For many years, the CFL’s East Division was often referred to as the LEAST Division – especially by yours truly.
But the 2015 season proved to be a season where the word ‘parity’ was tossed around a lot. And for good reason. Three of the East Division’s four teams finished with better records than three of the West Division’s five teams. The REDBLACKS had 12 wins, while the Argos and Ti-Cats had 10 wins a piece. In comparison, only Edmonton and Calgary managed to amass more than 10 wins in 2015.
Not only did I go 1-3 this week, but my beloved Riders are a winless 0-5 and will likely be 0-7 after the next couple of games.It’s so frustrating to watch these Riders. The offence is playing quite well – yesterday aside – but the defence continues toabsolutely SUCK.
I counted one Hamilton punt yesterday. One. Hamilton basically scored on nearly every offensive possession. And on three consecutive plays, the Ti Cats ran to the same side of the defence and three times they got big gains.
Yet the Riders were still in it going into the 4th quarter.
Then Kevin Glenn went down, the Riders couldn’t stop the Ti-Cats from marching down the field, and you knew the game was lost.
Is this as bad as 2011? ‘Cause it sure feels like this team has been Greg Marshall-ed.
And here’s a recap of this weekend’s games:
I have no idea what to make of these RODBLACKS. One week they look like worldbeaters, and the next week they look like they’re a junior football team. Jon Cornhole broke his thumb, which means he won’t be able to suck his thumb when he’s having a temper tantrum. It also means he’ll have to sit out for 6-8 weeks. No doubt he will be pouting about how he won’t be the rushing king of the CFL this year, nor the Outstanding Canadian. Boo freaking hoo. The RODBLACKS finally got their passing game going, and now have a 3-2 record. I don’t understand what’s happening in this league this year.
This game featured what may go down as the comeback of the year. The Arblows were down 21-0, and yet they managed to not only erase that deficit but win the game. The Next One (Trevor Harris) appears to be the real deal, which means the Arblows have an interesting situation on their hands: do you stick with The Next One or stay with The Current One (Ricky Ray)? Or, do you trade one of them? Hmmm… (I can see Brendan Taman sitting in his office right now, figuring out which Canadian draft picks he should give away in a trade.)
This game was a sloppy mess as the rain poured and got sloppier as the mistakes piled up. (Did I not say that there would be fumbles/mistakes galore?) When Free (Drew) Willy got hurt early in the second half and went down, so did the Bumblers’ hopes of winning that game. As for the Schmoes, I still maintain that they’re not as good as their record indicates. And MATTY ICE got benched in favour of James Franklin. He’s really not that great of a QB.
Where do you even start with the Riders? Sad Sack Collaros picked their defence apart, CJ Gable ran all ober the middle, and the Ti-Cats won the battle between the league’s best offence and the league’s best defence. I feel badly for Kevin Glenn, who’d been playing so well up until yesterday. You could tell something wasn’t quite right given the amount of passes he missed. So who starts on Friday: Brett Smith or Tino Sunseri? Oh wow. I think I might skip watching that game…
Over the last week or so – basically since the CFL released those penalty infographics and everyone went nuts, a lot has been written about the CFL’s prospects. Some of these rants, like Jack Todd’s over-the-top column(that stole my flag reference) or this Rider fan’s open letter to the CFL, are heralding the new rules as the beginning of the end of the CFL. Others, like Glen Suitor, think the CFL will be all the better after the transition,not unlike the NHL after it clamped down on clutching and grabbing (personally, I still prefer a bigger ice surface, World or Olympic-style).
While I’m not much of a fan of the new rules, I have to admit that they’re not as distracting as I first thought they would be. However, for the casual CFL fan, they could be a big problem.
The issue is that NONE of the rules – not even the old ones – are being correctly applied on a consistent basis. CFL Command Centre seems to make up new interpretations every week. Case in point: Last weekend, Rider DB Michael Carter was flagged for “illegal contact that became pass interference”. First of all: what the h-e-double hockey sticks does that even mean? Glen Suitor’s explanation that it became pass interference once the ball was thrown has some merit, but based on the replays, the ball was clearly thrown before the contact took place. Second: the receiver started it. Now this may sound rather childish, but the new illegal contact rule is supposed to cut both ways. Third: the contact was minimal. My concern when the new rules were announced is that even if a DB grazed a receiver, a flag would be thrown. This play has not assuaged my fears. For the most part, I do think the referees have been doing a somewhat decent job with the new rules, but in this instance, they got it completely wrong. The fact that CFL Command Centre upheld the call was ludicrous.
