So I figured that since I'm introduced on the Rouge White and Blue podcast (found here: http://rougewhiteandblue.podbean.com/e/the-rouge-white-and-blue-cfl-podcast-episode-6/) as writing a blog here, I figured I should live up to that once in a while, right? Since I'm in the Christmas spirit, I thought I would share my CFL Christmas list with you, and hope Santa can come through! Here goes...
I want BC to start out hot next season, turning up the heat at BC Place and making the Lions a hot ticket in town.
I want Jon Cornish to be as happy and fulfilled in retirement as he was exciting on the field (and I want a Bo Levi Mitchell jersey, that guy is awesome!).
As a Bomber fan, I want Saskatchewan to do poorly, but I do want them to win their last game at Mosaic (assuming it's not against the Bombers, of course).
I want the Eskimo Empire to fill Commonwealth and show us all why Edmonton was once known as the City of Champions.
I want the Bombers to win the Grey Cup. Okay, I'll settle for a Grey Cup appearance? Fine, but please give us something to be proud of. Please?
I want a full season out of Zach Collaros, and in general, a healthier run for Hamilton.
I want BMO Field to be the home for he Argos that Rogers Centre never was.
I want Ottawa to find a successor to Henry Burris to give RNation something to root for for years to come.
For Montreal, I'd like a coach, because they don't seem to be able to find one.
And finally, I want the 2016 season to be the most exciting in league history!
I've been a really goo... Uh, I've been very goo... I've had an okay year, c'mon Santa, I'm counting on you!
Thursday, December 17, 2015
Monday, October 26, 2015
Longest streak of missing the postseason per franchise in CFL history
My earlier post got me thinking, which is always dangerous. I wondered two things. First, I wondered what the longest streak of missing the playoffs was. Second, I wondered what the longest streak for each team was.
Here's what I found out, using the creation of the CFL in 1958 as my start point.
BC 4 (1965-1968)
Calgary 6 (1972-1977)
Edmonton 4 (1962-1965)
Saskatchewan 11 (1977-1987)
Winnipeg 4 (1967-1970)
Hamilton 4 (2005-2008)
Toronto 5 (1962-1966)
Montreal 3 (1967-1969)
Ottawa 4 (Rough Riders 1986-1989 & Renegades (2002-2005)
I noticed a few things, besides the obvious. If there was a crossover in 1981, the longest streak would have been 6, as Saskatchewan was 6 wins better than Montreal, who made the playoffs that year. Second, the futility of Montreal and Ottawa in the 80's offset each other a bit, and both teams also had long absences that, had they continued to exist past the point they disappeared for a while, may have been more seasons of futility in a row.
I find it very interesting that 5 teams had their longest streak be 4, and 3 others had their longest streak right around there as well. If we lived in a fairer CFL universe, all teams would be around 3-6 seasons for their longest streaks.
My curiosity has led me down some interesting paths lately. Anything you're curious about? Let ,e know, and I'll see what I can dig up!
Here's what I found out, using the creation of the CFL in 1958 as my start point.
BC 4 (1965-1968)
Calgary 6 (1972-1977)
Edmonton 4 (1962-1965)
Saskatchewan 11 (1977-1987)
Winnipeg 4 (1967-1970)
Hamilton 4 (2005-2008)
Toronto 5 (1962-1966)
Montreal 3 (1967-1969)
Ottawa 4 (Rough Riders 1986-1989 & Renegades (2002-2005)
I noticed a few things, besides the obvious. If there was a crossover in 1981, the longest streak would have been 6, as Saskatchewan was 6 wins better than Montreal, who made the playoffs that year. Second, the futility of Montreal and Ottawa in the 80's offset each other a bit, and both teams also had long absences that, had they continued to exist past the point they disappeared for a while, may have been more seasons of futility in a row.
I find it very interesting that 5 teams had their longest streak be 4, and 3 others had their longest streak right around there as well. If we lived in a fairer CFL universe, all teams would be around 3-6 seasons for their longest streaks.
My curiosity has led me down some interesting paths lately. Anything you're curious about? Let ,e know, and I'll see what I can dig up!
