is a consistent 5,000 yard quarterback who threw for nearly 6,000 yards last season and finished with an impressive completion percentage. It doesn't seem to matter who lines up at receiver for Ray as he has always found a way to the job done. Ricky Ray can hurt opposing defences by throwing the short crossing pattern but has also shown that he can stretch the defence vertically effectively. Quite simply, Ricky Ray is one of the most dominate pivots in the CFL, and though he is no longer immune to throwing interceptions, he is a must have for ever Fantasy team. Anthony Calvillo: After coming up short of a Grey Cup victory, Anthony Calvillo is back with a loaded Alouettes roster at his disposal. With receivers Jason Richardson, Ben Cahoon and Kerry Watkins and running back Avon Cobourne, Calvillo will have all the weapons he needs to be successful. Calvillo, who threw 43 touchdowns last season, would be a smart pickup by any team. Take A Look At Darian Durant: Darian Durant could have a successful year for the Saskatchewan Roughriders, are a unsuccessful one. With a roster stacked with players such as Jason Clermont, Andy Fantuz, Weston Dressler and Wes Cates, Durant has the supporting cast to be a dominant pivot. Darian Durant was also impressive in limited action last season. Taking Darian Durant could be a risk since he has seen limited playing time in his career. Kerry Joseph: Though Kerry Joseph has a decent season for Toronto, he also showed some glaring inconsistency. When effective, Joseph can hurt opposing defense's with his legs and powerful arm. The Argonauts have added some playmakers in the off-season to help Joseph, but it will always be a risk taking an aging quarterback. Avoid Them Buck Pierce: Stay away from Buck Pierce and the glaring quarterback controversy in BC. While Pierce is working hard in the off-season, who knows how much playing time he will actually get. Jarious Jackson is also a very good quarterback and although Wally Buono has named Pierce the starter, he has shown he is not afraid to make a change. Quarterbacks in Hamilton and Winnipeg: No one really who will be the starter in Hamilton or Winnipeg next season. Winnipeg will either start Stefan Lefors or Ryan Dinwiddie, and both of these quarterback are not worth a pick. Quinton Porter showed potential last season for Hamilton but Kevin Glenn was brought in during the off-season, so Porter might see his playing time reduced. Running Backs Take Them Wes Cates: Injuries prevented Wes Cates from winning the rushing title last season, but the Saskatchewan Roughriders running back was still one of the best backs in the league. Cates has an impressive balance of power and speed which makes him an obvious pick. Avon Cobourne: Much like Cates, Cobourne suffered some injuries last season, but he also gave Montreal a consistent threat at running back. Behind a solid offensive line Cobourne should continue to rack up yardage in Montreal. Joffrey Reynolds: Reynolds finally captured the rushing title last season, and doesn't look to be slowing down behind a solid offensive line. With a structured game plan thanks to head coach John Hufnagel, expect Joffrey Reynolds to get a high amount of carries once again this season. Take A Look At Kenton Keith: When Kenton Keith is on his game, he can be exciting to watch and he can rack up a lot of big plays. But there are a few things to ponder before picking Kenton Keith. Will he even be the starting running back in Hamilton, and will his poor attitude affect his performance on the field? Fred Reid: It is no easy task replacing Charles Roberts, but Fred Reid may be the answer Winnipeg has been looking for. Reid is poised to rush for 1,000 yards this season if he plays the whole season. He rushed for 709 yards after Charles Roberts was traded last season. Avoid Them Anyone from BC: Stefan Logan was one of the most explosive running backs last season, but he is gone to the NFL. BC has had success recently finding star running backs but they really don't have any proven backs. Ian Smart may be the starter but he has mostly been used as a special teams player. Jesse Lumdsen: If Lumdsen is healthy he may rack up a lot of yardage, but the chance that Jesse Lumdsen will remain healthy seems so unlikely that picking him is not worth the risk. Wide Receivers Take Them Geroy Simon: Even if he struggles early in the season, Simon always seems to finish will well over 1,000 yards receiving. BC's offense may be weaker this season so the Lions will have to rely on Geroy Simon even more. Keyon Rambo: Rambo, like Simon, is one of the most premier receivers in the league and should have another successful year with Henry Burris throwing him the ball. Jason Richardson: Richardson led the league in touchdowns last season with 16, and he seems committed to helping Montreal win a Grey Cup. No defender could cover Richardson last season and he would be a smart selection by anyone. Arland Bruce: Toronto has a young receiving core, which means they will continue to lean on Arland Bruce. Bruce also developed a good chemistry with Kerry Joseph. Paris Jackson: Paris Jackson looks to be destined for some huge stats this season. The Lions got rid of Jason Clermont, meaning Jackson will see a lot more balls thrown his way. Take A Look At Weston Dressler: Any one of Saskatchewan's three slot backs could be a successful pick, but since there are so many talented players on Saskatchewan's offense, it could hinder their individual stats. Dressler has a successful debut last season and should continue to produce for the Riders. Kamau Peterson: Peterson's turnaround has been one of the great stories in the CFL over the last couple of years and he should rack up a lot of yards this season. However, with a depleted receiving core, Peterson may draw more attention from opposing defense, hindering his stats. Avoid Them Arjei Franklin: People have been saying that Franklin is the next Milt Stegall, but he has failed to live up to the hype so far. Jermaine Copeland: Copeland started to show some inconsistency last season as he dropped a lot of passes. It seems like the aging receiver may be past his prime. With so many other talented receivers, don't add Copeland to your roster. Defense/Special Teams Take Them Saskatchewan Roughriders: Yes I know that the Riders lost two of their starting linebackers and their coveted defensive coordinator Richie Hall, but don't expect a huge drop out from the tough Riders defense. Saskatchewan has brought in a lot of players to fix their ailing pass rush as well as some American imports to compete for the void linebacker spot. Simply put, Saskatchewan's still has a lot of talent left on the defensive side of the ball and they have had one of the best defense's over the last couple of years. The Riders also boast fairly solid special teams. While their return game is average, Luca Congi is becoming a dominant kicker. Calgary Stampeders: Not long ago, I wouldn't have advised anyone to pick up the Stampeders defense, but they have greatly improved. Thanks to players like Mike Labinjo, Calgary's defense has become younger, faster and more aggressive. The Stampeders were also able to add some young defensive players in the draft which should bode well for them. On special teams, the Stampeders have one of the best kickers in Sandro Deangellis and Markus Howell has the ability to break a long return for a touchdown. Take A Look At Montreal Alouettes: Montreals defense is usually a solid pick, especially at home, but they do struggle against top teams. While their defense can shut an opponent down, they have also been known to give up 30-40 points every once in a while. Edmonton Eskimos: Edmonton's defense hasn't been solid over the last couple of seasons, but Maurice Lloyd's acquisition can only help. With Richie Hall, a defensive guru, now running the team, more emphasis may be made on defense. Avoid Them BC Lions: Last year the Lions defense was one of the best, but this year it may drop significantly. Cameron Wake left the team to go the NFL, leaving a huge void on the defensive line. The Lions are also depleted in the linebacking core, as only Anton Mackenzie and Javier Glatt are proven starters. It could be a work in progress for the Lions defense early in the season. Toronto Argonauts: When Rich Stubler was running the show in Toronto, their defense was great. Ever since Stubler has left that role, Toronto has been awful. Last season the Argonauts struggled to stop the run, get any pressure on the quarterback and defend against the pass. While the Argo's have added middle linebacker Zeke Moreno, they still have too many glaring weaknesses. Jon H "This is our League" |
The 2009 Canadian Draft: The Product - 03/05/2009 |
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"There was plenty of intrigue in this year's CFL Draft""
The first ever live televised CFL Draft which took place on Saturday, May 2nd 2009, didn't disappoint. There were trades, surprising picks, and a few players who got picked way later than expected. With the CFL draft now over, it is time to look back at the draft, analyzing each first round selection and breaking down everything on the draft. And of course, seeing just how wrong some of my picks were. Pick 1: Hamilton Tiger Cats Selected: Simon Rottier My Pick: Simon Rottier Hamilton's first overall selection was the only easy one to predict. Rottier was clearly the best offensive lineman in the draft, and Hamilton was smart to upgrade one of their weaker positions. The Tabbies now have the makings of a solid line, with Alexandre Gauthier and Dan Goodspeed playing the tackle spots and Rottier and a few younger players ready to step in. Pick 2: Toronto Argonauts Selected: Etienne Legare My Pick: Jamall Lee I thought the Argonauts would snatch up Jamall Lee, but then Lee got recruited by the NFL. While the Argo's could have added Lee and hoped he would come back to the team eventually, the team made a smart pick. Heading into the draft, I believed that Toronto's greatest weaknesses were the offensive and defensive line and the running back position. By adding Legare, the Argonauts have found someone to play besides nose tackle Adriano Belli, and took another step forward in improving their horrendous defense of a year ago. Legare was said to be one of the best talents in the draft so the pick wasn't too hard for the Argonauts to make. Pick 3: BC Lions via Hamilton Selected: Jamall Lee My Pick: Hamilton selects Matt Morencie With three mid round picks in the first round, I fully believed that the Lions were trying to move up and select Jamall Lee. The Leo's only had to give up one of their first round picks to move up and select Jamall Lee. BC released Charles Roberts in the off-season and Stefan Logan went to the NFL. The Lions could use a proven running back, and Wally Buono is obviously hoping the team has found a future replacement in Jamall Lee. The draft class was not the strongest, but kudos to the Lions for securing arguably the best player in the draft. If Lee eventually comes back from the NFL, the move could work out well for the Lions. Pick 4: BC Lions via Toronto via Edmonton Selected: James Yurichuk My Pick: Steve Myddelton I wasn't sure if there were any linebackers were taking in the first round, but BC obviously believes Yurichuk can be a solid addition to the team. The Lions are weak in a handful of positions thanks to a horrid off-season. With only linebacker's Anton Mackenzie and Javier Glatt remaining as proven starters, adding another linebacker is a smart move for the Lions. Pick 5: BC Lions Selected: Matt Carter My Pick: Matt Carter In my second correct pick, the Lions picked up Axeman slotback Matt Carter. After releasing Jason Clermont, the Lions were in need of some more receivers. By picking Matt Carter they may have found their receiver of the future. The Lions didn't pick up any offensive or defensive lineman with their three first round picks, but they did well to address other areas of concern for them. Pick 6: Hamilton Tiger Cats via BC Lions Selected: Darcy Brown My Pick: BC selects Osie Ukwuoma This was the pick Hamilton picked up from BC in exchange for their third overall pick. Darcy Brown, the Saint Mary's receiver, didn't have huge receiving stats last season. It is rumoured that Hamilton will look to convert the six foot three, 251 pound receiver to the fullback position. Pick 7: Montreal Alouettes Selected: Dylan Steenbergen My Pick: Etienne Legare With the local product Legare already off the board, the Als signed a local product from Calgary in Dylan Steenbergen. The offensive lineman was ranked fifth by the CFL scouting bureau. Montreal didn't have a lot of holes to fill on their team, but Steenbergen was a smart pick. Montreal's offensive line is getting a bit older so they could use some help for the future. Pick 8: Calgary Stampeders Selected: Eric Fraser My Pick: Scott McHenry I believe that the Stampeders would look to add some youth to their aging receiving core, but they instead added the top ranked American defensive back. Calgary defense was questionable at times and the secondary has always been an area of weakness. Adding Eric Fraser could prove favourable for the Stampeders in the future. For a look at every pick of the CFL draft, go to www.cfl.ca. Other Notable Picks: Pick 9: Saskatchewan Roughrider Selected: Taman Gordon The University of Regina product was the top rated defensive back in the CIS and could step in for the Roughriders in the future. Pick 16: Calgary Stampeders Selected: Tristan Black Calgary managed to pick up the linebacker late in the second round. The pick will once again help Calgary's defense. Pick 21: BC Lions Selected: Matt Morencie After failing to add a lineman in the first round, the Lions picked up Morencie who surprisingly fell to the third round. With Rob Murphy signing in Toronto, the Lions had holes on the o-line. Winner of the Draft: Calgary Stampeders The Stampeders made a lot of impressive picks during the draft. The team first added one of the best defensive backs available in Eric Fraser, and also added Tristan Black and Osi Ukwuoma to the defense. Calgary also helped their offense. The team added offensive lineman Steve Myddelton and slotback Scott McHenry to the fold as well. With their picks, the defending Grey Cup champs have secured that they will be solid for years to come. Loser of the Draft: Winnipeg Blue Bombers Winnipeg didn't make any significant picks in the draft, but they didn't have a lot of draft picks to use. The team didn't add any player until the third round and there weren't a lot of options to choose from. Biggest Steal of the Day: Osie Ukwuoma, pick 40 Calgary selected Ukwuoma with the last pick of the fifth round. The defensive end was ranked highly by the CFL scouts and should be a solid acquisition, especially since he was picked so late in the draft. Biggest Head Scratcher: Darcy Brown, pick 6 The Tiger Cats picked Darcy Brown with pick number six. With mediocre receiving stats last season, Brown may be converted to a full back. Yet it is confusing as to why the Tiger Cats selected Brown as early as he was not ranked very highly. With the draft concluded, it means the season is inching ever closer, stay tune to "CFL Buzz" later in the month as I kick off my season preview of each team. The preview will kick off with an interview of my fellow columnists on www.riderprider.com. Jon H "This is our League" |
The 2009 Canadian Draft: The Preview - 21/04/2009 |
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"Which player will be selected first when the CFL's Canadian Draft commences on May 2nd, 2009?"