Suffice it to say that the quality of the officiating in the CFL has a long way to go before it gets to the level it needs to be.
Here are this week’s games:
And here’s a preview of this week’s games:
This game is likely going to be the second shellacking the RODBLACKS will take this year. The first? By the Schmoes. I still can’t believe MATTY ICE beat them that handily two weeks ago. Anyway, Jon Cornhole appears to be getting his game back after a slow start, but the Stumps still have a ways to go before they even begin to resemble the team that basically steamrolled its way to the Grey Cup last year. The RODBLACKS pretty much gave away last week’s game, so they’ll have to play their absolute best (which ain’t all that great) in order to be able to even try to keep up with the likes of the Stumps. Prediction: Stumps by 18
The Arblows had last week off, but that likely won’t matter a lot because almost anytime an Eastern Division team travels west, they lose. Even the mighty mighty Alouettes of the Anthony Calvillo era couldn’t win in BC (although there was that one time where they actually did, but Murray Clark – whom I just realized is no longer a CFL referee [interesting] – whistled the play dead. That was a problem). The Next One (Trevor Harris) may be good, but I don’t think he can overcome the time difference. The Lions did not play all that well last week, but they managed to eke out a win on the road. Playing at home on dry turf should be a piece of cake compared to last week’s soggy mess that was Taylor Field. Prediction: Lions by 5
Oh, Bumblers. How I enjoyed watching you bumble your way to a loss last week. This game is going to come down to which team makes the least amount of mistakes. Or which team takes the most advantage of the other team’s mistakes. And given how these teams have played over the last couple of weeks, there will be LOTS of mistakes. I think MATTY ICE will throw 2 interceptions, and the Bumblers will fumble once and Free (Drew) Willy will throw one interception. Prediction: Schmoes by 3
About this week’s game, which we’re attending, my Mama says: “Maybe we’ll actually see the Riders win a game this year!” Yes, Mama, that would be nice! Coach Chamblin has been surprisingly quiet, especially given last week’s theatrics. Seems that a loss took a bit of the wind out of his sails. The Riders continue to be ravaged by injuries, although the Kitty Cats haven’t exactly had it all that easy on the injury front, either. Hamilton is a bit of an unknown quantity this year; I thought they’d be stronger out of the gate, but they’ve definitely stumbled. I also thought that Hamilton won a lot at Taylor Field. I was clearly very wrong. The Riders’ record against the Kitty Cats as of late has been pretty good, and for some unknown reason, I expect that to continue on Sunday. Prediction: Riders by 8
While it may not be your typical scary movie, in football terms, the start to the Riders’ 2015 season has been nothing other than a horror story.
The Riders’ lost their starting QB in Week 1, and since then, things have simply snowballed.
Every game results in a serious injury to a key player, and every week brings a new controversy.
This week, DB Tristan Jackson hobbled off the field after a horse collar tackle brought him down. And Coach Chamblin stood up to his detractors, possibly in an attempt to take some of the pressure off of his team.
The result? Another loss.
Football is a funny game. It’s a game of inches. A game of strategy. And at times, a 60 minute game that comes down to one or two plays.
The proof? Through Week 4, the Riders are 0-4. But they’ve only lost those four games by a combined 12 points. In comparison, the Stampeders are 3-1, but they’ve only won their three games by a combined 7 points.
The Riders’ losing streak continues to summon comparisons to the 2011 season, but that season was not so much a horror story as a sad story as the team gave up on its coach. The barrage of injuries to key personnel and the small scale of the losses is what differentiates 2015 from 2011.
The good news for the Riders, though, is that some players will get healthy and return, and there are 14 games left. In other words, the Riders have a chance to change their story from one of horror to one of redemption.
THINGS THAT WORKED
1. Running game: Once again, the RB tag team of Jerome Messam and Anthony Allen amassed over 100 yards of rushing.
2. Second down conversions: While the offence was not as in sync as we’ve come to expect over the last couple of games, it was certainly resilient. The Riders continue to lead the league in second down conversions, and this game more than likely extended that lead.
3. Jerome Messam: While most of the focus has been on his league-leading rushing statistics, his ability to catch the ball is just as impressive. He added 75 yards to his receiving total, and combined with his rushing yards, he leagues the CFL in combined yards.