4 in a Row: Missing the playoffs
You'd think in a league with only 9 teams, with 6 making the playoffs, that long streaks of missing the playoffs would be non-existent. Unfortunately for my Bombers, that's not the case. Barring a miracle, they will have missed the playoffs this year for the 4th time in a row. I did some quick research this afternoon, and that would be the third streak of 4 in a row since 2000.
Hamilton went 5-13 in 2005, followed by a 4-14 season in 2006, as well as back to back 3-15 seasons in 2007 and 2008.
The Ottawa Renegades existed for 4 years and missed the playoffs each year, finishing 4-14, 7-11, 5-13, and 7-11 again. They were crossed over on during their 7-11 seasons, adding a bit of bad luck to the equation.
If we go back just a bit further, Saskatchewan missed the playoffs every season from 1998-2001.
When I have more time, I will see if I can find longer streaks, but the good news for Bombers fans is that there haven been longer streaks for the past few decades. Maybe they're due next year? Here's hoping!
Hamilton went 5-13 in 2005, followed by a 4-14 season in 2006, as well as back to back 3-15 seasons in 2007 and 2008.
The Ottawa Renegades existed for 4 years and missed the playoffs each year, finishing 4-14, 7-11, 5-13, and 7-11 again. They were crossed over on during their 7-11 seasons, adding a bit of bad luck to the equation.
If we go back just a bit further, Saskatchewan missed the playoffs every season from 1998-2001.
When I have more time, I will see if I can find longer streaks, but the good news for Bombers fans is that there haven been longer streaks for the past few decades. Maybe they're due next year? Here's hoping!
Thursday, October 22, 2015
Worst to First?
I was listening to a great CFL podcast (there's a shocker for you) called the 2 and Out CFL Podcast today, and there was a brief discussion of Ottawa possibly going from worst team in the league to first place in their division. I've been looking for something interesting to blog about for some time now, although time hasn't been my friend lately, and figured that'd make a heck of a post.
I took a quick run through all the yearly standings from 1958 (the first year the league was officially the CFL) to the present, and what I found was actually a bit shocking to me. For all those seasons, for how few teams are in the league, and how fast the league can change, I found that only three teams had the worst record in the league one year and won their division (as in hosting the division final, a few teams lost tiebreakers for first, I did not count these teams) the next season. Of those, all three made it to the Grey Cup, but all three lost. Of them, only one ended up with the best record in the league after finishing with the worst record the year before.
The teams in question are the 1982 Toronto Argonauts (2-14 finish in 1981, 9-6-1 in 1982), the 1998 Hamilton Tiger-Cats (2-16 in 1997, 12-5-1 in 1998, best in the league), and the 2011 Winnipeg Blue Bombers (4-14 in 2010, 10-8 in 2011).
There you have it. I feel a little smarter now, and hopefully you do too.
I took a quick run through all the yearly standings from 1958 (the first year the league was officially the CFL) to the present, and what I found was actually a bit shocking to me. For all those seasons, for how few teams are in the league, and how fast the league can change, I found that only three teams had the worst record in the league one year and won their division (as in hosting the division final, a few teams lost tiebreakers for first, I did not count these teams) the next season. Of those, all three made it to the Grey Cup, but all three lost. Of them, only one ended up with the best record in the league after finishing with the worst record the year before.
The teams in question are the 1982 Toronto Argonauts (2-14 finish in 1981, 9-6-1 in 1982), the 1998 Hamilton Tiger-Cats (2-16 in 1997, 12-5-1 in 1998, best in the league), and the 2011 Winnipeg Blue Bombers (4-14 in 2010, 10-8 in 2011).
There you have it. I feel a little smarter now, and hopefully you do too.
Wednesday, October 7, 2015
Meet an American CFL Fan #3
Yes, yes, I know, I've been slacking at updating my blog. I have an excuse, but not a very good one. Now that that's out of the way, let's meet our next American CFL Fan! It's @CFLAmericanFan!
1. Thanks for agreeing to answer some questions for us today. To start off, tell us a bit about yourself!
I am a welder born and raised in Ohio. Mid 30's, married, one 11 year old son.
