CFL

  • Power Rankings

  • Perry Lefko's CFL Power Rankings: Riders on top again

    Perry Lefko | July 12, 2010

 
TW LW Team Our Take
1 1
(2-0-0) 		An absolutely breathtaking performance by the Roughriders, who won the game at the line of scrimmage even after losing tackle Wayne Smith early in the game. The O-Line opened up holes for the two-pronged running attack of Wes Cates and Hugh Charles. Quarterback Darian Durant had tons of time to throw, and even when pressured he used his legs and employed his full receiving corps. Prechae Rodriguez, acquired in a trade from Hamilton, had a breakout game for his new team. The real surprise was the play of Brent Hawkins, and Luc Mullinder, the two new rush ends taking the place of studs gone to the NFL.
2 3
(1-1-0) 		The Grey Cup champions -- even if head coach Marc Trestman is determined to put 2009 out of everyone’s mind, including not even mentioning it in the team’s media guide -- came alive late against Edmonton to win. The defence was getting shredded, largely because of blitzing and putting the back end into man-on-man coverage, but when it mattered two interceptions were the difference. They are 1-1 against Western teams and possibly could be 2-0, so you have to respect their class.
3 5
(2-0-0) 		Hard to believe a team can be undefeated with two victories to start the season and still look as though it hasn’t come close to hitting its stride. The Stamps have had a soft schedule to date playing Hamilton and Toronto. But you have to be impressed with the Stamps’ defence, which was solid in a goal-line stand against Hamilton. Quarterback Henry Burris was facing pressure the whole time against Hamilton, but moved the ball in a key drive to set up the winning field goal by rookie Rob Maver.
4 8
(1-1-0) 		Argo head coach Jim Barker could take some satisfaction from his team’s victory over Winnipeg. Barker was clearly bristling when he used the line “the free space on the bingo card” to describe what some pundits consider the early edition of the Double Blue. He believes the team is a work in progress, and that may very well describe rookie quarterback Cleo Lemon, who showed improvement from his first game and ruggedness after taking a hellacious hit in scoring a rushing touchdown and only missed one series.
5 2
(1-1-0) 		The Bombers played well enough to beat Toronto, but lost because of inconsistency. Quarterback Buck Pierce racked up more than 100 yards rushing, but what’s become of Fred Reid? Pierce also had 366 passing yards, but he took some hits. What has become a problem early in the season is the team’s special teams, giving up runbacks for touchdowns and failing to score valuable points on field goals. The Bombers also had only one sack, after notching seven the previous week against Hamilton.
6 4
(1-1-0) 		Perhaps the inexperience of the Lions’ offensive line is showing. Quarterback Casey Printers was on the run the whole game until he ultimately had to leave with a wonky hammy. Travis Lulay didn’t have much success either in relief. Receiver Paris Jackson has been completely overlooked in this offence, and much more was expected of him. Take away Geroy Simon, who scored two touchdowns, and there really isn’t a whole lot in this receiving corps to this point. Running back Jamal Robertson was held to only 54 yards on 10 carries, but again you have to look at the offensive line.
7 6
(0-2-0) 		The natives are restless in the City of Champions, where the Eskimos are 0-2 at home to start the season for the first time since 1969. The team hasn’t finished scoring drives, and even when it seems to be coming alive it crumbles with forced and unforced mistakes. In a loss to Montreal, the Eskimos had two sure touchdowns fail to materialize because of dropped balls by Kelly Campbell -- although I believe a flag should have been called because the Montreal defender had a hold on his jersey just before the pass arrived -- and another by Fred Stamps. He blamed himself for the loss to Montreal. You have to wonder how long Campbell, who has been the team’s best receiver, holds up if he continues to suffer rib problems. I think the Esks need to play one more import in the receiving corps and play a Canadian elsewhere. I wonder if general manager Danny Maciocia is thinking about changes. Yes, it’s early, but in Edmonton, which will host the Grey Cup this year, inconsistency and inefficiency won’t be tolerated. Just asked the fans who are already booing the team.
8 7
(0-2-0) 		If a team can’t score with three cracks two yards or less from the goal line, it’s a sign something is wrong. The momentum from last year’s second half of the season has failed to materialize. With a crowd of 25,000-plus, the Tiger-Cats found a way to absolutely put a pinprick into the balloon of enthusiasm in Steeltown. The running game has totally disappeared and quarterback Kevin Glenn is getting hammered. Twice the team has benefitted from touchdown returns from newcomer Marcus Thigpen, but he’s about the only point-producer on the team. Who would have thought one of the disappointments at this point would be the field-goal kicking of Sandro DeAngelis, who was money in Calgary.
 

Related