Friday, June 02, 2006
CFL Preview: East Division
CFL season is just around the corner, as teams are kicking off the pre-season as we speak. In this wacky and wonderful league we were again witness to a bizarre off-season. The Ottawa Renegades suspended operations in April, meaning we're back to an eight team circuit. Of course the fly-by-night Glieberman's who owned the team decided to shell out big bucks to mediocre players in the months leading up to the team folding, so it's little wonder they wont be participating this year. The CFL introduced a salary cap (at least one that will actually be enforced), but a few months later the governors voted "No" to a cap, leaving commissioner Tom Wright's future in doubt. Events like these would create headlines for most other leagues, but in the good ol' CFL we have come to expect things like this. Here is my preview of the upcoming campaign.
Toronto Argonauts: Last season was probably Toronto's best since the Flutie era, but they failed to defend their Grey Cup title, being upset in the Eastern Final by the Alouettes. This year, Damon Allen returns for yet another year as QB (what's this, his fourth "last hurrah"?). Amazingly, last season was one of Allen's best, so there's no use saying that this will be the year he slows down, because that prediction has failed to come true for the better part of a decade. He will have more help on offense this year with dynamic returner/receiver Keith Stokes and the newly imported RB Ricky Williams, if he isn't arrested for possession of drugs at some point. The only major change on defense is the retirment of CB Adrion Smith. That's both a good and bad scenario. The good is that the pass defense was top ranked in 2005, the bad is that the run defense was ranked last. Overall, the Argos didn't do anything too major aside from Ricky Williams, who will take time to adjust to the bigger field and reduced role.
Montreal Alouettes: Last year Montreal made thier way to the Grey Cup despite a woeful defense. They rellied heavily on Anthony Calvillo's arm and their top notch receiving corps instead. But last year the Als had Ottawa and Hamilton to beat up on, a luxury they wont be afforded this season. That porous defense appears to have lost more than it gained in the off-season, which will be a huge problem, especially against the re-vamped Tiger-Cats. Calvillo has been used heavily year after year, but my prediction is that his age will begin to show and this will be the year the Alouettes drop off. Of course, the x-factor is Don Mathews. He has been able to recruit new talent wherever he goes, though history says he is due to wear out his welcome in Montreal.
Hamilton Tiger-Cats: The team that made the most strides during the off-season is without a doubt the Ti-Cats. QB Jason Maas replaces Danny Oldmanus while RB Josh Ranek was brought over from Ottawa. Corey Holmes, one of the most versatile offensive talents in the league, was picked up from Saskatchewan for a high pick in the dispersal draft (Jason Armstead). Servicable receivers Terry Vaugh and Kwame Cavil will boost a thin receiving corps. This should all make the offense, last ranked in 2005, far more effective. That will in turn keep the mediocre defense off the field, which increases their usefulness as well. After years of fielding both sub-par and down-right awful teams, the future finally looks bright for coach Greg Marshall and the Tiger-Cats.
Winnipeg Blue Bombers: Winnipeg hosts the Grey Cup this year, but are a long shot to appear in it. The Bombers were lousy on both sides of the ball in 2005. The defence looks better with the addition of linebacker Barrin Simpson amongst others, and the offensive line has been bolstered somewhat. Receiver Milt Stegall has returned for another year, but how much he has left in the tank remains to be seen. Charles Roberts is one of the premier RBs in the CFL, and the Bombers should go as he does. But the fact remains that Winnipeg was 5-13 last year, so even moderate improvement is unlikely to turn them into anything more than a 3rd place club. That being said, Winnipeg did show signs of life later last season and has brought in a new coaching staff, so a turnaround similar to Calgary's last year isn't out of the question.
Predictions:
1st: Hamilton, 11-7. New look offense will have a field day against the weak defenses of Montreal and Winnipeg, and the Ranek/Holmes combo could run roughshod. The average defense and lack of a game breaking receiver will keep them from being a truly great team, but 11-7 will still be good enough for first in the East.
2nd: Toronto, 9-9. Pretty similar to last years team, but a year older. John Avery and Ricky Williams should be spectacular, but probably won't be. Grandpa Allen will put in another respecable campaign, but he wont equal last year's MVP calibre performance, so .500 seems about right.
3rd: Montreal, 7-11. Don Mathews will be able to find adequate replacements for those that departed, but in reality Montreal went a lot further last year than their defense should have allowed them. Expect the winds of change to blow through Montreal after this season, which will be their worst in years.