2. What attracted you to the CFL?
I grew up on the Cleveland Browns. Cried when they left, rejoiced when they returned. Cried most Sundays since. The only thing separating me from Canada is Lake Erie. When I was a boy, Joe Carter stopped being an Indian and became a Blue Jay. The infatuation was kindled. I went to Toronto in 7th grade on a field trip. I fell in love. Slowly, through baseball and hockey I became more and more aware of Canadian sports. Watched the World Junior hockey tournament every christmastime with my uncle, then the Brier. Love curling too. CHL came with the territory. (Go Spitfires!) Eventually, we found ourselves watching the Grey Cup every Thanksgiving weekend. Casually at first, but it became tradition. We are now so fully involved in the CFL, that I couldn't tell you the Browns record. I think they won once.
3. What do you like about the CFL? Anything you dislike?
Open field, fast paced, and as a wannabe running back, the fact that 4 yard runs up the gut aren't gonna get you anything. Now, as I've become an addict, I love the league having 9 teams. I can learn the story lines, who is hot? Who is cold? Who is injured. It is 9 soap operas worth of story, and each is better than Luke and Laura in General Hospital. Having that familiarity helps me cheer for most any team in any game.
The only thing I dislike? The geographically closest team is Hamilton. 4 hours or so drive away. I really hope Windsor Ontario can be the tenth team.
4. Do you have a favorite team? How about favorite players?
I am very partial to the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. Why? I have no clue. They feel like they can be a Cleveland team, and I mean that in all the best ways.
Since I started my Twitter account (@CFLAmericanFan, follow me. Please?) I have tweeted about most of the games. The one team that has responded and encouraged me is the BC Lions. Because of their response, and maybe a genetic predilection to orange football teams, I find myself cheering louder for them.
For players, I admit, I'm still learning. However, it seems impossible to hate Henry Burris. I hated to see Zach Collaros go down, he was so fun to watch, similarly Travis Lulay and Drew Willy. I never blink when Brandon Banks is ready for a kick.
To be honest, even after his footwork faux pas last week, I really like Lirim Harall... Yeah. Spelling is hard. Bombers #70.
5. Ever made a trip to a game? If so, how was the experience?
Not yet. But I'll be damned if I don't take my monkey child to Tim Horton's Field next year. The Ticats are the only sports team he truly loves. He cried his 11 year old eyes out when Zach went down.
6. What kind of reaction do you get from fellow Americans when you tell them you follow the CFL?
"They have Canadian football?"
"Is it like rugby?"
"You mean soccer?"
"What college jersey is that?"
I've gotten all of the above just this week, even though I won the Bombers "#RockYourBomberGear" promotion. It gets tiring, but I can preach all day.
7. Anything else you'd like to share?
Go Bombers. Go Lions.
8. How can others get in touch with you to talk CFL?
On Twitter @CFLAmericanFan.
1. Thanks for agreeing to answer some questions for us today. To start off, tell us a bit about yourself!
I am a welder born and raised in Ohio. Mid 30's, married, one 11 year old son.
2. What attracted you to the CFL?
I grew up on the Cleveland Browns. Cried when they left, rejoiced when they returned. Cried most Sundays since. The only thing separating me from Canada is Lake Erie. When I was a boy, Joe Carter stopped being an Indian and became a Blue Jay. The infatuation was kindled. I went to Toronto in 7th grade on a field trip. I fell in love. Slowly, through baseball and hockey I became more and more aware of Canadian sports. Watched the World Junior hockey tournament every christmastime with my uncle, then the Brier. Love curling too. CHL came with the territory. (Go Spitfires!) Eventually, we found ourselves watching the Grey Cup every Thanksgiving weekend. Casually at first, but it became tradition. We are now so fully involved in the CFL, that I couldn't tell you the Browns record. I think they won once.
3. What do you like about the CFL? Anything you dislike?
Open field, fast paced, and as a wannabe running back, the fact that 4 yard runs up the gut aren't gonna get you anything. Now, as I've become an addict, I love the league having 9 teams. I can learn the story lines, who is hot? Who is cold? Who is injured. It is 9 soap operas worth of story, and each is better than Luke and Laura in General Hospital. Having that familiarity helps me cheer for most any team in any game.
