Become a Creator today!Start creating today - Share your story with the world!
Start for free
00:00:00
00:00:01
CFL Season Preview
25 Plays12 days ago
The Goal Post is back just in time for summer!
Damien and Patrick start off the show by catching up about summer weather, the CFL season being around the corner, and a new rule coming to the league.
The Boys then move to through the East and West Division with a preview of every team in the CFL - Key additions and subtractions, new coaching shuffles, and an overall outlook going into the 2025 season. The Alouettes might’ve gotten worse, the Argos got raided again, the Elks and Stampeders made some HUGE changes, and things generally look up for grabs in both divisions.
To finish, the boys get to the bottom of the first edition of their CFL Power Rankings - which is sure to ruffle some fans’ feathers, before ending the show with Week 1 betting picks and a few futures to place before the season starts.
Enjoy!
Intro: 0:00-6:51
Ottawa Redblacks: 6:51 - 15:04
Montreal Alouettes: 15:04 - 24:39
Hamilton Tiger-Cats: 24:40 - 33:11
Toronto Argonauts: 33:11 - 44:28
Winnipeg Blue Bombers: 44:28 - 50:09
Saskatchewan Roughriders: 50:09 - 56:27
BC Lions: 56:28 - 1:02:20
Calgary Stampeders: 1:02:20 - 1:08:17
Edmonton Elks: 1:08:17 - 1:15:20
Power Rankings: 1:15:20 - 1:20:42
Week 1 Bets + Futures: 1:20:42 - 1:25:15
Recommended
Transcript
Welcome & Introduction
00:00:18
Speaker
All right, welcome back to another episode of The Goalpost. It has been a minute. We are coming at you for our first episode of a revamped summer season, let's call it.
00:00:33
Speaker
And we're back. We haven't spoken to you guys since the Super Bowl, but there's no time like the present, especially when the CFL season is coming up. How are you, Patrick?
Challenges and Excitement of Podcasting
00:00:46
Speaker
Good, Damien. I had to dust off the equipment, go searching, but everything seems to be intact. I'm pretty sure i will remember how to do this. I mean, speaking is one thing. You don't learn how to you know just speak into a mic and spew nonsense that the people people eat up and listen to, and I appreciate that. So I'm excited to be back.
00:01:06
Speaker
ah The start of the CFL season usually means summer.
Weather and Seasonal Reflections
00:01:09
Speaker
So you know we've kind of had a late start to that here in Toronto, but it seems like things are starting to come around. It's week one on the horizon for the CFL season.
00:01:19
Speaker
Hopefully that means summer as well at the start of June here. So there's a lot of things to look forward to. And I'm just excited to be back chatting with you and talking a little bit of ball. There's nothing else I'd rather do.
00:01:31
Speaker
Yeah, it was starting to look like ah we might get snow in the first week of the CFL season. Ridiculous, ridiculous stretch of weather here in Toronto. Today is finally a day where it's looking like it's kind of coming around 20, 22 degrees, shorts weather. And that to me is like, all right, if I can get some warm weather, go watch a football game on us a Friday night, a Saturday night, and it's warm out, that is like officially summer to me.
00:01:57
Speaker
Yeah, i mean, people are going out and enduring this horrible weather and watching a horrible team in Toronto, not the football team, the soccer team, Toronto
Support for Toronto Teams
00:02:07
Speaker
FC. So if you're willing to go out and endure those games in bad weather, i would like to see more people get in the stadium for you know actual nice weather, a good football team, the winningest team in Toronto over the past decade.
00:02:21
Speaker
uh, that somehow just doesn't get the support it deserves. Uh, so yeah, I mean, just the weather's going to be coming, the football, the players, uh, eventually Chad Kelly will be coming as well, but, uh, yeah, it's, it's a lot of good things coming and I believe the Argonauts will be one of those things. And yeah, I think that's enough TFC talk for me. I don't know. I don't know about you, but, uh, people keep somehow going to those games and then they don't show up for the Argos games. It's,
00:02:48
Speaker
tough It's tough to process Damien, but hopefully, you know, with another great cup win in the books last year, it can be a sign of, of a change, a new guard and more fans in BMO field.
CFL Season Awareness Issue
00:03:00
Speaker
Hopefully that's the hope. I almost wanted to fight a guy on the go train is coming back from game seven Leafs loss. Guys behind me in the go train are are talking about, you know, oh, we don't have football season till ah till November, till till October.
00:03:15
Speaker
And ah another guy overheard them go what are you talking about? CFL starting in ah in you know a minute here. And he goes, oh, we don't watch that shit. And I turned around. i was like, i almost... I was already in a bad enough mood, but yeah, hopefully, you know, we're getting into it now. Week one, Argos start on the road, which to me is insane. You know, no respect.
00:03:35
Speaker
yeah We got go to Montreal after beating their ass in the Eastern final and winning a great cup. We start on the road. Unbelievable.
CFL Team Prospects Overview
00:03:43
Speaker
um But yeah, what we're going to do here today is a little ah little catch up for all you guys ah with the CFL.
00:03:50
Speaker
Going to go team by team, first through the East Division, then through the West Division. We're going to start with our inaugural power rankings going into the season. Then we're going to give you some week one picks, maybe some futures.
00:04:04
Speaker
Just catch you up completely so that heading into week one, you know what's what.
Impact of New CFL Rules
00:04:09
Speaker
A couple rule changes in the CFL off the top of the show here. One that I really like and I think will eventually probably make its way into the NFL, which we saw it a bit in the preseason, um was the no diving, it no knee diving.
00:04:24
Speaker
like ah I don't know the exact exact words of it. I probably should. um But we saw it a couple times. The Argos got called for it against the Ticats where you're launching and you make contact with a guy below the knees, it's a 15-yard penalty.
00:04:40
Speaker
I think that's more targeted at you know defensive backs, ah think people of that nature, just to protect. Because unfortunately, in both the NFL and the CFL, offense pays the bills. And that's what people come to see. Is it necessarily the correct mindset to have when you're watching a game?
00:04:59
Speaker
Probably not, but that's what gets the casual fan in. And I think that's kind of what the CFL needs to target. So do I love the rule change? No. Do I think it was necessary? No. But do I understand why it happened? Yes. And I do think for the most part, it will help protect the player's safety, which is...
