| TW |
LW |
Team |
Our Take |
| 1 |
1 |
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For the life of me, I can't figure out this team. Something about playing the Saskatchewan Roughriders seems to give them the willies. The Als are the dominant team in the Canadian Football League, but they almost squandered a 14-point halftime lead against the Riders similar to Week 1. Not sure what happens at the break or what is said in the locker room, but the Als need to develop a killer mentality playing Saskatchewan like they do the Argos and Tiger-Cats. Okay, maybe that's easier said than done because the Riders don't quit. That said, the Als are still the best in the East and get top billing in this week's rankings. They needed to beat Saskatchewan to make a statement. If quarterback Anthony Calvillo is forced to miss any games because of an injured index finger in his throwing hand, the Als might be rendered mortal. You have to admire the Als' receiving corps: they believe they're better than the Riders' vaunted pass-catching group, and at the very least they make plays. Maybe instead of having Winnipeg and Hamilton play four games in the first seven weeks of the season it should be Montreal and Saskatchewan instead - if only they were in the same division! |
| 2 |
3 |
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Stamps are on a nice roll with a three-game win streak. They're getting great production out of their receiving corps and they have one of the best balanced offences in the league. The play-calling is excellent with play-action fakes and misdirection to create space. Quarterback Henry Burris is really on his game, and with receivers Ken-Yon Rambo and Nik Lewis playing like they are, this is the team that can seriously battle Saskatchewan for supremacy in the West. The Stamps have developed their swagger from two years ago. You've got to like the shutdown cornerback pair of Dwight Anderson and Brandon Browner. It looks as if Browner has put behind a subpar season. He was arguably the best cornerback in the league in 2008, certainly among the most physical. |
| 3 |
2 |
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Quarterback Darian Durant has guts - literally. It was apparent his play was off for a few weeks, and then comes the story he has been suffering from a stomach virus since eating some bad chicken in B.C. in the second week of the season. That said, he showed tremendous fortitude playing the Als, taking numerous shots but standing up to give his team a chance to rally in the second half. The Roughriders' defence needs to be better, giving up an average of more than 30 points in the last three games. Do they miss standout ends John Chick and Stevie Baggs, both trying to secure jobs in the NFL? Bigtime. |
| 4 |
4 |
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Beating Edmonton is no big deal, unless you rally from behind to take the lead inside the final minute on the road. The Argos have developed an excellent ground game with Cory Boyd, and the offensive line deserves credit. Say what you will about quarterback Cleo Lemon, but he's 4-2 and showed significant improvement in Week 6. Remember, how Baltimore won the Super Bowl with Trent Dilfer? All that matters is winning. This team has developed a unity and a belief that was lost in the last two years. |
| 5 |
5 |
|
It wasn't a must-win situation, but the Tiger-Cats needed a victory nonetheless against Winnipeg with some rumblings that the job of head coach Marcel Bellefeuille might be on the line. It likely wasn't even close to that situation, but a win was imperative, so beating the Blue Bombers was a positive. Then again, the Ticats' only victories have comes against Winnipeg, both at home. They almost allowed the Blue Bombers to tie the game with some shoddy defence on the second-last play of the game. On a positive note, receiver Arland Bruce is finally receiving the ball and has exploded with back-to-back huge games. Heck, he's been so good, you can almost read his lips, saying, "Where are you now Bart Andrus?" Yeah, the Cats have no running game, but with Kevin Glenn they'll play pass first and go to the run if they can establish a healthy lead. The switch to rookie import punter Eric Wilbur is a plus, though he had some shaky moments in his debut. |
| 6 |
6 |
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This team has been absolutely beaten up with injuries, but they still show fight. Quarterback Steven Jyles took some wicked shots against the Ticats and missed a series, but returned and almost engineered a tie. Whether or not the Bombers go back to Buck Pierce or stay with Jyles, at least they're getting a good look with their backup. Their field-goal kicking needs to be more consistent. How many years now has that been an issue? They need to find a way to tighten up defensively because they're giving up way too many passing yards. |
| 7 |
7 |
|
Well, the euphoria was short lived. The Eskimos played like crap against Toronto for the first half, but took the lead in the second half and should have won the game. This was all about the defence, and it didn't do the job. That's the responsibility of head coach/defensive co-ordinator Richie Hall. The Eskimos got chewed up on the ground in the first half, then were burned through the air in the second half. How do you address this? In their next five games they play Calgary three times, Saskatchewan once and Montreal once. Three of the five games are on the road. This could get really ugly in Etown. |
| 8 |
8 |
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Winless in three games at Empire Field. The whole Lions' empire is collapsing. The quarterbacking is up in the air with Casey Printers injured and backups Travis Lulay and Jarious Jackson unable to do the job with any consistency. Jackson will likely get the start this week if Printers isn't ready because at least he can stretch the field. Receiver Geroy Simon looks like he's going to explode with expletives at any minute, if he hasn't done so already. This is like Groundhog Day all over again from last year. With their next three games against Saskatchewan, Calgary and Montreal, this could the tell-all time for the Lions' playoff hopes. Since setting the record for the most coaching wins in the history of the CFL, Wally Buono is 4-9 in the regular season. You don't hear any talk that Buono's job is on the line (he's also the GM), but this team needs to be better. Like I said, they haven't replaced some stud players lost to the NFL - notably on defence, in particular Cameron Wake - but that's probably of little consolation to the Lions' fans. |
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