The Canadian Press
TORONTO — It’s Week 7 and the Edmonton Eskimos are undefeated, Ricky Ray is the CFL’s leading passer and the Hamilton Tiger-Cats have yet to win a game.
July brought plenty of surprises across the Canadian Football League and perhaps many more questions. And with Labour Day just over a month away, the new season is beginning to take shape.
Another week kicks off Thursday but first, we ask a question for every team heading into Week 7.
1. When will the Eskimos lose their first game?
Vidal Hazelton lays on the stiff arm during his 100-yard outing in Week 6 (The Canadian Press)
It’s remarkable, with the injuries they’ve had, that we’re sitting here in Week 7 talking about the undefeated Edmonton Eskimos. Yet after a resilient win over the Lions in which two more key players — Travon Van and kicker Sean Whyte — were injured, the Esks check in at an impressive 5-0.
That number is meaningful because of the 24 teams in CFL history that have started out 5-0, none has ever missed the playoffs, 58 per cent have gone on to play in the ensuing Grey Cup and half have gone on to win the Grey Cup.
The Eskimos have a chance to extend their run to 6-0 this week against the Ticats and if they can run the table again in August (including additional wins vs. Ottawa, Winnipeg and Saskatchewan), that would set the table for a 9-0 Eskimos team on Labour Day.
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2. Is it time for a quarterback change in Hamilton?
With Abdul Kanneh added in free agency and a healthy Zach Collaros, the Hamilton Tiger-Cats were considered by many to be a front-runner in the East heading into 2017. While some may not have agreed, no one could have predicted what would follow.
The Hamilton Tiger-Cats are not only winless but have been outscored 201-90 in five games this season — an average margin of defeat of 40-18. Collaros, meanwhile, the leading name for MOP before his injury two seasons ago, is the lowest-ranked CFL quarterback with only three touchdowns against five interceptions and an average of 228.6 passing yards per game.
For the Ticats, there is hope. Since 1948, 32 clubs have started 0-5 but three of them have managed to make the playoffs. And of those 32 teams, nearly half – 15 – have avoided an 0-6 start.
But if the Ticats are going to beat the odds, the spark better come soon. Could it come at the QB position?
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3. Is Duron Carter‘s backhanded catch the play of the year?
Duron Carter had a monstrous game in a win over the Argos, including a possible catch of the year (Arthur Ward)
If you haven’t seen Duron Carter’s one-handed backhand catch yet, put down whatever it is you’re doing and go have a look. That’s what you call a catch of the year, except it might not even be.
Carter’s catch has some competition because just a few weeks ago, Bryan Burnham was the one making the impossible look easy with his one-armed grab vs. the Hamilton Tiger-Cats.
We have all season to debate and maybe even a new contender will emerge. But for now, who’s got the best play of the 2017 season?
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4. Is B.J. Cunningham an elite receiver?
Greg Ellingson and S.J. Green are a couple of familiar names at the top of the receiving yards leaderboard while Brad Sinopoli, Bryan Burnham and Naaman Roosevelt are also in the top 10. But outside of the familiar faces, there are plenty of new names making a significant splash catching passes so far in 2017.
Many had forecasted a big sophomore season for Brandon Zylstra and the Eskimos’ receiver has delivered with 516 yards in five games for the Green and Gold. Kamar Jorden has been a scoring machine for the Stamps and Armanti Edwards has fit in well in his new start with Ricky Ray and the Argos.
Yet one of the biggest names so far in the new campaign has been B.J. Cunningham, who leads the Alouettes and ranks fourth in the CFL with 475 yards. Cunningham has been the go-to receiver for veteran quarterback Darian Durant despite the team’s addition of big name Ernest Jackson in the off-season.
After a promising sophomore season and now this, does Cunningham’s name belong among the league’s elite?
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5. Is Andrew Harris‘ game-winning TD an iconic play for the Bombers?
Andrew Harris scored the Bombers’ game-winning touchdown with no time on the clock (The Canadian Press)
Since 2005, only five games have been settled by a last-play touchdown in regulation — three of them involving victories by the Bombers. While Nic Grigsby’s two-yard catch from Drew Willy a few years ago to beat the Ticats might easily be forgotten, the other two plays could be remembered in the Manitoba capital for a very long time.