00:05:16
Speaker
You know, it's all they seem to talk about in the NFL and I understand it and there's a priority to keep these players safe. ah So I think it'll help that. And I think you're going to see a lot less, you know, knees that go inverted, which is always one of the worst replays that.
00:05:32
Speaker
Whenever they slow those down in college NCAA, you know, wherever, it's just like that when that knee just goes backwards into the body, it's a horrible thing to watch. And this rule is targeted to take that away. So I think it's probably the wide receivers and running backs are a lot happier than the defensive backs who are going to be the ones delivering or were the ones delivering those hits at least.
00:05:54
Speaker
Yeah, the Argos got called on it on the quarterback. because it it's tweaked for both. So it's like a blow delivered to the knee or below of the passer, despite having a clear view to contact.
00:06:06
Speaker
Then, you know, you're getting hit with it. And then the, obviously the receivers, unless I think the receiver jumps is like the little tweak. If the receiver jumps, they lose the low hit protection.
00:06:19
Speaker
So that'll, I'm sure cause ah a bit of a shit storm in ironing that out early in the season ah to get an exact kind of, you know, ruling on what that looks like on a day-to-day game-to-game basis.
00:06:32
Speaker
um But yeah, I feel like the CFL is always like a step ahead of the NFL and in that sense. They started no ah equipment practices, like being that being the norm far before the NFL.
00:06:45
Speaker
um You know, we get in guardian caps and helmets before the NFL. So a little stuff like that. um But without further ado, we will start in the e East Division um in the nation's capital.
00:06:58
Speaker
How about um with the
Red Blacks Offseason Changes
00:06:59
Speaker
Ottawa Red Blacks? We'll kind of go through subtractions, additions and kind of the general outlook to this team. um Some big subtractions from this team in the offseason.
00:07:10
Speaker
couple of big ads, too, though, like mostly Jalen Acklin receiver been around forever. ah He retired. um Happy retirement to him. They lose Jeremiah Masoli.
00:07:22
Speaker
Classic, classic CFL name. ah He went over to BC. They also lost Dominique Rimes. Like you lose a top, top. receiver in this league, uh, who makes his way out of Ottawa.
00:07:34
Speaker
Uh, a couple other smaller ones like Brandon Dandridge, like guys you've seen there for a while. Um, big additions though, Daniel out of the boy. Hey, if you've been watching the Argos for a while, you know, him still running back who I feel has been desperate for like a, a real shot at being a number one, a real shot at breaking in, uh, and getting, you know, a lion's share of the touches on a team.
00:07:59
Speaker
um William Stanback was added to this team. I think that that's a big kind of one-two punch for them. And some other smaller ones, Peter Godber, offensive lineman from Hamilton. That's a big add for them.
00:08:12
Speaker
And then biggest add probably of the entire offseason for them is Geno Lewis from Edmonton. ah You lose Dominic Grimes, but you get ah you know a guy who is a top five receiver in the NFL or in the CFL back.
00:08:24
Speaker
ah Yeah. What do you think about the Red Blacks? A lot of kind of moving pieces here. Yeah, coming off a 9-8 season, they they snuck into the third spot the third playoff spot in the East.
00:08:35
Speaker
It's a team that's kind of in limbo where I think they can kind of put out the same record, but I think they're going to be looking to take the next step. And for them, the next step is hosting a playoff game.
00:08:48
Speaker
Uh, I don't, I don't think the turnover of the roster is going to be the deciding factor on their success this upcoming season. I think a lot of it is going to fall on their quarterback, Drew Brown, who I guess you could say wasn't, it was an up and down season for him. It was kind of all over the place a little bit. His highs were highs and the lows were low. And then, like I said, it kind of just worked out into a just above 500 season. It was just good enough to get ahead of Hamilton to get into the third wildcard the third playoff spot, but not good enough to get up to the Montreal and Toronto. I feel like there's just a bit of a gap between those two teams.
00:09:26
Speaker
ah So I think they're going to look to be be building off this. I think, like you said, Gino Lewis coming in is going to be huge for them because you know you're losing a lot of production between Rhymes and Ackland.
00:09:36
Speaker
So, you know, you get a veteran that's able to, you know, throw the load and, and you know, take on a lot of responsibility. He's going to help out Khalil Pimbleton, I'm sure a lot.
00:09:47
Speaker
And I think this team, I think the start for them is going to be the most important thing because it's a team that kind of like you need good vibes going over there to kind of start the upward trajectory of your team and kind of improving on where you were last
Red Blacks' Playoff Aspirations
00:10:02
Speaker
season.
00:10:02
Speaker
So think look for Drew Brown to get off to a hot start. And then as the season goes on, I think guys like Geno Lewis's presence in that room will be very evident throughout their offense. And I think they can, I think they can take the next step forward, but I don't think they're going to be able to, you know, come out on top of these, but I think they have the ability to host a home playoff game this year.
00:10:23
Speaker
Yeah, I definitely think that's the goal. ah is getting into a spot where they can host the playoff game. they have They've always had good home records. ah The last season they had a great home record, and then losing kind of towards the end of the season, losing that grip on it and letting the Argos kind of sneak back into it, ended up, I think, kind of killing them.
00:10:43
Speaker
Looking back on that Drew Brown Eastern semifinal performance, Just a ridiculous, ridiculous stat line. Set CFL playoff records with 46 completions and 61 pass attempts.
00:10:56
Speaker
Three touchdowns, 476 yards, and then also two pick sixes, which kind of ice the game for them. So it's when you're looking back at that, you're like, Yeah, passing the ball 61 times, even in the CFL, is just not a sustainable method.
00:11:11
Speaker
And then they go out and get added a boy and stand back. I think that's going to take a lot of pressure off Drew Brown and hopefully kind of take that stress off and let him play the game a bit easier. Yeah, it's ah like I said, it was just they were a bit of just a kind of a running gun team last year. And I think the next step comes with just veteran presences, like I mentioned.
00:11:33
Speaker
And, you know, you got new offensive coordinator there. Tommy Condell came over from Hamilton. I don't think that's going to hurt their production. I think it's going to keep, you know, pushing them forward and they're to look to kind of improve on that as well. And then, you know, it's, he's not going start, but I think Matthew Schiltz can be a decent, like he's a name. He's been in the league for a while. So when drew Brown can kind of get in, in his wild, we'll call it, we'll call it,
00:11:58
Speaker
is Ben Roethlisberger. When he starts playing like Big Ben and he's just throwing it all over the yard, three touchdowns, or Jameis Winston for more of present-day quarterback, just three touchdowns, three interceptions, you know over 400 yards, a little chaos. So I think they got to look to simplify the game plan for them.