4. Weston Dressler: Another 100 yards game. Need I say more?
5. Jamel Richardson: He doesn’t get a lot of touches per game, but when called upon thus far this season, he’s answered.
6. Stopping the big play: The Riders’ defence generally made BC march the ball down the field, as opposed to the previous week when big plays did them in. The defence also made a big stop near the end of the game, giving the Riders a chance to win. Hopefully this is a sign of good things to come.
THINGS THAT DIDN’T
1. Run defence: For the love of all things Green and White, why oh why oh WHY did someone not spy Travis Lulay when he continually ran for big gains?? Because the Riders always love to contribute to CFL history, they helped Lulay rack up 105 rushing yards, a career best for him.
2. Pass rush: See each of the previous weeks for my comments on this issue, because I don’t feel like repeating myself for the umpteenth time.
3. Energy: The Riders looked like ‘The Walking Dead’ out on the field. Maybe it was the weather. Or maybe it was the losing streak looming over their heads, but the Riders showed very little spark.
4. Penalties: The amount of offensive penalties are absolutely killing drives and costing the Riders valuable points. Hell, even Weston Dressler got a penalty this week! I continue to be stunned, amazed and perplexed by CFL Command Centre’s interpretation of the new illegal contact rules and its inconsistency.
OFFENSIVE STAR: #33 – JEROME MESSAM, RB
He put up nearly 140 combined yards on Friday night, even after sustaining a vicious, but clean, hit that made him slow to get up. His average yards per carry is 7.7, which is ridiculous. If he stays healthy, he’ll be in line for the Riders’ MOP nomination.
DEFENSIVE STAR: #50 – JAKE DOUGHTY
This is solely based on statistics: 6 tackles and one forced fumble. He led the team in tackles and he always seemed to be around the football.
SPECIAL TEAMS STAR: #38 – TRISTAN JACKSON, DB
This is more of an honourary award, because TJ looked like he was going to have a good game before being brought down by that rookie BC kicker whose name I refuse to mention. Get well soon, TJ.
NEXT UP: vs. HAMILTON. I thought the Riders’ record against the Kitty Cats at Taylor Field was far worse than it actually is. That being said, Hamilton is a weird team: they win when you’re sure they’re going to lose, and lose when they should win. I expect another close game, as the Ti-Cats will be a little cranky after losing to the Als last week.
So I was driving on Friday, making my way down the Trans-Canada, about 11 hours into a 12 hour trip and I was only partly listening to the Rider game, but from what I heard, it was so bad that all I could do was laugh.
When I got to our destination, I watched the rest of the gong show.
Needless to say, the game was sooooooo disappointing.
Where is the leadership on this team? Where is the pride? Where is the frustration? I’d love to hear the players express some anger. Instead, they seem to be so passive – almost like they’re resigned to losing.
It’s gonna be a long, looooooong, loooooooooooooooooooooooooong season…
The good news? I was a perfect 4-4 with my picks this week. It only took my 4 weeks to figure things out. Here’s a quick recap:
I NAILED this prediction right down to the point spread. GO ME. Anyway, Hamilton did what it usually does – it failed to win a winnable game. Did you really expect anything less?
Coulda, woulda, shoulda – the RODBLACKS had this one within reach, but ill-timed fumbles and other negative plays allowed MATTY ICE and his 3 interceptions to look far better than was deserved.
Le Grand Orange repeatedly ran over the Riders. What did I say in my preview?? Oh, that’s right: “So let’s put it this way: if the Lions start running the ball, the Riders are going to have even more problems.” Enough said.
If you at all wondered why we call those Blue and Gold the “Bumblers,” this game showed you why as a blocked punt returned for a TD, an interception, and a strategic error on a return basically handed the Stumps another win. FUN FACTS: The Stumps have won their 3 games by a combined 7 points. In comparison, the Wretched Riders have lost their 4 games by a combined 12 points.
If you have to create infographics of penalties, you obviously:
a) think you have a problem; and
b) want to make it clear that you’re not the source of the problem.
Needless to say, we all have yelled ‘C’MON REF!‘ at some point early on in this season.
Personally, I have been rather frustrated with the amount of penalty flags I see each and every game.
And I’m faaaaaaaaaaaar from the only one.
So, in response to those who think that the referees have been abusing their penalty powers, the CFL released these infographics yesterday:
(You know, these infographics might be the most professional material the CFL has ever put out.)