Will it be the talented running back with NFL aspirations Jamall Lee? Will it be Windsor offensive lineman Matt Morencie? Or will it be Simon Rottier, who was part of the dominant Alberta Golden Bears offensive line? Hamilton will be first on the clock when the draft begins in what should hopefully be an intriguing affair. The BC Lions currently hold three draft picks in the first round, while a handful of teams do not, so don't be surprised if a few trades take place. "CFL Buzz" will now take a look at the first round of the Canadian Draft, analysing each teams pressing needs, and deciding which pick would best suit their needs. Pick 1: Hamilton Tiger Cats Will Hamilton hold the first overall pick when the draft commences? One has to wonder if the BC Lions are looking to pool together some of their draft picks to move up in the first round in what is being dubbed a weak draft class. If Hamilton does keep the pick, there are some pressing needs they need to address. Hamilton struggled in all phases of their defense last season, but there aren't any defensive players that warrant a selection with the first pick. Hamilton may instead look to the offensive line, where a number of solid options are available. The Tabbies have already added solid offensive tackles Alexandre Gauthier and Dan Goodspeed, but they would still benefit in adding another offensive lineman to a historically bad offensive line. Hamilton selects: Simon Rottier (offensive lineman) Pick 2 Toronto Argonauts Once again, we can only wonder if Toronto will still hold this pick when the draft begins. If they do, the Argonauts can really go a number of directions with the pick. Toronto's line backing core should be solid with the Acquisition of Zeke Moreno, but Toronto is still weak in the secondary and could upgrade their defensive line. On the offensive side of the ball, Toronto could improve their offensive line that struggled last season or add a play maker. So, who does Toronto select at number two? Toronto could look to pick up defensive tackle Etienne Legare, who could suit up next to Adriano Beli. I believe that smart pick here would be to pick up an offensive lineman. With Rob Murphy and Dominique Picard already added to the fold, another lineman could help Toronto form and dominant offensive line. However, play maker Jamall Lee is just too hard to pass up on despite his NFL aspirations. Toronto was decent on offense, but the running back position was a glaring weakness, Toronto selects: Jamall Lee (running back) Pick 3 Hamilton via Winnipeg For the second year in a row, Hamilton has the luxury of holding two picks in the first round. Hamilton selection here could change if they trade away their first pick. If they do trade away the first pick, they will likely grab up the best offensive lineman available. As it stands, Hamilton has some flexibility with this pick. They could add defensive end Osie Ukwuoma to the fold to help improve on Hamiltons pass rush. If Hamilton wants to continue to groom young receivers, they could pick up Acadian slot back Matt Carter or Huskies slot back Scott McHenry. However, with an offensive line that has been weak for so many years, Hamilton could really soldify their line with this draft by adding two offensive lineman. Hamilton selects: Matt Morencie (offensive lineman) Pick 4 BC via TOR via EDM Pick number four will be the Lions first of three in the first round. I still believe that BC will look to string together their picks and move up in the draft to select running back Jamall Lee. The Lions lost running back Stefan Logan to the NFL and could use a solid back. But if BC does decide to keep their draft picks, then they will hold the fourth, fifth and sixth picks respectively. Whether it is a weak draft class or not, BC should use their three picks to help address the teams most pressing needs. BC could use some depth on the offensive line, defensive line, line backing core and wide receivers. BC will likely pick up at least one offensive lineman with their multiple picks. BC selects: Steve Myddelton (offensive lineman) Pick 5 BC After selecting an offensive lineman, the Lions could focus their next draft picks on a number of areas. Selecting a linebacker would seem to be an obvious choice, but there aren't a lot of solid linebackers in the draft. After losing Jason Clermont, the Lions could benefit from adding a young slot back. BC selects: Matt Carter (slot back) Pick 6 BC via Saskatchewan Pick six will be the Lions final pick in the first round. Once again, BC could possibly add another offensive lineman or perhaps defensive lineman Etienne Legare to replace Tyrone Williams. With the loss of Cameron Wake, BC may be best suited to pick a defensive end, even though the team signed Nautyn Mckay Lauscher. BC selects: Osie Ukwuoma (defensive end) Pick 7 Montreal Montreal made it all the way to the Grey Cup finals last season, so the team doesn't have a lot of pressing needs. Montreal has one of the best receiving cores in the league, a solid offensive line, and a star running back and quarterback. The Als may look to sure up their defense with this pick. If this is the case, local product and defensive tackle Etienne Legare looks to be the best pick. Legare is said to be one of the best talents in the draft. Montreal selects: Etienne Legare (defensive tackle) Pick 8 Calgary We wrap up the first round with the defending Grey Cup Champions selections. Calgary, like Montreal, has a pretty solid roster across the board, so will likely look to pick add a player for the future with this pick. One area that sticks out for the Stampeders is their receiving core. While it is still a solid one, players like Nik Lewis and Jermaine Copeland are aging. Calgary may look to pick up a receiver with this pick. Calgary selects: Scott McHenry (slot back) With a few potential trades that could take place, the 2009 CFL Draft should provide some excitement to the fans. Tune in on May 2nd 2009 to see the drama unfold. After the draft, check "CFL Buzz" for a recap of every pick and analysis. Also check back later in May as "CFL Buzz" will be looking ahead to the season with team previews. Here is a reacp of my picks: 1) Hamilton: Simon Rottier 2) Toronto: Jamall Lee 3) Hamilton via Winnipeg: Matt Morencie 4) BC via Toronto via Edmonton: Steve Myddelton 5) BC: Matt Carter 6) BC via Saskatchewan: Osie Ukwuoma 7) Montreal: Etienne Legare 8) Calgary: Scott McHenry Jon H "This is our League" |
Something is Rotten in the Lions Den - 31/03/2009 |
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"It has been interesting to see teams fight for player's services, trying to put their team in a better position than other teams."
This year's free agency period has been intriguing to say the least. We have seen potential spenders play it safe while other teams literally opened the bank and threw money at their problems. Generally, it seemed like a lot of top tier clubs played it safe and didn't really spend a lot of money. While some teams' moves made a lot of sense, others have left fans scratching their heads. Take the BC Lions for example. The Lions headed into to the free agency period loaded with cap-space, largely thanks to the departures of Jamall Johnson, Cameron Wake, Tyrone Williams, Otis Floyd and Jason Clermont. Therefore, everyone was expecting BC to shell out the big bucks to help replace some of their star players. Perhaps the team would add a high profile linebacker or two, a defensive end to replace Wake, and maybe even a running back. Things never quite transpired for the Lions as people predicted. The Lions sat back as high profile players were taken off the board. It had been a rumour that the Lions would sign star middle linebacker Maurice Lloyd, but Lloyd signed with Edmonton Eskimos. The team also let prize offensive lineman Rob Murphy leave for Toronto. BC did sign Saskatchewan linebacker Anton Mackenzie. Mackenzie is young and full of potential and should be a solid starter for the Lions this season. Besides signing Anton Mackenzie, there is not much the Lions did during the off-season, though the team did sign injury prone defensive end Nautyn Mackay Loescher from the Tiger Cats. If healthy, Loescher could take over for Cameron Wake. The few moves that the Lions made and didn't make were suprising. After losing several linebackers, the Lions traded away Jason Pottinger to the Argonauts for a first round draft pick. The move leaves BC with only two proven starters, inconsistent Javier Glatt and Anton Mackenzie. Wally Buono seems to be stocking up on draft picks, as the team now has three in the first round. This seems quite confusing as managers have said that besides for a few players, the draft class isn't strong. So who is BC interested in? Are they planning to pool together a few of their draft picks to move up in the draft? Are the Lions interested in adding Jamall Lee? Wally Buono has always been known to stir the pot, but this year it looks like he may have stirred a little too hard. While the Lions made some puzzling moves in free agency, the same can not be said about the lowly Tiger Cats and Argonauts. Toronto went into free agency deciding they were not afraid to sign money. This was evident when the team snatched away lineman Rob Murphy with a huge contract. In a smaller move the team added versatile lineman Dominique Picard. Toronto's offensive line was a disaster last season, so any moves have to help. Though there wasn't much done on the defensive side, Toronto did help their line backing core by re-signing leading tackler Willie Pile, and adding Zeke Moreno and Jason Pottinger. It appears that Toronto is trying to get their fans back to the stadium, and know that they will need to put a winning product on the field for that to happen. Much like Toronto, Hamilton also improved greatly. By adding a handful of offensive and defensive lineman, Hamilton finally improved on their greatest areas of weakness. But the move that was most impressive was the re-signing of defensive back Chris Thompson. For too long Hamilton has let their young defensive backs get away (Jason Goss, Tay Cody) so it was definitely important to secure Thompson. So we know some of the good and the bad, but what was really surprising was how some teams decided too do nothing. Grey Cup finalists Montreal and Calgary didn't make any real signings expect for re-signing some of their own. While both of these teams were successful last season, they still could have benefited from some free agents. Saskatchewan was also rather quiet during free agency. The team did add slot back Jason Clermont and offensive lineman Joe Mcgrath, but the team didn't add any high profile defensive lineman to help their ailing pass rush. This brings us to Edmonton. Edmonton has been on the bubble in the West for the last couple of seasons, so they knew they had to have a big free agency period. The team bolstered their defense by acquiring Maurice Lloyd and Kai Ellis, and took a chance and signed running back Jesse Lumsden. If some of Edmonton's moves pan out, they may finally be able to compete for top spot in the Western Division. As we now look forward to the draft, we can finally close the books on the free agency period. It was a free agency in which the bad teams got better and the good teams stayed the same. What will this mean for next season? If history is any indication, complacency is never a good thing and some of these teams may find that keeping their rosters as is could hurt them down the road. Either way, it has been interesting to see teams fight for player's services, trying to put their team in a better position than other teams. Jon H "This is our League" |
Glenn Not the Answer - 22/03/2009 |
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"If Hamilton truly has faith in Quinton Porter, which they should based on his performance, then there should be no need to add another quarterback to the fold."