The only thing I dislike? The geographically closest team is Hamilton. 4 hours or so drive away. I really hope Windsor Ontario can be the tenth team.
4. Do you have a favorite team? How about favorite players?
I am very partial to the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. Why? I have no clue. They feel like they can be a Cleveland team, and I mean that in all the best ways.
Since I started my Twitter account (@CFLAmericanFan, follow me. Please?) I have tweeted about most of the games. The one team that has responded and encouraged me is the BC Lions. Because of their response, and maybe a genetic predilection to orange football teams, I find myself cheering louder for them.
For players, I admit, I'm still learning. However, it seems impossible to hate Henry Burris. I hated to see Zach Collaros go down, he was so fun to watch, similarly Travis Lulay and Drew Willy. I never blink when Brandon Banks is ready for a kick.
To be honest, even after his footwork faux pas last week, I really like Lirim Harall... Yeah. Spelling is hard. Bombers #70.
5. Ever made a trip to a game? If so, how was the experience?
Not yet. But I'll be damned if I don't take my monkey child to Tim Horton's Field next year. The Ticats are the only sports team he truly loves. He cried his 11 year old eyes out when Zach went down.
6. What kind of reaction do you get from fellow Americans when you tell them you follow the CFL?
"They have Canadian football?"
"Is it like rugby?"
"You mean soccer?"
"What college jersey is that?"
I've gotten all of the above just this week, even though I won the Bombers "#RockYourBomberGear" promotion. It gets tiring, but I can preach all day.
7. Anything else you'd like to share?
Go Bombers. Go Lions.
8. How can others get in touch with you to talk CFL?
On Twitter @CFLAmericanFan.
Thursday, September 10, 2015
Week 11 Power Rankings and Week 12 Picks
Week 11 Power Rankings
1. Calgary Stampeders
Get used to this. Someone's gonna have to do something pretty spectacular to change my mind on this one for the forseeable future. They've stormed back to the top of the league standings, and also don't concern themselves with the opinions of sheep.
2. Hamilton Tiger-Cats
If someone is going to knock Calgary off the top of the power rankings, it'll probably be Hamilton. They seem to have recovered nicely from the hiccup against Montreal.
3. Edmonton Eskimos
I can't imagine them moving up or down for the next few weeks unless they hammer Calgary this Saturday, but with that defense and with Mike Reilly back, if they can beat Calgary, the race in the West could get very interesting very quickly.
4. Toronto Argonauts
The middle of the power rankings this week is tough to figure out. Toronto stays here because I'm not quite sure Ottawa is quite there yet.
5. Ottawa REDBLACKS
Then again, last week, I was dead wrong about putting Montreal ahead of Ottawa. Like. really wrong. Ottawa fans called me out on it, and they deserve to hear this.
6. BC Lions
Maybe I'm overcompensating for putting Montreal 5th last week, but BC seems to be the right fit here after beating Montreal.
7. Montreal Alouettes
Of course, every time I think the Als are trending downward, they slap a supposedly superior team up and down the field. They have a bye this week, but face an inferior team next week. Winnipeg. Yeah, that probably won't end well for the Bombers.
8. Saskatchewan Roughriders
Speaking of things not ending well for the Bombers, how about the game on Sunday, the one I suddenly can't remember much of anything about, except a lot of sadness, and maybe one or two extra drinks I didn't really need.
9. Winnipeg Blue Bombers
Rock bottom is losing to your rivals on Labour Day weekend when they haven't won a game all year. Seems like a lot of Winnipeg seasons hit bottom lately after a loss on said weekend. The management is making changes, seems like that also happens about this time every season lately. Why am I worried it will be the same result in the end?
Week 12 Picks
Hamilton at Toronto
Enough of me moping. Time for picks. I'm taking Hamilton here because I believe they are a far superior team than Toronto.
Saskatchewan at Winnipeg
Okay, just a bit more moping. I'm taking the Riders, because I don't trust the Bombers one bit at the moment. I'd be very happy for them to prove me wrong, though, it's not like I haven't been wrong lately or anything.
