Lefko on CFL: Week 16 Power Rankings - sportsnet.ca

Previous Power Rankings

TW	LW	Team	Our Take
1	2	(11-4-0)	Good teams and good players know how to rebound. The Stamps played awful in two of their last three games and none more so than quarterback Henry Burris. Playing in the hostile environment that is Mosaic Stadium, the Stamps rebounded from an early 14-0 deficit with some solid play in all phases of the game. Burris made some great passes and quieted all the Henry Haters. The running game with Joffrey Reynolds, who was given a hearty workload after being overlooked in the last four games, responded. Hey, I’ve been calling this guy the best running back in the league since his rookie season. Backup Jon Cornish did the job again. Full marks to the offensive line, which had to make changes after losing an offensive tackle to injury. Remember how the o-line was considered an issue early in the season? It looks good now. Dimitri Tsoumpas is the best o-lineman in the West, maybe in the league. Defensively, the Stamps shut down receiver Andy Fantuz, who ripped them apart the last time the two teams played. Defensive co-ordinator Chris Jones used the right amount of pressure, while limiting some of the overly-aggressive schemes from the last time these teams met. Once again, Brandon Browner proved his versatility as a shutdown DB. Cornerback Dwight Anderson blocked a field goal, which was a key part of the game. This can talks smack, but backs it up. This was one of the most physical games of the season, but the Stamps won the war of attrition. Giddy up.
2	1	(11-4-0)	Were it not for a great play by linebacker Chip Cox, who legitimately deserves to be the East Division’s defensive player of the year, the Als may have had to go to overtime against Winnipeg. The Als struggled with consistency through the first half, and while they generated some offence in the second half they allowed the Bombers back in the game with some porous defence. Once again it was the back end. Now that the Als have clinched first in the East again -- will anybody in the East ever knock them off their pedestal? -- it will be interesting to see what head coach Marc Trestman does. Will he put the pedal to the metal? I think he needs to because the Als have a habit of occasionally losing their focus. Trestman certainly can’t be content with the team’s inconsistent play, even if they are in first. Running back Avon Cobourne is getting into gear, but the passing game is not. Maybe losing Kerry Watkins has had a effect.
3	3	(9-6-0)	Started off strongly against the Stamps, then faded and lost some key players to injury, notably field-goal kicker Luca Congi. Quarterback Darian Durant had a great game in terms of statistics, but didn’t play at a high level for the full 60 minutes for the second consecutive game. And once again, the defence failed to stop the run. The Green Beans have now lost two consecutive games at home after going undefeated previous to that. Rider Pride has become Rider Humility. With Rob Bagg likely sidelined indefinitely with a knee injury, the Riders have lost a key member of their receiving corps. Yes, Jason Clermont can step into that role, but Bagg is a speed threat on the outside and Clermont is an inside receiver. Obed Cetoute may be inserted into the lineup, unless the Riders decide to change their ratio by playing another import. I think they need to bring in Kelly Chase for some inspiration!
4	5	(8-7-0)	If they only played the Toronto Argonauts, the Ticats would be undefeated. The Steeltowners beat the Argos for the third time, this time with a thorough 30-3 butt-whipping. The Ticats needed some time to get in gear after blowing several opportunities in the first half, but they took control in the second half. Yes, rush end Stevie Baggs had a hell of a game -- and my critics have enjoyed telling me that I wrote that he was overrated -- but overall the Ticats’ defensive line had a great game. For the second consecutive game, the Ticats put the ball in the hands of receiver Arland Bruce, who is their best playmaker. The offensive game plan should include running the ball with DeAndre’ Cobb, but their success will come from the passing game. Coach Lefko says that’s their best chance for success. Return specialist Marcus Thigpen had one of his best games of the season.
5	8	(5-10-0)	What’s up with the Eskimos? They are suddenly putting together some wins and have a realistic chance of making the playoffs. Who would have figured that? Maybe hiring general manager Eric Tillman has given the team some intensity and motivation it lacked. The Esks showed grit and toughness against the Lions and appear to be a completely different team than the one which appeared hopelessly out of place in the first half of the season. That trip to Moncton did wonders for them. Listen, when quarterback Ricky Ray is running up and down the field for 135 yards on 12 carries like he’s the second coming of Damon Allen, well, you know the CFL has officially become the Crazy Football League. And did you notice Ray wincing at times? He took more vicious shots than Kerwin Bell, but he sucked it up. This guy has still got it when he’s given the right support. Running back Daniel Porter chipped in with 171 yards on 21 carries and looks remarkably like Arkee Whitlock in size and running style. Losing receiver Kamau Peterson for the rest of the season with a torn Achilles and possibly Kelly Campbell for at least a game with a concussion will force the Esks into an emergency call for pass-catchers. Picking up Derick Armstrong provided instant benefits.
6	7	(5-10-0)	When you’re searching for a field-goal kicker before the start of the game because of a clerical mistake in putting your roster together, you know you’re in trouble. There’s never a dull moment with the Lions, eh? Losing place kicker Paul McCallum, their most reliable player this season and top Canadian, because of the roster mixup didn’t hurt them in the end. Sean Whyte did a great job in relief. But the Lions defence was terrible. It’s okay to get fooled once or twice on a quarterback dash, but it was sick how many times they allowed Ricky Ray to scramble. How many times do you have to see the same play before you make an adjustment? It’s called a spy, even if it’s only Ray, who is not known for his scrambling. The Lions have had problems stopping the run in recent years, but this may have been their worst effort. At least they kept their poise and didn’t take too many bad penalties. Losing cornerback Davis Sanchez, who took some dumb penalties last week, with a season-ending dislocated elbow is a serious blow. He’s a ratio player and one of their best shutdown cover guys. At least quarterback Travis Lulay showed he can get the job done.
7	6	(4-11-0)	Give the Bombers credit for pushing the Als to the limit. They almost pulled off another miracle ending. But it’s been same thing over and over this year: an inability to play consistently for the entire game. Quarterback Steven Jyles started strongly, faded and then finished well. He personifies the Bombers’ problems this year with that inconsistency, but he’s proven once and for all that he is the starter. But at least the Bombers have found some solid receivers to build on in Terence Jeffers-Harris -- this guy would have been the rookie of the year had he not been hurt after three games -- and lanky Greg Carr to go along with Terrence Edwards. They have a balanced offence with running back Fred Reid. The Bombers are still not completely eliminated form the playoff picture. Granted they’ll need a lot of luck, but if they build on their last two games anything is possible.
8	4	(7-8-0)	Watching the Argos is like watching Groundhog Day. They keep repeating the same pattern, beginning with quarterback Cleo Lemon, who has not improved one iota this year. But at least he had the Spaldings to indicate after the 30-3 loss to Hamilton that he was to blame. He was not alone. But this is a quarterback league and you need the pivot to win some games on his own. Lemon hasn’t done that. The seven wins have come from a combination of an excellent running back, tough defence and outstanding special teams. The Argos have shown a theme this year of beating some of the best teams in the league, then throwing craps against Hamilton. They have three games to try to develop some type of offence, and had better hope running back Cory Boyd can hold up. He’s the only true offensive weapon the Argos have, but he’s getting physically beat up. The Argos receiving corps leaves a lot to be desired. It’s basically Jeremaine Copeland and Chad Owens and not much else. You have to feel for the Argo defence. They are doing their part but are getting worn down. Since starting out 5-2, this team has gone 2-6 and have shown an inability to play well at home. There were more vocal Ticats’ supporters at the Rogers Centre than Argo supporters.

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