Kevin Glenn is not done in the CFL The former Bomber and Roughrider pivot signed on with the lowly Hamilton Tiger Cats who have been on a mission this off-season trying to make it back to the postseason. Glenn's signing was really not surprising, as it had been rumored that Hamilton had been the only team interested. Many view the signing as a safe one, with huge potential. After all, two seasons ago he was the runner up for Most Outstanding Player. Yet, Glenn has become a walking band aid during his tenure with the Bombers, and the Tiger Cats may find that Glenn is a ticking time bomb ready to blow. The Tiger Cats have struggled to find a solid pivot since Danny McManus and their teams have suffered because of it. Hamilton may have found the answers to their problems last season however in quarterback Quinton Porter. Stepping into the fold during the latter part of the season, Porter threw for 1496 yards, 10 touchdowns and only 4 interceptions. Unless Porter's play drops down significantly, Hamilton will likely look to build a team around the budding star. The team also has solid back-up Ritchie Williams who threw for 984 yards, 3 touchdowns and 5 interceptions last season, and young quarterback Adam Tafralis who threw for 268 yards and 3 touchdowns in limited action. So, why bring in Kevin Glenn? If Hamilton truly has faith in Quinton Porter, which they should based on his performance, then there should be no need to add another quarterback to the fold. From the way everyone including Kevin Glenn has been talking, he will take a mentoring role with the Tiger Cats and not a starting one. Yet, when talking about Kevin Glenn, manager Bob O'Billovich said to the media, ""He will be a great fit in our offence and will give us a better chance to win in 2009." Does this mean that Glenn will be starting? I'm not buying the fact that Kevin Glenn was brought in just to mentor the other quarterbacks. Glenn is only 29 years old, and has only had a few years as a starter. Is he really a suitable mentor for Quinton Porter? And if he was only brought in to be a mentor, why sign him. Richie Williams and Adam Tafralis are young, promising backups who could step in for Quinton Porter. Kevin Glenn is older, injury prone and his best years are likely behind him. Kevin Glenn may find success in his career again, but his signing in Hamilton doesn't make a whole lot of sense. Hamilton still has issues and has more money bringing in yet another quarterback. The team has not had success in the past bringing in struggling quarterbacks. Remember Khari Jones, Jason Maas and Casey Printers? For a team that looks to be relying on Quinton Porter, adding injury prone Kevin Glenn may hurt the team more than it will help it. Jon "This is our League" |
The CFL Network - 16/03/2009 |
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"When watching Canadian sports programs such as TSN, Rogers Sportsnet or The Score, it seems that these shows spend more time talking about the beloved NFL and seem to find it a burden to cover the CFL"
The NFL has a dozen preview shows every week, coverage on ever major sports program, and even a network dedicated to them. Yet, the Canadian Football League, a proud part of our Canadian heritage, can barely manage an half an hour show every week during the season. While the NFL undoubtedly hosts a much bigger market than the CFL, there is a large fan base for the CFL as well, especially in Canada. For proof of this statement, flood the many fan created CFL sites. There are dozen's of forum sites out there were fans of the Canadian Football League come and chat amongst themselves. The fans are out there, so why is there no acceptable CFL show? As it stands, there is currently one main show on the CFL, "CFL Snap". The program, which has been run mainly by Duane Forde and another member of the Score Network, is a thirty minute show that runs once a week during the season. The show gives a quick preview of each game and recaps the week that was. While it is always interesting to listen to Duane Forde's take on the game, the show is only a glimpse into what a CFL show could potentially offer. Let's be honest, the CFL is not a very big league, and there would not be enough news to warrant a CFL Network, but why not run a one hour program. The program could run once a week during the season, and once a month during the off-season. The show could use hosts such as Duane Forde, members of the TSN panel, or others members of the media who cover the game. During the season, it would be really easy to field a one hour broadcast. Taking place during the beginning of the week, the show could be divided up into two halves. The first half could be used to recap the week that was in the CFL, with highlights, interviews and comments, power rankings. During the second half, the hosts could preview the upcoming games and talk about any big news in the CFL, with analysis, opinions, and interviews with the teams. For further analysis on certain teams, the hosts could interview members of the team's media; local journalists who follow that team closely and have in the inside stories. One hour would not be too long for a show about the Canadian Football League, and it would be watched by many fans of the CFL. Last season, the CFL came out with the slogan, "This is our League." The league looked to promote the Canadian game by embracing the past, present and future of the game. With that being the case, why would the CFL no also look to further expand the media coverage by creating a solid show? When watching Canadian sports programs such as TSN, Rogers Sportsnet or The Score, it seems that these shows spend more time talking about the beloved NFL and seem to find it a burden to cover the CFL. Let the facts be the facts, Rogers is already looking to step out of their deal to bring the NFL to Canada. Fans slammed the door on the NFL; they appreciate the CFL much more, and its time to reward them with a show. Jon "This is our League" |
5 Can't Miss Games - 10/03/2009 |
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"With the 2009 schedule already released, there are a few games that fans should circle on their calendars. 5 games that any die-hard fan of the CFL cannot afford to miss."
The fast paced free agency period is almost over, and fans can now begin looking forward to training camp and the start of the season. It has already been an off-season full of excitement and intrigue. In the east, the cellar dweller Toronto Argonauts and Hamilton Tiger Cats both improved their rosters through free agency. In the West, Calgary secured their own players while Edmonton, Saskatchewan and BC shuffled their rosters. The rapid transactions have created even more anticipation for the upcoming season. With the 2009 schedule already released, there are a few games that fans should circle on their calendars. 5 games that any die-hard fan of the CFL cannot afford to miss. 5) Toronto at Hamilton: Wednesday July 1st While this game may have been a sleeper in past seasons, this year's installment off the Hamilton-Toronto rivalry could hold some significance. This game, which happens to be the opening game of the season, will give fans a first look at the new look both teams present. The Tigercats went out and strengthened their offensive and defensive lines and secured some of their young stars. Toronto went on free agent frenzy by adding offensive lineman Rob Murphy and Dominique Picard, linebacker Zeke Moreno and re-signing lead tackler Willie Pile. This game could be the start of the resurgence of one of these teams. Throw in the fact that Hamilton beat Toronto in three games out of four last year and this Eastern Rivalry will likely be a smashing way to open up the season. 4) Edmonton at Saskatchewan: Saturday July 25th There will be storylines galore going into Saskatchewan and Edmonton's first meeting of the season. Always a bitter rivalry, the off-season transactions should make this an even more intense game. Edmonton Eskimos head coach and Roughriders former defensive co-ordinator Ritchie Hall will look to make a statement against his former team. Hall won't be the only former Rider making his return to Saskatchewan. Maurice Lloyd and Scott Gordon both departed for Edmonton in the off-season. The Riders didn't try to re-sign Gordon but Maurice Lloyd's departure hurt as he was the team's defensive catalyst. Roughrider's offensive linemen Joe Mcgrath will also face his former team for the first time. It is always loud at Taylor Field when Edmonton comes in to town, and with some hard feelings felt at the former players, this Western Showdown should live up to its billing. 3) Calgary at BC: Fri Jul 24th It always seems to an exciting affair when the Calgary Stampeders meet up with the BC Lions. This growing rivalry should provide another excellent game when the Stampeders travel into BC. Calgary delivered a number of blows to the Lions last season. They swept the three game series against BC and defeated them in the Western Final. Their win over the Lions in the last game of the season took away home-field advantage from the team. It will be interesting to see how the new look Lions will fare against the high-powered Stampeders offense. Henry Burris, Joffrey Reynolds and Kenyon Rambo should provide a challenge for the Lions' defense and Mike Labinjo and the improved Stampeders defense will look to shut down the BC offense. BC may in fact be underdogs going into the game, as they will be without Defensive Player of the Year Cameron Wake, linebackers Jamall Johnson and Otis Floyd, running back Stefan Logan and offensive lineman Rob Murphy. Yet it the history has told us anything, the underdog sometimes comes out on top. 2) Winnipeg at Saskatchewan: Sun Sep 06th The Labour Day game between Winnipeg and Saskatchewan is always a classic. The game brings together two of the most loyal fan bases in the CFL for an intense atmosphere. Fans can expect a tough physical game, especially since Winnipeg has not likely forgotten their Grey Cup loss to the Riders in 2007. The Bombers are definitely a new look team with new head coach Mike Kelley, quarterback Stefan Lefors and a somewhat depleted offensive line. Saskatchewan is also a different team. Linebackers Anton Mackenzie and Maurice Lloyd have departed and the Rider will field a younger roster. If you won't be at the game, be sure to tune into another classic installment in the Saskatchewan-Winnipeg rivalry. The Labour Day game can give a team a push to the postseason, and this game could be the crucial. 1) Calgary at Montreal: Mon Oct 12th It won't be the first meeting between these two teams, but this game could prove to be one of the most exciting games of the year. In a Grey Cup rematch, Calgary will travel to Montreal, the place where they beat the Als to win the cup last season. Anthony Calvillo has returned to the Alouettes, perhaps for one more Grey Cup run whereas as the Stamps will look to repeat. Both teams should be ripe with emotion, looking to make a statement. The game also comes near the end of the season, and playoff spots could be on the line. Winning this game could do a lot for both teams' egos. So if you are working, traveling abroad, or feeling like spending some time outside, cancel your plans. These upcoming games should prove to be exciting affairs and definitely worth your time. Jon "This is our League" |
Take a Chance on Me - 28/02/2009 |
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"Adversity often forms success, and sometimes all it takes is a general manager willing to take a chance on a player for them to find success again."