Calgary at Edmonton
Ok, done with the moping now. I'm taking Calgary, because they're rolling, and because they seem to have Edmonton's number.
Ottawa at BC
I just made amends with Ottawa fans, but I'm afraid I'm going to have to risk annoying them once more. I'm well and truly stumped on this one, so it's going to BC for the following 2 reasons. First is that it's in BC, and second, I'm already nervous about taking so many road teams already. I believe there's only been one week in the CFL season so far with more road teams winning than home teams, and I'm already guessing it happens again this week. The good news for Ottawa fans? It's not like I haven't been wrong about their team before. Like, say, last week.
Monday, August 31, 2015
Midseason Review, Week 10 Power Rankings, and Week 11 Picks
Week 10 Power Rankings (with Midseason Reviews)
1. Calgary Stampeders
The Stampeders were off the radar for a while due to an impressive run by the Hamilton Tiger-Cats and some early season struggles, but here we are again, with Calgary at #1, where they probably belonged all along. It was a bit of a slow start for their offense, and they didn't start blowing teams out until recently, but the Stamps continue to be one of the best run organizations in the CFL, despite what a disgruntled agent has to say about the matter. They're doing this with a lot of injuries on the offensive line, which is usually a harbinger of doom, and one of the CFL's most outstanding players in Jon Cornish. Honestly, I'm struggling to come up with much more to say about them, they just keep on ticking like the CFL's version of a metronome. They have an excellent opportunity to take a big lead in the West, with Edmonton back to back for the Labour Day matchups, and if they sweep the series, they will have a three game lead with BC coming to town followed by a trip to Winnipeg. It all lines up for Calgary if all goes well.
2. Hamilton Tiger-Cats
The Tim Horton's Field win streak has finally come to an end, but this is still one of the more impressive teams in the CFL. Zach Collaros is an excellent quarterback, and he's had to be, because Hamilton has had trouble establishing a running game. That seems to be the only area the team has had struggles, however, as the rest of the offense is impressive, the defense is not only stingy, but their ball-hawking style often sets up the offense, or the defense skips a step and puts points on the board themselves. The special teams is also excellent, with one of the league's most consistent kickers in Justin Medlock, as well as the league's most dynamic returner in Brandon Banks. This is a team that is finally playing up to their potential instead of having to play catch-up. Their main stumbling block has been Montreal, and while it may seem too early to be watching their back, Montreal is only two games behind, has won the season series, and is starting to look like they have their ducks in a row. Their road over the next month isn't easy, with the Labour Day home and home with Toronto and West contenders Edmonton and Calgary coming up. The good news? Three of the four are in the friendly confines of Tim Horton's Field.
3. Edmonton Eskimos
Edmonton's defense has helped make up for the lack of Mike Reilly at quarterback this season, and the Matt Nichols experiment appears to be over, with rookie James Franklin seemingly the man of the hour. The team finally relinquished offensive touchdowns two weeks ago against Hamilton for the first time at home in nearly a full season, but besides that effort, have not given up more than 26 points in any other game this season, including four games holding their opposition under 13 points, a rather impressive feat in the CFL. The offense has been inconsistent, but rookies James Franklin and Derel Walker have impressed as of late, keeping Edmonton in the race while Reilly heals from a week 1 knee injury. The West appears to be a two horse race at this point, and the Eskimos face the Stamps three times over the next six weeks, as well as travel to Hamilton, so we will find out rather soon if the Eskimos can make a run at winning the division and hosting the West final.
4. Toronto Argonauts
I'm not quite sure what to make of the Argos. Their 6-3 record is impressive, but they haven't had any WOW moments this year, or at the very least, since week 1, when most everyone (including myself) gave them very little chance in their "home" opener against Edmonton in Fort MacMurray. Trevor Harris has handled the quarterbacking chores in the absence of Ricky Ray, and along with four young receivers has put together an impressive passing attack. The defense hasn't stood out, but has done enough to keep the Argos above .500 when the team has given up more points than they have scored, which isn't an easy thing to do. While I worry about the Argos playing down to the level of their competition against teams behind them in the standings, it's also important to note that the team has only truly played two games at home, and are under threat of having to move more of their home games out of Rogers Centre this year due to the Blue Jays possibly hosting playoff games. Their move to BMO Field next year can't come soon enough. Their next six weeks are going to tell the story of this season, with the Labour Day home and home with Hamilton, a home and home with Ottawa, a team right on their tails in the standings, a road visit to a suddenly improving Alouettes team, and a home game against Calgary.
