Dominick Gravel/Montreal Alouettes
TORONTO — From Ricky Ray’s big day to some quiet performances by the league’s top receivers, Week 1 of the CFL season brought plenty of plot twists. But is what you see exactly what you get when it comes to the season’s opening week?
It’s never too early to start up the MOP talk and the Argos’ quarterback got off to a nice start in Week 1. But on the other hand, is it too soon to panic in Hamilton?
While the Ticats must wait, the Riders are back at it right away with their first game at new Mosaic Stadium against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. Both the Riders and Lions are looking to avoid the dreaded 0-2 start after disappointing Week 1 results.
And finally, after going to over time for the fourth time in the last six games, the REDBLACKS and Stampeders meet again in Week 2 in another highly-anticipated Grey Cup rematch.
Oh, and how can we forget? In Week 2 we welcome to the equation the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, whose fans had to wait an extra week for some football.
The race is under way and the fun is only just beginning.
Here are nine pressing questions for Week 2:
1. Could the Lions regret trading Jovan Olafioye?
Jonathon Jennings was under constant siege in Week 1 vs. the Eskimos (The Canadian Press)
It’s hard to imagine Wally Buono’s decision to move the six-time CFL All-Star was an easy one. After one week, though, there may be some second-guessing by Lions fans.
Last year, the Lions’ O-line paved the way for the CFL’s No. 1 rushing attack while allowing only 35 sacks (1.9 per game), the third-fewest in the country. In a loss on Saturday to Edmonton, however, Jonathon Jennings was under immense pressure for the Lions and was sacked five times (tied with Hamilton for the most sacks allowed).
In Montreal, Darian Durant’s view was much clearer. A year after the Als gave up a league-worst 64 sacks, Durant wasn’t sacked once against his former team the Riders.
Will the Lions regret the decision to move on from one of the league’s premiere offensive linemen?
2. Bowman’s drop in production: New norm or anomaly?
The Eskimos’ prolific passing offence the last two years has gone through Adarius Bowman and Derel Walker. While Walker left for the NFL this off-season, oddly, Bowman has only two catches for 13 yards.
These things tend to happen in football and especially for receivers — but Bowman’s lack of production on Saturday was eye-opening. Last season, Bowman’s least productive game was a three-catch, 43-yard performance while you’d have to go back to the end of 2015 (two catches, 12 yards vs. Montreal) to see these types of numbers.
With Walker’s departure, some speculate the Eskimos’ offence might be more balanced this season — and we saw some of that with D’haquille Williams and Brandon Zylstra each going over 100 yards in the Esks’ win.
It’s highly doubtful Bowman repeats last week’s performance but, with that being said, could we see a drop in 2017 from one of the CFL’s top receivers?
3. Will Ricky Ray be in the discussion for MOP at season’s end?
Ricky Ray enjoyed a flashy 2017 debut, topping 500 yards vs. the Ticats (Dave Chidley/CFL.ca)
The first week of the CFL season is the perfect time for overreaction and you might be arguing right now that this one takes the cake.
Yes, we know, Ray won’t throw for 500 yards every week, even if he is able to play all 18 games this season. But the 37-year-old’s production in Week 1 is worth talking about — and it’s likely more than just an anomaly.
Ray is now two years removed from his shoulder surgery and says his arm feels strong. On Sunday, he showed it, too, completing several intermediate to long passing attempts down field against the Hamilton Tiger-Cats defence.
Combine that with Ray’s union with Marc Trestman and you have reason to believe the Argos’ veteran pivot could be in for a storybook season if all goes well.
If Henry Burris and Damon Allen can win MOP after 40, there’s no reason Ray can’t win his first at age 37.
4. What is the Ticats’ biggest concern after Week 1?
Strangely enough, the Week 2 bye comes at a perfect time for Kent Austin’s club as the Ticats struggled in a number of ways in Sunday’s 32-15 loss to the Argos, from their O-line and their secondary to a key injury in the receiving corps.
Yes, in sports we tend to exaggerate both victories and losses. Zach Collaros may never again look as lost as he did on Sunday, while the Ticats are still expected to compete for the East Division crown this season. With that said, Hamilton’s performance last week leaves a few questions that will need to be addressed if the Ticats want to respond favourably.
