The CFL has just completed the front nine of the 2011 schedule, so it is a great time to rank the teams after half a season. The Labour Day weekend show forced me to reassess the positions in the 11th hour.
The number one position still belongs to the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, despite the impact of a loss to the lowly Roughriders. The Bombers are terrorists on defence while surprisingly healthy Winnipeg quarterback Buck Pierce learns his trade.
On Sunday, the Bombers played a poor offensive game, were mere mortals on defence, and were more generous with turnovers than a drunken baker who hates his boss. Despite all of those facts, I still rank Winnipeg number one after nine games.
I had the Calgary Stampeders penciled in for first or second before Monday’s contest, but their loss to Edmonton forced me to re-calibrate my game plan. Edmonton is my pick for number two at the halfway mark of the 2011 season.
Eskimo GM Eric Tillman had a few ideas about the revival of the Eskimos this season. He needed to upgrade his Canadian talent, his coaches, and his O-line.
The offensive line was a disaster the past few seasons and probably shaved at least a decade off quarterback Ricky Ray’s lifespan. Another season under the Danny Maccioica plan and Ricky may not have made 40.
The Eskimos are far from perfect in this area, but they are willing to make changes that will ultimately save Ray’s life. They finally benched University of Bart Simpson graduate (major in under-achievement) Patrick Kabongo, a guard in name only during much of his career.
The addition of defensive genius Rick Stubler proved its worth as the Eskimo defence dominated the Stampeders on Monday.
Calgary has baffled me for much of this season so I demoted them to number three. At times they look invincible and, at times, they look very mortal. Their run game has essentially been abandoned in the past few games, so teams are loading up on blitz and stunt schemes against quarterback Henry Burris.
The Stamps play an aggressive style of defence, but injuries at linebacker have begun to hurt them. They also have the league’s worst sack totals in a passing league where pressure on quarterbacks can change games.
The Hamilton Tiger-Cats have earned the fourth spot after nine games. They play very aggressive defense and like to soften up opponents and their will to win. Quarterback Kevin Glenn has a talented trio of receivers (including super rookie Chris Williams to snag passes), while tailback Avon Cobourne adds fire to the team.
Montreal is my pick for fifth. Ironically, they are a disciplined team that takes too many penalties this season. They seem to lack fire in their bellies despite assertions that they are still hungry for championships. I don’t buy it.
Be very afraid of the 2011 B.C. Lions in the second half of the season. The Lions slept their way through the first half of the season, thus the sixth place position — but they are wide- awake and hungry now.
Seventh place belongs to the Saskatchewan Roughriders as they appeared to give up on the Marshall Plan and tanked as a team. They have kindly Grandpa Miller back as head coach, so the excuse factory is not working double shifts for the second half of the season. But they have dug a big hole, so Miller magic better last for nine games to have a shot at the playoffs.
Last and most certainly least are the Toronto Argonauts. The Cleo Lemon experiment is mercifully over and veteran pivot Stephen Jyles is the new captain of this leaky ship. He will help, but this team has Titanic written all over it.
Jim may be reached at jim@mystarcollectorcar.com
