Awarding best performances
Top candidates can separate themselves from pack as season winds down
CALGARY — Canadians went to the polls earlier this week to choose new leadership for the country, picking change over the more experienced candidate.
In a few weeks, voters among the Canadian Football League media will cast ballots to decide who gets honoured at the end of the season for the 2015 CFL Awards and, like the federal election, the main race should come down to tried-andtrue veterans against a host of youngsters. The result, however, could be different.
The leading contender for CFL’s most outstanding player (MOP) award this season happens to be a previous winner experiencing a rebirth with his fourth team, a few months after his 40th birthday. Henry Burris is Stephen Harper in this race, but unlike the former prime minister, the quarterback’s popularity hasn’t waned in recent years.
There is no doubt Burris deserves consideration for another MOP, having won his first one back in 2010 — two years after he was named Grey Cup MVP and finished a close second to Anthony Calvillo in MOP voting.
Burris has led the Redblacks to Ottawa’s first playoff berth since 1994 and has put up great numbers, even if his touchdown total (19) isn’t at the same level it was during his best seasons. His 101.8 passer rating is virtually identical to that of 2010 when he won as a member of the Stampeders (101.9).
There are quite a few other contenders, but voters from the Football Reporters of Canada have to decide if they are “just not ready.”
The top competition for the East Division nominee is Toronto Argonauts quarterback Trevor Harris, who boasts a 101.8 passer rating as well as a league-leading 32 touchdowns.
Hamilton Tiger-Cats QB Zach Collaros suffered a season-ending knee injury after 12 games, but he could still garner some votes. His league-leading 113.7 passer rating (and 25 touchdowns) shouldn’t be ignored.
In the West Division, the big decision will come out of Calgary. Voters there will need to decide which is more important, the passer or the receiver. Reigning Grey Cup MVP Bo Levi Mitchell is second in league passing yards behind Burris, but his most crucial stat is that he’s won games — 12 of them.
Mitchell’s best target, Eric Rogers, has a wide lead (268 yards) atop the receiving charts and has been a breakout player in his first full season.
Here’s how the other races
could break down:
Special teams player: This category should be a slam dunk. Hamilton Tiger-Cats returner Brandon Banks has lit up the CFL this season and has four touchdowns on punts, making his team extremely dangerous in this area. His top competition comes from his own team — kicker Justin Medlock leads the league in scoring — but Banks should be hoisting at least that trophy at the end of the year. Lineman: This category flusters voters the most, with reputations usually outweighing what happens during a season. Previous winners Brendon LaBatte (Saskatchewan), Josh Bourke (Montreal) and Jovan Olafioye (B.C.) should be contenders again, but none of those teams are overwhelming in terms of records. This could be wide open depending on who gets nominated from each team.
Rookie: The top contender had an amazing opening month with the Edmonton Eskimos. Receiver Derel Walker recorded 472 yards in his first three games, making his start the best in league history and second-best three-game run overall. Walker has tailed off recently, but he’s still on pace for well over 1,000 yards despite missing six games. He should run away with this award, with the other top contenders being linebacker Jeff Knox Jr. (Saskatchewan) and kickers Boris Bede (Montreal) and Richie Leone (B.C.). Canadian: This award has belonged to Stampeders running back Jon Cornish for the past three seasons, but it’s clear the running back is not going to win it this season. He’s sitting third among homegrown rushing leaders behind new teammate Jerome Messam, who did all his damage with the Saskatchewan Roughriders, and B.C.’s Andrew Harris, who also will contend for MOP. Cornish might not win the nomination on his own team, because defensive lineman Junior Turner is having an outstanding season on the other side of the ball. Despite all that, the favourite should be Winnipeg’s Jamaal Westerman, who leads the CFL in quarterback sacks with 15 as a disruptive force for the Blue Bombers. In the East, one of Burris’s favourite targets, Brad Sinopoli, is the leading contender. Defensive player: Westerman should be a leading candidate for this award, too. He will try to become the first Canadian winner since Brent Johnson in 2006, when he pulled off the rare double. Lions linebacker Adam Bighill is another top contender. He’s moved out from under the shadow of last year’s MOP and top defender, Solomon Elimimian, and leads the league in defensive tackles.
There is still time for other contenders to emerge during the final three weeks of the season. As we learned from the election, a lastminute surge can be huge.
THERE’S NO DOUBT HENRY BURRIS
DESERVES CONSIDERATION FOR ANOTHER MOP, HAVING WON HIS FIRST ONE BACK
IN 2010.