A mid-season look at CFL’s best of 2018
It’s more or less mid-season in the CFL, which makes it time to conduct a review of an entertaining first half and to post projections for the stretch drive.
Here, then, are Postmedia’s picks for award winners and most impactful trades, free agent signings and injuries to date:
MOST OUTSTANDING PLAYER
West — Edmonton QB Mike Reilly
He leads the league in passing yards and TDs and rushing TDs. He’s the proverbial straw that stirs the drink, if you think of a straw made out of steel and wrapped in barbed wire.
East — Ottawa WR Brad Sinopoli
With 63 catches, he leads the league and his 775 yards receiving puts him first in the East and fourth overall.
MOST OUTSTANDING DEFENSIVE PLAYER
West — Saskatchewan DL Charleston Hughes
He’s the nightmare that wakes up QBs in a cold sweat. With 12 sacks, he’s seven clear of his nearest challenger. He has also caused three fumbles and recovered two. He also scored a TD.
East — Hamilton DL Simoni Lawrence
With 47 tackles, three sacks and a fumble recovery, Lawrence has been all over the place for the Ticats, and came up large late to secure a win over Edmonton that may turn the season around.
MOST OUTSTANDING CANADIAN
West — Winnipeg RB Andrew Harris
Harris’ torrid early pace has slowed of late, but he’s still a formidable force, combining a leagueleading 805 rushing yards with 311 receiving yards. He also has seven rushing and two receiving TDs to lead the CFL in majors.
East — Ottawa WR Brad Sinopoli
He was QB Trevor Harris’ goto guy early, hauling in 11 passes in wins over Montreal and B.C. He’s also their clutch receiver on second down.
MOST OUTSTANDING LINEMAN
West — Saskatchewan’s Brendon LaBatte
He’s the best guard on an improved Rider line, one of the main reasons they have allowed a league-low 12 sacks.
East — Ottawa’s SirVincent Rogers
The Redblacks are one of three teams with just 15 sacks allowed and he’s a leader on the line.
MOST OUTSTANDING SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER
West — Calgary RB Terry Williams
The only player in the league with a pair of punt-return TDs, he averages 14.7 yards per runback and helps the Stamps maintain one of the best average starting positions in the league.
East — Ottawa K Lewis Ward
He’s almost automatic, which is pretty amazing for a rookie field goal kicker. He missed one of four attempts in the opening game, has hit 24 straight since, and is now 27for-28.
MOST OUTSTANDING ROOKIE
West — Saskatchewan WR Jordan Williams-Lambert
He’s a huge target at 6-foot-3 and 228 pounds, and he comes down with the ball more often that not. He has been targeted 46 times and has 36 receptions for 406 yards and two TDs.
East — Ottawa K Lewis Ward
That 96.4 per cent success rate on field goals leads the league.
MOST IMPACTFUL TRADE
West — Charleston Hughes, who had just been acquired from Calgary, was dealt on the same day from Hamilton to Saskatchewan for QB Vernon Adams Jr. Hughes has been the league’s most dominant defensive player.
East — The Ticats dealt QB Johnny Manziel and offensive linemen Tony Washington and Landon Rice to Montreal for DL Jamaal Westerman, WR Chris Williams and first-round picks in 2020 and 2021. Hamilton loaded up on assets while making it clear Jeremiah Masoli was their guy at QB, while Manziel was seen as the quarterbacking solution in Montreal.
MOST IMPACTFUL FREE AGENT SIGNING
West — Winnipeg LB Adam Bighill
After being cut by the New Orleans Saints, he immediately solidified the Bomber defence with a blend of leadership skills, physicality and high football IQ. He leads them with 58 tackles and also has two picks, a sack, a forced fumble, a knock-down and five tackles for losses.
East — QB Johnny Manziel
Hamilton brought Johnny Football into the league and turned him into four assets, so the impact on the Tabbies is obvious. Less so in Montreal, where he was unprepared and off the mark in his first start and has been dealing with a concussion.
BIGGEST SURPRISE (PLAYER)
West — Winnipeg QB
Chris Streveler
With seven touchdowns and two picks, he has been a Strevelation. Matt Nichols started on the injured list and the Bombers were immediately faced with adversity. The kid embraced it and was a massive hit.
East — Toronto QB
McLeod Bethel-Thompson
He’s another young quarterback who made his presence known in a hurry, securing a one-point win over Ottawa with a last-play touchdown toss in his first CFL start. He made the most of his chance when heir apparent James Franklin couldn’t get the offence moving. He has thrown six TD passes and one pick.
BIGGEST DISAPPOINTMENT (TEAM)
West — It’s starting to look like another so-so season for the Blue Bombers, and that wasn’t supposed to be the case. They still put up plenty of points, but they can’t find the three-phase game to hang with the big dogs, losing to Edmonton, Calgary and Ottawa.
East — The Tabbies won six of their final 10 games last season and broke camp with one of the best quarterbacks, Jeremiah Masoli. Hamilton lost the season opener to Calgary, then beat Edmonton and Winnipeg and looked like a contender. Since then they are 2-4 and are still in a playoff race with Toronto.