00:12:16
Speaker
ah They need more from the running game. I think that will be a huge part. And I think the defense, like they kind of need to step up a little bit. They got exposed in that Eastern playoff game last year against Toronto. um you know our former Our former boy, Adarius Pickett from the Argos, he seems to be ready for the start of the season. They also have a new defensive coordinator as well. So you've got two new coordinators, ah Will Fields from Toronto.
00:12:39
Speaker
I think like and think they brought in the perfect mix of new blood while keeping enough of the same core together where... they They seem set to take the next step. i just You got to hope it all clicks quickly because I think if you see them kind of be out of sync to start the year, then you just you're going to be you don't want to drop games out of the gate and you want to just be one cohesive unit to start the year.
00:13:03
Speaker
Yeah, getting picket back will be huge for this team. um They have you know not the toughest ah of starting schedules. They go... Rough Riders, Alouettes, Stamps, Argos. like You got at least split that if you're this Ottawa team. You got to stay above 500 throughout the first month of this season.
Optimism for Red Blacks' Season
00:13:21
Speaker
um There's still a lot of dogs on the on this defensive unit like Lorenzo Malden at edge, Santos Knox and middle linebacker, and then obviously Pickett down back.
00:13:32
Speaker
ah it's just waiting to see something with this team. Like I, like you said, you're waiting for them to take the next step up. um But if they can take a step forward, this is a dangerous team that, you know, at times we've been pretty critical of Bob Dice and his coaching.
00:13:47
Speaker
I think that coaching, will make a huge difference for this team. You bring in two new coordinators, and and I think that the sky's kind of the limit if things start clicking early for this team. East is really interesting this year.
00:14:00
Speaker
doesn't seem like there's one you know monster team that will be leading the pack. It seems like everybody has lost some big players, has gained a few big players, and you know the early goings of this season will really set the pace for the rest of the the Eastern Division.
00:14:14
Speaker
Yeah, it feels like it past couple years, it's just been Toronto and Montreal. And then, like I said, a gap. And then Ottawa and Hamilton are kind of duking it out to see who can get into that third playoff spot. But...
00:14:27
Speaker
something's got to give eventually, whether it's Montreal and Toronto come back down to the field or Ottawa and Hamilton step up and make that step forward. But to me, that's what I'm going to have my eye on here. And I think it starts like we kind of mentioned it already at a boy, you know, stand back still there. Like we need more from the running game.
00:14:44
Speaker
So Drew Brown doesn't have to throw it 61 times. And I think that's, that's a good place to start on ah offense. And then hopefully their leader, Adarius Pickett can kind of help everything out and shore up the defense.
00:14:55
Speaker
Yeah, and and they still got our boy Dustin Crum back there. so Of course. always Just emergency button on the wall if you ever need ah an exciting game. um But we'll move east to Montreal, the Alouettes.
Alouettes Offseason Moves
00:15:09
Speaker
This is an interesting interesting offseason for the Alouettes because the kind of They're throwing their chips right in the middle. The big deal in the offseason was getting rid of Cody Fajardo.
00:15:21
Speaker
They make a trade, a really interesting trade with Edmonton ah to take McLeod, Bethel Thompson, and dish Cody Fajardo. They also lose Kayon Julian Grant to Edmonton.
00:15:33
Speaker
They lose Reggie Stubblefield to Hamilton, Reggie White Jr. to Winnipeg. um and And, you know, this is a team where, They add Walter Fletcher and then cut him, you know, two days ago, which made a lot of waves in the CFL world.
00:15:50
Speaker
They add a guy like Sean Open on the D line. And I think that Kind of in totality, I don't know if this team got better in the offseason, which is not you know something you can say about a lot of CFL teams, especially in the East.
00:16:05
Speaker
ah And they were already really, really thin at running back. They got Stevie Scott and then a ah rookie, Travis Tice, who was good in the preseason, showed a lot of promise in the return game.
00:16:16
Speaker
Um, but you know, a guy like Fletcher who had 141 carries for 764 yards and four TDs last year, it's a lot of production to cut and you're kind of putting your chips in not only with Davis Alexander who have, they have now given, you know, the reins over at quarterback, but just,
00:16:36
Speaker
just really putting in a lot of of confidence and in Alexander and some very young rookies in the running room. Yeah, and you'd think he's not a rookie, but he's he's young and he doesn't have a lot of experience. Davis Alexander, that is. You'd think you would want an ah an experienced veteran running back to kind of help take some pressure off, like we just talked about with the but Drew Brown.
00:16:56
Speaker
and just you know like They bolstered their running game in Ottawa to help out their quarterback. Montreal did the opposite. they We already know they have a very strong wide receiver room with Austin Mack, Tyson Philpott, Letcher, etc.
00:17:11
Speaker
So they have that part of the offense as is a sure thing. What's not a sure thing is now the quarterback room. I know you have McLeod Bethel Thompson, who's a nice veteran.
00:17:23
Speaker
And if if necessary, he can come in and give you productive games. But I don't think he's where he was when he won the Grey Cup with Toronto back a couple years ago. I think he has dropped off a little bit in his play.
00:17:36
Speaker
And Davis Alexander is the new shiny toy over there. And I think he he showed signs of being a legit, legit quarterback and starting in this league. He has... I don't know if it's shocking not, but he has the sixth shortest odds or sorry fifth shortest odds to win most outstanding player this year. So clearly, you know the FanDuel has some faith in him as well.
00:17:58
Speaker
But i'm similar I'm in a similar spot with you, Damian, where... I don't know if it's a better team than they were last year. Cody Fajardo was like the leader. He was the heartbeat of this team. He distributed the ball throughout those receivers perfectly.
00:18:12
Speaker
And Warren Fletcher, Walter Fletcher, sorry, was a perfect compliment to Cody Fajardo's style of play. And losing the running game, gambling on a quarterback here, i just don't know if it's going to work out in Montreal.
