DR. H IS STILL SEEING STARS AFTER 2015
Fresh off an 11-for-27 success rate, here are his picks for the 2016 all-star team
Consistency was the key for Dr. H when it came to predicting the CFL all-star team in 2015. He was bad in all three areas. Dr. H — a.k.a. Regina LeaderPost sports writer Ian Hamilton — was a woeful 11-for-27 in his attempt to guess players who would be named CFL all-stars in voting by the Football Reporters of Canada and the league’s coaches.
Dr. H was 5-for-12 on the offensive side of the ball, 5-for-12 on defence and 1-for-3 on special teams. It was his lowest overall success rate since he was 11-for27 in 2010.
On offence, Dr. H correctly guessed three offensive linemen, one receiver and a running back. On defence, he successfully predicted three defensive linemen, one linebacker and a defensive back.
On special teams, the good doctor got returner Brandon Banks right. He really went out on a limb with that one.
With dreams of improvement, here are Dr. H’s all-star predictions for 2016.
As usual, he has picked first and second teams to double his chances of success.
OFFENCE
QUARTERBACK
First Team: Bo Levi Mitchell, Calgary Stampeders.
Second Team: Mike Reilly, Edmonton Eskimos.
RUNNING BACKS
First Team: Andrew Harris, Winnipeg Blue Bombers, and Tyrell Sutton, Montreal Alouettes.
Second Team: Jeremiah Johnson, B.C. Lions, and Jerome Messam, Calgary.
RECEIVERS
First Team: Duron Carter, Montreal, Marquay McDaniel, Calgary, Luke Tasker, Hamilton Tiger-Cats, and Derel Walker, Edmonton.
Second Team: Emmanuel Arceneaux, B.C., Adarius Bowman, Edmonton, Weston Dressler, Winnipeg, and S.J. Green, Montreal.
CENTRE
First Team: Jon Gott, Ottawa Redblacks. Second Team: Pierre Lavertu, Calgary.
GUARDS
First Team: Brendon LaBatte, Saskatchewan, and Nolan MacMillan, Ottawa.
Second Team: Sukh Chungh, Winnipeg, and Spencer Wilson, Calgary.
TACKLES
First Team: Jovan Olafioye, B.C., and Sir Vincent Rogers, Ottawa.
Second Team: Josh Bourke, Toronto, and Jeff Perrett, Montreal.
DEFENCE
TACKLES
First Team: Ted Laurent, Hamilton, and Almondo Sewell, Edmonton.
Second Team: Euclid Cummings, Winnipeg, and Bryant Turner Jr., B.C.
ENDS
First Team: John Bowman, Montreal, and Jamaal Westerman, Winnipeg.
Second Team: Justin Capicciotti, Saskatchewan, and John Chick, Hamilton.
LINEBACKERS
First Team: Adam Bighill, B.C., Greg Jones, Saskatchewan, and Simoni Lawrence, Hamilton.
Second Team: Khalil Bass, Winnipeg, Jeff Knox Jr., Saskatchewan, and Winston Venable, Montreal.
CORNERBACKS
First Team: Abdul Kanneh, Ottawa, and Patrick Watkins, Edmonton.
Second Team: Akwasi Owusu-Ansah, Toronto, and Ronnie Yell, B.C.
DEFENSIVE BACKS
First Team: Emanuel Davis, Hamilton, and Jamar Wall, Calgary.
Second Team: Ryan Phillips, B.C., and Brandon Smith, Calgary.
SAFETY
First Team: Maurice Leggett, Winnipeg.
Second Team: Jermaine Gabriel, Toronto.
SPECIAL TEAMS
KICKER
First Team: Rene Paredes, Calgary.
Second Team: Justin Medlock, Winnipeg.
PUNTER
First Team: Rob Maver, Calgary.
Second Team: Richie Leone, B.C.
KICK RETURNER
First Team: Brandon Banks, Hamilton.
Second Team: Chris Rainey, B.C.