CFL Power Rankings
Redblacks the class of the league, even with sloppy tie against Stamps
Here's how I rank the Canadian Football League teams through Week 3:
1. Ottawa Redblacks (unchanged)
- Overall record: 2-0-1
- Streak: Unbeaten in 3
- Next: At Toronto
A tie might be like kissing your non-specific gender sibling (first time in seven years, by the way), but it still produces a point in the standings that could be important three months from now. On Friday, Redblacks had their game against the Stampeders in their hands twice in the late going before dribbling it away. Nic Grigsby fumbled on the one-yard line at the end of regulation. DB Jermaine Robinson dropped an easy one in his hands during overtime that also would have won it. The RBs matched the Stamps play for play defensively on a night when knocking snot was the name of the game. Damaso Munoz, 10 tackles, led the way for the Ottawa defenders. QB Trevor Harris and WR Chris Williams seem to have something going on here as the latter had 10 catches for 130 yards, and his 493 yards overall in the first three games (also served up by QB Henry Burris) is the hottest start in CFL history.
2. Edmonton Eskimos (up from 3)
- Overall record: 1-1
- Streak: Won 1
- Next: At Winnipeg
There's a problem in northern Alberta right now, and it's spelled with a capital D. These guys can't defend. There's also a short-term solution available that gives coach Jason Maas time to get that group together – it's spelled with a capital R. As in Mike Reilly. Quarterback. Take two plays in the OT victory over the Riders: second and 14 on his own 11, fourth quarter, Reilly drops a perfect ball into the hands of a triple-covered Cory Watson for 68 yards; next play, 31 yards on a flag route to Adarius Bowman for the touchdown. Bowman (6-for-141) is so much fun to watch. Now the defence. Protecting a good lead late, they let the Riders back in the game in just seven fourth-quarter minutes, thanks to a touchdown, field goal and another major. Fortunately, Not Just Regina is having defensive woes as well.
3. B.C. Lions (down from 2)
- Overall record: 2-1
- Streak: Lost 1
- Next: At Saskatchewan
Leos may have more problems in the stands right now than on the field, though the loss to Toronto has put the competitive spotlight on the quarterback situation. Jon Jennings started at pivot in front of just 18,921 patrons and went 11-of-18 for 132 yards, with a third-quarter pick that floated up there like the Graf Zeppelin. This moved Wally Buono to spring former starter Travis Lulay from the bench, and he did much better (12-of-15, 156, TD and a pick). Says here Jennings goes in Regina, but Lulay won't be far away. Returner Chris Rainey had 164 total yards to help with field position. With Jeremiah Johnson injured, RB Anthony Allen carried 16 times for 107 yards, and that should have opened things up against a tough Toronto front seven. It didn't. Defence played well again, and this team will be fun to follow up to Labour Day.
4. Calgary Stampeders (unchanged)
- Overall Record: 1-1-1
- Streak: Unbeaten in 2
- Next: Bye
Comes a time, when you're drifting a bit, where pride is what settles you down. The defenders were on the verge of giving up the winning score with a buck-40 to go when Nic Grigsby took the ball toward the line. He smacked into a wall of Stamps' defenders, the ball popped loose and Josh Bell jumped on it to keep the Horses in it. Pride. Re-enter Rene Paredes, who used to be Mr. Automatic and has struggled in 2016. He missed a convert and a field goal in the first quarter, but pounded through four threes after that, including two in overtime. Pride. QB Bo Mitchell had 14 incompletions on the night – he was grumpy afterward. On the other hand, he also hit nine different receivers in a check-down tour de force. RB Jerome Messam had just 32 yards on the ground. Tough defensive contest with early season sloppiness.