In sports, people generally root for the underdogs. Whether it is a team that had little chance of winning or a player fighting back from a serious injury, comeback stories always seem to inspire fans. In the CFL, there have been many players who have fought back from injuries, or from a mediocre season. Kamau Peterson is a prime example of a player turning his career around. The receiver struggled through much of his career, but Edmonton took a chance on him, and he has had two stellar seasons in a row. With free agency already over, there are still players out there that are awaiting there chance. Some of these players are old, others fighting back from injuries, and all of them hope to sign on with a team and prove that they still have what it takes. Here is a look at five free agents who hope that general mangers will take a chance on them: Casey Printers: Quarterback The Pitch: Casey Printers found success very early in his career. After college, he joined the BC Lions and spent the 2003 season as the third string quarterback. The next season, Printers stepped into the starting role and was named the 2004 Most Outstanding Player. Printers led the Lions all the way to a Grey Cup birth, but Dave Dickenson started over him and the Lions lost. After a failed stint in the NFL, Printers returned to the CFL and signed a hefty deal with the Tigercats. Printers never lived up to the hype in Hamilton and was recently released. Ironically, the once coveted quarterback is now having troubles finding a team. When he is on his game, Printers is a dangerous quarterback. Printers has a good arm, but is more likely to hurt you with his legs. In his career, Printers has thrown for 9,230 yards, 51 touchdowns and holds a quarterback rating of 93.0. The problem with Printers is undoubtedly his attitude. Printers' large ego and infectious demeanor that he brings to the locker room have perhaps stopped managers from signing him. With most teams set at quarterback, Casey Printers may be a free agent for awhile. Printers is a risk-reward type player. He could return back to his old dominant form and help his team, or he could continue to struggle and create controversy in the locker room. DJ Flick: Slot-back The Pitch: DJ Flick started his career off with the Hamilton Tigercats and the Ottawa Renegades. While he found success with these two clubs, his true success came in Saskatchewan. Flick helped guide the Riders to a Grey Cup victory in 2007. The slot-back helped formed a dangerous duo with youngster Andy Fantuz. In 2008, Flick suffered a season ending injury. For that reason, combined with the fact that Saskatchewan had too many slotbacks, he was released. Flick is not likely to be done in the CFL. He is only 28 years old and could still be an effective slotback in the league. He currently has 5,170 yards and 33 touchdowns in his career. In a pass oriented league, don't be surprised if Flick is picked up sooner than later, most likely by Hamilton or Toronto. Mike O'Shea: Linebacker The Pitch: The aging middle linebacker may have been released from the Toronto Argonauts, but he doesn't appear to be retiring anytime soon. The 38 year old has spent his career with the Hamilton Tigercats and Toronto Argonauts, piling up 1151 tackles, 30 sacks and 22 interceptions. While no one will doubt Mike O'Shea has had a great career, he may be too old to take a chance on. O'Shea made some solid plays last season, but also missed more tackles than usual. O'Shea could be a valuable addition to a team looking for veteran leadership. Teams like BC, could use a linebacker or perhaps even Calgary may give Mike O'Shea a chance. Charles Roberts: Runningback The Pitch: It is hard to believe that the speedy runningback is now a free agent. After being one of the faces of the Bombers for the longest time, Charles Roberts was traded away to the BC Lions last season. The Bombers were struggling and the team tried to shake things up. Roberts spent the rest of the season with the Lions before being released. Charles Roberts has rushed for 10285 yards in his career and has 69 touchdowns, all the while maintaining an average of 5.4 yards a carry. Roberts will undoubtedly be picked up by some team, the only question is who. Will Winnipeg bring Roberts back, even though the team already has bright youngster Fred Reid and Joe Smith? Roberts could more likely end up in Toronto or back in BC, because both of these teams are in desperate need of a solid running back. Matt Dominguez: Receiver The Pitch: Matt Dominguez's career has been one full of potential, shattered by constant knee injuries. Unfortunately it seems that whenever Dominguez has found success, injuries have soon followed. Dominguez has played for the Saskatchewan Roughriders his entire career, and became a fan favourite early on. Dominguez has enjoyed a one thousand yard season with the team but hasn't played many full seasons. Signing Dominguez to contract could be a risk for a general manager. If Dominguez were to get injured again it would hurt the team's cap situation. Of course, if Matt Dominguez stays healthy, he would undoubtedly help any team he plays on. The veteran receiver may be re-signed by the Saskatchewan Roughriders, or perhaps another team in need of receivers. Adversity often forms success, and sometimes all it takes is a general manager willing to take a chance on a player for them to find success again. Jon "This is our League" |
Goodbye Mr. Winnipeg - 24/02/2009 |
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"Milt Stegall was a perfectionist. He could change a game in an instant and was always a player you had to keep an eye on."
With free agency all but over, the most interesting transaction may have been one not related to a free agent signing. On February 18th, 2009, the Winnipeg Blue Bombers and the league bid goodbye to one of the greatest players to ever play in the CFL, Milt Stegall. The move marks the end to Stegall's amazing 14 year career with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, a career in which he not only shattered records, but became the face of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. Born in Cincinnati, Ohio, Milt Stegall attended Roger Bacon High School. Even at an early age Milt excelled at sports. He was a standout athlete in football and track. After high school, Milt Stegall attended Miami University. Here he excelled at track and football where he was a multi-dimensional threat. Stegall's success in University led him to sign as an un-drafted free agent with the Cincinnati Bengal's. Stegall had some success, as he caught four career passes and one touchdown, while being used as a kick returner. Stegall would play with the Bengal's for four seasons, and after a failed tryout with the Green Bay Packers decided to come north to the Canadian Football League. Stegall found success almost immediately in the CFL. He played in the final 6 games of the 1995 season, piling up 469 yards and 4 touchdowns. Stegall would add 613 yards the next year and 6 touchdowns. In 1997, Milt Stegall enjoyed his breakout season. He accumulated 1616 yards and 14 touchdowns. From there, Stegall became the consistent star on Winnipeg's roster. He would go on to pass the century mark in receiving yards 9 out of the next 11 years and posted one of the most impressive statistical seasons ever in 2002. His 105 receptions, 1862, and 23 touchdowns were amazing and no one has since beaten his touchdown record. Stegall has earned several records over his career. He has the most career touchdowns (147), touchdown receptions (144), receiving yards (15,071), touchdowns in a season (23), and yards per catch in a season (26.5). Stegall was also named one of the top 50 CFL players of all-time. The only fault in an otherwise flawless career would be the fact that Milt Stegall never won a Grey Cup in two opportunities. Milt Stegall and the Bombers lost the 89th Grey Cup against the Calgary Stampeders. In 2007, the year in which Stegall broke many of his records, the Bombers made it to the Grey Cup against the rival Saskatchewan Roughriders. Despite a good performance from Milt Stegall, the Bombers came up short. Stegall may have never captured the cup, but his career was still successful. Milt Stegall was a perfectionist. He could change a game in an instant and was always a player you had to keep an eye on. Stegall brought leadership and passion to the CFL game and will always be remembered. With his strict training habits and the skill he showed at his position, Milt Stegall has impacted the game for generations to come. It is an honour to pay tribute to one of the greatest players to ever play the game. Jon "This is our League" |
Trading Places, Meet Your New Team - 19/02/2009 |
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"With enormous salaries, plenty of players changing teams, and some surprising trades, this year's free agency period lived up to the hype and paved the way for future free agencies."
As we finish off the earlier days of free agency, it appears that the rapid signings and constant negotiating have seized or at least slowed down. It has already been a memorable free agency period, perhaps unlike any before. We have already seen huge contracts thrown at players and it seems that more players changed team this off-season than ever before in the CFL. Going into the free agency period, managers were well aware that they were going to have to spend some money if they wanted secure a free agent. And spend a lot of money they did. As it turns out, managers had to shell out money as a few players were signed for upwards of 200 grand. While teams like Toronto, Edmonton and Hamilton went after a lot of free agents, teams like Saskatchewan, Montreal and Calgary looked more at securing their own players while bringing in a few wanted commodities. So, looking back on free agency, who were the winners and who were the losers? Toronto Argonauts: A Throwing money at a problem is not always the best solution, but when you are faced with as many problems as the Toronto Argonauts, it can't hurt. Toronto was not afraid to spend during free agency as they added several players. The Argos helped their ailing offensive line by signing center Dominic Picard and all-star lineman Rob Murphy. Murphay and Picard should add some intensity and skill to the line and give Kerry Joseph time in the pocket. Toronto was not done there however. They quickly re-signed leading tackler Willie Pile and added all-star middle linebacker Zeke Moreno in a trade. The addition of Moreno and the fact that Toronto's leading tackler will be returning can only help their porous defense. Yes, Toronto had close to a perfect free agency this off-season. Edmonton Eskimos: A The Edmonton Eskimos were one of the most active teams during free agency and showed the league that they were willing to spend the big bucks. Edmonton made a splash when they signed hard hitting middle linebacker Maurice Lloyd, widely speculated to be the best free agent available. The signing was not cheap as Lloyd signed for $193,000 per year. Lloyd will definitely help shore up Edmonton's mediocre defense. More recently, Edmonton picked up Jesse Lumsden. The bruising back has yet to prove his worth as injuries have plagued his career. Lumsden has shown to be unstoppable when healthy and if he stays healthy, Edmonton could see their running game rise from the bottom of the league to the top. Edmonton also traded linebacker Siddeeq Shabazz to the Winnipeg Blue Bombers for defensive end Kai Ellis. Ellis is a decent pass rusher and could be a future replacement for Fred Perry. Edmonton also signed safety Scott Gordon, offensive lineman Kyle Koch and fullback Graeme Bell. The Eskimos spent a lot of money on free agents, which could lead to problems down the road, but they were no doubt one of the most successful teams in free agency. Hamilton Tiger Cats: A To say things have been rough for the Hamilton Tiger Cats lately would be an understatement. Hamilton, more than any other team, needed a big free agency period. While Hamilton didn't sign every player they would have liked, they were still successful. Perhaps most importantly, the Tiger Cats re-signed star defensive back Chris Thompson. As free agency started, Hamilton was rumored to be close to signing Rob Murphy. The Tabbies missed out on Murphy, but did sign star tackle Alexander Gauthier. Hamilton also added Matt Kirk, a solid Canadian defensive line. With glaring holes in the defense and offensive line, Hamilton helped address their problems. Montreal Allouttes: B+ With a strong offense and defense last season, there was little Montreal needed to do during free agency. Montreal focused on making sure their solid players returned. They re-signed Mark Estelle and Brian Bratton and made sure that Anthony Calvillo would be returning. For a team that is looking to make another run under second year coach Marc Trestman, Montreal certainly did not hurt themselves during free agency. Saskatchewan Roughriders: B Saskatchewan may not have been as active as their