My first question in looking at these infographics is since when do we refer to penalties as fouls?
My second question is: aren’t roughness fouls also preventable fouls? I would think that shoving a guy after the whistle is somewhat preventable.
My third question is what is a technical foul? And really, aren’t all fouls predictable and therefore preventable in some way? If a kicker kicks a kickoff (heh) out of bounds, it may be more of a technical foul because there isn’t any roughness involved, and it’s not as if the kicker wanted the ball to go out of bounds. But couldn’t it have been prevented had the kicker kicked the ball better? Maybe he should’ve squib kicked it if there’s a substantial wind…
ANYWAY…
The CFL’s argument is that nearly 60% of the penalty flags that have been thrown thus far this season didn’t need to be thrown. And of those, only a small fraction have anything to do with the new rules.
While I would agree with this in part, the fact is that more penalties are being called in general according to someone who has a lot more time on their hands than me. It’ll be interesting to watch how this analysis changes as the season goes on.
Regardless, the CFL and its players need to figure out how to deal with the epidemic of penalty flags, because nobody has enjoyed watching these flag fests over the past couple of weeks – not even ME.
Here are this week’s games:
And here are your previews:
The Kitty Cats come off a bye week where they said BUH BYE to running back Nic Grigsby ($10 says he ends up with the Riders by Labour Day). The Als are smarting a bit after losing a close game to those awful Blue Bumblers. While the Cats are a better team on paper and also have game-breaker Brandon Banks (hmmm…he needs a nickname), the Als are rather formidable when they’re playing at home. So…I’m going to go out on a limb and say Montreal wins this one. Prediction: Montreal by 4
I can’t believe the spread in this game is only 3.5 points – especially after the Schmoes shredded the RODBLACKS last week. I think this is the week where we actually find out if the RODBLACKS are, as they say, ‘for real’ (I hate that phrase), or if they’re the scout team I think they are. I still don’t think that MATTY ICE (Matt Nichols) is a good QB. Must I link to the most hilarious interception you may ever see to prove my point? Okay. I will. The Schmoes’ defensive was back in gear last week, but I expect the RODBLACKS to come out with a bit more fire since they’re playing at home. Nevertheless, the Schmoes will still win this game. Prediction: Edmonton by 12
What can I tell you about this game that you don’t already know? I can tell you that Weldon Brown won’t be suiting up for the Riders again this season. And I can tell you that this spells trouble. Up until he had to leave last week’s game due to injury, he had pretty much shut down Emmanuel Arceneaux. I fear the same won’t occur this week. For some reason the Lions don’t run the ball much, which I always think is a mistake because Andrew Harris is a goooood running back. So let’s put it this way: if the Lions start running the ball, the Riders are going to have even more problems. The Riders are desperate to win at home and keep the boo birds at bay. Therefore, I think they Riders will play ‘not to lose’ instead of ‘to win,’ and that never works out well. Prediction: BC by 6
The Stumps have juuuuuuuuuuuust been getting by the last couple of weeks. A one point win over the Kitty Cats and a five point win over the Arblows doesn’t exactly scream ‘COMMANDING’. Maybe it’s still a bit of a Grey Cup hangover, but they’re just not all that sharp. Lucky for them, though, they get to play the Bumblers. The Bumblers have shown that their defence will make teams pay for their mistakes, so if the Stumps’ offence can keep from turning over the ball, the Stumps should cruise to a win. Plus, I just don’t think that Free (Drew) Willy will be able to put up enough offence to keep pace with the Stumps. Prediction: Calgary by 10
My thoughts exactly, kid. What is going on in the CFL??
Let’s take a quick look at all of the things I have been so very wrong about thus far this CFL season:
The Arblows and Alouettes, have not been the doormats I thought they would be.
The RODBLACKS are undefeated thus far, which I would have bet my ENTIRE YEAR’S SALARY against.
The Schmoes’ defence has looked terrible, instead of the dominating force I predicted.
The Stumps looked shellshocked in their game against Montreal, and lost to a rookie QB who was on the practice roster the week before.
Trevor (No Name) Harris has been stellar, as have the Arblows in general.
Bovine Mitchell has started one-hopping throws, which is just weird – but also wonderful.
Darian Durant is hurt AGAIN.
The Riders’ leading receiver is some guy named Ryan Smith – aka Dressler 2.0. (See his amazing 4th quarter catch here.)
The Riders’ defence sucks.
