Patrick Doyle/CFL.ca
TORONTO — Sunday’s Grey Cup matchup has been determined, featuring several prolific veterans and even some intriguing newcomers.
Ricky Ray and S.J. Green have combined to win five Grey Cups in their storied careers, yet never together as they’ll try to do now.
For Calgary, quarterback Bo Levi Mitchell, currently with the best winning percentage in CFL history, already has a Grey Cup, a Grey Cup MVP and a Most Outstanding Player next to his name at age 27.
Finally, the running backs. Jerome Messam and James Wilder Jr. are similar backs but at opposite ends of their careers, with Messam looking for his first Grey Cup at 32 and Wilder’s star quickly on the rise.
As the teams arrive in the nation’s capital for the 105th Grey Cup presented by Shaw, we look at the brightest stars Sunday has to offer — from Ray and Mitchell to whoever else might end up making an impact. Plus, as always, a few X-factors for good measure.
Here we go:
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In the end, many will remember Ricky Ray for his days with the Edmonton Eskimos — yet a second Grey Cup with the Argos would match what he totaled in nine years with the Green and Gold. The Argos’ quarterback has enjoyed a career resurrection in his age 37 season, going into the week as a finalist for Most Outstanding Player on the heels of the fourth 5,000-yard season of his career. |
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Even when he was contained throughout most of the Eastern Final, James Wilder Jr. was able to make a game-changing impact with his third-and-five catch on the game’s final drive. Wilder runs fearlessly with his 6-foot-2, 232-pound frame, and it’s no coincidence that the Argos have gone on a 6-2 run (and 6-1 in games Wilder has actually played in) since his breakout game vs. Edmonton on Sept. 16. |
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S.J. Green’s heart-warming story just keeps getting better. Thought to have suffered a career-ending injury in 2016, Green was traded to the Argos for a sixth round pick last off-season. Catching passes from Ricky Ray, the 32-year-old hasn’t missed a game while recording a career-high 1,462 receiving yards and leading the league in targets (Reminder: Make sure you read Chris O’Leary’s read on the prolific receiver’s comeback). |
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Three years after making a key defensive play to help the Stampeders win the 102nd Grey Cup, Shawn Lemon is back on the league’s biggest stage and ready to face his former team. Few defensive ends have been more productive than Lemon the last few years, with the veteran recording 22 sacks over his last 38 regular season games — not including last week’s hat trick against the Riders. |
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In a passing league that favours receivers and quarterbacks, it may seem a little odd for defensive ends to go back to back. Yet the reality is the Argos’ pass rush, especially from Shawn Lemon and Victor Butler, will play a major role in their chances to pull off the upset. The Boatmen tied the Stamps for the league lead with 50 sacks this season, with Butler getting 10 takedowns in 12 games. |
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Despite cooling off towards the end of the season, rookie returner/running back Martese Jackson still finished third in the CFL in return yards and fourth in combined yards. Marc Trestman may look for ways to get the diminutive speedster involved on offence against the league’s stingiest defence, while a big return could make the difference for the underdog Argos. |
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It was the Argos’ defence that kept it close vs. the Stamps in Week 10, the last time these teams played, while Cassius Vaughn‘s pick-six that started inside his own end zone actually put the Boatmen on the board first. While the Argos’ defence has struggled to force turnovers, Vaughn leads the way with five interceptions and a touchdown while fitting in at multiple positions including SAM linebacker and halfback. |
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Bo Levi Mitchell did not have the type of season we’re accustomed to, at least statistically, but a Grey Cup win on Sunday would be all anyone remembers. The Katy, Texas native is on a trajectory to be one of the best quarterbacks ever, and a second championship is well in his sights. In the Western Final, Mitchell looked like he benefited from the recent rest, showing accuracy and arm strength vs. the Eskimos. |
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Alex Singleton was considered for Most Outstanding Player in the West, an award usually reserved for offensive players and especially quarterbacks. The Stampeders linebacker won’t win MOP, but Most Outstanding Defensive Player is well within reach. Singleton does what few other defensive players in the CFL can, standing out on virtually every play. Look for him to set the tone on Sunday. |
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Jerome Messam has brought an edge to the Stamps’ playoff run, and not just on the field. The powerful veteran back, who admits he’s got a chip on his shoulder, combined for 115 yards on 15 touches and a touchdown vs. the Eskimos, helping Calgary return to the Grey Cup. Messam has never won a championship in the CFL and, after last year’s upset, will be a man on a mission vs. his hometown Argos. |
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The CFL’s leader in punt and kick return average also made an impact on offence vs. Edmonton, sprinting for 81 yards on four carries including a 50-yard touchdown run. Always an under-the-radar player, Finch has outgrown the X-factor label and become a critical part of the Stampeders’ success. He’s burned the Argos before this season and could do so again in the Grey Cup. |
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While injuries cost him eight games this season, Kamar Jorden is back in his feature role on the Stamps’ offence. Dave Dickenson has gotten creative with his athletic slot receiver, getting him plenty of targets and last week a 17-yard gain on a toss play. The lengthy 6-foot-3 receiver has seven touchdowns in 10 games this year and is due to find the end zone vs. Toronto. |
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While the Stamps have a healthy set of receivers for the first time this year, Marken Michel‘s role remains an important one on offence. Michel had 780 yards, three touchdowns and a stunning 19-yard average in his rookie season, becoming a magnet for big plays as the true spark plug of Bo Levi Mitchell’s offence. Unlike the rest of the Stamps’ receivers, Michel makes his first appearance on the big stage on Sunday. |
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The Stamps went with Tunde Adeleke and Joe Burnett at SAM vs. the Eskimos, with the former leaving the game injured. Shaquille Richardson‘s return would provide a major boost to DeVone Claybrooks’ defence, as the 25-year-old sophomore offers big-play ability. This season, his first as a starter, Richardson had four interceptions, a forced fumble, a touchdown and a sack. |
