Power rankings
1 week
1. Winnipeg
The Bombers were the pundits’ most popular pre-season darling and they showed up in Vancouver ready to prove the wisdom in all those predictions. Under the control of QB Matt Nichols, the passing game is still something of a work in progress, but that isn’t much of a hindrance given the fact that RB Andrew Harris looks ready to win the rushing crown again.
2. Edmonton
Yes, they beat Montreal, a team that will lose far more often than it wins this season. But the Eskimos did it on the backs of fabulous performances from QB Trevor Harris, WR Ricky Collins Jr. and RB C.J. Gable and an offensive line that didn’t yield a sack. That’s reason for optimism.
3. Ottawa
Starting QB Dominique Davis tossed four picks and still guided the team to a win over a Calgary squad that also gave the ball away with reckless abandon. Winning ugly is fine, but the Redblacks have many issues to address on both sides of the ball. Their kicking game, however, looks even stronger than it was last year, and might just provide them with a victory or two.
4. Hamilton
The Ticats eked out a home win over the Riders and didn’t look sharp on offence. They managed just 17 offensive points and 230 yards of offence, despite winning the turnover battle. They also lost LB Simoni Lawrence to a two-game suspension (pending an expected appeal) for hitting a sliding QB Zach Collaros in the head. But they operate in a weaker East and should be the dominant team.
5. B.C.
It’s not much of a surprise to see a team lose its opener, even at home, after remaking such a huge percentage of the roster. Also not surprising, the Lions lost to a prospective Western powerhouse in the Bombers. However, the B.C. offence was completely one-dimensional — the Lions ran just four times for four yards — and that was a bit strange to see.
6. Calgary
The Stampeders don’t panic, but there should be real concern in Cowtown after an incredibly messy loss to the Redblacks. Calgary coughed up four turnovers, three sacks, 26 first downs, 399 yards of offence and 32 points, and didn’t register a sack of its own.
7. Saskatchewan
Despite losing key personnel to free agency, defence is going to be the backbone of this team again. The Riders gave up just 230 yards of offence and still lost, which reflects their seemingly perennial issues at QB. Starter Zach Collaros was knocked out of the game early on a dirty hit by Hamilton LB Simoni Lawrence, leaving Isaac Harker and Cody Fajardo to grapple for his job.
8. Toronto
The Argonauts are getting the benefit of some doubts here, while avoiding the bottom of the rankings. It’s largely a gut feel based on the potential for offence from the quarterbacking duo of James Franklin and McLeod Bethel-Thompson. The Argos also signed coveted free agent WR Derel Walker, who can break open a game.
9. Montreal
If the Alouettes are to escape the basement, their defence is going to have to show up to support an offence being run by a couple of largely untested pivots, Antonio Pipkin and Vernon Adams Jr. The Als didn’t manage to sack QB Trevor Harris in the loss to the Eskimos.