And so on and so forth…
But that’s what makes the CFL the unique league it is – no lead is safe, and you should always expect the unexpected.
I was 2-2 with my picks this past week, one of which had the Riders losing. (I was kind of hoping to be wrong about that one.)
Here’s a recap of the weekend’s games:
The football gods continue to be unkind to QBs as Free (Drew) Willy went down while the Bumblers hosted the Tiger Cats. What started out as a tight contest turned into a shellacking as the Kitty Cats scored more than 30 points in the first half. Remember when I said that the Bumblers’ defence really didn’t look that good last week? The ‘Cats proved me right (for once this season). Final score: Kitty Cats 52, Bumblers 26.
What the h-e-double hockey sticks happened on Thursday night in Montreal to make the Stumps look like actual stumps on Friday? Bovine Mitchell missed tons of throws, the Stumps’ defence was porous and made The Rookie (Rakeem Cato in a stunning debut) look like Ricky Ray in his prime. Don’t get me wrong – I’m mostly happy with the outcome, because it keeps the Stumps with the rest of the pack in the West Division, but for the sake of my football pool, well – it kind of sucks. Final score: Les Alouettes 29, Stumps 11.
Well lookee here – we’ve got ourselves a real football team! The RODBLACKS put together another solid effort by beating the Leos at home by a score of 27-16. Most impressive, though, was the RODBLACKS’ comeback when down in the 4th quarter. I’m not convinced they’ll be able to keep us this calibre of play all season, but they’re definitely not a free space on the bingo card these days. As for BC? Le Grand Orange made it through the entire game. That is promising. Final score: RODBLACKS 27, Cowardly Lions 16.
I cannot believe I’m about to say this, but BRING RICHIE HALL AND HIS 10 YARD CUSHIONS BACK. At least his defence had some modicum of a pass rush. Rushing 3 linemen and yet allowing opposing receivers to be wide open when there are 9 other defenders in the backfield is simply inexcusable. Yes KG threw an ill-timed interception – but he led the team down the field for a go-ahead TD and to two TDs in overtime. Coach: When your QB throws for nearly 500 yards and your offence puts up 40 points and yet you blame the offence for the loss because it left points on the field, I have to question whether or not you were actually watching the game. John Chick was nowhere to be found today. That’s a symptom of a much bigger problem, which is that this defence has no teeth. Or, to use a more sports-appropriate metaphor, balls. Final score: Arblows 42, Riders 40.
A full breakdown and analysis of the Rider game will be posted tomorrow. Have a great Monday!
That was one of the most bizarre weeks of CFL football that I can recall in some time.
And I’ve watched A LOT of football.
As such, on Saturday night, I just about printed out all of my season previews for the sole purpose of BURNING THEM.
But I didn’t. We’re only one game in, and there’s a lot that can happen over the course of a CFL game, let alone a season.
And in that vein, let’s have a moment of silence for the loss of Darian Durant for the season…
What devastating news. We wish Darian and Doug, the name I’ve randomly given to his Achilles, all the best in their recovery.
Rider fans, including the writer, are likely still in a state of disbelief this morning. Coach Chamblin swore at a reporter at the post-game news conference. And the team took a number of hits besides the season-ending injury to Durant that will create major ratio issues. The Riders’ depth is going to be tested early, and it won’t be pretty.
I think I may cry.
And I may need to write a new preview. It may be cathartic.
However, we must move forward, although I admit that my enthusiasm for this CFL season has been significantly dampened by what transpired at Mosaic Stadium on Saturday night.
I was a dismal 1-3 with my predictions this week. Here’s a recap of the weekend’s games:
The RODBLACKS surprised everyone by beating Les Alouettes, although let’s be honest – the Als losing both of their QBS – namely Goldilocks Crompton and Fever LeFevour – was a boon for the RODBLACKS. The Als will need to find two QB quick. Does Tino Sunseri get a call?
The Kitty Cats nearly did the improbable, beating the Stumps at home. But terrible play calling in the waning minutes of the game allowed the Stumps to kick a 50 yard field goal for the win. Ugh.
What the…?? The Arblows absolutely LIT. UP. the Schmoes’ defence for 400+ yards of offence en route to a 26-11 win. No Name Harris threw for over 300 yards and the Schmoes lost Broke Pierce Jr. (Mike Reilly) for a significant amount of time. Major injuries to both the Schmoes’ QB and RB spell trouble.