5. Toronto Argonauts (up from 6)
- Overall record: 2-1
- Streak: Won 2
- Next: Ottawa
It's been said so often over 100 years you could put music to it – defence and special teams. Add a truck (Brandon Whitaker) and it's a country song. Argos spent two weeks out West and came home from B.C. with four points thanks to D and ST. Lirim Hajrullahu (now 11-of-12 on field goals since escaping Winnipeg), nailed six on the night because the offence was able to pile up yards before running into an orange wall approaching the goal line. Defence caused four turnovers (two fumbles, two picks) while adding four sacks as it dominated most of the evening. Toronto's secondary is maturing and only had one bad early error. RB Whitaker rushed for 97 and caught another 55; this kind of threat is key to winning in the modern CFL. Tough challenge with Ottawa in and the Double Blue need a good performance to invite fans back.
6. Hamilton Tiger-Cats (down from 5)
- Overall record: 1-2
- Streak: Lost 2
- Next: At Montreal
Welcome to Jeremiah Masoli's living nightmare, in which the Hamilton QB throws for 367 yards and two touchdowns in a game he's probably still trying to wake up from. Masoli tossed two picks, the first one run back for a touchdown, and fumbled the ball three times. That's five turnovers all by himself. The last ball dribble ended the contest just as the Kitties looked ready to pull this one out of a hat. Things are suddenly out of synch in The Hammer, where two straight home losses have the local cognoscenti as confused as the offence has looked. Again, there was no real running game to help the QB. Defensively, they held Peg in the second half to keep the comeback open, but while allowing zero points in the fourth, the Cats' attack also produced zero. Who was that practising this week? Why, it's star QB Zach Collaros.
7. Winnipeg Blue Bombers (up from 9)
- Overall record: 1-2
- Streak: Won 1
- Next: Edmonton
A little offence, a little defence, a little luck and a touch of magic put Big Blue back into the picture this week. We posited whether coach Mike O'Shea could get his guys believing again, and he definitely did. Yes, it was a little ragged, but all elements of the club came through when required. Kicker Justin Medlock, signed out of Hamilton had four field goals and a 44.5 punt average. Things looked dark when the specials allowed a missed field goal return early in the first and they worked it out. Peg scored 10 points late in the half, a reverse of last week. The defence (four sacks, caused three fumbles) gave QB Drew Willy a ton of good field position and he came up with enough points. Best moment was a Ryan Smith TD catch on a play that must have been drawn up by illusionist David Copperfield. Still can't figure it out.
8. Montreal Alouettes (unchanged – bye)
- Overall record: 1-1
- Streak: Lost 1
- Next: Hamilton
QB Kevin Glenn is off to a pretty good start and at home this week he'll bring to the field his high-powered offence of … uh … just a minute, I have it right here … Glenn is without receivers S.J. Green (out for season with knee injury), Kenny Stafford (six weeks, broken toe), and possibly without Duron Carter (one-game suspension, he's appealing). When Glenn turns to hand the ball off, he'll find Brandon Rutley, instead of star Tyrell Sutton (six weeks, knee). They'll have to rely on the defence, one that was ripped apart by an Ottawa attack that especially picked on Montreal's rookie cornerbacks. Als' front seven, led by linebackers Chip Cox and Bear Woods, will be key because Cats' QB Jeremiah Masoli is showing he can be pressured into mistakes.
9. Saskatchewan Roughriders (down from 7)
- Overall record: 0-2
- Streak: Lost 2
- Next: B.C.
This is the price of head coach Chris Jones – short-term frustration (and boy were some of the fans frustrated) for long-term success. Wrote the same thing last year, will likely again next year. It's overtime, his team has fought back with 17 late points and he's down a field goal facing a third and one. Instead of taking the three (not guaranteed, of course), Jones went for it. QB Darian Durant was stopped short. Game over. Going for it seemed like the thing, except on four previous third and ones so far in just two games, the Riders hadn't made any. Jones said he was going for the win, post-game radio talk shows lit up, and Saskatchewan is 0-2. And the Rider players know their coach believes in them. Defence fell apart in the fourth, but came up with key stops late as the offence stormed back. One step at a time, and all of that.