fans were hoping for, but Saskatchewan didn't necessarily need to make a lot of moves. It was basically a foregone conclusion that Maurice Lloyd would sign somewhere else, though losing linebacker Anton Mackenzie does hurt. Still, the Riders believe they re-signed the most important linebacker, cover specialist Sean Lucas. The Riders will be hoping that Renauld Williams can step in for Mackenzie and import linebacker Sam Olabajuto can fill in the middle. The Riders suffered perhaps more losses than anyone during free agency, though they were not all big name players. Erratic safety Scott Gordon fled to Edmonton and they lost lineman Glen January and Steve Morley to the Bombers. January was a starter on the o-line but Morley never played last season. To help replace January and shore up the offensive line, the Riders added Moose Jaw product Joe McGrath. The aggressive lineman should be a good upgrade for the Riders. The Riders were involved in one trade as 2007 Grey Cup MVP James Johnson was traded to the Bombers. Johnson's play had dropped off in 2008 and he had been delegated to special teams. Despite the signing of McGrath, the Riders have been relatively quiet during the off-season, but they will perhaps focus on re-signing more of their star players. Keep in mind the team did add star slot back Jason Clermont to the team earlier in the off-season. Calgary Stampeders: B Calgary was, like Montreal, in little need of many free agents. They instead focused on their own players. They extended Henry Burris' contract and re-signed Brandon Browner and Markus Howell. Though they are the Grey Cup champions, it was a little surprising to see the Stampeders stand pat during free agency. The team is aging in the receiving core and the defense did have some holes during the season. BC Lions: C+ Going into free agency, the BC Lions were rumored to be the big players. Looking back on free agency, the Lions were anything but. The Lions have already lost Cameron Wake, Jamall Johnson and Stefan Logan to the NFL, in what is turning into a disastrous off-season. Things didn't get better for the Lions during free agency as they lost top lineman Rob Murphy to the Toronto Argonauts. The Lions were able to sign Anton Mackenzie to help their depleted linebacking core, but it was still a disappointing turnout for the team that had so much money to spend. Winnipeg Blue Bombers: C Many will argue that the Bombers had a successful free agency, but there is more to being successful than just adding a lot of free agents. Winnipeg picked up Siddeqq Shabazz, who could be a potential backup for veteran Ike Charlton, but had to give away defensive end Kai Ellis to get him. The Bombers later traded Zeke Moreno to Toronto for Riall Johnson, a defensive end. Johnson could replace the spot voided by Ellis, and losing Moreno won't hurt as the Bombers have a lot of middle linebackers. After losing two top linemen in Alex Gauthier and Dominic Picard, the Bombers signed Steve Morley and Glen January as replacements. These two linemen may help void the spots filled by the departed Gauthier and Picard, but they are nowhere close to equal. Winnipeg also acquired Brock Ralph from Edmonton for safety Jason Nugent. All in all, Winnipeg has done a lot in free agency, yet little to solve their glaring weaknesses. With enormous salaries, plenty of players changing teams, and some surprising trades, this years free agency period lived up to the hype and paved the way for future free agency's. The wealthy BC Lions played it conservatively, while Edmonton and Toronto weren't afraid to open up their wallets and secure big name players. If anything, this free agency period has given us a better idea of what to expect next season. Jon "This is our League" |
Show Me the Money! - 09/02/2009 |
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"Where a big name free agent will sign could largely come down to whether a manager with the big money is willing to take a chance and shell out the big bucks"
Well it is still the off-season, and while fans may have already entered into a deep state of hibernation, they may be interested in breaking out of their winter slumber as the deadline for free agency fast approaches. While free agency in the CFL may not be as significant as the NFL's, (where players change teams like they change their pants) it is nonetheless a significant moment in an otherwise dullish off-season. This year the list of potential free agents is impressive. With the change in the salary cap the free agency period is shaping up to be very active. There are a lot of hard hitting players available, a few skilled defensive specialists and perhaps even the odd playmaker. Managers need to decide how they can best suit the needs of their team, while staying under the salary cap. Where a big name free agent will sign could largely come down to whether a manager with the big money is willing to take a chance and shell out the big bucks. With that being said, here is a look at five free agents, and which teams have the best chances of nabbing them. Maurice Lloyd (middle linebacker) Lloyd is arguably the most proven free agent in the market. Over the last couple of years he has been a force in the Roughriders defense, stepping in as the middle linebacker. The most impressive skill Lloyd posses is his leadership. He has the ability to lead his defense while shutting down the running game. Most recently, Lloyd was considered to be the second choice after Cameron Wake to be the Defensive Player of the Year. Lloyd will definitely attract some suitors when free agency starts. Potential Suitors: BC Lions: One of the worst kept secrets in football has been the fact that the BC Lions have actively been pursuing free agent Maurice Lloyd. When it comes to the free agency period BC has a couple of advantages. They have lost a lot of players and coincidentally have tons of money to spend. BC released linebacker Otis Floyd, lost Jamall Johnson to the NFL, and are left with erratic Javier Glatt. BC boasts a fairly solid defensive backfield, but they could use some help in their front seven. Lloyd would shore up the defense. BC could be an attractive destination for Lloyd because they would likely be able to offer the most money, and Lloyd would be joining a proven defense. Edmonton Eskimos: With the release of Augstin Barranchea, Edmonton finds themselves without a solid middle linebacker. For a defense that is struggling to find their identity, Lloyd could be the thing that pushes them over the top. Edmonton could also have an inside track on signing Maurice Lloyd. They too could offer him a significant raise and he would have the chance to be a leader. Of course there is the Ritchie Hall factor as well. Lloyd may be inclined to join his former defensive guru in Edmonton. The Upper hand: Both boasting similar reasons for signing Maurice Lloyd, the decision may come down to money. If that is the case, BC would have the advantage as they would likely have more to spend. Jesse Lumsden (running back) He is not yet a superstar, yet there is a lot of intrigue surrounding where Lumsden will sign. While at first it appeared he may re-sign in Hamilton, this now appears very unlikely. The injury prone back has never rushed for a 1000 yards, and while he has shown he can be a dominant home run hitter; the injuries are just too hard to ignore. When healthy, Lumsden is a grade A running back and for that reason will grab a lot of attention come free agency. Potential Suitors: Edmonton Eskimos: It is once again no secret that Jesse Lumsden may in fact be signing with the Edmonton Eskimos. Edmonton's running game was up and down last season but they still struggled to find consistency. Since Edmonton has a potent passer in Ricky Ray, the sky would the limit if they had a big play running back like Lumsden. Edmonton does have a good back in Calvin McCarty, who could add some insurance if Lumdsen were to fall to injury. Toronto Argonauts: If you looked closely enough last season, you could almost see a glimpse of Toronto's running game. In a year full of struggles on offense, the running game was non existent. With Dominque Dorsey now gone, the team is in desperate need for a running back. Who better to turn to than the man who seems to torch Toronto's defense. With Kerry Joseph, Arland Bruce and Jesse Lumdsen, Toronto could perhaps improve on their porous offense of last season. The Upper hand: Sadly, though Toronto is in the most need of him, Lumdsen will likely sign in Edmonton. There has been so much talk of Lumdsen becoming an Eskimo and Lumdsen isn't likely to sign with the mess that is that Argonauts. This signing could come down to who is willing to shell out some bills. Brandon Guillory (defensive end) Sometimes pressure is the best defense, so when there is a decent free agent defensive end on the market, their services will always be fought for. Guillory's nine sacks in 14 games cannot be ignored and he could help bolster any team's pass rush. It appears Guillory is angry with Edmonton and could be open to any team. Potential Suitors: Saskatchewan Roughriders: Looking to make another Grey Cup push, the Roughriders have already added Jason Clermont on offense and re-signed a number of free agents. That being said, the team is in need of a solid pass rusher. John Chick is a good defensive end but injuries saw his play slow last season. If Saskatchewan makes no other moves in free agency, signing Brandon Guillory could be enough. Saskatchewan could potentially offer Guillory a solid contract if they are not planning on signing anyone else. BC Lions: With Cameron Wake's departure to the NFL, the BC Lions may be in need of a new defensive end. Since they have the money at their disposal, BC could make a generous offer to Guillory. In last season's run to the Western Final, pressure played a huge part in BC's success on defense. The Upper hand: It is to anyone's guess where Brandon Guillory will sign, but if it comes down to money; BC could have the upper hand. BC may not be interested in signing a lineman, and one has to believe that the Roughriders will look to shore up one of their weak positions. Willie Pile (outside linebacker) In a free agent crop filled with talented linebackers, Willie Pile is a smart choice. Pile led the Toronto Argonauts in tackles with 72 last season. Though he may be priced a bit higher than other linebackers, Pile may be worth the money. Pile will likely find many suitors come free agency, especially from teams looking to shore up their front seven. Potential Suitors: BC Lions: With their spending money, BC will likely be included in many of the talks surrounding free agents. The Lions front seven has been devastated this off-season, particularly their linebacking core. If the Lions can't sign Maurice Lloyd, or even if they do, Pile could be a starting linebacker for them. Toronto Argonauts: Perhaps the biggest competition for Pile will come from his previous team. Toronto's line backing core could use some help, and they wouldn't be wise to let their leading tackler go. The Upper hand: Pile may get a few offers, but Toronto will likely be quick to sign one of their stars on defense. With an aging linebacking core, Pile would be a tough loss to swallow. Walter Spencer (special team's player) Walter Spencer has been one of the most successful special team's players over recent years. The special teams demon' has earned a reputation as a hard hitter and he is constantly downfield first on kick-offs. In a league where field position is everything, Spencer could be a good addition to any team. Potential Suitors: Winnipeg Blue Bombers: The Blue Bombers hope to contend for the Grey Cup this season, and they need to shore up some positions. Winnipeg struggled in all phases of special teams and Walter Spencer could help sure up the coverage team. Toronto Argonauts: As aforementioned, Toronto is a mess and they should embrace any chance they have to add a solid player to their team. The Upper hand: Walter Spencer is also a wildcard, and it is really impossible to determine where he will sign. What it will come down to is who is willing to shell out more money for a solid special team's player. While big name players like Rob Murphy, Anton Mackenzie and Anthony Calvillo were not mentioned in this list their destinations are basically set in stone. Rob Murphy is close to signing with the Hamilton Tiger Cats, Anton Mackenzie and Sean Lucas have both reportedly re-signed with Saskatchewan and Anthony Calvillo will either retire or rejoin Montreal. Keep your eyes glued to the TV or computer screen, because this free agency period could be crazy. Jon "This is our League" |
Momentum - 30/01/2009 |
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"Remember the Lions losing to the Riders in the playoffs despite posting a 14-3-1 record, or Montreal stringing together long winning streaks early in previous seasons only to fade off into the distance. These teams both suffered because their momentum disappeared and landed into the hands of their eager opponents."
