Steinberg’s MMQB: Why the O-linemen will dominate round 1

The 2016 CFL Canadian Draft is approaching quickly and there’s a theme starting to emerge. We’ll explore that theme a little bit in this week’s column while we also continue looking at the biggest additions made by each team this off-season. Oh, and there’s a very intriguing partnership we have to touch on as well. Happy Easter!

Getting offensive (linemen)

CFL.ca’s latest mock draft was published last week and it doesn’t take an actuary to pick up on the overwhelming theme. It’s hard to miss that seven of the first nine selections as projected by Justin Dunk are offensive lineman. Whether offensive lineman dominate the first round quite like that come May is yet to be seen, but it’s definitely a telling sign. And it’s a trend that has been building for quite some time:

OFFENSIVE LINEMEN PICKED IN ROUND 1

Even with a dip here and there, you can see that teams have honed in on early offensive lineman picks steadily over the last seven years. Certain teams, like the Calgary Stampeders, have almost made it a rite of passage to select an offensive lineman in the first round. With John Murphy having swapped red and white for green, it’s not a leap at all to think the Riders would follow a similar path with their first overall pick.

So why has this started to become more and more of a trend in recent years? I think there are a few different reasons.

First off, this country produces some really good players at the position. Over the last number of years, some of the best linemen in the league have been Canadian. From Chris Best and Josh Bourke to Brett Jones and Scott Flory, this country has pumped out some darn good players at the position.

Because of that, ratio advantages can present themselves. The ability to have Canadian talent at crucial positions like left tackle and centre allows a team to focus its international spots to other slots where there might not be as much Canadian depth, like running back and defensive back.

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It’s no coincidence the most consistently high-end teams over the last decade (Montreal, Calgary, Saskatchewan) have made a habit of stacking their lines with national talent. It’s a position where multiple Canadian players can thrive simultaneously allowing for a more diverse mix throughout the rest of the team.

Now, every year isn’t going to be quite this stacked on the top end with offensive line products. Every year is different and 2016 just happens to be extremely strong, thanks in large part to an incredible graduating group from Laval.

Most CFL teams have determined just how important it is stock up on offensive linemen at the Canadian Draft. What we’re going to see in just over a month may be the best example of that we’ve ever seen.

Dynamic duo

An article on the Montreal Alouettes really got my gears turning late last week. As a result, I really wonder if the Als might be sleeping giants this season, at least on the offensive side of the football. There’s something about the new coaching duo of Anthony Calvillo and Jacques Chapdelaine that really, really intrigues me. Everything I’ve seen in this game leads me to believe those two will work wonders for that Montreal offence.

Calvillo is heading into his first season as the team’s offensive coordinator and will have the ear of Chapdelaine as his receivers coach and special advisor. I’m not sure how much help Calvillo needed knowing he’s one of the best offensive minds the game has ever seen. As far as right hand men go, though, Chapdelaine is as good as it comes.

So let’s just go through resumes, here. Calvillo is the most prolific passer in the history of the game and he has a laundry list of league records to back up that claim. Calvillo didn’t play into his early 40’s without the ability to read defences and understand offences at the very highest level. He built a reputation over 20 CFL seasons as an intelligent, cerebral quarterback and those traits should serve him extremely well as Montreal’s offensive play caller.

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In Chapdelaine, Calvillo has someone to consult with who has walked in his shoes numerous times with multiple different teams. Chapdelaine has three Grey Cup rings and 13 years of CFL experience to add to Calvillo’s presence and expertise. On paper, this looks like a pretty darn good combination.

Of course, things that look good on paper don’t always translate to success on the field. That’s where the final piece of this puzzle comes into place and that’s quarterback Kevin Glenn. Calvillo and Chapdelaine bring experience off the field and Glenn brings a boatload of it on the field. It’s no surprise, then, that Montreal’s new coaching duo is expecting Glenn to bring everything together.

“We strongly believe that [Glenn’s] presence will enable us to develop our young quarterbacks more quickly,” said Calvillo. “A young quarterback will want to learn and benefit from the experience of a veteran.”

The Als are coming off a disappointing 6-12 campaign which is something their loyal fans aren’t used to by any stretch. I’m not sure if the Als will be ready to return to the top of the mountain in 2016, but I sure do think they’ve got the right people in place offensively to start making that climb.

Adding it up (Part Two)

Last week we started highlighting each team’s biggest off-season additions by focusing on Toronto and Hamilton. To finish off this week’s column, let’s finish off the East Division with Ottawa and Montreal. We’ll head out west next week.

Ottawa REDBLACKS: Trevor Harris, QB

This one was a no-brainer, and it’s not just a huge addition for 2016. Yes, Harris was signed on day one of free agency to give the REDBLACKS a viable second quarterback option along with Henry Burris. More importantly, though, Harris was signed to be steer this team as its number one for years to come.

Focusing just on this season, though, Harris helps Ottawa immensely. Let’s not forget that Harris was very much in the Most Outstanding Player conversation for much of last year while with Toronto. Only Bo Levi Mitchell and his new teammate Henry Burris passed for more yards than him and no one threw more touchdown passes than Harris’s 33. Those numbers would help any team, regardless of its situation.

But, Ottawa’s quarterback situation is an interesting one seeing as how the REDBLACKS also boast the reigning MOP in Burris. I’m not sure if and when Harris will see number one reps this season, but at the very worst, he’s an outstanding insurance policy.

Burris will turn 41 in June and we have no idea what level he’ll be at this season. With that group of REDBLACKS receivers, I’m not counting Burris out at all, but you never know. Plus, quarterbacks get hurt and it’s never been more important to have two capable pivots who can win games.

Harris is most definitely going to be huge for this team over the next number of years. In the immediacy, though, I’m still expecting him to have a pretty big impact on Ottawa’s quest to play for a second straight Grey Cup.

Montreal Alouettes: Kenny Stafford, WR

We just talked about the scary potential of Montreal’s offence, and now the Als have got another pretty scary weapon. Fresh off winning a title with the Eskimos, Stafford signed with the Alouettes as a free agent and joins what is turning into a very formidable group of receivers.

Stafford joins Duron Carter and S.J. Green at the top of Montreal’s depth chart and the trio forms one of the league’s most dangerous in the snap of a finger. With solid performers like Nik Lewis and Samuel Giguere, the Als are going to have plenty of weapons to spread the ball to.

What intrigues me most about Stafford is his hunger level. He’ll turn 26 next month and still only has one full season of work under his belt. Stafford only signed a one-year deal with Montreal and he wants to prove he’s one of the league’s top receivers. A solid 2016 season could set him up for an even bigger payday next off-season.