By Sean Millington,
CFL.ca
Entering Week 4, the CFL season is starting to take shape. Montreal leads the way as the league’s only undefeated team with two wins while three teams, B.C., Calgary and Winnipeg, are on the upswing all sitting at 2-1. Saskatchewan could go either way given their 1-1 record and Hamilton is firmly ensconced at the bottom at 0-3.
This is why they play the games. If we could predict outcomes based on rosters or past efforts there would be no need. If one listened to the prognosticators you could be forgiven for assuming that Winnipeg would be 0-3 maybe 1-2 at best and that Hamilton could be 1-2 or even as good as 2-1. After their opening day shellacking of the Roughriders it wouldn’t have looked like a bad bet to pick the Lions to be 3-0. Hindsight being what it is however, none of those predictions would turn out to bear fruit.
This is the beautiful thing about CFL football, in fact about sports in general, the uncertainty. Now going forward with things as they are, all bets are off. Winnipeg has emerged as a defensive powerhouse and in the process appears to have discovered an offence. The Ticat team, which looked so promising in the off-season, has continued its exercise in futility and the Grey Cup champion Eskimos are looking more like chumps after being thoroughly embarrassed by the Bombers in Week 3. In fact, the Esks should consider themselves lucky to be 1-2 having escaped with a victory over Calgary more due to Stampeder miscues than Eskimo prowess.
All that being said, however, it’s a long season and it’s too early to push the panic button. Fans in Hamilton need to remember that essentially they have a new team and it always takes time for a team that has made the type of changes the Ticats have to find its stride. Given a few more weeks, QB Jason Maas will get to the point where he is instinctive with the offence and with his receivers. Once that happens, Hamilton will start to sail. Don’t forget that this is the guy who set the CFL record for number of consecutive pass completions.
Respect is something that is earned not given and Winnipeg certainly earned their fair share by completely dismantling the Eskimos this past weekend. Picked by most to finish if not at the bottom then close there to, their gritty performances thus far have changed a number of minds, mine included.
Like Hamilton, Saskatchewan will also suffer some growing pains secondary to their QB. Fortunately for Rider fans, Kerry Joseph’s adjustment process won’t be as long or as painful as Maas’. For starters, unlike the Ticats, the Riders have largely the same team they ended last year’s season with and there is something to be said for continuity. Also having a bye week early in the schedule is another plus for the Riders as it gives Joseph an extra week to get comfortable with the offence. With a 1-1 record Saskatchewan is validating early predictions that they would be contenders this year, but their next game will give us a much clearer idea as to what to expect from them for the remainder of the season.
Also picked to be contenders are the Calgary Stampeders and thus far their play has given weight to that prediction. Streaky and inconsistent, their offence has nevertheless done enough to support a solid defence and has managed to generate two wins, good for a first place tie in the west.
Going into this next three game stretch I predict that the standings will remain pretty much as they are. Montreal and B.C. will continue to look like Grey Cup material. Winnipeg will continue to earn respect and Hamilton will finally win a game. The Eskimos and Argonauts will continue to struggle, while Calgary and Saskatchewan will maintain respectability. That being said, teams in the CFL have shown an amazing capacity to defy the odds and do the unthinkable. In the end, isn’t that why they play the games?
Sean Millington played 13 years in the CFL with the Edmonton Eskimos, Winnipeg Blue Bombers, B.C. Lions and Toronto Argonauts and has been a panelist on the CFL on CBC since 2003.
(The opinions expressed are those of the author and not necessarily of the Canadian Football League)