00:18:26
Speaker
It's very high risk, high reward. Like... I remember being genuinely shocked when that trade happened that they were moving on for from Fajardo. um Don't get me wrong. This happens a lot in the CFL.
00:18:38
Speaker
um But with bringing in Bethel Thompson in the same kind of fell swoop there, there's always going to be that nagging feeling that he could be benched for a ah veteran if Alexander doesn't produce. like it It is the...
00:18:51
Speaker
TSN shots of the sideline of McLeod, you know waiting, waiting to get into this game. Head coach Jason Moss says that Alexander has earned the respect from our football team. It's a team game. First of all, he's our starting quarterback. And if you guys want to think about his leash, he but he'll be given quite a big leash to play.
00:19:10
Speaker
Obviously, if you're not doing your job, there's a guy next to you that could be doing his job and he's competing with you. But it's not about instilling fear. That to me, like it's bit of a ah ah really high risk recipe there where, you know, Davis Alexander has four career starts under his belt.
00:19:30
Speaker
You look across the the QB room to a guy who has won a great cup, who has been in this league for a really long time. To me, that is just You set a guy up almost for failure where if you had Cody Fajardo still and you went and you had a talk with him and said, look, we are starting Davis Alexander.
00:19:48
Speaker
i guess that also brings in you know a similar feeling where the fans might be calling for Fajardo to go back in. But just with having a veteran back there, you get the feeling that the leash isn't as long as Mass is indicating. and Yeah, and I think a lot of it falls on McLeod as well, right? Like, what kind of role does he want to take on this team? He's going into the season at 36 years old.
00:20:13
Speaker
Is he comfortable being a you know a veteran, ah backup, kind of like just ah a mentor in a sense and just kind of I don't think the competitor in him is going to want to just stop. I still think he has some play, some good play left, to be honest with you, because the arm, the arm's still there.
00:20:31
Speaker
And that's half the battle with quarterbacks as they age. And is he just going to be comfortable kind of giving up his spot to Davis? Not, I know he's, it's a new team and it's not like Davis Alexander's overtaking him, but,
00:20:43
Speaker
But he's coming in, and I think that the coaching staff of Montreal is kind of hoping he just wants to be the mentor. But I think you know if the season goes on and Davis starts to struggle a little bit early, the competitiveor the competitive switch is going to have to go off for him. And I think that's when you're going to see a little bit of the the sideline shots like you were mentioning. So I think a lot of...
00:21:05
Speaker
What happens here with the starting quarterback situation? Obviously, the most falls on Davis Alexander's production and how if they're winning games, but a lot also determines on the conversations McLeod Bethel Thompson had with management, with coaching staff of like, you are a mentor.
00:21:21
Speaker
You're going to be on the bench unless he's injured. Davis has the full season. But man, you know, once the season goes on and maybe they st start out, you know, two and six, three and five, and they're starting to start chase behind the eight ball little bit.
00:21:35
Speaker
You got a veteran who's won a great cup on the sidelines. So we'll see how long and how long how long this leash truly is. I agree. And especially on a team that still has a lot of vets on the team, like you get that feeling where if you're you're trying to not lose the room, then they they're all looking towards a guy who is a veteran, like bring this guy in, please.
00:21:55
Speaker
um But we'll see how that kind of develops.
Alouettes Fan Traditions
00:21:58
Speaker
ah Otherwise, with Montreal, huge news related to the stadium. According to a report from Kevin Breton of Radio Canada, air horns will no longer be allowed at Molson Stadium.
00:22:10
Speaker
Alouette's super fan, Denis Genereau, who started the air horn tradition back in 2011, the most annoying tradition in all of sports, had the quote, As a fan, I respect the decision taken by the team.
00:22:23
Speaker
I'm not done yet. In fact, we are not done. We already bought noisemakers that are as noisy as the horns for the beginning of the season and have initiated talks with the team for long-term solutions.
00:22:38
Speaker
This guy's running the place. they They are not going down easy. And i What a response. like what are what are just like you know Some fans would just say you know what, you're right. We'll respect your decision.
00:22:51
Speaker
we'll just We'll just yell louder. we'll we'll slap We'll slap harder on the chairs in front of us. Stomp our feet to create noise. Montreal fans apparently need artificial, they just need some artificial noise built in to help their home crowd.
00:23:05
Speaker
But I can tell you one thing, I'm sure the Argos are quite happy this was introduced, especially when you're starting the starting your season on the road at Montreal. But yeah, we'll see. I'm excited to hear like what what kind of, what what what noise things are they going to bring in that aren't The air horns, I'm just interested to hear how the noisemakers, I'm interested to see how this comes across on TV because the air horns, like if if you just turn your TV on and you just randomly popped up to an Alouette's game, you immediately know what's going on without looking at the screen, just hearing those horns blaring.
00:23:40
Speaker
Yeah, it was, i think it reached a ah fever pitch last year. playoffs like it it is all you can hear the entire time the entire game the full article I you know implore you to read it on third down nation about interviewing this guy like he then goes on to talk about like I'm thinking about you know supplying the team with a massive air horn like a like a like a Trojan horse size air horn that that we can have one in the stadium and use it like he's going like
00:24:13
Speaker
talking about it like it's like a new iPhone. Like we're looking into new technologies ah of how to get around ah He's finding the the top noisemaker in the world ah and getting him on the line and getting a big deal to to Montreal. But yeah, we'll we'll see what happens there. I'm sure it's still an ongoing situation. But to start the year, the air horns are banned in Montreal.
00:24:36
Speaker
Ban list air horns. um Moving south to Hamilton, the Tiger Cats.
Tiger Cats Roster Changes
00:24:42
Speaker
Interesting, interesting offseason. Maybe one of the bigger transformations of a team from last year to this year, especially in the East. There's there's a few in the West that we'll get to.
00:24:51
Speaker
um They take away guys like James Butler, who had a really weird, weird end to his career in Hamilton. Just nobody could really get a ah vibe check on why he was being benched.
00:25:02
Speaker
Um, Steven Dunbar, like a guy who was fourth in the league and in reception yards last year, he's gone, ah over to Edmonton, Brandon Barlow, also going with him to Edmonton, Dwayne Hendricks went to BC.
00:25:16
Speaker
Uh, one of their offensive lineman, David Beard goes back to Edmonton as well. Um, but a couple of huge, huge additions to this team that we've already seen making a big impact in the preseason.