4th: Winnipeg, 7-11. The Bombers will be more competitive than last year, but will come up just short of the playoffs. It will be important to try to build for the future, but two key players are Charles Roberts and Milt Stegall, no spring chickens. That means Winnipeg must develope some younger talent and at the same time rely on their vets to lift them to credibility in a season where they should try to at least give the fans a glimmer of hope of appearing in their own Grey Cup.
Toronto Argonauts: Last season was probably Toronto's best since the Flutie era, but they failed to defend their Grey Cup title, being upset in the Eastern Final by the Alouettes. This year, Damon Allen returns for yet another year as QB (what's this, his fourth "last hurrah"?). Amazingly, last season was one of Allen's best, so there's no use saying that this will be the year he slows down, because that prediction has failed to come true for the better part of a decade. He will have more help on offense this year with dynamic returner/receiver Keith Stokes and the newly imported RB Ricky Williams, if he isn't arrested for possession of drugs at some point. The only major change on defense is the retirment of CB Adrion Smith. That's both a good and bad scenario. The good is that the pass defense was top ranked in 2005, the bad is that the run defense was ranked last. Overall, the Argos didn't do anything too major aside from Ricky Williams, who will take time to adjust to the bigger field and reduced role.
Montreal Alouettes: Last year Montreal made thier way to the Grey Cup despite a woeful defense. They rellied heavily on Anthony Calvillo's arm and their top notch receiving corps instead. But last year the Als had Ottawa and Hamilton to beat up on, a luxury they wont be afforded this season. That porous defense appears to have lost more than it gained in the off-season, which will be a huge problem, especially against the re-vamped Tiger-Cats. Calvillo has been used heavily year after year, but my prediction is that his age will begin to show and this will be the year the Alouettes drop off. Of course, the x-factor is Don Mathews. He has been able to recruit new talent wherever he goes, though history says he is due to wear out his welcome in Montreal.
Hamilton Tiger-Cats: The team that made the most strides during the off-season is without a doubt the Ti-Cats. QB Jason Maas replaces Danny Oldmanus while RB Josh Ranek was brought over from Ottawa. Corey Holmes, one of the most versatile offensive talents in the league, was picked up from Saskatchewan for a high pick in the dispersal draft (Jason Armstead). Servicable receivers Terry Vaugh and Kwame Cavil will boost a thin receiving corps. This should all make the offense, last ranked in 2005, far more effective. That will in turn keep the mediocre defense off the field, which increases their usefulness as well. After years of fielding both sub-par and down-right awful teams, the future finally looks bright for coach Greg Marshall and the Tiger-Cats.
Winnipeg Blue Bombers: Winnipeg hosts the Grey Cup this year, but are a long shot to appear in it. The Bombers were lousy on both sides of the ball in 2005. The defence looks better with the addition of linebacker Barrin Simpson amongst others, and the offensive line has been bolstered somewhat. Receiver Milt Stegall has returned for another year, but how much he has left in the tank remains to be seen. Charles Roberts is one of the premier RBs in the CFL, and the Bombers should go as he does. But the fact remains that Winnipeg was 5-13 last year, so even moderate improvement is unlikely to turn them into anything more than a 3rd place club. That being said, Winnipeg did show signs of life later last season and has brought in a new coaching staff, so a turnaround similar to Calgary's last year isn't out of the question.
Predictions:
1st: Hamilton, 11-7. New look offense will have a field day against the weak defenses of Montreal and Winnipeg, and the Ranek/Holmes combo could run roughshod. The average defense and lack of a game breaking receiver will keep them from being a truly great team, but 11-7 will still be good enough for first in the East.
2nd: Toronto, 9-9. Pretty similar to last years team, but a year older. John Avery and Ricky Williams should be spectacular, but probably won't be. Grandpa Allen will put in another respecable campaign, but he wont equal last year's MVP calibre performance, so .500 seems about right.
3rd: Montreal, 7-11. Don Mathews will be able to find adequate replacements for those that departed, but in reality Montreal went a lot further last year than their defense should have allowed them. Expect the winds of change to blow through Montreal after this season, which will be their worst in years.
4th: Winnipeg, 7-11. The Bombers will be more competitive than last year, but will come up just short of the playoffs. It will be important to try to build for the future, but two key players are Charles Roberts and Milt Stegall, no spring chickens. That means Winnipeg must develope some younger talent and at the same time rely on their vets to lift them to credibility in a season where they should try to at least give the fans a glimmer of hope of appearing in their own Grey Cup.
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