CFL.ca
TORONTO — There’s plenty to be excited about when the Ticats and REDBLACKS meet for the fourth and final time this season in Sunday’s Eastern Final.
Leading the list of intriguing storylines might just be the head-to-head battle between Jeremiah Masoli and Trevor Harris, as two of the CFL’s most productive signal-callers of the 2018 season collide in the nation’s capital.
It’s been a season to remember for Masoli, who won East Division MOP honours after leading the CFL with 9.1 yards per attempt while throwing 28 touchdown passes in his first full campaign as a starting quarterback.
Not to be outdone, Trevor Harris has been one of the league’s most accurate passers, completing 70 per cent of his attempts while performing at a highly efficient 76 per cent completion rate over his previous six starts.
The East Division’s top two quarterbacks operate in entirely different ways, but both have had similar success as they try to guide their teams to a spot in the 106th Grey Cup. Which pivot gives his team the advantage?
The writers weigh in with the latest from The Weekly Say:
Who has the advantage at QB, Hamilton or Ottawa?
REDBLACKS quarterback Trevor Harris has three wins and hasn’t thrown a pick vs. Hamilton this season (Adam Gagnon/CFL.ca)
Matthew Cauz: I’m going with Trevor Harris by an ultra slim margin. Masoli had the better year but Harris has the better weapons and is playing at home.
Chris O’Leary: A tough choice but I think it’s Ottawa. Masoli has put up bigger numbers and is a better running threat, but Harris has out-played Masoli in at least two out of their three meetings this year.
Marshall Ferguson: Hamilton – If Bralon Addison is becoming what I think he is for Jeremiah Masoli then the Ticats are for real. Trevor Harris might have more completions and a higher completion percentage thanks to the style of offence Ottawa plays, but the only stat that matters in this one is impact plays and I believe Masoli will make more.
Don Landry: Hamilton. Slightly. Ever so slightly. Look, my original thought on this question was to defy the Weekly Say editors and declare that matchup a ridiculous one to call an advantage for either one. Jeremiah Masoli‘s performance in the ESF showed he’s hungry for big game action, while Trevor Harris showed exactly the same thing in his play during two big wins against the Ticats to secure first place. Their season-long passing numbers are mostly very similar. If there’s an edge, it’s due to Masoli’s escapability and rushing. So, grudgingly, sliver of an edge to Hamilton. Also, damn you, editors, for asking this question.
Jim Morris: I say Hamilton. Jeremiah Masoli is a better passer and can run with the ball. He also has the ability to stay calm and doesn’t get rattled as the game goes on.
Jamie Nye: Hamilton and Jeremiah Masoli have chances to pull Ottawa back, but Trevor Harris was the better QB in all three meetings. Zero interceptions in those games for Harris, four for Masoli. Those were big games for the Ottawa REDBLACKS and Harris showed he’s ready for the big ones. Yes, Masoli did well against BC, but there was much more than Masoli that led to a 40-point blowout. I’m taking Ottawa and Harris in this one.
What’s been the biggest reason for the Bombers’ success?
Andrew Harris and Drew Wolitarsky celebrate during the Bombers’ Semi-Final win in Regina (The Canadian Press)
Nye: Matt Nichols protecting the football has been the biggest reason. You look at the games against Saskatchewan in particular when the Bombers lost and there were some bad errors, especially in the Banjo Bowl when it de-railed for him. Since, he’s been smart with the football, cleaned up the mistakes and with that defence and Andrew Harris, it means a trip to Edmonton if Nichols continues to keep it clean in the Western Final.
Morris: As important as Andrew Harris has been, I think the play of Matt Nichols has made the Bombers better. While he hasn’t been spectacular, he’s been efficient and got the job done. In his last six games he’s thrown for over 250 yards three times, has eight touchdowns and just one interception.
Ferguson: The offensive line. They are the heartbeat of this Winnipeg group. It is shown by Andrew Harris and the way he runs but make no mistake, the Bombers’ ability to run the ball when everybody knew they wanted to Sunday against that vaunted front seven for Saskatchewan showed what really drives this team.
O’Leary: It’s not just one player, but Adam Bighill has made a huge difference for this team. Winnipeg’s defence bent and bent until it broke last year. That’s not the case this year and Bighill, third in defensive plays this year, is central to that.
Landry: The Bombers have enjoyed a high level of play in all three areas of the game over the last month and a half for certain. But if one aspect of the team sticks out a little more than the others, it is defensive play. The unit has been on fire since the club’s mid-season swoon and we all know what a high calibre defence means in autumn.
Cauz: As great as Andrew Harris was last week, I have to go with the defence. They shut down an under manned Saskatchewan team and over their past seven games they’ve held their opponents to under 16 points per game.
Who will be the Lions’ starter in 2019: Lulay, Jennings, or other?
With Travis Lulay and Jonathon Jennings without a contract next season, the Lions have questions at QB (The Canadian Press)
O’Leary: Mike Reilly. I think Ed Hervey’s going to have a huge pitch for his former star QB. He can live closer to his Seattle home, play indoors for at least nine games a year and with so many free agents around the league, could have a cast of stars around him to catch the ball.
Nye: Can you rely on Lulay’s health? And Jennings has been publicly criticized by the general manager. I’d wager more so on ‘other’ IF Ed Hervey can land one of the big name free agents (cough, Mike Reilly, cough) but if not, I’d side with Lulay returning before Jennings.
Ferguson: Mike Reilly – the timing is right for BC to renew with a fresh head coach and a new leader in Mike Reilly with his close friend Travis Lulay as the insurance policy.
Landry: I believe it will be ‘other’, unless Ed Hervey cannot persuade Mike Reilly to leave Edmonton. Then… well… let me see who the coach is first.
Morris: I doubt either Lulay or Jennings will be the starting quarterback and probably Lulay will be the only one with the Lions next season, probably in a backup role.
Cauz: The real question isn’t who will be the starter to start the 2019 season but who will be left standing at the end of the year (that’s just a semi-clever way of saying I have no idea).