00:25:27
Speaker
Kenny Lawler like this. We will get to it, but Kenny Lawler on this Ticats team is a problem already, and I think is going to be a huge problem in the East. ah And his, you know, running mate in Winnipeg, Drew Wolitarski joined him.
00:25:43
Speaker
Another big Argo that they took to Sean Amos at DB went with them. They get Reggie Stubblefield from Montreal. They get guys like Brandon Dozier from Calgary.
00:25:54
Speaker
ah It's, It cannot be under a understated how good this receiver group can be. That's where I'll start with Hamilton. You get Tim White having an unbelievable season last year, and you add Kenny Lawler and Drew Wolitarski. Keiondre Smith looked really good in the preseason.
00:26:13
Speaker
Just a a revamped and improved receiver room. To go along with with the vet, maybe this one of the CFL best with Bo Levi Mitchell.
00:26:24
Speaker
He is going to be very happy, especially from what they had last year. I know the production kind of wasn't all there. He had a had a game where earned all sorry he had a season where he's going to throw for a lot of yards. like We know what we're going to get out of Bo Levi Mitchell.
00:26:39
Speaker
Some games a lot better than others, but I think bringing in these guys that you just kind of mentioned, it's going to be like a breath of fresh air for him. I'm sure he's going to feel a lot more rejuvenated coming into this year as opposed to last where you know you're you're last in the East, you are below you're seven and eleven just not a lot of success and a lot of stuff to be happy about.
00:27:01
Speaker
But at 35 years old Bo Levi Mitchell's got a new crop of toys. Like he's, he's got a lot more stuff to play with. And I think it's going to help this team. The biggest thing is it's, they need to gel quickly. And I think they have an opportunity to do that against the team who finished last in the CFL last year. Like you're starting the season on the road, unfortunately against Calgary, but you're still playing an opponent that really struggled on defense last year.
00:27:26
Speaker
So you kind of got it. You got a nice first regular season game to kind of, get it all together, feel good about yourself, and then just kind of ride that confidence throughout the year. The James Butler departure is interesting. Like you said, just kind of a weird ending there. So they're going need some more production in the running room.
00:27:44
Speaker
But as of for these wide receivers, man, like, i think it's going to be a pretty good relationship from the three guys that you mentioned, White, Lawler, Wolitarski, and, um you know,
00:27:55
Speaker
the the the old man, Levi Mitchell. I think it's going to be a pretty happy marriage between the the four of them, I guess we'll say. Yeah. I mean, similar to Ottawa, a lot of this season is going to ride on what version of Bo Levi Mitchell you get. like This is a guy who won Eastern MOP last year, but was also benched for Taylor Powell 10 games into the season after they went two and seven to start the season.
00:28:17
Speaker
like His stats were jumped off the page, but it the fact that he got benched was because they weren't getting super consistent play. Like a lot of those stats were coming in games where Hamilton was already losing.
00:28:28
Speaker
It was in losing efforts and they were trying to come back. um So a lot of that is going to be really dependent on how Bo Levi, you know, shows up or what version of Bo Levi shows up. I'm not doubting that he has gas in the tank still.
00:28:42
Speaker
um I remember being kind of surprised in an off season where a couple of big time quarterbacks were moved. Like I thought they might go out and get a Cody Fajardo, might go out and get a Vernon Adams Jr. I thought that their their decision to kind of buy in on Bo for another season was pretty risky. But again, you could get five games, six games into this season and everything's going well. And it seems like they made the right call.
00:29:07
Speaker
And on the flip side of that, this feels like they could be making a big trade early in the season for a quarterback if this doesn't work out with Bo. Because like you said, like there was a lot of movement on offense, especially in CFL. And quarterbacks were kind of, you want one here, you oh take one back, you have one. They were just dealing quarterbacks a little all over the place.
00:29:27
Speaker
And it felt like that was the one area that Hamilton did not touch in the offseason where they had a ton of turnover. So yeah, I think... I'm going to give him the benefit of the doubt because he is a CFL first ballot hall of famer. He's done everything there is to do in this league.
00:29:42
Speaker
And I think it's going to be, I think they kind of said, Hey, we're going to stick with you and we're going to help you out. And I think that's why you saw them make the moves specifically on offense to help them out.
00:29:53
Speaker
And then there's a couple other moves, Damian, that we can get into that are maybe going to help on the other side of the ball to get this team back into the playoffs. Yeah, I mean, Deshaun Amos and Reggie Stubblefield, those are two guys who are good enough to completely revamp a defense on their own. Like Stubblefield still recovering from a torn ACL. He'll be back in soon. That happened last June.
00:30:15
Speaker
um But those two guys just on their own, I think, are good enough. You already have Peters from last season who they took from the Argos. Um, and I think that, you know, for a team that kind of struggled on defense last year, those guys just on their own will do a lot, a lot to improve this team.
00:30:34
Speaker
Um, and I think it's really going to come down to how they play as a unit. I think they looked really good in the preseason. It's obviously very hard to tell, um, you know, what a group is going to do based on preseason games.
00:30:47
Speaker
Um, but I already kind of liked how they looked, you know, compared to how they look last season. Um, They pretty strong finish to the year last year and were able to get some wins. um But yeah, I think that you know what you're going to get for the most part out of this offense, even if it is with the highs and lows of Bo Levi. The defense is really what I'm interested in seeing.
00:31:06
Speaker
Yes, because I think they you know they got a couple of wins last year, but it was just a lost season in general. And I think with the amount of turnover that they had this season, I think the management and coaching staff noticed that. And they said, we just have to bring in different guys to change the culture here.
Hamilton's Running Back Concerns
00:31:22
Speaker
And mission accomplished. You mentioned Amos and those guys already. It's going to be, I think, instant improvement with this team. And I think, you know, they like we mentioned before, Levi was kind of stat padding late in games because they're getting blown out because the defense just couldn't keep up and couldn't stop the opponents.
00:31:40
Speaker
I think you're you're going to see the complete opposite kind of version of Hamilton this year, where I think their defense is going to give their offense more opportunities and they're going to be scoring a lot more points than they are giving up.
00:31:53
Speaker
And it just, it starts with those guys that you mentioned on the defensive side of the ball. And then my biggest thing with them is this running room, because I know bo Levi is going to throw the ball a lot, but Like Treshawn Ward, we don't really know a lot about him. He looked okay in the preseason.