Momentum is a funny thing in sports. It alone can propel weaker teams over stronger teams, lead a team on a long winning streak, and change the outcome of a game. Momentum can be spurred by turnovers, big plays on offense, or even something as minuscule as a solid tackle. If anyone doubts that momentum is a large part of the CFL, then how else can we explain some of the events that have unfolded in seasons past? Remember the Lions losing to the Riders in the playoffs despite posting a 14-3-1 record, or Montreal stringing together long winning streaks early in previous seasons only to fade off into the distance. These teams both suffered because their momentum disappeared and landed into the hands of their eager opponents. Putting together a solid roster, combined with a solid coaching staff is only half the battle in the CFL. Because while putting together long winning streaks or posting the top record in the league is good, if your team has no momentum going into the post season, you are finished. To further analyze this point, we need look no further back than last season. The Winnipeg Blue Bombers were practically proclaimed Grey Cup Champions before the season started. As training camp progressed, the mood started to change. After Doug Berry's questionable motivation tactics, something seemed to be wrong with the Bombers. Winnipeg started off the season on a losing note and never really recovered. They started to lose with a consistency that angered fans. For a team that had been so motivated to get back to the Grey Cup after their loss to the Riders, the Bombers lost their momentum early on. While Winnipeg did make the playoffs in a weak Eastern Division, they were never the same team once they came out of training camp. In the West, momentum was regularly up for grabs. Every team made the playoffs and there was a constant jousting for position. Saskatchewan started the season off with an impressive winning streak, riding their momentum to the top of the west. Then injuries caused them to make some bad decisions. Saskatchewan traded for erratic quarterback Michael Bishop from Toronto, a move that can be directly attributed to their downfall. The Riders would never be the same team after the trade. They seemed to lose the momentum from their long winning streak and Bishop's inconsistency led them to defeat in the playoffs. The BC Lions lost out on a home playoff game in the last game of the season, which turned out to be the wake up call they needed. BC went into Saskatchewan, taking on the role Saskatchewan usually took, underdog. BC rode this momentum, and stunned the Riders at home. The two teams that made the Grey Cup were perhaps the most successful at maintaining their momentum. The Montreal Alouttes once again devoured a weak eastern division on route to another first place finish. Montreal did have some lengthy winning streaks yet they were able to maintain their momentum throughout the season. They wanted desperately to win the Grey Cup for Anthony Calvillo. After Edmonton crossed over and beat Winnipeg at home, Montreal faced Edmonton in the Eastern Semi-Final. Edmonton gave them a little scare, but Montreal staged off their rally and advanced. Much like it had done in Saskatchewan, the signing of a new coach in Calgary was just what the doctor ordered. The coaching staff helped Burris and the offense become more consistent. The biggest improvement however was in the defense. The defense had regularly struggled but quickly became the best in the league. Calgary had a lot of momentum early on as they fought for first place all season, and were able to maintain this momentum late in the season. Calgary beat the Lions in the Western Final and advanced to Montreal to play the Al's. In the Grey Cup game, Calgary beat the Montreal Alouttes thanks to the fact that they were able to build and keep their momentum. Calgary's defense stuffed Montreal's potent offense. One that consisted of star running back Avon Cobourne, veteran quarterback Anthony Calvillo with his dangerous receivers Jamal Richardson, Kerry Watkins and Ben Cahoon. The offense did what they needed to get the job done. It is funny to note that the team that won the Grey Cup was the team that never lost their momentum. Calgary had suffered many playoff disappointments, and used this as motivation. Calgary rode their momentum all the way to the playoffs, and even though they didn't have easy games, they got the job done. It just goes to show that anything can happen in the CFL. With all of the upsets we have seen in even the last couple of years, it just goes to show that on any given day, the team that captures the momentum may in fact be victorious. Jon "This is our League" |
Out With the Old In With the New - 21/01/2009 |
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"Teams may be realizing that for two years in a row, and three out of the last four seasons, rookie head coaches have guided their teams to Grey Cup victories."
Now that Toronto has finally found their head coach in Bart Andrus, all of the void head coaching positions have been filled. Andrus will join a large class of rookie head coaches in the CFL. Hamilton, Winnipeg and Edmonton all have new head coaches adding an intrigue to the upcoming season. In a game where winning is so important, general managers have shown that they want a head coach that will generate success and not mediocrity. Once the hiring of a new head coach is announced and the coach talks to the media about how excited he is to be the head coach, the real work begins. The coach has to hire a coaching staff, evaluate the players he has or would like to have on his roster, and start implementing a system that will generate success for his franchise. How the new head coaches will do this year is anybodies guess, but what we do know is what they will have to work with. Marcel Bellefeuille: Head Coach of the Hamilton Tiger Cats The Resume: After a successful career coaching the Ottawa Gee Gee's, Marcel Bellefeuille made the jump to the CFL as he became an assistant in Saskatchewan. He would later become the teams offensive coordinator and led developed a solid running team while he was there. Bellefeuille then served for one year as Montreal's offensive coordinator before coming Hamilton's offensive coordinator. When Charlie Taafe was fired Hamilton, Bellefeuille became the interim head coach and after the season was done, he became the permanent head coach. The Work Ahead Bellefeuille has been known throughout his career for developing strong rushing offenses. While this is unusual for the CFL game, it has seemed to work for him. With Jesse Lumdsen, Terry Caulley, Kenton Keith or youngster Tre Smith getting carries, the new coach could potentially develop a dangerous running game which would take pressure off of the inconsistent passing game. While Bellefeuille has a lot of pressure on him, he'll need help from the management to help bolster Hamilton's roster. If no help comes, then he'll have to develop the team into a winner as it is. Perhaps if anything, Bellefeuille needs to change the losing attitude that has spread through the organization over the last number of years. Mike Kelly: Head Coach of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers The Resume Mike Kelly has had a very successful coaching career, in the NFL, CFL and college level. After coaching college ball for 5 years, Kelly joined Winnipeg as their offensive coordinator in 1992 and served until 1996. After a long period out of the CFL, Kelly was reunited with the league when he became Edmonton's receiving coach in 2008. Following the fire of erratic head coach Doug Berry, Winnipeg decided to reunite Kelly with his old team and named him the head coach. Kelly has had a productive career and he helped lead Winnipeg to 29 club records. The Work Ahead Unlike Bellefeuille, Kelly is inheriting a roster that is in fairly decent shape. Winnipeg was favoured to win the Grey Cup last season, but do to reasons such as chemistry and injuries, finished under 500. The Bombers boast a talented offense and Kelly should be able to make them more productive. Kelly has already started changing the crappy attitude the Bombers seemed to have under Doug Berry last season. He has not thrown Kevin Glenn under the bus; instead stating that with some pressure taken off of him Glenn will be more successful. For a team that is in no ways entering a rebuilding year, Mike Kelly could be the difference. Ritchie Hall: Head Coach of the Edmonton Eskimos The Resume A former all-star player for the Saskatchewan Roughriders, Hall has served much of his coaching career with his former team. Starting in 2001, Ritchie Hall became the defensive coordinator in Saskatchewan and found success. Hall developed a powerful defensive system in Saskatchewan that has helped turn the defense into one of the best. Hall's defense's always seemed to stop the run and come up with big plays in the secondary when they needed it. After several failed attempts at becoming a head coach, Ritchie Hall was finally hired as a head coach in Edmonton, becoming the team's first African American coach. The Work Ahead Edmonton was part of the western dominance last season, and made the playoffs as a crossover team. While it may appear Edmonton may be on the rise after missing the playoffs for two of the last three seasons, there are still some question marks. Kelly Campbell and Jason Tucker will not be playing for the Eskimos this season. Campbell, who emerged as a solid vertical threat, has fled to the NFL and Tucker, who suffered that heartbreaking injury, will remain with the team as a receivers coach. With less talent on the offense, Ritchie Hall will have to develop a solid offensive game plan. The biggest questions with Hall's hiring, is how a defensive coordinator will adjust to his new role. If Stubler's disaster in Toronto is any indication, it could be a long season for the Eskimos. Bart Andrus: Head Coach of the Toronto Argonauts The Resume Bart Andrus has coached for a variety teams during his tenure. After starting with some high schools and smaller colleges earlier in his career, Andrus became an offensive assistant with the Argonauts in 1997. Following a one year stint, he moved onto NFL Europe before returning to the Titans last season. Andrus has had a history of success in his offenses and has been interviewed for NFL head coaching jobs, which he turned down. When Toronto offered Andrus the head coaching position, he was eager to accept. The Work Ahead I warned you Bart Andrus! Despite his resume, Andrus will have no easy task repairing the sinking ship that is the Toronto Argonauts. Toronto's offense was inconsistent, with little running game and a mediocre passing game. Perhaps Andrus will be able to mentor fellow quarterback Kerry Joseph and help him become the dominate quarterback he can be. Andrus' move is yet another example of a coach coming down from the states and coaching the CFL. Though in Andrus' case, he seems to know it won't be easy. The success of these new head coaches will be truly measured after the season ends. While it may be a rarity to have so many new head coaches in the league, it could be that teams are realizing a trend. Teams may be realizing that for two years in a row, and three out of the last four, rookie head coaches have guided their teams to Grey Cup victories. Perhaps a rookie head coach can give a team that extra push to become champions. I guess only time will tell how these new coaches will do in their first seasons as head coaches. Jon "This is our League" |
The Hamilton Next Years - 16/01/2009 |
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The Tiger Cats have become the "Bad News Bears" of the CFL
After capturing the Grey Cup in 1999, the Hamilton Tiger Cats fortunes have faded faster than our government's credibility. To say the Tiger Cats have struggled in the twenty first century is the understatement of the century. The Tabbies have only made the playoffs three times since 1999, all the while treating their fans to 1, 3, 4 and 5 win seasons. Sadly, the Tiger Cats have become the "Bad News Bears" of the CFL. Season after season, the Tiger Cats have appeared to have potential, only to slowly fade off in the distance. Fans have learned to adopt the slogan, "Next Year", when it comes to their team. The team's problems have been numerous in account, and little has been done to fix them. Hamilton has not had a true pivot since Danny McManus, and management has failed not only to develop a strong defense, but when they do find a good player, they've let him get away. So, where does one begin when dissecting the Hamilton Tiger Cats? Poor Coaching Following a disastrous 2003 season, university coach Greg Marshall was brought in to right the ship. The Tiger Cats did improve from their 1-17 season and finished 9-8. However they were quickly eliminated from the playoffs by the Toronto Argonauts. The next season, the Tiger Cats finished 5-13 under Marshall and once again missed the playoffs. The Tiger Cats missed the playoffs again the next year and Marshall was fired. Throughout his tenure, Marshall struggled to generate success. He was not able to orchestrate any kind of a running game and Hamilton's game plan became very predictable. After Ron Lancaster filled in as an interim head coach, Charlie Taafe became the next head coach. In his first year, the team finished 3-15 and 3-15 again the next year. Taafe struggled in much the same areas that Marshall did with perhaps a more promising roster than Marshall had. Taafe was let go during last season and now former Saskatchewan Roughriders offensive coordinator Marcel Bellefuile is the new head coach. Will Bellefuile have success? Rider fans often critical Marcel for his lack of creativity when it came to calling plays, but it does seem like he has gained the confidence of his team. Only time will tell. Poor Playing When searching through the all-stars in the last couple of years, one team is consistently absent from the list, the Hamilton Tiger Cats. The tabbies have pretty much been missing every element required to win. The team hasn't had a star receiver since Darren Flutie a star quarterback since Danny MacManus, and inconsistent play from the offensive line and running backs. In the all important pivot position, the Tiger Cats have tried players such as Jason Maas, Marcus Brady, Casey Printers and Rocky Butler to replace Danny MacManus but none have worked. Whoever the quarterback has been, they have been plagued by the offense line. The line has not been able to offer protection to the pivot, making it hard to get a passing game going. The line has also struggled to run block which has really hindered Hamilton's offence. On the defensive side, Hamilton has had fairly solid play from the front seven but the secondary gives up too many big plays. Poor Management Losing can be blamed the players and the coaches, but some blame can also be laid on the shoulders of the manager. As the Cats suffered through losing season after losing season, the management has consistently failed to bring in enough players to make Hamilton competitive. The Management has beaten badly in trades. The team traded away Troy Davis to Edmonton a couple of seasons back which helped the Eskimos win the Grey Cup, and in return got an aging Jason Maas, who struggled with the Tiger Cats. Marcel Desjardins served for one season with the Tiger Cats and he too made some costly mistakes. Desjardins traded receiver DJ Flick and Wayne Smith to Saskatchewan for quarterback Rocky Butler. Butler was soon released where as DJ Flick finished tied for the league lead in touchdown catches and Wayne Smith emerged as a starter on the offensive line. Desjardins also traded away defensive backs Jason Goss (Edmonton) and Tad Kornegay (Saskatchewan). Goss is now a ball hawking all-star halfback in Edmonton and Kornegay has also begun to emerge as a possible starter. Desjardins not only lost most of his trades but he released players that went on to have success. Kamau Peterson was released from Hamilton and signed on with Edmonton and he became the comeback player of the year in the CFL. Throw in the fact that Desjardins signed Casey Printers to a large contract and it is little wonder why Hamilton has been losing. Even new general manger Bob O'Billovich has made some questionable calls. He traded away all-star Zeke Moreno for a potential offensive lineman and a first round draft pick. What needs to be done? Hamilton has not shown any improvement over the last couple of seasons and they will need to add some serious talent to keep their team competitive. Hamilton is over crowded at the quarterback position and the running back position. Casey Printers needs to be released, leaving Richie Williams and Quinton Porter to battle it out for the starting position. Jesse Lumsden has become injury prone and Hamilton should go another direction. The team still has Terry Caulley, Tre Smith and Kenton Keith. Hamilton's roster is shaping up decently. Besides their offensive line, their offense is shaping up decently. Their front seven doesn't need a lot of change so Hamilton needs to focus on their offensive line in the draft and possibly some defensive backs. Hopefully for the fans, the players and the league, Hamilton will finally have some success in the 2009 season. Jon "This is our League" |
Memories of Pigskin III - 09/01/2009 |
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With the New Year under way, we now embark on a new journey and a new football season as we enter into 2009. And it was another memorable season. Burris was happy, Doug Berry was angry and the Hamilton Tiger Cats once again were lonely during the playoffs. In this third and final special edition of CFL Buzz, join me in looking ahead to next season, as I list my top ten predictions for next season.
