June 4, 2017

QBs Beware: New contenders ready to chase sack title

BlueBombers.com

TORONTO — The usual suspects are present when we talk about the CFL’s most dangerous pass rushers. Charleston Hughes and John Bowman are the CFL’s active career sack-leaders and moving up the charts fast following successful 2016 campaigns, while John Chick and Jamaal Westerman are sure to be in the discussion.

But this off-season, when CFL.ca polled some of the league’s top stars on the topic, new names have emerged. Shawn Lemon, Willie Jefferson and Gabriel Knapton earned plenty of accolades from their peers and all three should contend for the sack title this season. Meanwhile, Tristan Okpalaugo is also back in the picture after signing with the Bombers this off-season from the NFL.

As Best in the League continues with a look at those rushing the quarterback, CFL.ca looks at some of the top candidates to lead the league in sacks in 2017:

Charleston Hughes | CGY

Charleston Hughes should once again be the favourite to lead the league in sacks (Stampeders.com)

2016 Sacks: 16

Career Sacks: 88

Per Game: 0.66

After the second-most productive season of his career at age 33, Charleston Hughes is showing no signs of slowing down. His production has been almost certain over the last half decade, the Saginaw, Mich. native recording no fewer than eight sacks a year since 2012 with 63 sacks over that span (12.6 per season).

Hughes is one of the all-time greats and should continue to climb the list of all-time leaders, where he currently sits 15th — although he’s only 17 sacks behind Rodney Harding at the bottom of the top-10.

John Bowman | MTL

John Bowman is the sack leader among current active CFL players (Johany Jutras/CFL.ca)

2016 Sacks: 10

Career Sacks: 112

Per Game: 0.62

The active career sacks leader with 112 career takedowns, John Bowman is still a threat to get to the QB at age 34. Remarkably, Bowman has recorded double digit sacks in seven of his last eight seasons while dressing in at least 15 games every year since 2007 (and even that year he only missed four games).

No player has more sacks than Bowman’s 29 over the last two years and you can expect more of the same in 2017 as he and Gabriel Knapton form one of the top pass rushing duos around.

John Chick | HAM

John Chick enjoyed a resurgence with his new team in 2016 with 14 sacks (Ticats.ca)

2016 Sacks: 14

Career Sacks: 67

Per Game: 0.61

It’s understandable why Chris Jones drew the ire of Rider Nation when he released John Chick during the winter of 2016. Chick is as good a pass rusher as any and the following season, perhaps with a little something to prove, the 34-year-old had one of his best seasons with 14 sacks.

Chick has been a model of consistency since returning to the CFL in 2013, playing all 18 games in four straight seasons while recording 48 sacks (12 sacks per seasons). He’s an integral part of the Ticats’ defence heading into the 2017 season.

Jamaal Westerman | WPG

Despite dropping off in 2016, Jamaal Westerman has 25 sacks over the last two seasons (BlueBombers.com)

2016 Sacks: 8

Career Sacks: 25

Per Game: 0.69

You just knew Jamaal Westerman would have a difficult time matching the 17 sacks he recorded his first season in the CFL in 2015, although the second-year Bomber still proved to be a handful for opposing offences.

Westerman has 25 sacks in two complete CFL seasons for an average of 0.69 per game but the best could be to come. The addition of Tristan Okpalauogo, on top of a strong presence inside from Drake Nevis, could open things up for the Brampton, Ont. native who aims to repeat his 2015 success.

Willie Jefferson | SSK

Willie Jefferson has a good chance of eclipsing his career high of six sacks in 2017 (Riderville.com)

2016 Sacks: 3

Career Sacks: 13

Per Game: 0.33

While 13 sacks in 40 career CFL contests is nothing to write home about, the numbers don’t justify Willie Jefferson’s presence as a defensive end. The 26-year-old Jefferson is one of the better-rounded ends in the league and was a must-add for Chris Jones upon his return from the NFL.

Jefferson put in a strong five games for the Riders in 2016, compiling three sacks over that span, and is a pretty good bet to eclipse his single-season high of six set in his Grey Cup-winning season with the Eskimos.

Shawn Lemon | TOR

After an early-season trade, moving to Toronto proved beneficial for Shawn Lemon (Thomas Makacek/Argonauts.ca)

2016 Sacks: 14

Career Sacks: 42

Per Game: 0.67

The move from Regina to Toronto did wonders for Shawn Lemon, who’s bounced around the CFL throughout his six-year career. Lemon signed with Saskatchewan but was traded to Toronto after just one game, going on to record 14 sacks over 16 games with the Boatmen.

A healthy 0.67 sack-per-game pace puts Lemon on track, at age 28, to put up big numbers in his career on this side of the border — especially if he’s just now coming into his own.

Gabriel Knapton | MTL

Gabriel Knapton may not fly under the radar anymore in 2017 for the Alouettes (Peter McCabe/CFL.ca)

2016 Sacks: 9

Career Sacks: 29

Per Game: 0.57

Consistency has been key for Gabriel Knapton, who’s ranged between nine and 11 sacks in each of his three CFL seasons. That’s a healthy pace and could be a sign of bigger things to come as Knapton looks to up his total in 2017.

A new defensive look for the Als puts an emphasis on a strong veteran D-line as Knapton and active CFL sack leader John Bowman will be critical to the defence’s success this coming season.

Odell Willis | EDM

Eskimos’ DE Odell Willis has been getting after CFL quarterbacks for eight seasons (Johany Jutras/CFL.ca)

2016 Sacks: 7

Career Sacks: 78

Per Game: 0.56

Odell Willis has only hit double digits once over the last five years but don’t kid yourself, he’s still a major presence on the Eskimos’ defensive line.

The 32-year-old has played all 18 games three years in a row and has 78 career sacks next to his name, including a career-best 13 sacks two different times in 2011 and 2014.

Tristan Okpalauogo | WPG

Tristan Okpalaugo will look to pick up where he left off in the CFL in 2015 (BlueBombers.com)

2016 Sacks: 0 (NFL)

Career Sacks: 23

Per Game: 0.64

After developing his game south of the border the last two years, Tristan Okpalaugo is a welcome addition to the Bombers’ defensive front. The 27-year-old recorded 23 sacks in two seasons with the Argos, playing in all 18 games both years.

Okpalaugo is a definite contender to win the sack title this year as he teams up with another one of the CFL’s best in Jamaal Westerman.

Best in the League polls the league’s top stars on 13 different categories, from most underrated to fastest player. For past episodes and a full schedule, visit CFL.ca/BITL.