00:32:12
Speaker
um And then Johnny Augustine, unproven, like just almost 300-yard season. So there's there's a lot of production that needs to be made up with the loss of James Butler and just the veteran presence of him in itself.
00:32:25
Speaker
So hopefully, Believi is able to work with these guys and the off offensive coordinator because you're going to need to kill the clock a little bit. You're going need to, you know, take some pressure off of Bo. He's an older man now. So I think, uh, the running back room is going to have to step up, but I think they seriously addressed, uh, a big area of concern. And that was just the defensive side of the ball in general.
00:32:45
Speaker
And I think mission accomplished for Hamilton on that, on that part. Yeah. Running room is is very, very thin.
Argonauts' Offseason Review
00:32:51
Speaker
It's similar to Montreal. Like it, it just seems to have been an afterthought with this team. So yeah,
00:32:57
Speaker
running the ball you know is important in the cfl don't let anybody tell you differently uh so that's one area where it's like okay i don't know about that going into this season but can obviously develop uh as the season goes on um moving to the last team in the east the toronto argonauts your reigning gray cup champions and for the second season in a row The Argos were absolutely ransacked.
00:33:25
Speaker
Let me go through some of this here. Starting with all five starting defensive linemen, the best defensive line group in the entire CFL last year.
00:33:37
Speaker
Jake Ceresna goes back to Edmonton for Lenorma Lade. And a trade goes back to Calgary. Robbie Smith goes to Edmonton with Ceresna. Jared Brinkman goes with hall with Smith and Ceresna to Edmonton.
00:33:52
Speaker
Ralph Hawley signs with the Cleveland Browns. like it is That shows you how good this group was last year. Every single one of them gets picked off. which is it's hard to to understate how much that's going to affect this defense.
00:34:07
Speaker
Obviously, Deshaun Amos, we mentioned, goes to Hamilton. Frazier Sopik goes to Calgary. Royce Mathieu goes to Edmonton. Like Edmonton the past two years has just become the Edmonton Argonauts.
00:34:19
Speaker
it's Yeah, it's Toronto 2.0 over there in Edmonton. It's kind of ridiculous. I don't know what's going on. it's especially like It is crazy, and i the league needs to look into it. There's something going on over there.
00:34:30
Speaker
It's kind of insane. And then their best, most productive receiver, Makai Polk, signs with the Atlanta Falcons. So that shows you how good this team was last year, that two of their player star players are signing in the NFL.
00:34:43
Speaker
on On the flip side, in addition, so They go, they get Brian Cox Jr. on the defensive end of the ball. He gets a non-contact leg injury pregame in Hamilton. Looks to be season ending with a foot injury.
00:34:57
Speaker
um They go out and get to Marcus Christmas from Edmonton, taking a little bit of their lick back from the Elks, who is going to have a big role. Hergie Mayala,
00:35:07
Speaker
Really, really important receiver, I think, to this group this year. kind of an underrated receiver. Statistically, he was like within the top 15 receivers in the CFL last year. So that is a bit of production that can hopefully replace Polk.
00:35:21
Speaker
The thing I hated about Polk leaving was that him and Chad Kelly seemed to have an absolute strong connection. They knew where each other were on the field at all times. um In the Ormelade trade, they get back Canadian linebacker Cameron Judge Love, love, love this addition for this defense.
00:35:40
Speaker
He's been an all CFL player with really solid stats over seven years in the league, um which helps kind of solidify an already impressive linebacking group for the Argos ah with Dark Angelo.
00:35:51
Speaker
ah Went to McManus, obviously. A couple, you know, American guys they added. um Also, Anim Dankwa, I want to shout out. He's going to start the season on the practice squad.
00:36:02
Speaker
But at and pounds, Combine season. he was the largest lineman in the twenty twenty four nfl comine and Spent time in the NFL with the commanders and the Eagles. He's from Brampton.
00:36:15
Speaker
That is a name that you could see kind of come back to this roster. ah Just she sheer sheer size wise, even though they have a really good offensive line.
Argonauts' Strategic Cuts
00:36:25
Speaker
And then the last huge addition of The offseason is Mayan Williams, the bowling ball chop, they call him. Former OSU Buckeye had a great preseason um and with some very important cuts to both Kevin Brown, who they went and got from the Elks and Kadeem Carey fan favorite, real star last season.
00:36:47
Speaker
Just a lot of turnover. I've been talking a lot, but a lot of turnover for this Argos team. Yeah. And you know, much of the same for the Argos every off season, you mentioned it. It's, it's a lot of turnover, but it goes to show what a great organization they are. They're able to develop their own talent. They're able to scout well.
00:37:04
Speaker
And basically i have no reason to question any move they've made this off season. They they've built up that trust and you know, their floor over the past couple of years, especially with Chad Kelly and Dinwiddie is the Eastern conference final. That seems to be their floor.
00:37:21
Speaker
ah They've had a couple great cups. They just seem to be very successful in their moves. no like if there's dude They've just been very successful in every move they've made. Another guy you mentioned that they came in, Brevin Allen, he's going to have to step up and get a lot of work with ah the the entire D-line.
00:37:39
Speaker
getting taken away. And, you know, DeMarcus Crispus, you mentioned already, he, these are the guys that are going to have to step up, right? Right. b Brian Cox jr. Would have been great to have for the season. Unfortunately, he's going to be gone for, yeah, looks like it's going to be the season, but it's going to be the start to me that kind of interests me the most with this team because Chad Kelly's obviously is not starting week one. And I still think,
00:38:04
Speaker
It's up in the air for when he truly returns. They kind of say he's close. We don't really know it's a broken leg. I think it's just going to be dependent on him and when he feels ready to go. So we're going to to see if, you know, great cup MVP, Nick, our Nick Arbuckle can get the boys up and carry that momentum that they had to finish the season last year and get these guys off to a good start because.
00:38:27
Speaker
the The three teams we've mentioned, I think a lot of them are improved. And I think the East has kind of been not like, it's been great because the Argos have been coming out of the the East and like they've won the past three great cups, I believe it is maybe four.