A new season is bound to bring changes. Will this year be the year the Grey Cup Champion repeats? The Calgary Stampeders could have a shot as most of their roster and coaching staff will be returning. Will the broken record that has been the Hamilton Tiger Cats finally end with a successful season? After yet another Grey Cup loss, what will the future hold for Anthony Calvillo and the Allouttes? These are some of the questions puzzling fans as anticipation for next season mounts. 1) Close but no Cigar The Hamilton Tiger Cats will not make the playoffs. Montreal is still the class of the East and Winnipeg has the players they need to be successful. Hamilton's only chance would be to finish third but then they also have to contend with the powerful Western Division. 2) The West is Best The new season will bring more success to the West, as all four teams will make the playoffs. Saskatchewan and Calgary will battle for top spots and either BC or Edmonton will cross over to the east. 3) Super Slots Saskatchewan's receiving core will become the best in the league. The combination of Andy Fantuz, Weston Dressler and Jason Clermont inside will be a marvel to see. Robb Bagg, Chris Getzlaf or Matt Dominquez will be solid on the outside. 4) Toronto in Trouble Whoever manages to nab the head-coaching job in Toronto will be in for a looong season. Toronto is a mess and their defense got destroyed last season and their offense was far too inconsistent to win games. 5) Home for the Grey Cup Unlike Montreal did last season; Calgary will not make it to the Grey Cup in their hometown. The Grey Cup Champion once again will not repeat. 6) Burris wins MOP While many teams around the league have multi dimensional offenses with many different players who can contribute, Calgary will continue to rely on Henry Burris on offense. Burris will have a good year and finally capture the MOP award. 7) The rest of the awards Maurice Lloyd will win Defense Player of the Year (though we're not sure with whom), Andy Fantuz will win most Outstanding Canadian, and Dominque Dorsey will once again capture the special teams award. I'm still undecided on the Outstanding Lineman and Rookie. 8) New Look Lions The BC Lions will struggle to stay in the West this season, as they will be without, Jamall Johsnon, Cameron Wake or Otis Floyd. 9) Jobs are Safe No coaches will be fired in the regular season. There are three new coaches in the east and one in the West. There will be a grace period for these coaches. 10) 2009 Grey Cup Champions The Saskatchewan Roughriders will capture the 2009 Grey Cup over the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. It was a heck of season last year and hopefully the next one will bring fond memories. Thanks for joining me in reflecting on the season that was as we all wait for a new one to begin. Jon "This is our League" |
Memories of Pigskin II - 03/01/2009 |
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With the New Year under way, we now embark on a new journey and a new football season as we enter into 2009. And it was another memorable season. Burris was happy, Doug Berry was angry and the Hamilton Tiger Cats once again were lonely during the playoffs. In this second special edition of CFL Buzz, join me in reflecting on the season that was, as we focus on the top defensive players from 2008.
The Western teams were far more dominate than the Eastern teams in defense, much like they were in offense. BC's defense played solidly during the season led by all-star Cameron Wake and their star studded secondary. Saskatchewan's defense was in top form, despite the fact that they suffered so many injuries. The biggest surprise how ever was Calgary and Edmonton's defense, which improved greatly from the previous years. In the east, Toronto's once vaunted defense practically handed out invitations to the end zone and Winnipeg and Hamilton suffered similar fates. When evaluating the top ten defensive players of the year some easy choices will emerge, while others may take a bit more thought. Here are the top defensive players of the year. 1) Cameron Wake Cameron's Wake contribution to the Lions defense cannot be described by stats, but they do help. Wake's 23 sacks were not only impressive; they just cemented Wake's all-star status. Wake was also a huge force in stopping the run and getting into the quarterbacks passing lanes. 2) Maurice Lloyd Lloyd once again was the solid force in the middle for the Saskatchewan Roughriders. He had to play injured for much of the season, but it did not slow Lloyd down. Lloyd finished the season with 73 tackles and five sacks, but more importantly, was a leader for the Riders defense. 3) Mike Labinjo Switching off between middle linebacker and defensive end, the versatile Mike Labinjo had 33 tackles and 5 sacks. Though his stats may not be "glamorous", Labinjo was one of the driving forces on an improved Calgary Stampeder defense. 4) Chris Thompson There were, once again, few things to celebrate if you were a Tiger Cats fan, but defensive back Chris Thompson had to be one of them. Thompson quietly recorded nine interceptions and was arguably the most valuable player on the Tiger Cats roster. 5) Jason Goss Goss made plenty of highlight plays this season. Goss had five interceptions and returned two for touchdowns. His big plays helped Edmonton improve over the duration of the season. 6) Anton Mackenzie Few players could claim the football smarts of Anton Mackenzie. In his first year as a starter, Mackenzie cemented himself as a solid player and a key part of Saskatchewan's dominating line-backing core. Mackenzie finished the season with 68 tackles, 1 sack, and two interceptions. 7) Baron Miles Few players have seemed to stay as consistent as Baron Miles. Miles finished the season tied for the league lead with 9 interceptions and added 47 tackles. 8) Doug Brown Brown's nomination for Most Outstanding Defensive Player may have been questionable, but he did have a solid year. The defensive tackle did accumulate 43 tackles and six sacks. 9) Zeke Moreno Moreno once again led the league in tackles, but unfortunately his two teams, Winnipeg and Hamilton both struggled on defense. Despite his team's struggles, Moreno was a strong force in the middle all season long. 10) Sean Lucas The third Rider linebacker on the list also left his mark this season. Lucas finished behind only Moreno with 95 tackles. His skills against the run but more importantly the pass were vital. There were definitely some memorable defensive moments this season. Join me in the final edition, as I give the top ten expectations for next season. Jon "This is our League" |
Memories of Pigskin - 28/12/2008 |
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With Christmas past, a new year fast approaches. We now embark on a new journey and a new football season as we enter into 2009. And it was another memorable season. Burris was happy, Doug Berry was angry and the Hamilton Tiger Cats once again were lonely during the playoffs. In the next three columns of CFL Buzz, join me in reflecting on the season that was, as I name the top ten offensive and defensive players and the top ten expectations for next season.