For starters, Collaros will need more protection than he had against the Argos. The veteran pivot was sacked five times and that number was probably flattering. Also concerning is a secondary that allowed Ricky Ray to set a new career-high in passing yards, as is what could be a season-ending injury for receiver Terrence Toliver.
Finally, while he never had a chance to get comfortable against the Argos, Collaros faces questions in 2017 himself. So what’s on the Ticats’ mind heading into the bye week?
5. Does Kevin Glenn get a passing grade for Week 1?
Despite a strong performance, Kevin Glenn couldn’t get the ‘W’ in Week 1 (Johany Jutras/CFL.ca)
The Riders’ pivot has his critics entering the 2017 season, with some arguing that the quarterback position is the weak spot on the Riders’ roster. Glenn appeared to be on the mark in Week 1 but was it enough?
The 38-year-old completed 31 of 44 passes — despite a handful of drops — for 298 yards and a touchdown in a loss to the Alouettes, one that was influenced by, more than anything, penalties, turnovers and a last-play missed field goal by Tyler Crapigna.
Glenn did what he needed to do, keeping the offence moving throughout the night and even driving the team into field goal range in the game’s dying minutes. But with the Riders falling short, does his play inspire confidence?
Can the Riders win games with Glenn as their pivot?
6. Is Darian Durant the answer the Als needed?
It was a dink and dunk effort for Durant in a win against his former team, but the veteran and his leadership and experience helped the Als start their season with a 1-0 record — a much needed victory in the first game of a new era.
Many believed that Durant would make the Als a contender in the East on a team that’s struggled with quarterback play over the years. And last Thursday, the 34-year-old was an efficient 20-of-31 for 233 yards and two touchdowns — with no interceptions or sacks.
The pressure is on Durant to deliver in Montreal, a city that’s felt a void at quarterback ever since Anthony Calvillo’s retirement in 2013. So far so good for the long-time veteran.
7. Will the Bombers once again lead the CFL in takeaways?
T.J. Heath and the Bombers wreaked havoc for opposing offences in 2016 (Jimmy Jeong/CFL.ca)
Much of the Bombers’ success last season is attributed to an early quarterback swap from Drew Willy to Matt Nichols. But underlying the team’s first trip back to the playoffs since 2011 was the play of the defence.
That unit, while still allowing the most passing yards in the CFL, forced a league-high 59 turnovers, building a reputation as the league’s most dangerous defence.
The Blue and Gold expect more consistency on offence this season and an improved defensive front seven with the addition of Tristan Okpalaugo up front. But if the Bombers can’t maintain a similar pace as last season in the turnover department, some regression in the win column could be expected.
It’s a lot to ask for but how will the Bombers stack up against last year’s impressive totals?
8. Who will step up after DaVaris Daniels’ injury?
With the word out of Calgary that the sophomore receiver could miss an extended period of time, Bo Levi Mitchell will have to look elsewhere for the time being.
Kamar Jorden looked explosive in game one and was a favourite target of Mitchell, while Marquay McDaniel was his usual reliable self in a 31-31 tie with the REDBLACKS. But who else in the Stamps’ offence is primed to step up?
Lemar Durant could see his role increase moving forward, as could fellow national Juwan Brescacin. Outside of that, look for Jarrett Boykin to come off the one-game injured list or even the explosive young Marken Michel to come off the practice roster to contribute for the Stamps’ offence.
And more than anything, maybe we should expect a heavy dose of Jerome Messam against the REDBLACKS this week.
9. Is Trevor Harris among the elite CFL quarterbacks?
Trevor Harris will go head to head with Bo Levi Mitchell again in Week 2 (Patrick Doyle/CFL.ca)
It’s an ongoing discussion, and one that probably won’t end any time soon. Harris hasn’t looked out of place against some of the league’s best but, over the past two years, consistency has sometimes escaped him.
When we think of the CFL’s elite, we know that Bo Levi Mitchell and Mike Reilly are in that category. We think that Jonathon Jennings is there, too. But outside of that, it’s all pretty much up for debate.
Harris showed us in last year’s season-opener how he can go head to head with Reilly, then did the same against Mitchell last weekend.
He’s on the verge but is he there yet?