00:38:43
Speaker
Maybe. Yeah. So the past. Oh, yeah. Yeah. yeah So the East is like the top of the East is great. I think it lacks depth a bit, but I think this year the depth of the East is going to step up. So I think ah the Argos have to find a way to just go 500 without Chad Kelly, and that will be good enough. And then Chad could kind of take the realms from there.
00:39:03
Speaker
um I think this. The strength for me, at least, or the part of this team that I enjoy the most is the receiving corps. Obviously, we we lost Mekhi Polk.
00:39:15
Speaker
We lost him to greener pastures, though, going up to the NFL. It's good stuff. And then you're bringing in Mayala, like you mentioned. You were you were able to re re-sign DeMonte Coxie. DeVarious Daniels is still there. DeSean Brissette.
00:39:28
Speaker
Janarian Grant was re re-signed as well. So your special teams is going to be just as good as it was last season. So I think... Arbuckle is just going have to be a distributor early, man, and trust these guys. And I think mine Williams can kind of help in the screen game because once he gets going downhill, he's a force to reckon with.
00:39:45
Speaker
So I still really trust this offense a lot, even with Nick Arbuckle to start the year. It's just the ah the turnover on the def defense, especially on the defensive line. These guys are really going to to step up and kind of carry the load.
00:39:57
Speaker
What do you what do you remember about my Williams at at Ohio State? Because this is a guy who seems to be able to run through brick walls from what I've seen from him already. Very physical. He seems to have slimmed down slightly from when he was at Ohio state, which I think is a good thing. I think it's more lean muscle and he kind of shaved the baby fat off a little bit.
00:40:17
Speaker
He's faster than you may think he is. Like it's, I kind of thought his running style maybe wouldn't necessarily be suited for the CFL and the bigger field. Cause he's kind of want speedier guys, but his,
00:40:27
Speaker
him losing a couple pounds mixed with his physical run ability and just his explosiveness is going to be a dangerous combo. I think I saw one play specifically in the preseason because we're only like able to go off two games really of what we saw.
00:40:42
Speaker
He took a screen pass on a second and seven caught behind the line and just went straight downhill and just went right through a linebacker to get the first down. So I think Getting him involved and just getting the ball in his hands is going to be very important this year. And then just get him in open space. And when he gets to going downhill, he's not going to get sent backwards at any point. And I think in short yardage situation, we lost our boy Cameron Dukes. Unfortunately, that's a tough loss for us. One of the best short yardage quarterbacks you'll
00:41:13
Speaker
you'll see. i think you can kind of trust mine Williams in short yard situations. I think he will gain the trust throughout the year. got to think he's starting. I mean, had other questions for you. Like how surprised were you from those two cuts to Kadeem Carey and Kevin Brown?
00:41:28
Speaker
To me, out of the two, I was more surprised to see Kevin Brown get cut because when I saw them go out and get Kevin Brown first before, you know, resigning Carey, I thought, okay, like they're moving on from Kadeem Carey.
00:41:43
Speaker
They thought that they had lightning in a bottle. When saw both of them get cut, you go, shit. like it's I think that the the mentality is with Deontay McMahon and Mayan Williams, you can have equal or just as good production out of a much, much cheaper running back group.
00:42:03
Speaker
And I think like you said earlier, you've built up enough trust with this Argos brass that they know what they're doing here. And I think that it came down to a bit of um a numbers game where we have a younger running back group here that we know one will probably be able to stay a bit healthier and add a much, much cheaper of a price.
00:42:22
Speaker
I think it's one of the things that sucks about the CFL because you have to take away guys who are fan favorites like a Kadeem Carey and somebody who is so, so important to winning that great cup last year. And you kind of get caught up in the business of it and and you lose guys like that on your squad.
00:42:39
Speaker
um But to me, that was the deepest area of this team ah other than maybe receiver going into this season. So was something where you could afford to lose a few guys.
00:42:50
Speaker
um But I think that early in the season is going to tell if McMahon and and Williams can get it done, then I there's no reason for me to believe that they can't for the rest of the season. Yeah, and I think we're going to see pretty early because I think you know there's there's a trust with Nick Arbuckle, but I think you're going to have to lean on the run game with the backup quarterback to start the year. There's no doubt about that.
00:43:11
Speaker
Ease him into the season. Get him back to where he was to end last year. Uh, and I think, you know, McMahon and and Williams are going to be the guys to do that. Uh, it's just going to be, you know, my Williams has never played CFL real games. McMahon's been a backup guy. So it's just going interesting to see both of these guys take bigger steps on this team and just kind of how it works out. But like said, i have trust in them and, uh, I'm a big fan of mine Williams. So I'm, I'm hoping it's just going to be ah just as successful as they were last year on the run and the, on the ground.
00:43:44
Speaker
We got to get my Williams on the podcast. That's a. Yeah. And we got it. Like, I know they call him chop, but we got to get the bowling ball yeah name going a little bit. Maybe some shirts. We'll keep an eye for that.
00:43:56
Speaker
um But yeah. Yeah. Like finishing thoughts. it The defense will be the elephant in the room for this, this season for a, a defense that was hit or miss at points during the season last year that really, really came together in the playoffs and,
00:44:10
Speaker
sometimes had you pulling your hair out a bit like ah the the first half of that Eastern final game. um It's going to be a ah learning curve for this group, I think. But, you know, if you can have a couple guys, like you mentioned, step up and really kind of replace some of that production, I think they'll be fine.
00:44:28
Speaker
um But moving to the West division, starting with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, They've been to five great cups
Blue Bombers' Challenges
00:44:38
Speaker
in a row.
00:44:38
Speaker
There's no secret. They've only won two. And they lost to the Argos last year, lost to the Alouettes the year before. This offseason, very similar to Montreal, where the offense is still certainly their strong point.
00:44:54
Speaker
Wide receiver group still very solid with Nick Dembski and Dalton Schoen leading the pack. Carrick Wheatfall looks like a really solid third option. Losing Walatarski and Lawler is a huge loss. Like that was the thing about the Winnipeg receiver group it was like you had four start like number ones almost um now you got a really kind of put the load on Demske and Shane um but they lose Liam Dobson on the line to Hamilton they lose Tyrell Ford who goes to Edmonton who anytime you lose a guy who is all CFL fielding offers from NFL teams that is going to be a huge loss for your defensive back group also
00:45:39
Speaker
Remember last season where we made you know that whole video about how Winnipeg could possibly get raided in the offseason, and Winnipeg fans were like, you don't know what you're talking about. We're going to be fine.
