THE CANADIAN PRESS
The CFL.ca Quarterback Index is a weekly power ranking of quarterbacks across the CFL. The ranking reflects recent performance, historical value, statistical indicators, team success and overall on-field play.
TORONTO — Mired in a four-game losing streak and without composed veteran Ricky Ray, the Argos needed someone to step up and carry them at quarterback. Dan LeFevour came through for the Boatmen, who have two new quarterbacks in the equation with LeFevour and recently-acquired Drew Willy.
RELATED:
» Landry: 5 takeaways from Week 12
» Steinberg’s MMQB: Bombers score victories on and off the field
» Bombers ship Willy to Argos; acquire Glenn from Als
» LeFevour shines as Argos upset Ticats
Matt Nichols did just enough to improve to 6-0 as the Bombers’ starting QB this year (CFL.ca)
Where do the newcomers settle in?
Plus, Zach Collaros gets a mulligan and stays put at No. 4 despite his worst start of the 2016 season, while Trevor Harris and Matt Nichols continue to jockey for position after that.
Which quarterback would you want leading your club? Our rankings heading into Week 13:
Bo Levi Mitchell CGY
This Week: 1 | Last Week: 1
Whether it was a 17-3 deficit or an eight-point hole in overtime, you could never count out Bo Levi Mitchell and the Stamps during Saturday’s Labour Day rematch with Edmonton. Mitchell threw for 338 yards, three touchdowns and an interception, including a clutch game-tying touchdown and two-point conversion in overtime, to improve to 37-7-1 in his career and help the Stamps win their eighth straight.
Mike Reilly EDM
This Week: 2 | Last Week: 2
Despite putting on a passing clinic with 432 yards and a pair of touchdowns, Mike Reilly couldn’t out-duel his Alberta counterpart when the game was on the line in overtime. Reilly and Mitchell are neck and neck in almost every statistical category but wins and losses, the only things separating the league’s top two pivots.
Jonathon Jennings BC
This Week: 3 | Last Week: 3
Consistency has sometimes eluded the young Jonathon Jennings early in his career, but the 24-year-old did what even the most experienced of veterans sometimes fail to do — take what the aggressive, big-play Montreal defence gives you. Jennings threw for 341 yards and a touchdown without turning the ball over in a 38-27 win over the Alouettes as he continues his upward trajectory.
Zach Collaros HAM
This Week: 4 | Last Week: 4
Zach Collaros reached the 300-yard mark for the fifth time in as many games this season, but otherwise struggled to a 7.7 average, 56.4 completion percentage and two interceptions against an energized Argo defence. His team 2-3 since he returned, Collaros and the ‘Cats will have to start racking up wins if they’re going to take the East.
Matt Nichols WPG
This Week: 5 | Last Week: 6
No starting quarterback has a better winning percentage this season than Matt Nichols, who moved to 6-0 as a starter with the Bombers’ narrow 17-10 win over the Riders in the annual Banjo Bowl. With a dominant defence at his back and Weston Dressler back in the lineup, Nichols is doing all the right things to keep Winnipeg rolling.
Trevor Harris OTT
This Week: 6 | Last Week: 5
Trevor Harris falls a spot despite not playing in Week 12, but the reality is he hasn’t quite been the same quarterback he was before being injured in Week 5. Hardly seems fair for the league’s leader in quarterback rating (128.4) but that’s how strong the competition has been.
Darian Durant SSK
This Week: 7 | Last Week: 8
His team keeps coming close, but in the end it’s now been two calendar years since Darian Durant last picked up a victory. Durant threw for 283 yards and a touchdown in a 17-10 loss to the Bombers and appears to be getting on the same page as his receivers. Still, 10 points just aren’t going to cut it for the struggling Riders.
Dan LeFevour TOR
This Week: 8 | Last Week: —
Dan LeFevour embraced the underdog role and so did the Argos, as LeFevour made his first start in two years and generated several big plays on the way to 329 passing yards, a touchdown and 75 per cent passing — and, most importantly, the Argos’ first win in five tries. The Argos have since acquired Drew Willy, but LeFevour gets the start against Winnipeg.
Rakeem Cato MTL
This Week: 9 | Last Week: 10
While he completed 72.4 per cent of his passes and turned in a gutsy road effort against a tough defence, Rakeem Cato and the Als came up short of the win against the Lions. With Kevin Glenn out, the Alouettes are Cato’s team and it might be now or never for the 24-year-old.
Henry Burris OTT
This Week: 10 | Last Week: 11
While two backup quarterbacks changed teams in Week 12, Henry Burris remains invaluable to an Ottawa REDBLACKS team chasing down its second East Division title in a row. The 2015 Most Outstanding Player isn’t going anywhere and will be standing by ready to go if called upon.
Drew Willy TOR
This Week: 11 | Last Week: —
Strange to see Drew Willy with ‘Toronto’ next to his name, but that’s the reality after he was traded suddenly to the Argos on Sunday night. And suddenly Willy’s career may be resurrected as he could be seen as the present and future under quarterback guru Scott Milanovich.
» RELATED: Argos address the present and future with Willy
Kevin Glenn WPG
This Week: 12 | Last Week: 9
The quarterback shuffle and a trade from Montreal to Winnipeg sees Glenn fall from nine to 12, but in the end the move should only benefit the veteran pivot. Back where he once flourished, Glenn becomes an insurance policy for a Grey Cup-contending team and should play a meaningful role for the Blue and Gold.
Travis Lulay BC
This Week: 13 | Last Week: 12
As a mentor for Jonathon Jennings and an insurance policy for the second-ranked team in the league, Travis Lulay is one of the best backups out there. That’s key for a team that feels it can contend for a Grey Cup.
Injured Reserve
Quarterbacks not currently active won’t be ranked in the QB Index but will be added when healthy.
RICKY RAY TOR
THIS WEEK: IR | LAST WEEK: 7
The Argos’ veteran hits the shelf for the second time this season as Ricky Ray’s immediate and long-term future are now in question.