Offenses around the league took somewhat of a beating this season. Injuries plagued star players, and quarterback controversies ruined the play of others. Yet, fans were still able to enjoy a lot of high scoring games. With that being said, here are the top ten offensive players of the year: 10) Kelly Campbell Campbell was sixth in the league in receiving yardage, but he was still one of the most dangerous deep threats in the league. Campbell averaged a league best 22.6 yards, showing why Edmonton loved to stretch the field with him. 9) Avon Cobourne Much like Cates, Cobourne may have been the MOP had it not been for injuries. Cobourne rushed for 950 yards and 6 touchdowns, but also contributed greatly in the running game. Cobourne, who was picked as a starter over Jarret Payton, quickly emerged as a multi-dimensional back in Montreal. 8) Kenyon Rambo It was another good year for Rambo as he continued to play at an all-star level. Rambo had 1473 yards and became Henry Burris's favourite target. Rambo consistently torched opposing corner backs as Calgary captured the Grey Cup. 7) Joffrey Reynolds It took him a while, but Reynolds finally captured the rushing title. Reynolds rushed for 1310 yards and 10 touchdowns, giving balance to a Stampeders offense. Reynolds may have had his best all around year, as he stepped up in the playoffs and avoided costly turnovers. 6) Weston Dressler While sixth may be a bit high for Dressler, there is no doubting that he was so valuable to Saskatchewan's offence. During an injury-plagued season, Dressler was sometimes the only valuable asset to the Riders offense, yet he still managed to produce. Dressler finished with 1123 yards and six touchdowns. He was the only Rider receiver with over 500 yards. 5) Jamal Richardson Richardson didn't lead the league in receiving, but he was one of the hardest receivers to cover this season. After a failed NFL training camp, Richardson found a home in Montreal and he soon became the comeback story of the year. Richardson's 16 touchdowns were tops in the league and he became one of Montreal's top receivers. 4) Wes Cates He came in second in the rushing title, but Wes Cates was one of the most dominant offensive players this season. Cates may very well have been the MOP if he had not been injured. As it is, Cates still finished with 1229 yards and 12 touchdowns. Cates had the ability to carry the Riders on his back when they were struggling, which he did on several occasions. 3) Ricky Ray Whether winning or losing, Ray always seems to put up amazing stats. He finished at the top of most passing categories, but his Eskimos failed to win against Montreal in the Eastern Semi-Final. Ray, who had been known for throwing the short crossing patterns, showed the ability to spread the field this season. Combined with the help of some improved receivers and a solid run game, Edmonton's offence improved greatly. 2) Henry Burris Burris may not have picked up any hardware at the player awards, but he picked up the only thing that matters, the Grey Cup. Burris finally silence his critics and won two games in the playoffs. They weren't perfect, but they were wins. With a new coaching staff, Burris flourished. He cut down his turnovers and helped lead Calgary's talented offense. 1) Anthony Calvillo Calvillo showed all season long that he was still at the top of his game. Despite Burris's complaints, Calvillo was a deserving MOP recipient. Anthony Calvillo may have lost in the Grey Cup, but his stats were still better than Burris. He threw for more yards, touchdowns and fewer interceptions than Burris and had a higher rating. The tandem of Calvillo, Cahoon, Richardson and Watkins reeked havoc around the league. In the next edition of CFL Buzz: Memories of Pigskin, I will evaluate the top ten defensive players, stay tune! Jon "This is our League" |
Where are they now? - 22/12/2008 |
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Even the most heartless, insensitive person in the world has to feel for the city of Ottawa, at least when it comes to football. The many failed attempts at sustaining a football franchise have only confirmed that Ottawa simply may not be destined to have a CFL Team (Thanks Gliebermans). Let's just say, Ottawa has had as much success keeping their football team in the league as Britney Spears has had keeping sane.
While watching a tape of the Western Semi Final from 2006 (when Saskatchewan beat Calgary) I remembered that it was in that year that Ottawa folded from the league, and we acquired Kerry Joseph and Jason Armstead along with a handful of other players in the dispersal draft. Some players prospered for their new teams, such as Kerry Joseph and Korey Banks, and others quickly withered, like Cam Yeow and Cory Hathaway. With Ottawa on the verge of a new franchise in 2010, let's take a look at where some of the former Ottawa Renegades are now. Kerry Joseph: Acquired with the first pick by Saskatchewan Kerry Joseph was one of the few players taken in the draft to have success and is arguably the greatest former Renegade. The Riders gave up Scott Gordon and Corey Holmes to get him but it payed off. Joseph started in 2006 for the Saskatchewan Roughriders and helped the team upset Calgary in the Western Semi-Final. The team lost to BC in the Western Final, but it was still a successful season. The next year, under the tutelage of Kent Austin, Joseph was named the League M0P and helped the Roughriders win the Grey Cup. Joseph spent the next year with Toronto Argonauts, and though they did not make the playoffs, his stats were respectable. Ibrahim Khan: Acquired with the second pick by Winnipeg Selected in the dispersal draft to help sure up their offensive line, Khan proved to be a valuable asset for the Bombers. In 2006, Khan started every game and was received the Bombers nomination for top offensive lineman. Jason Armstead: Acquired with the third pick by Saskatchewan Saskatchewan needed a receiver, and with Corey Holmes gone to Hamilton, a returner. The Riders were hoping that Armstead could bring some excitement to their offense, and he did to some extent. Armstead had 651 yards and 6 touchdowns, which was a far cry from his 1307 yards he had in 2005. The next season, Armstead's play began to drop. He had never really provided for Saskatchewan in the return game and he had begun to complain about his playing time. Armstead was traded to Hamilton. Cam Yeow: Acquired with the fourth pick by Calgary This pick was definitely one of the most questionable in the early stages of the draft. Cam Yeow was brought in to help Calgary's linebackers but made no impact for the Stampeders. Looking back, fans no doubt will wonder why the team picked Yeow over players such as Kai Ellis and Korey Banks. Yeow is no longer with the team. Val St. Germain: Acquired with the fifth pick by Winnipeg Germain was also added by the Bombers to help sure up the offensive line. While he provided some depth, he was not an impact player. Germain would play one season with the Bombers, then the Roughriders before retiring. Korey Banks: Acquired with the sixth pick by BC I think it is a fair to say a few teams are scratching their heads after passing on Banks. Banks was a ball hawking defensive back in Ottawa and continued his trend in BC. In three seasons with the Lions, Banks has recorded 17 interceptions and three touchdowns. He won a Grey Cup with the Lions in his first year but more importantly helped turn BC's defense into a dominant unit. Banks is still playing at a high level for BC. Kai Ellis: Acquired with the seventh pick by Montreal Ellis emerged as a pretty dominant defensive player for Montreal. His 75 tackles in 2006 were second on the team and he provided pressure on the quarterback. In the next season, he played only 11 games but still had 39 tackles. Ellis signed with Winnipeg in 2008. Anthony Collier: Acquired with the eight pick by Edmonton This pick could be put right up there with Cam Yeow. Collier attended Edmonton training camp but was cut. He signed with the Hamilton Tiger Cats and recorded five sacks. Collier is no longer in the league. Throughout the rest of the draft, there were no real players that made a huge impact on their teams. Markus Howell (taken in second round) has been a pretty solid return man for Calgary and D'Wayne Taylor (taken in third round) has developed into a good linebacker for Montreal. When all is said and done, Ottawa was starting to put the pieces together. Unfortunately, poor management drove them into the ground. Hopefully when 2010 rolls around, Ottawa will get started on the right foot, and being to develop their football identity once again. Jon "This is our League" |
Potential Head Coaches Beware - 18/12/2008 |
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With the Eskimos signing Richie Hall as their new head coach, the Toronto Argonauts remain the only team without a head coach. And whether its Mike Benevides, George Cortez or even Danny Barrett, they will have no easy task. The Toronto Argonauts are coming off an awful season, in which they were about as consistent as the Toronto Maple Leafs, Blue Jays, and Raptors. Simply put, the Toronto Argonauts are a mess. Any potential head coach should very carefully consider just what he is getting into. While it may be tempting to move up to the head coaching ranks, becoming the head coach of Toronto may very well be the last thing they ever do! Just ask former head coach Rich Stubler. Stubler was at defensive coordinator for the Argonauts and the defense seemed to play well under him. He moved up to the coaching ranks last season, the Argonauts promptly missed the playoffs and Stubler was shown the door. With Stubler in a different role, the defense was flat out awful. What started out as a "bend but don't break" defense turned into a "bend and break" defense. Teams ran against the Argonauts, passed against them and put up points in bunches. And, just when you though it couldn't get any worse, they were almost swept by the dismal Tiger Cats. Unfortunately, the offense wasn't much better. What started off as a big signing in MOP Kerry Joseph turned into a disaster. Though his year-end stats were respectable, Kerry Joseph was in no way the Kerry Joseph that led the Riders to a Grey Cup. Of course, it didn't help that the offensive line, running backs and receivers all struggled. As bad as the Toronto Argonauts were, a good head coach could lead them in the right direction. And hey, things can only get better. With a skilled head coach in place, the Argonauts will need to focus on bringing in some players and drafting smartly. With two potential picks in the first round the Argonauts will have a chance to solidify their positions. The team is in need of offensive and defensive lineman desperately. In all honesty, the Argonauts may enter into a rebuilding year this season. With a new defensive scheme needed and some better play by the offense, the team may struggle once again. Now for a final word of advice for any potential head coaches out there. Be prepared for one heck of a ride. Jon "This is our League" |
That's Just Wally Being Wally - 16/12/2008 |
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CFL Buzz is a new column to RiderPrider.com, so I thought I would start off by introducing it. CFL Buzz will give fans a look around the CFL. Through breaking stories, analysis and previews, my hope is to offer an interesting read for fans of this great game. Hopefully my addition to the site will work out well, unlike Michael Bishop in Saskatchewan! Lastly, I would like to say I am honoured to write for RiderPrider and contribute to a great site. To say there has been a major overhaul in BC would be an understatement. Following a heartbreaking 22-18 loss to the Calgary Stampeders in the Western Final, Wally Buono has already been hard at work, making changes to his roster. Buono has already released veteran linebacker Otis Floyd and big bodied defensive tackle Tyrone Williams. Charles Roberts, who had been acquired in the Joe Smith trade, was also given the hook. But the most shocking release was that of Jason Clermont. The veteran, tough-as-nails receiver had been a dependable receiver for the Lions for six years. Combined with the fact that star defensive end Cameron Wake is likely heading to the NFL and the Lions may be plagued with salary cap issues, and opposing fans are already savouring BC's imminent demise. While BC will no doubt be a different team, I think we've learned you can never count out a Wally Buono team. Wally Buono has a regular season record of 227-112-3, holds the record for first place finishes, has won four Grey Cup's in eight appearances and recevied the CFL's Coach of the Year Award three times. That being said it is pretty hard to question anything that Wally Buono does. Besides being one of the most gifted offensive minds in the game, Buono has shown a distinct tendency to shake things up. Actions speak louder than words, and Buono has shown that if you are no longer playing to your potential, then your fired. In 2006 Buono released talented running back Antonio Warren, a shocking move. The reason? Buono believed that running back Joe Smith could carry the load. In 14 games with the team, he amassed 887 yards and 9 touchdowns, helping the team win the Grey Cup. In the next season, Smith broke a team record and rushed for 1,510 yards. So you can probably guess how Buono rewarded Smith the next year? He traded him away to Winnipeg. Once again, Buono believed that new running back Stefan Logan could get the job done. Logan rushed for 889 yards and averaged 7.3 yards a carry. Needless to say, if a players stock is dropping, Wally Buono will look to other options. Buono is hoping solid receiver Paris Jackson can develop into a star slotback and take over for Clermont. Otis Floyd and Tyrone Williams were solid players, but also aging therefore believed to be expendable. Though he is argubally one of the top coaches of all time, Wally Buono has still had his flaws. Buono's teams have developed bad reputations around the league and he is often irritable with reporters. In the 2004 Grey Cup game against Toronto, Buono decided to go with Dave Dickenson, instead of the current starter and hot-hand Casey Printers. Dickenson was rusty and the Lions lost the game. And though his latest moves seem reasonable, they will not nessecarily work out. Paris Jackson may turn out to be a star slotback, but now besides Geroy Simon, the team has no other proven receviers. With salary cap issues, the foregone conclusion that Cameron Wake will venture to the NFL, and aging players, the Lions will no doubt be a different team than they were last seeing. Of course with Buono calling the shots, you know that Lions could very well be competitive in next year's campaign. Because, though some of his moves may be questionable, that's just Wally being Wally. Jon |
