Once a week, CBCSports.ca breaks down the balance of power in the Canadian Football League.
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1. CALGARY STAMPEDERS [unchanged]
Overall record: 8-1 Streak: Six wins Let's see: Quarterback (check). Running backs (check). Offensive line (double check). Receivers (check). Defence (check). Kicking game (check). Coaching (check). Best team in the CFL, by far, right now? (Checkerino). As the great Satchel Paige once observed, "Don't look back, something might be gaining on you." |
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2. SASKATCHEWAN ROUGHRIDERS [up from 3]
Overall record: 6-3 Streak: One win QB Darian Durant is being forced to run the ball too often and runner Wes Cates is not being given the ball often enough, but that's being picky. Riders beat the Bombers because Durant is a tough dude and so is linebacker Barrin Simpson (10 tackles). Off to Winnipeg for the Banjo Bowl and then the first of two left with Calgary. Probably need to go 8-1 to finish atop the West. |
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3. MONTREAL ALOUETTES [down from 2]
Overall record: 6-3 Streak: One loss Is there anyone still not convinced injured QB Anthony Calvillo is the best player, and most valuable to his team, in the CFL? Without AC, the offence looked disorganized in a bruising loss to B.C. and this is the cost of not giving the backups adequate playing time when contests were out of hand in the past. AC is thinking of coming back this week against Hamilton. We’re thinking another week to rest his bruised sternum is a good idea. |
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4. HAMILTON TIGER-CATS [up from 5]
Overall record: 5-4 Streak: Four wins Our pre-season pick to win the East (to much derisive laughter) is now two points back of first, heading for Montreal and on a big-time roll. Second-best club in the loop right now. There are problems, however. The defence came up large when it had to against Toronto but allowed too many yards and you can't live like that for long. QB Kevin Glenn is simply unconscious. Wouldn't he look great in Winnipeg? |
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5. TORONTO ARGONAUTS [down from 4]
Overall record: 5-4 Streak: Two losses First year QB Cleo Lemon threw for 350 yards against Hamilton on 32 completions but most of those were short range. Plus there were the three interceptions. Time to question whether Lemon needs a few new receivers. Good game plan against the Cats, using top runner Cory Boyd as a decoy on play action to open up the passing, but the receivers have to get open downfield. Good defence. |
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6. B.C. LIONS [up from 8]
Overall record: 2-7 Streak: One win Well, how about that? Yes the big upset of the Als was messy at times (five turnovers) and they were facing Montreal's backup quarterbacks, but the Lions still managed 38 points against what's supposed to be a very good defence. And those four sacks were great. Lots of running yards. Toronto is next, at Empire Field. Small streak anyone? |
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7. WINNIPEG BLUE BOMBERS [down from tie for 6]
Overall record: 2-7 Streak: Five losses Whenever the other team plays bull in a china shop, poor QB Buck Pierce winds up in pieces on the floor. He's out again and Steven Jyles, who has looked OK, is back in for the conceivable future. Can’t get over the feeling there’s something more here than the record shows. Defence was good against Saskatchewan, especially stopping the run. |
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8. EDMONTON ESKIMOS [down from tie for 6]
Overall record: 2-7 Streak: One loss Let’s let head coach Richie Hall sum up Monday's debacle in Calgary for us: "We stunk it up, laid a goose egg. We didn't come to compete. We couldn't even execute the fundamentals of football, couldn't block, couldn't catch, couldn't throw, couldn't tackle, couldn't cover." That about covers it. And hey, four days prep before the Stamps again |
