CFL
CFL.ca Staff
TORONTO — With fall football now in full swing, each week CFL.ca looks at the top candidates for MOP this season and considers whether they’re trending upwards or downwards.
Last week, you voted on your choice for MOP as of Week 18 and came up with the following results:
John Chick — 30%
Jon Cornish — 25%
Solomon Elimimian — 18%
Zach Collaros — 11%
Bo Levi Mitchell — 6%
Adarius Bowman — 4%
Ricky Ray — 3%
Mike Reilly — 2%
Odell Willis — 2%
Eric Norwood — 2%
Chad Owens — 1%
Week 19 Outlook:
Week 19 saw some players significantly bolster their stock, as the Lions’ Solomon Elimimian broke the all-time single-season tackles record while Calgary’s Jon Cornish put in a full game’s work in barely over 15 minutes. Meanwhile, Zach Collaros us trending upwards after a win in Ottawa while Ricky Ray down after a tough loss to Montreal.
After the team nominees were announced Wednesday, we’ve updated the list to reflect the nine nominees for MOP:
Solomon Elimimian, LB – BC Lions
STOCK UP — His team couldn’t come away victorious, but Elimimian did all he could for a BC defence that wasn’t at its best. With 12 tackles and an interception, Saturday’s 37-3 loss to the Eskimos was still one of the veteran linebacker’s best games this season — not to mention he broke JC Sherritt’s all-time single-season tackles record.
Zach Collaros, QB – Hamilton Tiger-Cats
STOCK UP — Collaros and the Ticats’ offence struggled for consistency against the REDBLACKS, but avoided the big mistakes and made just enough plays to come away with the victory. The 26-year-old has plenty of room to grow, while his first season as a full-time starting quarterback has been an impressive one. Collaros is a fun quarterback to watch.
Jon Cornish, RB – Calgary Stampeders
STOCK UP — Getting to the 1,000-yard mark was an absolute must for Cornish in order for him to win MOP this season, and after rushing for 112 yards in barely over a quarter of work before leaving with a head injury, he’s now reached the plateau for three straight seasons. He’s about to win the rushing title with only half the number of games played — let that sink in a little bit.
» View Player Profile
» Must Watch: Cornish 75-yard dash
Adarius Bowman, SB – Edmonton Eskimos
STOCK UP — Bowman was as quiet as possible for another 100-yard receiving effort, but his role was still an important one in the Esks’ lopsided victory. His numbers this season are earth-shattering, during a year in which receiving numbers are generally down.
» View Player Profile
» Must Watch: Two hands are for beginners
Duron Carter, WR – Montreal Alouettes
STOCK UP — Carter’s rise among the CFL’s elite receivers continues, as over the weekend he played an enormous role in his team’s fourth-quarter comeback win over the Argos to clinch the Alouettes a playoff spot.
John Chick, DE – Saskatchewan Roughriders
STOCK NEUTRAL — He didn’t play over the weekend as the Riders enjoyed a much-needed bye, but John Chick remains the CFL’s sack-leader. It looks like the season will close out that way, as neitehr Willis nor Norwood gained any ground with their game in hand.
Ricky Ray, QB – Toronto Argonauts
STOCK DOWN — Ray’s struggles against the Alouettes continued, as he failed to find the end zone for the second straight time against Montreal in a 17-14 loss. He was injured late in that game, leaving his status up in the air for Week 20 and beyond.
» View Player Profile
» Watch: Ray surpasses Lancaster
Drew Willy, QB – Winnipeg Blue Bombers
STOCK DOWN — The Bombers finally ended the losing streak that ruined their 2014 playoff chances, but Drew Willy played just a half and didn’t make a significant impact. Still, it looks like the Bombers finally have their franchise quarterback of the future, as Willy is a bright young player with the potential for greatness.
Jasper Simmons, LB – Ottawa REDBLACKS
STOCK DOWN — Simmons was one of the league’s tackle leaders all season, leading the REDBLACKS with 77 and helping them emerge as a strong defensive team. But over the weekend he had just two total tackles, including only one on defence.