The first, Milt Stegall’s 100-yard touchdown on the game’s final play against the Edmonton Eskimos, is an iconic play in Winnipeg Blue Bombers history. Stegall caught the pass from Kevin Glenn and eluded a pair of incoming Esks defenders to go the distance and send Winnipeg to a highly unlikely last-play victory.
But while that play will live forever, last week’s comeback from two scores down with 1:40 remaining was no small accomplishment, especially the way that game ended — with hometown hero Andrew Harris powering his way across the goal line to lead his team to the win.
Clearly, the Bombers have a flare for the dramatic.
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6. Will Anthony Coombs be a 1,000-yard receiver?
S.J. Green has been a highlight machine for the Argos this season but he’s not the only receiver standing out amid the CFL’s league-leading passing attack. Enjoying a breakout season in Double Blue — and fresh off a contract extension — is former third overall pick Anthony Coombs.
Coombs has stood out ever since the injury to DeVier Posey, catching at least eight passes in all three games since then while ranking fourth in the CFL with 37 receptions. That’s already better than the 36 passes he hauled in a season ago and not far removed from his career year in 2015 when he recorded 486 yards on 57 catches.
It’s safe to say Coombs, with 350 yards and a touchdown this season and on pace for 1,050 yards, is filling the role the Argos once envisioned when they traded up to pick him so high in the draft.
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7. Which QB gives the Lions the best chance to win?
Jonathon Jennings and Travis Lulay form a dynamic tandem for the Lions, but only one can play (Johany Jutras/CFL.ca)
After back to back 400-yard performances by Travis Lulay, there was some thought on the west coast that the former Most Outstanding Player may have taken hold of the Lions’ No. 1 job under centre in the wake of Jonathon Jennings’ injury.
Maybe not so fast. Lulay struggled in a Week 6 loss to Edmonton and while he’s produced big numbers in an exciting Lions offence, he’s also thrown six interceptions over the span of three games — precisely two interceptions per game.
It’s not far-fetched to say Wally Buono has probably faced some internal debate over who his quarterback will be when both Lulay and Jennings are healthy. The situation, in fact, bears some resemblance to what Buono went through in 2004 with Dave Dickenson and Casey Printers.
So in the highly-competitive West, where a good record could still drop you out of the playoff picture, which quarterback is the better option for Buono’s offence?
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8. What area do the REDBLACKS most need to address coming out of the bye?
It feels like the East has been flipped on its head early in the season with the REDBLACKS being another team that has failed to meet lofty expectations — particularly following their impressive Grey Cup victory eight months ago. The season is almost a third complete in the nation’s capital yet the REDBLACKS have only one win to show for their efforts.
While some things have gone well, including one of the league’s most dynamic passing offences, and there’s no reason to hit the panic button quite yet, there are some concerning areas for Head Coach Rick Campbell and co.
The REDBLACKS have turned the ball over a league-worst 11 times; they rank third worst with only 10 sacks on the defensive side of the ball; they’ve allowed the third most sacks in the league on quarterback Trevor Harris; and finally, their secondary has given up 353.5 passing yards per game this season — the third most in the CFL.
It’s early and there’s still plenty of time for Ottawa to get back in the East Division driver’s seat, but what needs to happen for them to get back there?
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9. Is Jerome Messam still the CFL’s best running back?
Bo Levi Mitchell hands the ball off to Stamps running back Jerome Messam (The Canadian Press)
The running back debate has been a long-standing one in the CFL and the horses are off to a fast start again this season, with Jerome Messam, Jeremiah Johnson and Andrew Harris, as per usual, leading the discussion.
Harris has been a dual-threat monster while Johnson has scored a touchdown in every game he’s played in this season. Messam, meanwhile, just keeps trucking along, leading the league with 414 yards despite a slower-than-usual start.
And that’s not to forget Tyrell Sutton, who led the league in rushing yards before getting a breather, along with Riders running back Cameron Marshall.
He has plenty of competition but is Messam still the titleholder of CFL’s top running back?
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