I do not recall the last time I saw such a pathetic display of tackling by the Riders. The Riders made the Bumblers look like Ricky Ray and Charles Roberts in their prime. And I also swore Richie Hall was back with those 10 yard cushions the defence gave to the Bumblers’ receivers. Major injuries to DD, as mentioned above, and starting Canadians Nic Demski and Shea Emry (both possibly 6-gamed) put the Riders in a whole heap of trouble. Watch for an airlift of QBs and more Canadian players this week.
Today is THE DAY – the day I wait for all year (please don’t judge me).
It’s the first day of the 2015 CFL season!
YEEEEEEEEEEEAHHHHHHHHHHH!
This week’s games are as follows:
The odds-on-favourite? Montreal by 8 (I kid you not).
Finally, here’s a brief preview* of this week’s games:
*These previews and predictions are only provided for entertainment purposes and are not based on anything other than the writer’s opinion. Therefore, the writer is not liable for any losses incurred as a result of any person relying on said previews and predictions for their own use. Any person who relies on these previews and predictions does so at their own risk.
The CFL couldn’t have picked a worse game to open up the season with, as the Als and the RODBLACKS will likely be among the CFL’s bottom feeders this season. Nevertheless, I will be watching. While both teams have serious offensive challenges, Montreal has a defence, while Ottawa just has 12 guys standing around the field at any given time. Prediction: Montreal by 5.
It’s a Grey Cup rematch as the Kitty Cats look to avenge their loss by taming the Stumps. Does winning a regular season game make up for losing the Grey Cup? Heeeelllll, no. But that’s how this game is always billed. The Cats have some injury problems and thus far the Stumps haven’t showed any signs of a Grey Cup hangover. Prediction: Stumps by 7.
The Arblows open the season on the road at home to the Schmoes in Fort McMurray. Why yes, you did read that correctly! Due to the coldheartedness of Rogers, the Arblows are being forced yet again this year to take their traveling circus out west in order to host a home game. Trevor Harris (who?) will start for the Arblows against the Schmoes’ top-notch defence. Good luck to the QB I’ve never heard of, even though he’s apparently been in the league for 3 years and has started a whole 3 games during that time, ’cause you might need it. Prediction:Schmoes by 18.
When’s the last time the Riders opened the season against the Bumblers? I haven’t a clue. Besides, who am I – Rob ‘overly reliant on similes’ Vanstone? Harsh but true. Anyway, the Riders take on the Bumblers without Weston Dressler and Tyron Brackenridge. While this isn’t the greatest news to start the season, it’s better that these two Rider gods rest up and not risk further injury. Besides – they’re only playing the Bumblers. Prediction:Riders by 12.
I completely missed the fact that there were pre-season games scheduled for Monday and Tuesday.
I am sorry.
And that is the first and last apology you will receive from me this season.
If you want to know what the results were, well, Hamilton beat Ottawa 37-10 in Monday’s game, and the Blue Bumblers managed to get by the Arblows by a score of 34-27 on Tuesday.
Now, as promised, a preview of the East (and weakest) Division!
Montreal Alouettes
Your inability to win the Grey Cup last year indicates otherwise.
I was hoping Les Alouettes would fail soooooo hard last year. And it looked so promising at first as Anthony Calvillo finally retired, Tom Higgins (aka ‘Flanders’) took over as coach and the team got off to a 1-7 start. Alas, they managed to climb out of the basement and walk all over the hapless Lions in the East Semi-Final before ultimately losing in the East Final.
Jonathan ‘Goldilocks’ Crompton will begin his first full season as starting QB. The Als’ receiving core was revamped with the loss of Duron Carter to the NFL and the acquisitions of Fred Stamps and Nik Lewis. And when I say revamped, I don’t necessarily mean revamped for the better, as both Stamps and Lewis are likely past their best before dates.
Last year the Als survived in large part due to their solid linebacking core. Chip (Cheap Shot) Cox and Kyries Hebert return, and with the emergence of Bear Woods (real name – Jonathan – so much less scary) last year, the linebacking core will likely remain the Alouettes’ strength.
The key for the Alouettes will be keeping their focus on football, as the signings of Michael Sam – the CFL’s first openly gay football player – and Khalif Mitchell – whose Holocaust-denying Twitter rants got him in trouble this off-season (and who knows what else he may come up with during the year) may provide Flanders, er Tom Higgins, with more off-field challenges than on-field ones.
