CFL Power Rankings
Despite loss to Riders, Redblacks still class of the field
Malcolm Kelly breaks down the balance of power in the Canadian Football League.
1. Ottawa Redblacks (unchanged)
- Overall record: 3-1-1
- Streak: Lost 1
- Next: Toronto
Enthusiasts on social media were talking about young QB Brock Jensen as a future Most Outstanding Player in the CFL after he had a decent opening performance as a fill-in after Trevor Harris went down in Regina. Folks, let's cool those jets just a bit. The former North Dakota State star, who won three FCS titles did well in the first half, but once the Riders D had a chance to adjust his final eight drives ended with three field goals and five punts. Without Harris – and we have to wait and see how he is – the RBs were average, even sporting four all-star-calibre receivers. However, Henry Burris is due back in two weeks, so no panic, Ottawa fans. [UPDATE: Ottawa announced Wednesday that Burris has been brought off the six-game injury list to start this weekend.] Defensively, the team was let down in the final 16 minutes, allowing a backup QB to score 13 points and take the game.
2. Calgary Stampeders (up from 4)
- Overall Record: 2-1-1
- Streak: Unbeaten in 3
- Next: B.C.
Nice to have a winning record; nice to keep a winning streak alive coming out of the bye; nice to now be 5-0 at the new Winnipeg stadium; nice to keep pace at the top of the West. This one, however, was too close for comfort. Building up a 20-3 lead in the first half, the horsies' offence stalled for a snack with five punts and a pick in the next six drives. The Stamps were up just eight late in the game and were bailed out first by a Joe Burnett pick 6 and an outstanding catch from Bakari Grant with 3:09 to go, setting up a score. You could hear one of the coaches in the last minute yelling "play to the end of the game." Saying that at half would have been called for. Kicker Rene Paredes has not moved into Mackey Sasser territory yet, but he's yipped four converts so far.
3. B.C. Lions (unchanged – bye week)
- Overall record: 3-1
- Streak: Won 1
- Next: At Calgary
No pity party for the Lions, who have lost SB Nick Moore (torn ACL) and DB T.J. Lee (Achilles) for the season. They aren't asking for any either, given every team in the league is getting hit. Bryan Burnham has filled in for Moore and the team is working out the DB situation while hoping to continue it's solid start in Calgary. QB Jonathon Jennings led his club to 40 points last outting (four TDs) and he still has Shawn Gore and Manny Arceneaux to throw at. Jennings is sitting around 60 per cent completion rate, a mark which in the old days (like three years ago) was pretty good. Right now, if you aren't in the 70s, you're no where. There are six QBs with major minutes better than 70. Good QBs, or lousy secondaries?
4. Edmonton Eskimos (Down from 2)
- Overall record: 2-2
- Streak: Lost 1
- Next: Winnipeg
There's no way to account for what happened on Saturday night. QB Mike Reilly, with receivers Derel Walker (12-for-140 yards) and Adarius Bowman (9-for-111) were at their best in the first half (24-6) and carried it into the second (31-6). Then, a mind-blowing, record-breaking collapse. Hey, Hamilton is a good team, but letting them set a franchise mark for deficit erasure was long past unexpected. After six quarters of good football, the defenders fell back into their early-season funk. Actually, funk isn't the word Edmonton fans have been using, but it's close. The Cats picked up points on their last six drives (four TDs, 2 FGs). Meanwhile, the offence went two and out on its last four drives, helped by a collapsing front line that left Reilly picking fake grass out of his uniform too often. 'Peg's coming in. Smarten up.
5. Hamilton Tiger-Cats (unchanged)
- Overall record: 3-2
- Streak: Won 2
- Next: Bye
Sing a song of Jeremiah Masoli, who was off-key in the first 30 minutes on Saturday in Edmonton, but performed like Pavarotti in the second half of the concert. If at home, the QB might have been booed off the stage. But with Twitter critics (including this one) baying away, he ignored all and proved we don't know nothin'. In what may be his last start for a while, as Zach Collaros is due back after the bye, Masoli completed a CFL-record 23 straight passes to start the second half. Amazing. How does 31-38, 391 yards, 3 TDs and a 139.3 rating sound? It's been a long time since we've seen the Hamilton defence play as poor a half as it did in the opening 30 minutes. Whatever was said in the room, and more importantly the adjustments made by the coaches, worked wonders.
6. Toronto Argonauts (unchanged)
- Overall record: 3-2
- Streak: Won 1
- Next: At Ottawa
Count along with me: One steamboat, two steamboats, three steamboats. That's how long it was from the time QB Ricky Ray released the ball and lineman Vaughn Martin hit him in the lower leg, spraining an MCL and putting him out 3-6 weeks. If Ray hadn't already been wearing a brace, it would likely be longer. The result will be a fine. How about three games off? Ray (29-34, 235 yards, 3 TD) was moving the ball from the outset and his offence pulled together in the second quarter to score three consecutive majors. The Argos discovered this old attack plan called "running the ball" going by ground 27 times (average was 11.5 per game, on track to be the second-lowest in CFL history) for 121 yards. Now backup Logan Couture comes out of the Toronto QB factory to take over.
7. Winnipeg Blue Bombers (unchanged)
- Overall record: 1-4
- Streak: Lost 2
- Next: At Edmonton
As if there wasn't enough trouble in Winnipeg, the club now has a quarterback controversy on its hands. Drew Willy is not the same player he was before injury in 2015 and it's showing on the scoreboard. Short passes? No problem, and he can pile up yards that way, but anything long isn't there. He also isn't moving around as he once did. Coach Mike O'Shea stayed with him against Calgary until the fans were ready for a sideline chat with the boss. In came Matt Nichols, who produced a TD on his first fourth-quarter drive. Shame of it was the defence played so darn well, losing two key defensive backs and then still shutting down the Stamps for most of the game. O'Shea announced Nichols will start the game at Edmonton. Piling up points is more important that piling up yards.
8. Saskatchewan Roughriders (up from 9)
- Overall record: 1-3
- Streak: Won 1
- Next: At Montreal
QB Mitchell Gale was tapped for his first CFL start this week with one job: get it done. Don't care how, don't care if it's pretty, just get it done. With his family in the stands, Gale did just that, throwing for 354 yards, keeping patient, coming up with 13 points in the closing 16 minutes and beating Ottawa at Mosaic. Darian Durant is out a while with a bad ankle sprain and the former Argo backup had to establish himself as an option while everyone waits. Great help from receiver Naaman Roosevelt, who caught eight for 182 yards with a long of 89 for a touchdown. A stronger running game would be a great help. Having prepared for Harris, it was expected the defenders to be caught flat-footed by a newcomer out of the gate. Second half, the starting 12 controlled things.
9. Montreal Alouettes (down from 8)
- Overall record: 1-3
- Streak: Lost 3
- Next: Saskatchewan
Kevin Glenn continues to be one tough cookie, even as Father Timekeeper runs the clock. He was hit clean halfway through the fourth quarter, lay still for a while to make sure everything was working, then limped off. He returned a series later. Afterwards, he would not accept the large number of Larks' offensive injuries as an excuse. Pros have to be ready, he said. Montreal's live-on-the-edge defence slipped over the other side too many times in the second quarter (a face mask and pair of illegal contact) keeping Toronto drives alive. Overall, the team took 11 flags of 10 yards or more. LB Bear Woods was outstanding all night (11 tackles) and mightily frustrated after it. There's no time to get healthy; they host the Riders on Friday night. Kicker Boris Bede is now 5-for-12 in field goals this season.