Arthur Ward/CFL.ca
Last year at this time, CFL.ca’s Jamie Nye predicted that the Winnipeg Blue Bombers would make the playoffs and the Riders would make some earth-shaking moves ahead of the regular season.
He also predicted the Argos would play in the Grey Cup and the Stampeders would fail to achieve double digit wins.
That’s the fun in bold predictions — while some make you look foolish, others have you coming out on top.
With 2016 offering plenty of bold outcomes, Nye makes some bold predictions for 2017 that surely few people will agree with:
MONTREAL PROVES DOUBTERS WRONG
Kavis Reed has a lot on the table as he looks to turn around the Als (MontrealAlouettes.com)
The Montreal Alouettes appear to be going through the most change of any CFL team heading into the new year.
With Jim Popp and Joey Abrams gone and Kavis Reed taking over and a new outlook and new direction for the team, many pundits are left pondering whether Reed, as a rookie general manager, will be able to turn the Alouettes back into the beasts of the East they used to be.
I think the Alouettes aren’t that far off.
They were a tiebreaker away from making the playoffs and two games away from hosting the Eastern Final — a touch better offensive output from the team along with being able to keep the defence stable.
I see the Alouettes in the playoffs on one condition: They get an experienced quarterback OR one of their young guns becomes the next Jonathon Jennings.
COREY CHAMBLIN RETURNS TO THE CFL
Former Riders head coach Corey Chamblin could be one to watch this off-season (Johany Jutras/CFL.ca)
The 2013 Coach of the Year and Grey Cup Champion is 18 months removed from his dismissal as head coach of the Saskatchewan Roughriders and while he has another year left from his contract in Saskatchewan, there isn’t a year that fits Chamblin making a return like this off-season.
Orlondo Steinauer is out in Hamilton, Noel Thorpe has a decision to make in Montreal and there are some other teams that could be looking to make a change on the defensive side of the ball.
Chamblin would love to return to the league and climb back up the ladder to once again become a head coach but I’m sure his phone is already ringing to gauge his interest.
He was thought of as one of the bright young defensive coaches in the league, who taught under Chris Jones in Calgary before taking over as defensive coordinator in Hamilton and then on to Saskatchewan.
If he’s learned from some of the mistakes that led to his firing, a team in the CFL may benefit greatly in 2017.
JANUARY WILL LEAVE HEADS SPINNING FOR OFF-FIELD NEWS
The Argos are among teams with the biggest questions heading into the off-season (Adam Gagnon/CFL.ca)
I can’t wait until the calendar flips to the new year! January is going to be a fun month ahead of free agency in February.
There are plenty of free agents that need to re-sign deals and if they don’t, that will only lead to some great speculation on where some of the biggest names in the game will land.
Also, there are the traditional surprise releases here and there as teams try to manage their salary cap.
It won’t only be the players that make news.
Montreal has to hire an entire coaching staff.
Is the situation in Toronto resolved with the team looking into its management and coaching for next season?
What about some coordinators positions that could open up or already have?
January is going to be day after day of rumour, truth, moves and shake-ups. There is going to be one big move that leaves jaws dropping.
DRAFT DAY TURNS TO TRADECENTRE
Chris Jones and other CFL general managers could be very busy on draft day (Matt Smith/CFL.ca)
The CFL Draft is set up to turn into another flurry of deals. With two teams with two picks in the first round, being BC and Winnipeg, and two teams out of the first round right now because of the trades Montreal and Toronto made with those respective clubs, May’s draft sets up to be a similar story as to 2014 when only seven picks in the first three rounds didn’t get moved in one way or the other.
BC and Winnipeg have some leverage to pick up ready-now players to make a further jump in a strong West Division, especially with Montreal and Toronto trying to rebuild their teams after missing the playoffs.
Montreal and Toronto were looking for quarterbacks in those deals from 2016 but now it’s about getting quality depth.
Saskatchewan may also want to take a look at how much teams are willing to offer for the number two selection to see if they can fill a hole instantly, rather than wait for a player to develop.
6,000 YARD QUARTERBACK
Could Mike Reilly become the next quarterback to surpass 6,000 passing yards? (Johany Jutras/CFL.ca)
We came oh so close to seeing a 6,000 yard quarterback in the CFL for a long time and I think we’ll see it in 2017. The passing game continues to grow since the inception of a few new rules in the game that drastically favour the offence.
With those rules helping, teams aired it out more so than we’ve seen in a long time as 15 receivers topped 1,000 yards and three quarterbacks threw for over 5,000.
That’s the most 1,000 yard receivers since 2008, when the league was starting to really grow in popularity. Coincidentally, it was also the last time the league had three 5,000 yard passers in the same season.
Here’s a bold prediction on passing: How about five 5,000-yard quarterbacks in 2017. Bo Levi Mitchell, Mike Reilly, Jonathon Jennings, Zach Collaros and _______. Darian Durant?
WAY OUT THERE GREY CUP PREDICTION
BC Lions vs Hamilton Tiger-Cats
