Johany Jutras/CFL.ca
The CFL.ca Quarterback Index is a weekly power ranking of quarterbacks across the CFL. The ranking reflects recent performance, historical value, statistical indicators, team success and overall on-field evaluation.
TORONTO — While Bo Levi Mitchell and Mike Reilly continue their battle for top spot in the weekly quarterback index, the latter does not appear interested in relinquishing his position as the CFL’s No. 1 pivot.
Despite throwing his first two picks of the 2017 season, Reilly made a bold statement in a 37-26 win over the BC Lions, throwing for 412 yards and leading the Eskimos to their fifth straight win to open the season. The veteran quarterback now has his team atop the CFL standings by a one-point margin with a game in hand on the Stampeders.
Not far behind is the CFL’s fourth all-time leading passer, Ricky Ray. Ray has already thrown for 2,282 yards this season in only six games, his 380.3 yards per game average putting him on pace for 6,846 yards — enough to eclipse Doug Flutie’s all-time record of 6,619 yards set in 1991.
In other news, Kevin Glenn is on his way up while Travis Lulay drops in the latest CFL.ca Quarterback Index.
MIKE REILLY EDM
THIS WEEK: 1 | LAST WEEK: 1
After averaging 288.7 yards per game his first three contests in 2017, the gains have come in bunches for Mike Reilly with successive outings of 350 and 412 yards through the air. The only thing that stood between Reilly and an MOP honour last season was his win total, something that shouldn’t be an issue this time around.
Mike Reilly hit a new season high for passing yards in his team’s Week 6 win (Johany Jutras/CFL.ca)
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BO LEVI MITCHELL CGY
THIS WEEK: 2 | LAST WEEK: 2
Bo Levi Mitchell needed just a half’s work to take care of the Ticats, compiling 197 yards and a touchdown before making way for Calgary’s backups. Mitchell is off to a nice start in 2017, posting a 10-3 touchdown to interception ratio with 305.3 yards per game. He’s right there with Reilly at the top of the ladder.
RICKY RAY TOR
THIS WEEK: 3 | LAST WEEK: 3
The numbers continue to pile up for the 37-year-old signal-caller in Ricky Ray, who, despite the Argos’ 38-27 loss to Saskatchewan, eclipsed the 300-yard mark for the sixth consecutive game. In his first season under Marc Trestman, Ray is emerging as a dark horse candidate for Most Outstanding Player — an honour he’s never achieved throughout his storied 13-year career.
TREVOR HARRIS OTT
THIS WEEK: 4 | LAST WEEK: 4
The bye week came at the right time for Trevor Harris, who’s enjoyed a strong statistical start to 2017 despite his team’s win total. The REDBLACKS have just one win in six tries this season and it’ll be up to Harris and his impressive 12-3 touchdown to interception ratio and 1,939 passing yards to turn things around.
KEVIN GLENN SSK
THIS WEEK: 5 | LAST WEEK: 7
In a rare meeting between quarterbacks in the 50K club, which Kevin Glenn just joined last week, the Riders’ pivot outdueled Ricky Ray in a high-scoring affair at new Mosaic Stadium. The 38-year-old is averaging 319.6 yards per game and enters a home and home with the Lions with 11 touchdowns and four interceptions next to his name.
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MATT NICHOLS WPG
THIS WEEK: 6 | LAST WEEK: 6
Consistency has kept Matt Nichols out of the elite but the Bombers’ quarterback certainly turned heads for his efforts in Week 6, leading the offence back from two scores down in the last 1:40 to escape with a win vs. the Als. Moments like that are why the Bombers were happy to lock up their franchise QB for the foreseeable future.
TRAVIS LULAY BC
THIS WEEK: 7 | LAST WEEK: 5
While Travis Lulay got our attention with two straight 400-yard performances off the bench, those gaudy numbers are marred a little bit by his six interceptions — precisely two picks in every game he’s played. Both of those turnovers proved costly in a Week 6 loss to the Eskimos as he looks to bounce back in Week 7.
DARIAN DURANT MTL
THIS WEEK: 8 | LAST WEEK: 8
Although the result wasn’t what he’d have hoped, that’s two straight games over 300 yards for Darian Durant and the Als’ passing offence. That unit has made steady progress in 2017 although the interceptions — Durant has thrown a league-worst seven over the span of six games — will need to be eliminated.
ZACH COLLAROS HAM
THIS WEEK: 9 | LAST WEEK: 9
Saturday’s 60-1 loss to the Stampeders was a write-off for Zach Collaros and the Ticats, who quickly erased any progress made the previous week in a tight loss to Edmonton. Collaros is having his worst statistical season as a pro with a 62.4 per cent completion rating, three touchdowns and five interceptions.
INJURED RESERVE
Jonathon Jennings left Saturday’s game with an apparent shoulder injury (David Chidley/CFL.ca)
JONATHON JENNINGS BC
THIS WEEK: IR | LAST WEEK: IR
You can put the brakes on any potential quarterback controversy in BC after an average showing by Travis Lulay in Week 6. No word yet on his return but Jonathon Jennings is likely to return as the starter when healthy.