5. Montreal Alouettes
I feel weird about ranking Montreal above Ottawa when Ottawa has a better record and has two wins over Montreal already this season, but I have the feeling that the Als are just getting started. After an early season filled with distractions and issues, the team has come together in the past two weeks and delivered impressive victories on the road, including being the first road team to win in Tim Horton's Field in Hamilton. Their defense has been dominant, and have given up less points than Hamilton's widely lauded defense, while only giving up 6 more points than Edmonton, the league's leader in the category. Their offense has been a problem, however. Rakeem Cato came out of nowhere to lead the Alouettes to a shocking win over Calgary in week 2, and since then, has been pretty low-key, doing enough to keep his team in games, but not overwhelming anyone. While that doesn't seem like much of a compliment, there are a few teams in the league that are begging for even that kind of performance. With stability potentially settling in, this is a dangerous team to underestimate, and they'll have a chance to prove it, as their next three games are against struggling teams, as they host BC, Winnipeg, and then go on the road to still winless Saskatchewan. They round out the next month in Ottawa, with one more chance to settle that score and improve their standing in the East.
6. Ottawa REDBLACKS
I'm pretty sure I'm underrating the REDBLACKS. I'm pretty sure they belong above Toronto or Montreal. Problem is, it's not very clear to me yet where these teams truly belong. They had a rough inaugural campaign last year, but this year, they have figured out how to win some of those close games they played in last year, have found receivers that can make a play when it's needed, and have done it by winning the games they are supposed to win, and pulling a surprise or two in games that they aren't given much of a chance in. The team has moved on from Chevon Walker at running back recently, putting the ball in Jeremiah Johnson's hands, assuming, of course, that Henry Burris isn't throwing it to one of their very much improved receivers. The defense is already getting a nickname and a reputation, and while I don't think they're an elite CFL team yet, they have a chance to gain some very valuable experience as an organization, especially with their upcoming schedule, going to BC in two weeks, followed by a trip to Saskatchewan, a home game against Toronto, and a home game against Montreal, who they have already beaten twice. If they can make something of this part of the schedule, they may just be contending to host their first ever playoff game.
7. BC Lions
Draw a line between Ottawa and BC. Draw another. And another. And another. I've said this before (and I've now moved a team above this line), but there still appears to be a chasm between the teams that are above that line and the teams that are below the line. BC has Travis Lulay back for the first time in a long time, but he has struggled to be the Lulay of old, and BC has struggled to put together performances worthy of their talent level. Besides a come from behind win hosting Edmonton where Edmonton all but disappeared in the second half and two close shaves with Saskatchewan, BC has struggled to put points on the board, with their best performance coming when they put up three quick touchdowns against Toronto, and then watched as Toronto clawed back to overtake them late in the game. An injury to their best defender, Solomon Elimimian, doesn't help matters either, and new coach Jeff Tedford has a lot of hard work ahead of him to get BC back on track. It won't be an easy road back, either, as they travel to Montreal, host Ottawa, and go on the road to Calgary and Edmonton in September. If they can't pull together some good peformances, it could very well be that we get the first ever East team crossing over to the West for the playoffs.
8. Winnipeg Blue Bombers
It's been a rough season in Bomberland. The offense, who have been led by three different quarterbacks at this point, have scored the fewest points in the league, and there is a lot of fan anger at the offensive scheme and playcalling. The Bombers have scored less than 9 points three times, with all three of those games coming in the last five Bombers outings. They also lost their starting QB, Drew Willy, to injury in one of those losses, a 38-8 spanking at the hands of the Hamilton Tiger-Cats. The defense has improved quite a bit over last year, but tend to get left on the field too long lately. The team has also left points (and possibly games) on the field with special teams struggles. I'm going to stop now before I get too worked up. Their next two games, the Labour Day home and home series with Saskatchewan, will tell us if there's any redeeming qualities left in this team, or if the season is about to go the way many Bombers seasons have in the last 10 years.
