Walter Tychnowicz/CFL.ca
Berg vs. Ferg returns for another season on CFL.ca as columnists Pat Steinberg and Marshall Ferguson debate over some of the league’s most contentious storylines. This week, they weigh in on which team has the best receiving corps.
It’s always one of the most popular debates in football, no matter what league or level: Who has the best group of pass-catchers? In the CFL, where teams pass more than they run, it leads to some intriguing discussion.
When we think of that special group of receivers, we remember back to 2005 when the Alouettes had four go over the 1,000-yard mark. That group was phenomenal, consisting of Terry Vaughn, Ben Cahoon, Kerry Watkins and Dave Stala.
Last year, the Ottawa REDBLACKS became just the third team in CFL history to accomplish the same feat when Ernest Jackson, Chris Williams, Brad Sinopoli and Greg Ellingson all went over 1,000 yards.
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This year, there are plenty of new options and combinations to choose from.
Duron Carter has openly touted the Riders’ receiving corps as the best in the CFL and, at least so far, the numbers have backed it up as he and Naaman Roosevelt might be the best one-two punch in the CFL.
The Lions might have come into the season as the favourite, with Chris Williams joining Emmanuel Arceneaux, Bryan Burnham and Nick Moore.
The REDBLACKS, while they lost Ernest Jackson and Chris Williams, gained Diontae Spencer this off-season and roll him out every game with Ellingson, Sinopoli and rookie Josh Stangby.
Then there’s Edmonton, which has reunited the dynamic duo of Adarius Bowman and Derel Walker. The Esks have so much depth at receiver that Kenny Stafford has returned to the practice roster, while D’haquille Williams, Bryant Mitchell, Cory Watson and Shamawd Chambers are lesser-talked about options behind the trio of Walker, Bowman and one of the league’s leading receivers, Brandon Zylstra.
While there’s plenty of competition, Steinberg and Ferguson have narrowed it down to Ottawa and Edmonton, respectively. They make their cases below in the latest Berg vs. Ferg:
| BERG VS. FERG: LAST WEEK’S RESULTS |
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CFL.ca |
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TOTAL |
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Ferguson – 2,971 (87%) Steinberg – 461 (13%) |
Steinberg – 263 (55%) Ferguson – 216 (45%) |
Ferguson – 3,187 (81%) Steinberg – 724 (29%) |
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FERG (5-8): ESKS ARE BEST
Marshall Ferguson, CFL.ca
@TSN_Marsh
When I judge the overall success of a receiver positional group I look for three things.
First is explosiveness. The group must have big-play capability from one or several members in order to stretch the field.
Next is variety. The group must be more than just a bunch of jump ball heroes. It needs to include men capable of catching passes underneath and quick throws such as screen and bubbles.
Last is mentality. The group must have the mentality that nobody will stop them. This can come from a veteran leader or the confidence of a stand-alone star but it is a must.
When I look at those three factors, one team comes to mind for me.
The Edmonton Eskimos.
Adarius Bowman is amongst the greatest pass catchers in the Canadian Football League and adds value in each of the above listed three categories. Despite being injured to start the season, the Eskimos receivers survived without Bowman and, at times, thrived with the variety required to give Mike Reilly options.
Brandon Zylstra has been the revelation expected after his late-season run in 2016 and Bryant Mitchell emerged as a legitimate underneath threat, not to mention Duke Williams announcing his presence on the scene with a couple of jaw-dropping grabs.
Who deserves more credit, the chicken or the egg. Is Mike Reilly great because the receivers are good or are the Eskimos receivers made to look above average because Mike Reilly is their quarterback?
A bit of both is true but regardless of who the quarterback is for the Edmonton Eskimos, they have every box checked on my list of needs for an elite receiving group.
BERG (8-5): STILL A FORCE TO BE RECKONED WITH
Pat Steinberg, CFL.ca
@Fan960Steinberg
When the Ottawa REDBLACKS said goodbye to Ernest Jackson and Chris Williams during the off-season, I was skeptical. I wondered how much of a hit the defending Grey Cup champs would take without two of their most dangerous offensive weapons in the fold anymore. It turns out my concerns were fairly unfounded, because I believe Ottawa still boasts the most potent aerial attack in the CFL.
Make no bones about it: losing Jackson and Williams was significant. Jackson was the East Division’s nominee for Most Outstanding Player, while Williams likely would have led the league in receiving yards had he not suffered a season-ending injury in Week 16. However, combined with the impressive weapons that remained in the fold and a couple of off-season additions, the REDBLACKS have picked up right where they left off.
With absence comes opportunity, and a pair of returning Ottawa receivers has seized that opportunity in a massive way. Now in his third season in Ottawa, Greg Ellingson leads the league with 1,080 receiving yards and sits second with seven receiving touchdowns. Fellow incumbent Brad Sinopoli is right in that mix, too; he sits fourth with 878 receiving yards and second with an impressive YAC total of 343 yards. While they were a big part of the REDBLACKS the last two years, Ellingson and Sinopoli have stepped into even more prominent roles in 2017.
Don’t sleep on a couple of newcomers, either. Ottawa signed Diontae Spencer as a free agent after two promising seasons in Toronto. With four touchdowns and 520 receiving yards, the 25-year-old has given the team a dangerous secondary option beyond Ellingson and Sinopoli.
Finally, after a 2016 season spent mostly on the practice roster, Joshua Stangby has made the most of his chance this year, too. With five touchdown catches, Stangby has been the REDBLACKS’ second-most dangerous threat in the red zone behind Ellingson. For Stangby to make an impact like that in his first CFL season is impressive.
There’s no question last week’s injury sustained by Trevor Harris could play into how prolific Ottawa’s passing game could be for the next few games. However, with the group of receivers this team boasts, I think incoming starter Drew Tate is in a pretty nice situation to have some success. As it stands right now, there isn’t a group of receivers I’d rather have than the one possessed by the REDBLACKS.
DON’T SIT ON THE FENCE!
While both sides are pretty convincing, someone’s got to take it. Whose argument convinced you the most?
You can vote for this week’s winner both on CFL.ca and Twitter. Meanwhile, continue the conversation by tweeting @Fan960Steinberg and @TSN_Marsh.
The winner will be revealed in the following week’s Berg vs. Ferg.
