The Weekly Say: A question for every team in Week 10

TORONTO — As Labour Day draws near, late-summer football still offers excitement and intensity across the Canadian Football League.

With the Eskimos’ first loss of 2017, only four points separate four teams in the West while the Riders are ready to make a push.

In the East, meanwhile, the defending Grey Cup Champions have stated their intentions as they look to dig out of an early hole.

What are the pressing questions in Week 10? More in The Weekly Say:

1. How many sacks will John Chick finish with?

The last undefeated team has fallen as the injury-ravaged Eskimos dropped their first game of 2017 to the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. While they look to avoid starting a losing streak in Week 10, a few reinforcements could help out.

Along with the potential return of Brandon Zylstra and Almondo Sewell, John Chick was acquired by the Eskies and could play his first game in Green and Gold vs. the Saskatchewan Roughriders. With the injuries to the Esks’ front seven, including veteran defensive end Marcus Howard, Chick fills an important need.

We saw last year that Chick, with his 14 sacks, can still make a significant impact in the CFL. But with only two QB takedowns next to his name this season, can the 34-year-old have a similar impact in his new locale?

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2. Who should the Ticats start on Labour Day?

Could the Ticats turn to Jeremiah Masoli in their Labour Day clash with the Argos? (The Canadian Press)

While the question’s come up before, Zach Collaros has done little to alleviate any pressure facing the Hamilton Tiger-Cats quarterbacks. Collaros has failed to recapture his 2015 form while the Tabbies head into their Week 10 bye week without a victory so far in 2017.

Still only six points out of a playoff spot, Kent Austin faces a difficult decision heading into a Labour Day clash with the Argos. On the one hand, Jeremiah Masoli created a spark when he took the reins in a Week 9 loss to the REDBLACKS. On the other, Collaros has demonstrated the ability to lead his team to wins in the past.

In what is likely the Ticats’ biggest game of the season, who should lead the huddle in the Hammer?

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3. Will Andrew Harris be the first 1,000/1,000 RB?

Andrew Harris has been around for a while yet for the Winnipeg native, 2017 could be a year of firsts. Last week, Harris became the first back in a while to go over 100 yards rushing and receiving in the same football game, helping the Bombers upset the undefeated Eskimos.

What’s more, the eight-year veteran is actually on pace to go over 1,000 yards rushing and receiving on the season — something no player in Canadian Football League history has accomplished.

Harris is dynamic and quite possibly the best running back in the CFL right now, but hitting the 1,000/1,000 milestone would leave a unique mark on the league for the rest of time.

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4. Can the Als’ QBs get the job done?

It’s been a season of ups and downs for Darian Durant in Montreal (Patrick Doyle/CFL.ca)

It’s been an up and down ride for Darian Durant in his first season as the Montreal Alouettes’ quarterback. And now, should anything happen to Durant, Drew Willy becomes next man up for the Als following the departure of Vernon Adams Jr.

So far the Als’ offence has delivered three wins and a shot at first place in the East alongside the Toronto Argonauts. But will it be enough to guide them to their first East Division title since 2012?

The numbers suggest a need for improvement. Under Durant’s leadership, the Als have averaged 21 points per game (second-worst in the CFL) while producing 350.5 yards of offence (also second-worst) — all of this despite ranking second in rushing yards (101.9 per game) and third in sacks allowed (13).

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5. Have the Riders found their QB of the future?

As Chris Jones’ search for a quarterback of the future continues, Vernon Adams is the latest big name to land in Regina after the Riders acquired him in a trade from Montreal.

Adams, 24, is considered a bright quarterback prospect and even won three starts in a short stint as the No. 1 QB at the end of the 2016 season. The former Oregon Duck will develop behind Kevin Glenn on the Riders’ depth chart and aim for a chance to start in 2017.

But is he the answer the Riders are after in the absence of Darian Durant? That remains to be seen as he’ll also have to fight off Brandon Bridge, Marquise Williams and anyone else Jones recruits.

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6. Will Ricky Ray be the East Division MOP?

After overcoming injury, Ricky Ray is on pace for a career season in 2017 (Johany Jutras/Argonauts.ca)

Evidently, rumours of Ricky Ray’s demise were greatly exaggerated. The 37-year-old was rumoured to be out at least a month yet on Saturday, after missing only one start, Ray returned to throw four first-half touchdown passes in a win over Montreal.

Critics will question Ray’s ability to stay healthy but can’t deny the season he’s having statistically. The sixth-year Argo is on pace to fall just shy of 6,000 passing yards and 30 touchdowns (with 11 interceptions).

At that rate, forget East Division MOP — Ray could be in the conversation for his first career league-wide honour. That is, of course, if he remains healthy.

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7. Has Greg Ellingson taken the title of top CFL receiver?

If Greg Ellingson exceeds 96 yards in Ottawa’s Week 10 matchup with BC, he’ll surpass the 1,000-yard mark for the third straight season. Only this time he’ll have done it in a little over half a season’s work.

While some thought the third-year REDBLACK might suffer with the departures of Chris Williams and Ernest Jackson, the reality has been the opposite. Ellingson has remained the top target of Trevor Harris and is on pace to reach 1,808 yards and 12 touchdowns on 116 grabs.

With Adarius Bowman sidelined, has Ellingson taken over the title of top receiver in the league?

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8. Will DeVone Claybrooks be a head coach in 2018?

DeVone Claybrooks is considered one of the CFL’s top up-and-coming coaching prospects (Johany Jutras/CFL.ca)

Despite some key personnel changes as well as the departure of Rich Stubler following the 2015 season, the Stampeders’ defence remains an annual calling card in Calgary — even if Bo Levi Mitchell and the offence sometimes get the glory.

This season has been no different under second-year defensive coordinator DeVone Claybrooks, whose unit ranks first in the league in points allowed (20.3 per game), third in yards (338 per game), first in turnovers forced (19) and third in sacks (20).

Claybrooks has the ambition to follow Dave Dickenson’s path and become a head coach. Now one of the CFL’s top coaching prospects, could that come as early as next season?

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9. How many Lions receivers will go over 1,000 yards?

While the Lions contend for the best receiving corps in the CFL, four of their receivers have a chance of hitting the 1,000-yard plateau in 2017 one year after the Ottawa REDBLACKS accomplished the feat.

Bryan Burnham, Emmanuel Arceneaux, Nick Moore and Chris Williams have all got a shot, although the latter has some lost time to make up for after making his Lions debut this month.

Here’s the breakdown of who needs what to get to 1,000:

The poll question: How many Lions receivers will go over 1,000 receiving yards this season?

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