By Bob Coatsworth,
CFL.ca
1. Toronto Argonauts – The story of the pre-season has undoubtedly been the signing of Ricky Williams. Conversely, Williams, like his Argos, are off to a sluggish start. Toronto dropped both of their exhibition games to Hamilton by a combined score of 52-14 with Williams picking up 53 yards on 15 total carries. The Argonauts, are as good, if not better on paper than they were in 2005 and should knock off the retooled Ticats on Saturday afternoon if Damon Allen’s shoulder doesn’t hold him back. Toronto outscored Hamilton 82-11 in two home wins last season.
2. Calgary Stampeders – If the Stampeders can pick up where they left off last year, they’ll be a contender for a Grey Cup title in 2006. Calgary won seven of eight to end the 2005 regular season, and were the most improved of any team in the league. Their 11 victories were seven more than in 2004. Expect Calgary’s offensive firepower to win out over Edmonton in the season opener, with 12 wins not out of the question this year.
3. Edmonton Eskimos – You have to wonder whether Ricky Ray had flashbacks to 2005 after last week’s exhibition loss to Saskatchewan. Ray, who strung together seven games without throwing a touchdown pass last season, was again held scoreless in his only action of the pre-season schedule. Completing 19 of 28 passes for 166 yards, his conservative, short-pass game looked eerily similar to what contributed to his drought last season. The Eskimos appear to be headed for a slow start, scoring just 15 combined points in two pre-season losses.
4. Montreal Alouettes – The Alouettes will light up scoreboards, but how their defence performs will be another story in 2006. Montreal scored a league-high 592 points in 2005, but defensively were among the worst in the league. The Als begin the campaign with a new middle linebacker, while the losses of Reggie Durden and Kelly Malveaux in the secondary raises more questions. Montreal should beat Winnipeg on Friday in what’s bound to be a high-scoring affair. The two teams combined to score 162 points in two meetings last year. Montreal is 14-4 at home over the last two seasons.
5. B.C. Lions – The Lions lost six of seven to end the 2005 regular season after breaking out with 11 wins off the start. They return largely the same team, minus quarterback Casey Printers, who is off to the NFL. Securing a victory in the opener will be difficult considering B.C. lost two of three meetings with the Roughriders last season, never managing more than 19 points in any of the contests. Four of the last six meetings have been decided by four points or less.
6. Saskatchewan Roughriders – Saskatchewan’s challenge this season will again be creating offence. Former Renegade Kerry Joseph was acquired in the Dispersal Draft to improve the passing game, but the Riders paid a hefty price, losing versatile running back Corey Holmes. Holmes’ absence leaves the success of the ground game on the shoulders of oft-injured Kenton Keith. Matt Dominguez returns at wide receiver after missing most of 2005 with a knee injury. Joseph’s former Ottawa teammate Jason Armstead adds speed to a receiving corps missing Elijah Thurmon, the club’s receiving yards leader last season.
7. Hamilton Tiger-Cats – There’s optimism in Steeltown as the season begins.
The Ticats were busy over the winter, bringing in running backs Josh Ranek from Ottawa, Holmes from Saskatchewan and quarterback Jason Maas from the Eskimos. Hamilton’s Achilles’ heel may turn out to be the offensive line. The Ticats picked up George Hudson and Pascal Cheron from Ottawa, but both Cheron and starting tackle Jamal Powell start the season on the injured list. Hamilton finished with a 5-13 record in 2005, after posting a 9-8-1 mark in Greg Marshall’s rookie season as head coach. A return to .500 football is attainable this year.
8. Winnipeg Blue Bombers – The Blue Bombers made several off-season changes to a team that lost 13 games in 2005. Greg Marshall has the task of shoring up a defence that was the worst in the CFL last year. The addition of Barrin Simpson at linebacker, and Kelly Malveaux in the secondary should lead to some improvement. Winnipeg goes to Montreal to kick off the schedule, having lost 15 of their 18 road games and five of their last six meetings to the Alouettes.
Bob Coatsworth works as an editorial coordinator at The Score Television Network and has been a fantasy sports enthusiast for years.
(The opinions expressed are those of the author and not necessarily of the Canadian Football League)
