June 23, 2015

Prediction Time: Do the Ticats have what it takes?

Is Zach Collaros the x-factor this year? Who will finish in first place this year? Who will win the Grey Cup?  Which Fantasy picks should you make?

The CFL season is upon us and as we get closer this is how I size up how the CFL season may play out looking at the story lines and changes that we’ve seen this off-season.
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Nye’s Weekly Predictor
Each and every week Jamie Nye will inform on CFL Fantasy by giving you who he is taking in CFL Pick’Em.  This week, Nye is taking …
»  OTT over MTL | CGY over HAM | EDM over TOR | SSK over WPG
Compete against Nye and others by registering for CFL Pick’Em here.
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WEST DIVISION

1st Place –  Calgary Stampeders 
You can’t deny going into the season the Stamps are the best bet to win the West again with Bo Levi Mitchell at quarterback. The best up and coming quarterback who has already won a Grey Cup should help lead this team to greatness again. The Stampeders were tops without Jon Cornish for most of the 2014 season and assuming he’s full health for much longer this season, it’s going to be a long one for opposing defences. Speaking of defence, the Stamps still have tremendous playmakers on the other side of the ball and some of the best kickers in the game as well to compliment their well rounded team.

Biggest question: Offensive line – Losing Brett Jones and Stanley Bryant, who could be claimed as the top two offensive linemen in the league last year isn’t going to be easy to over come

2nd Place – Saskatchewan Roughriders 
I can’t get out of my head that the Darian Durant led Roughriders were 8-2 last season and did most of that with Weston Dressler in Kansas City’s training camp. Now one of the best QB/WR tandems are reunited. The Riders new offence under Jacques Chapdelaine will put the ball into Dressler’s hands in many different ways and with his ability to make something out of nothing will be a tremendous asset. Defensively the Riders upgraded at linebacker with Shea Emry being pulled in with a trade from Toronto. If you’re worried about losing Ricky Foley, the team just went out and picked up Alex Hall after one year away in the NFL following his 2013 CFL All-Star season.

Biggest question: Offensive line – Like the Stamps, the Riders cut loose centre Dominic Picard and lost OT Ben Heenan. The protection around Durant will be vital for the team to succeed in 2015

3rd Place – Edmotnon Eskimos
The fight between the Eskimos and Roughriders for second spot will be fascinating. Mike Reilly is the toughest player in the CFL and is coming off a foot injury that plagued him late last season. It’ll be interesting to see who picks up the slack at receiver. Fred Stamps is gone and though his 2014 wasn’t his usual all-star calibre campaign, he created space for Adarius Bowman to pick up nearly 1,500-yards. The team is really powered by Chris Jones’ aggressive defence and with players like Almondo Sewell, Odell Willis and Dexter McCoil, they’ll be among the best again this season.

Biggest question – Running back – The Eskimos were just fine without John White for most of 2014, but losing him in training camp with the achilles injury leads one to wonder if they can get as much production out of the back field to take pressure of Reilly

4th Place Winnipeg Blue Bombers

They spent big money to keep Drew Willy as they’ve tagged him as the franchise quarterback and there is no reason to think he won’t take another step this season. Maybe the biggest move was bringing in Richie Hall from Saskatchewan to run the defence. They couldn’t stop the run last year and Hall said right away stopping the run will be of top importance this season. They also upgraded their National talent this off-season and their offensive line. They’re my sleeper pick to do a lot more than finish fourth in the CFL West. We should get a good indication early when they take on Saskatchewan in Week 1.

Biggest question
– Linebacker – If Hall wants to stop the run can they replace the play of Ian Wild at linebacker

5th Place – BC Lions
I’m not sold at all on the BC Lions yet. When you put them up against the four other teams in the West they have the most questions and they have a new Head Coach and Offensive Coordinator with Jeff Tedford and George Cortez coming in. It may take awhile for their system to catch on. Defensively the do have the best linebackers in the game, complimented by a decent defensive line and that is a great base to build from.

Biggest question – Quarterback – Can Travis Lulay get through a season? Do they have a capable back-up? The CFL starts at quarterback and if Lulay can’t get through the season, they look to be in big trouble. See the end of the Riders 2014 season

EAST DIVISION

1st Place – Hamilton Tiger-Cats
I know this is an easy pick as they’ve been to back-to-back Grey Cups and I don’t see the teams around them getting any better enough to challenge. Zach Collaros will be improved in 2014 with Kent Austin and they look solid behind them if an injury were to sneak in. The loss of Delvin Breaux in the secondary will be tough to overcome for the secondary as will the injuries up front to the defensive line but those problems pale in comparison to what’s going on with the other three teams in the division.

Biggest question – Defensive line – Losing Lindon Gaydosh and then Brian Bulcke within weeks of each other takes a big chunk out of the interior of the defensive line and will have Austin having to rejuggle the ratio. Ted Laurent helps but who plays beside / behind him

2nd Place – Toronto Argonauts
They don’t have Ricky Ray to start the season, yes, but upon his return later this season the Argos looks to be the best fit to with stand questions at quarterback in this division and Trevor Harris has looked okay in his limited play time. Ricky Foley is back to help lead the pass rush in Toronto and Cory Greenwood should be a solid replacement for Shea Emry down the middle of the defence.

Biggest question – Quarterback – When Ricky Ray’s shoulder is still a problem going into the season, like Lulay in B.C., how reliable can he be when he returns

3rd Place – Ottawa REDBLACKS
I believe I did this last year and paid for it, but with their additions at receiver they should be a team who can score enough points to compete on a week to week basis. Henry Burris has weapons and reliable ones at that he didn’t have last year. On defence, that was the strength of their team last year and if the offence can stay on the field a little longer how much better can they be, although they traded leading tackler Jasper Simmons to Calgary to get Maurice Price.

Biggest question – Chemistry – It’s only the second year for this team that is still being put together of players from around the league, can they put it all together because they definitely have the talent

4th Place – Montreal Alouettes
I’m going to pay for this, I know it. GM Jim Popp will always have talent on the field for the Alouettes but I’m going to get right to my concern with this team and it’s behind centre. Jonathan Crompton was able to get away with mistakes last season that I don’t think they can withstand this year. Dan LeFevour is a great second option, though can his ability to run be enough to get the job done? Their defence will once again have to be the back bone of this team’s success.

Biggest question – Quarterback – Do they have the right men lined up behind centre to compete in a wide open East Division

103rd GREY CUP: Tiger-Cats beat the Stampeders in Winnipeg to win the 2015 Grey Cup