The only team to play well on both O and D. Despite giving up yardage, held Reilly to one TD and two INTs. 0 turnovers. One botched kick return made this game look closer than it was.
2. Ottawa REDBLACKS
Four interceptions and a QB that is keying in on guys and having trouble reading defences isn’t a good sign, but Ottawa looks to have a strong D and anytime you can go into Calgary, in week one no less, and win, that’s saying something. Credit where credit is due.
3. Edmonton Eskimos
This team, much like in previous years, will live and die on the arm of its QB. No D to speak of, nearly let a backup to the league’s worst starter of a team that changed head coaches a week ago back into the game. I think as the season progresses both Calgary and B.C. will prove to be better teams, but unlike those teams, Edmonton still came out with the W this week.
4. Calgary Stampeders
Four takeaways and a 15-point lead and they still lost. This is not the Calgary of old, but I also don’t see them losing two in a row. I expect some anger next game. This team took their opponents for granted and the results speak for themselves. Mitchell missing some passes that he’ll make in the future, sure, but maybe, just maybe, the mighty have finally fallen.
5. BC Lions
Eight offensive points from a Mike Reilly-led team does not instil a lot of confidence, but maybe that’s more a testament to the Bombers’ D (who had their share of mistakes, but tightened up when they needed to). The Lions D gave up three wide-open TDs, which is a concern, but I think Claybrooks will get them sorted out once they have some time to gel. I expect BC to be battling it out in the west all season.
6. Hamilton Tiger-Cats
Easily the worst looking team to come out of week one with a W. Had they played anyone other than Sask (including Montreal), they lose this game. Two question: Can Masoli regain his 2018 form? Can their defence play well without playing dirty?
7. Montreal Alouettes
The jury is still out on the defence. Sure, they gave up a stupid amount of yards, but their starting QB had less than 60 yards of production in three quarters, so hard to fault them for being on the field the whole game. A pending QB controversy that we haven’t seen since the likes of Brink v. Goltz, Montreal looks to be the enigma of 2019 - they’ll upset teams that they shouldn’t beat and then lose games they should win. 6-12 finish unless one of these QBs can step up and give them an offence.
8. Saskatchewan Roughriders
They were already going to be a bad team with Collaros at QB, they’re worse without him. The problem with this offence is the coordinator and as long as McAdoo has a job, there won’t be much to cheer for on the offensive side of the ball in Saskatchewan. Did Harker look better than Fjardo? Sure, but that’s because Fjardo has more reps in the offence and was trying to execute the patented check—downs that his coordinator is famous for. Harker is young and came off the bench hungry so made decisions that were more instinct than play-call. They do seem to still have a good defence though, but one of their leading scorers, Willie Jefferson, no longer wears green. Combine all the above with a head coach that looked lost and, may I introduce you to the residents of the western basement.
TBD. Toronto Argonauts
No game this week so unfair to put them on the list aside for getting a few laughs, but I expect Toronto to be top two in the east if Franklin stays healthy. He’s better than he showed last year and we’ll see that this year, and Chamblin is a solid coach that’ll right that ship.
1. Winnipeg Blue Bombers
The only team to play well on both O and D. Despite giving up yardage, held Reilly to one TD and two INTs. 0 turnovers. One botched kick return made this game look closer than it was.
2. Ottawa REDBLACKS
Four interceptions and a QB that is keying in on guys and having trouble reading defences isn’t a good sign, but Ottawa looks to have a strong D and anytime you can go into Calgary, in week one no less, and win, that’s saying something. Credit where credit is due.
3. Edmonton Eskimos
This team, much like in previous years, will live and die on the arm of its QB. No D to speak of, nearly let a backup to the league’s worst starter of a team that changed head coaches a week ago back into the game. I think as the season progresses both Calgary and B.C. will prove to be better teams, but unlike those teams, Edmonton still came out with the W this week.
4. Calgary Stampeders
Four takeaways and a 15-point lead and they still lost. This is not the Calgary of old, but I also don’t see them losing two in a row. I expect some anger next game. This team took their opponents for granted and the results speak for themselves. Mitchell missing some passes that he’ll make in the future, sure, but maybe, just maybe, the mighty have finally fallen.
5. BC Lions
Eight offensive points from a Mike Reilly-led team does not instil a lot of confidence, but maybe that’s more a testament to the Bombers’ D (who had their share of mistakes, but tightened up when they needed to). The Lions D gave up three wide-open TDs, which is a concern, but I think Claybrooks will get them sorted out once they have some time to gel. I expect BC to be battling it out in the west all season.
6. Hamilton Tiger-Cats
Easily the worst looking team to come out of week one with a W. Had they played anyone other than Sask (including Montreal), they lose this game. Two question: Can Masoli regain his 2018 form? Can their defence play well without playing dirty?
7. Montreal Alouettes
The jury is still out on the defence. Sure, they gave up a stupid amount of yards, but their starting QB had less than 60 yards of production in three quarters, so hard to fault them for being on the field the whole game. A pending QB controversy that we haven’t seen since the likes of Brink v. Goltz, Montreal looks to be the enigma of 2019 - they’ll upset teams that they shouldn’t beat and then lose games they should win. 6-12 finish unless one of these QBs can step up and give them an offence.
8. Saskatchewan Roughriders
They were already going to be a bad team with Collaros at QB, they’re worse without him. The problem with this offence is the coordinator and as long as McAdoo has a job, there won’t be much to cheer for on the offensive side of the ball in Saskatchewan. Did Harker look better than Fjardo? Sure, but that’s because Fjardo has more reps in the offence and was trying to execute the patented check—downs that his coordinator is famous for. Harker is young and came off the bench hungry so made decisions that were more instinct than play-call. They do seem to still have a good defence though, but one of their leading scorers, Willie Jefferson, no longer wears green. Combine all the above with a head coach that looked lost and, may I introduce you to the residents of the western basement.
TBD. Toronto Argonauts
No game this week so unfair to put them on the list aside for getting a few laughs, but I expect Toronto to be top two in the east if Franklin stays healthy. He’s better than he showed last year and we’ll see that this year, and Chamblin is a solid coach that’ll right that ship.