9. Saskatchewan Roughriders
If this isn't the worst-case scenario for the Riders, I'm scared to think of what that might be. The team is winless, lost their starting quarterback in a first week loss to their prairie rivals at home, lost their veteran backup soon after, and is now relying on a young third string quarterback in Brett Smith to try to find a spark (when he's not pulled for veteran Tino Sunseri, not the most popular choice in Saskatchewan, to say the least). The team can't pull out the close ones, has issues tackling, was built to win now with aging veterans, and lacked depth so that when injuries did happen, there weren't enough viable replacements around to take over. As I'm writing this, it's been confirmed that they have now fired their general manager and head coach. A silver lining? They are favored by 3.5 points in Vegas over the Bombers on Sunday.
3. Edmonton Eskimos
Edmonton's defense has helped make up for the lack of Mike Reilly at quarterback this season, and the Matt Nichols experiment appears to be over, with rookie James Franklin seemingly the man of the hour. The team finally relinquished offensive touchdowns two weeks ago against Hamilton for the first time at home in nearly a full season, but besides that effort, have not given up more than 26 points in any other game this season, including four games holding their opposition under 13 points, a rather impressive feat in the CFL. The offense has been inconsistent, but rookies James Franklin and Derel Walker have impressed as of late, keeping Edmonton in the race while Reilly heals from a week 1 knee injury. The West appears to be a two horse race at this point, and the Eskimos face the Stamps three times over the next six weeks, as well as travel to Hamilton, so we will find out rather soon if the Eskimos can make a run at winning the division and hosting the West final.
4. Toronto Argonauts
I'm not quite sure what to make of the Argos. Their 6-3 record is impressive, but they haven't had any WOW moments this year, or at the very least, since week 1, when most everyone (including myself) gave them very little chance in their "home" opener against Edmonton in Fort MacMurray. Trevor Harris has handled the quarterbacking chores in the absence of Ricky Ray, and along with four young receivers has put together an impressive passing attack. The defense hasn't stood out, but has done enough to keep the Argos above .500 when the team has given up more points than they have scored, which isn't an easy thing to do. While I worry about the Argos playing down to the level of their competition against teams behind them in the standings, it's also important to note that the team has only truly played two games at home, and are under threat of having to move more of their home games out of Rogers Centre this year due to the Blue Jays possibly hosting playoff games. Their move to BMO Field next year can't come soon enough. Their next six weeks are going to tell the story of this season, with the Labour Day home and home with Hamilton, a home and home with Ottawa, a team right on their tails in the standings, a road visit to a suddenly improving Alouettes team, and a home game against Calgary.
5. Montreal Alouettes
I feel weird about ranking Montreal above Ottawa when Ottawa has a better record and has two wins over Montreal already this season, but I have the feeling that the Als are just getting started. After an early season filled with distractions and issues, the team has come together in the past two weeks and delivered impressive victories on the road, including being the first road team to win in Tim Horton's Field in Hamilton. Their defense has been dominant, and have given up less points than Hamilton's widely lauded defense, while only giving up 6 more points than Edmonton, the league's leader in the category. Their offense has been a problem, however. Rakeem Cato came out of nowhere to lead the Alouettes to a shocking win over Calgary in week 2, and since then, has been pretty low-key, doing enough to keep his team in games, but not overwhelming anyone. While that doesn't seem like much of a compliment, there are a few teams in the league that are begging for even that kind of performance. With stability potentially settling in, this is a dangerous team to underestimate, and they'll have a chance to prove it, as their next three games are against struggling teams, as they host BC, Winnipeg, and then go on the road to still winless Saskatchewan. They round out the next month in Ottawa, with one more chance to settle that score and improve their standing in the East.