Prediction: 2nd in the East
Toronto Argonauts
A picture of all of the Arblows’ players. Who thought that this was a good idea??
After missing the playoffs last season due to the crossover (HA!), the Arblows appear to have entered a rebuilding year – just like MLSE’s other franchise (there will be oh so many Leafs jokes this year).
The key for the Arblows, as usual, will be the health of Ricky Ray. After missing only one game during the 2014 season, Ray underwent off-season surgery to repair a tear in his throwing shoulder. He is expected to start the season on the six-game injured list, which means the Boatmen will likely begin the year with Trevor Harris (who?) at QB.
The rest of the Argos’ roster contains few recognizable names. Ricky Foley returns after being traded back to the Double Blue by the Riders. Chad Owens and Andre Durie (if he can stay healthy) are now the only receivers that will strike any type of fear (albeit rather limited) in the hearts of opposing defences. And Brandon Isaac and James Yurichuk are two of only a handful of veterans in the Argos’ backfield. The Arblows will need to rely on their defence early in the year while their offence gets on track, but given the lack of experience on the defensive side of the ball, this will be more than a little problematic.
Prediction: 4th in the East
Hamilton Tiger-Cats
This moment was so AWESOME (AP Photo/The Canadian Press, Darryl Dyck).
Grey Cup 2014 was a tough game for this sports scribe. While I wanted the Stumps to lose, it was more than enjoyable to watch the Kitty Cats lose their second Grey Cup in a row – and in rather spectacular fashion.
Suck it, Kent! (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Paul Chiasson)
Early in the year, the Ti-Cats looked nothing like the team that earned a Grey Cup berth in 2013. This gives us the opportunity to revisit my favourite picture from the 2014 season (although we’re mostly revisiting it because this is my blog):
Sad Sack Zach. CLASSIC…
Zach ‘Sad Sack’ Collaros enters his second season as the Cats’ starting QB. All of his receivers return, including Andy Fantuz, Luke Tasker and Bakari Grant, along with CJ Gable and Nic Grigsby in the backfield. And then there’s near-Grey Cup hero Brandon Banks.
The Ti-Cats’ defensive line is once again anchored by Justin Hickman, the affable Simoni Lawrence (whose web series where he plays board/card games with various CFL players is kind of entertaining) leads the linebacking core and a relatively young backfield is led by veteran Brandon Stewart.
With few changes, the Kitty Cats are looking to start the season strong and get back to the Grey Cup. And given their competition in the East Division, it’s quite probable that they’ll succeed. BOO.
Prediction: 1st in the East
Ottawa REDBLACKS
This really should say “The Ottawa REDBLACKS: In Training Camp since June 2014”
In 2014, the Ottawa REDBLACKS played football just like Rod Black calls football games: blissfully unaware that they had no idea what they were doing.
And that is why they will hereintofore and forevermore be referred to as the RODBLACKS.
The RODBLACKS’ biggest problem in Year 1 of a projected 5 year franchise life (their season ticket base diminished by 20% this off-season) was that their receivers couldn’t catch.
This is a problem in a game where you essentially only have two tries to move a ball ten yards.
So what did the RODBLACKS do? They spent all of the money they didn’t spend on Weston Dressler (AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!) on free agents, spending freely and at whim, just like our Ottawa-based senators. But unlike the Canadian taxpayer, the RODBLACKS might actually get some bang for their buck as they acquired Maurie Price and Chris Williams. Signing Williams is particularly interesting given his all-star play before he became a divo (the male form of diva), sat out the 2013 season due to a contract dispute (see 2013 ONSC 5483 – for real) and went to the NFL for one fruitless season.
But a few receivers won’t solve all of the RODBLACKS’ problems. They still need an o-line, a d-line, linebackers and a secondary. In other words, there are still a few holes to fill.
Luckily for the RODBLACKS, though, Ricky Ray is hurt and Henry Booris can at least throw a football – and sometimes even to the right team.
Prediction: 3rd in the East
And that’s it for the East Division preview. This week’s pre-season games are as follows:
BC @ Calgary on Friday, June 12
Montreal @ Ottawa on Saturday, June 13
SK @ Edmonton on Saturday, June 13
Next time I’ll preview the West Division, namely the Stumps (Calgary Stampeders), Schmoes (Edmonton Eskimos), Leos (BC Lions) and Bumblers (Winnipeg Blue Bombers). A full Rider preview will follow later.
misscfl 