Jimmy Jeong/CFL.ca
The West Division is what we thought it would be. It’s tight race early and it’s going to be hard to distance yourself throughout the season.
Yes, the Calgary Stampeders are out fast to 4-0 and with the play of their defence are again the favourite to land on top of the division.
Behind them is a group of teams without much separating each other. They all have their strengths and their weaknesses and to be playing in November here is a look at how they’ll either succeed or have an early off-season.
(Note: injuries could derail any of these teams but is tough to predict).
EDMONTON ESKIMOS
Can the Esks run game become more consistent than it has been during the first third of the season? (Walter Tychnowicz/CFL.ca)
The Edmonton Eskimos in the standings are No. 2 right now in the division. Overall, they deserve to be there and they’ve already won two divisional games which goes a long long way in the West to determine a team’s final standing.
The Eskimos will hold their spot and try to chase down Calgary if they can find a little more balance on the offence. Yes, C.J. Gable is up there on the CFL’s rushing list but in one game he had 165 yards and in the other four games, he has 166 yards, averaging just over 40 yards per game. That isn’t going to be good enough balance if teams don’t feel threatened by the Eskimos run game. Mike Reilly’s 35 rushing attempts already this season are a little bit concerning. Reilly plays a tough game the more hits, the more increase of an injury on the Eskimos number one guy.
The biggest concern again for the Eskimos is the defence. Are they going to be strong enough week in and week out to stay as an above .500 team? They are also the least disciplined team in the league and when you give up over 100-yards in penalties per game, that isn’t a recipe for success.
BC LIONS
Are the Lions a playoff team with Travis Lulay at the helm? (The Canadian Press)
The BC Lions have to be one of the teams at this point in the season that has to feel they have to up their game big time to compete in the West Division and finish in the top 3 to guarantee a spot because the crossover appears like it could be tougher to accomplish in 2018.
BC’s offence has struggled and Travis Lulay added a boost but the team still only scored 20 points in a dramatic comeback over Winnipeg. If the Lions make it into the top three it will be Lulay’s play that gets them there. If the Lions make the playoffs, Lulay likely will be in the conversation as MOP.
They need a big uptick of offensive production because their defence hasn’t been consistent. They’ve allowed the second most points and that isn’t going to cut it in the CFL.
In saying that, the reason the Lions hit the bottom of the standings, and out of the post-season, will also be on offence. The offensive line may not be good enough to allow Lulay to be the great quarterback he needs to be to get the team where they want to go.
SASKATCHEWAN ROUGHRIDERS
Charleston Hughes has been a major asset to the Saskatchewan Roughriders defence so far this season (Matt Smith/CFL.ca)
The Roughriders make the playoffs because of their defence. They appear to be an elite unit. Already have scored three touchdowns and Charleston Hughes has been every bit of the leader and dynamic complement to Willie Jefferson as imagined. But it’s not just those two defensive ends. Sam Eguavoen and Derrick Moncrief have solidified a linebacking group and the addition of Mic’hael Brooks to the defensive tackle spot has allowed the Roughriders to be strong against the run.
The Riders defence needs the offence however to step up their game because they’ll allow them to be in most games but they need more than 15 points per game from the offence to collect wins. If the offence doesn’t step up, the defence is going to be for not.
But another aspect of the Riders is their secondary. Right now, a soft spot in a stout defence and the Riders haven’t had to play quarterbacks like Reilly, Mitchell, Nichols and Lulay yet.
WINNIPEG BLUE BOMBERS
The creativity of OC Paul LaPolice could be a big part in how the Winnipeg Blue Bombers make the playoffs this year (Dave Chidley/CFL.ca)
The Winnipeg Blue Bombers make the playoffs by outscoring everyone. They already lead the league with 32 points per game and some of those games they didn’t have the number one quarterback in the lineup.
Offensive coordinator Paul LaPolice is making a strong case for another head coaching job and with his offense and play calling. The Bombers are going to be a dangerous team all season on the offensive side of the ball and their defence continues to be among the best at turning the ball over.
As much as the offence is the reason they’ll make the playoffs, it’ll also be the reason they won’t. Matt Nichols has not come back exactly on the top of his game. He’s thrown three interceptions and just one touchdown pass. The reason the Bombers drop down from where they were the last couple of seasons will be Nichols not being able to match his play that has landed Winnipeg in the playoffs, including a home playoff game last season.
CALGARY STAMPEDERS
Bo Levi Mitchell and co. have dominated so far this season with a 4-0 record (Johany Jutras/CFL.ca)
They’ll make the playoffs. If they don’t, it’s because they cancelled the playoffs.