6. Ottawa REDBLACKS
I'm pretty sure I'm underrating the REDBLACKS. I'm pretty sure they belong above Toronto or Montreal. Problem is, it's not very clear to me yet where these teams truly belong. They had a rough inaugural campaign last year, but this year, they have figured out how to win some of those close games they played in last year, have found receivers that can make a play when it's needed, and have done it by winning the games they are supposed to win, and pulling a surprise or two in games that they aren't given much of a chance in. The team has moved on from Chevon Walker at running back recently, putting the ball in Jeremiah Johnson's hands, assuming, of course, that Henry Burris isn't throwing it to one of their very much improved receivers. The defense is already getting a nickname and a reputation, and while I don't think they're an elite CFL team yet, they have a chance to gain some very valuable experience as an organization, especially with their upcoming schedule, going to BC in two weeks, followed by a trip to Saskatchewan, a home game against Toronto, and a home game against Montreal, who they have already beaten twice. If they can make something of this part of the schedule, they may just be contending to host their first ever playoff game.
7. BC Lions
Draw a line between Ottawa and BC. Draw another. And another. And another. I've said this before (and I've now moved a team above this line), but there still appears to be a chasm between the teams that are above that line and the teams that are below the line. BC has Travis Lulay back for the first time in a long time, but he has struggled to be the Lulay of old, and BC has struggled to put together performances worthy of their talent level. Besides a come from behind win hosting Edmonton where Edmonton all but disappeared in the second half and two close shaves with Saskatchewan, BC has struggled to put points on the board, with their best performance coming when they put up three quick touchdowns against Toronto, and then watched as Toronto clawed back to overtake them late in the game. An injury to their best defender, Solomon Elimimian, doesn't help matters either, and new coach Jeff Tedford has a lot of hard work ahead of him to get BC back on track. It won't be an easy road back, either, as they travel to Montreal, host Ottawa, and go on the road to Calgary and Edmonton in September. If they can't pull together some good peformances, it could very well be that we get the first ever East team crossing over to the West for the playoffs.
8. Winnipeg Blue Bombers
It's been a rough season in Bomberland. The offense, who have been led by three different quarterbacks at this point, have scored the fewest points in the league, and there is a lot of fan anger at the offensive scheme and playcalling. The Bombers have scored less than 9 points three times, with all three of those games coming in the last five Bombers outings. They also lost their starting QB, Drew Willy, to injury in one of those losses, a 38-8 spanking at the hands of the Hamilton Tiger-Cats. The defense has improved quite a bit over last year, but tend to get left on the field too long lately. The team has also left points (and possibly games) on the field with special teams struggles. I'm going to stop now before I get too worked up. Their next two games, the Labour Day home and home series with Saskatchewan, will tell us if there's any redeeming qualities left in this team, or if the season is about to go the way many Bombers seasons have in the last 10 years.
9. Saskatchewan Roughriders
If this isn't the worst-case scenario for the Riders, I'm scared to think of what that might be. The team is winless, lost their starting quarterback in a first week loss to their prairie rivals at home, lost their veteran backup soon after, and is now relying on a young third string quarterback in Brett Smith to try to find a spark (when he's not pulled for veteran Tino Sunseri, not the most popular choice in Saskatchewan, to say the least). The team can't pull out the close ones, has issues tackling, was built to win now with aging veterans, and lacked depth so that when injuries did happen, there weren't enough viable replacements around to take over. As I'm writing this, it's been confirmed that they have now fired their general manager and head coach. A silver lining? They are favored by 3.5 points in Vegas over the Bombers on Sunday.
Week 11 Picks
BC at Montreal
I'm taking Montreal in this game, I believe Montreal is on the upswing, BC is on the downswing, and Montreal is also at home.
Winnipeg at Saskatchewan
I can't take Saskatchewan until they've won a game. I just can't. I probably should, and maybe I'm being a homer, but I'm going with Winnipeg this week.
Toronto at Hamilton
We've already seen this matchup at this locale, and Hamilton took care of Toronto pretty convincingly. I see no reason why this one will be any different.
Edmonton at Calgary
It'd be great to see Mike Reilly healthy for an Edmonton-Calgary game, but it doesn't seem like we'll get that lucky any time soon. I have to take Calgary here, I just can't go with a rookie quarterback (even if he has been impressive so far) in Calgary on Labour Day.
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