Johany Jutras/CFL.ca
In the end, the only statistical category you really need to shine in is the wins versus losses column. That doesn’t mean, however, that there aren’t things even winners could do better heading into the 2016 CFL season. Each of the nine teams has at least one area (some have many, of course) in which they need to improve. Here’s a look at each of the CFL’s teams with a suggested area of focus:
BC Lions: Limit the big play
The B.C. Lions need to stop giving up so many big plays. In 2015 the Lions gave up more of them than anyone else in the league (60). Big plays go into the stats pack as rushes of 20 or more yards, passing plays of 30+ yards, punt and missed field goal returns of 30+ yds and kick off returns of 40+ yards. The Lions gave up 46 of those big plays on defence alone, again a league high.
Edmonton Eskimos: Protect the quarterback
What can the Edmonton Eskimos do better? Keep Mike Reilly healthy, though I suppose that is not entirely in their power. Last season, Edmonton allowed 47 sacks, ranking fifth. Not terrible, but the Esks would rather be in the area of the elite and last season that would have meant a total of 33 or 34. Edmonton’s sack number actually slipped a little in 2015, one worse than the 46 allowed in 2014.
Calgary Stampeders: Limit big returns
The Calgary Stampeders could do with better kick coverage, at least when it comes to allowing the big one. They gave up a league-high five returns for touchdowns in 2015, four of those on punts. Winnipeg was the only other team in the league to give up more than one. Calgary ranked eighth in punt coverage last season and was middle of the pack (5th) in kick-off coverage.
Saskatchewan Roughriders: Turn up the pressure
The Saskatchewan Roughriders came up as the number nine team in so many categories, last season. On defence – their real Achilles’ heel – they were last in passing yards and rushing yards given up. Let’s pick one thing that could help immensely in bringing those numbers down, especially the passing yardage: The Riders were last in sacks in 2015, with 34. Bring that total up and it means you’re doing a much better job of blowing up the opposition’s offensive plans.
Winnipeg Blue Bombers: Convert on second down
The Winnipeg Blue Bombers need to do a better job of putting together drives in 2016. Last season, they were last in the CFL in second down conversions, at 41.6 per cent (League average: 47.1 per cent). They were below the league average in all three categories of second down conversions – those from 1-3 yards, 3-6 yards and 7-plus yards. Their average gain on second down was 4.7 yards and, again, that was last in the league.
Hamilton Tiger-Cats: Protect the football
The Hamilton Ticats could better look after the football on offence. On a team with such a turnover-hungry defence, it might be hard to believe that there were seven games in 2015 where the Ticats gave up more turnovers than they forced. Hamilton’s record in those games? Donut and seven. Overall turnover numbers weren’t to shabby for the Tabbies but they were a league-worst in fumbles lost with 18.
Toronto Argonauts: Tighten up defensively
The Toronto Argonauts could stiffen the defence, especially in the areas of passing and second down productivity. The Argos were second-worst, last season, in aerial yardage given up with an average of 283 per game. The average second down gain against the 2015 Argos was a league-worst 7.4 yards, a half a yard worse than the eighth-ranked Roughriders.
Ottawa REDBLACKS: Ignite the return game
The Ottawa REDBLACKS would like to ignite their punt return game. In 2015, they averaged just 6.3 yards per return (in a league that averaged 10 yards per return). The CFL total for “big play” punt returns of more than 30 yards last season was 36. Ottawa’s share of that tally was zero.
Montreal Alouettes: Time to take flight
The Montreal Alouettes need to bolster their passing game. In 2015, the Als were dead last in passing yardage per game (226) and gave up more interceptions than any other team (28). Montreal’s average of 6.3 yards per completion on first down was a league worst.