00:45:50
Speaker
It kind of happened here. Look at your wide receiver room. it's it's The turnover is crazy, and ah you know i don't... might Might be a little bit of an overreaction to you in offseason, but this is the sign of a team team's window is closing.
00:46:05
Speaker
Caleros is another year older. He he turns 37 in two months. ah Like I just said, you you missed you lost Kenny Lawler, who has been the most productive wide receiver over the past four or five years, kind of since he's been in the league.
00:46:19
Speaker
It's going to be a lot of production for Schoen and Dembski to pick up. do i Do I think those guys have the talent to do it? Absolutely. But they got to get that same relationship that Lawler had with Caleros.
00:46:33
Speaker
Caleros has to you know continue to put up his production because, like I said, another year older. We just don't know how it's all going to work out. So to me... Winnipeg has been there bat past five years to the great cup, but there's not, not getting over the hump in the past three specifically.
00:46:50
Speaker
And I think this is, you know, Terrell Ford's another big loss. Who's been part of that core group of guys. and I would be a little worried if I was a Winnipeg fan of just like this kind of era, this team, like it's starting to, the windows starting to get a little smaller than it once was five years ago when they won that first great cup and they,
00:47:11
Speaker
I mean, it's not, we've had the whole, is it a dynasty talk last year? It's a, it's an interesting dynamic. What's going on in Winnipeg, very successful team overall, I think is a safe way to put it, but there's more to be desired for sure for Winnipeg fans, the players, management, everyone there.
00:47:29
Speaker
So I think maybe this could be a good thing, a little bit of a revamp, little retool here, but it's just going to be interesting to see how it all, you know, c clicks together when the season starts.
00:47:39
Speaker
Yeah. You just kind of get the feeling that we are now towards the tail end of this. Like we are now, you know, getting towards the end of this. Calero signs a one year deal, lot of speculation, you know, as a 13 year vet that he could retire at the end of this season. Uh, especially if you, or at the end of that deal, especially if he walks off with a gray cup, um,
00:48:01
Speaker
the defense is still good. Um, it's just, you know, you get the feeling you lose Ontario Wilson as well to the jets and the NFL. So it's like another big receiver who they gets taken away from this group.
00:48:12
Speaker
They still have really talented guys at DB, like Carrie Wilson. You still got a Willie Jefferson holding it down over the middle. Um, but they certainly took a step back overall as a team while other teams in the West took steps to get better.
00:48:28
Speaker
Like it is that is not a secret here. That is not a hot take. They start you know with a very important kind of stretch here against BC.
00:48:40
Speaker
um And then Edmonton, there's a lot of spots here that that you look at this team and they're certainly a lot weaker than they were before. So Winnipeg is an interesting group. like Am I going to be surprised if they still manage to kind of throw something together here and end up as first or second in the West? No, but it it is up to this team to really show that they still have it to me.
00:49:03
Speaker
Yeah, they lost Buck Pierce as well. It's just like just an interesting dynamic in Winnipeg. Like you said, it just feels like you know a comparison across a different league in the NHL, kind of like Tampa Bay.
00:49:16
Speaker
They had a lot of turnover this year. They brought in some guys. They made the playoffs. It was a successful regular season, but then your your season kind of just ended, and it's like, okay, where where are we at
Rough Riders' Stability
00:49:27
Speaker
with this team? I just...
00:49:29
Speaker
Don't I think this is a playoff team. Don't i'm I'm safe and I feel comfortable saying that about Winnipeg. They will make the playoffs, but I just don't know if they're the past five years. It was like Winnipeg is the top of the West and going into the season. It was always they're the best team in the West and you have to beat them.
00:49:48
Speaker
I think I think the field has not only caught up, but I think the Winnipeg has come back to the field. I don't think this is an improved team from last season. I'll tell you that much.
00:49:58
Speaker
Yeah, but can be very interesting. They're one of the teams that has the week one by the dreaded week one by. So they start ah week two against BC. We will move to the team that they beat in the Western ah final last year. The Saskatchewan Rough Riders, another team who had...
00:50:18
Speaker
pretty interesting off season. Like they, they managed to keep most of their big guys. Um, they lose a Jew as you, who signs with the in Indian Indianapolis Colts, uh, after just a getting fired out of a cannon for his rookie season. and Um, they obviously lost Brian Cox jr. To the Argos. They lose Peter God, God, God, at offensive line, uh, to the red blacks.
00:50:42
Speaker
Um, they add couple interesting names. They add Sean McKeown at old line who, um, Recently just suffered an ACL injury that is going to keep him out for the rest of the year. ah They comes off the heels of also adding,
00:50:55
Speaker
ah Philippe Gagnon, who tore a bicep. That's two starters on the line who they have now lost. Seems like a kind of cursed position for them. um They add our boy Jake Meyer as some some assurance behind ah Trevor Harris at quarterback, who is almost 40 years old. So don't get me wrong. He's still extremely talented, but you need a good line, I think, for Trevor Harris to really be able to do what he you know you want him to do.
00:51:22
Speaker
ah They bring in Tommy Neal, who I always thought was a really, really underrated receiver with the Argos. um But for the most part, not a whole lot of change since last season in general.
00:51:34
Speaker
um And it feels like with the injuries to the offensive line, it kind of touches on a bigger point that I've been seeing a lot of Riders fans talk about. where it kind of feels like you got a really solid starting group on this team, but it also feels like this team kind of stands on a bit of a razor's edge, where if the starters go down, it gets thin quick, you know and A.J. Ouellette goes down, and the running back group isn't that deep. you know ah Harris goes down, and all of a sudden, Jake Meyer is starting. It's a lot kind of riding on this team staying healthy this season, which already they've had problems with.
00:52:11
Speaker
Yes. I mean, I think they're pretty happy with how their season went last year with Corey Mason. You know, he made the Western final. Wasn't the best showing against Winnipeg in that game, but at least, you know, it's it's the team was taking steps forward. They were getting better. It was encouraging signs.
00:52:29
Speaker
it Trevor Harris is like, you know, it's he is 40 years old. And I, Jake Meyer, I think is a backup in the CFL. I think that's what he is. he Or if he is starting, he will probably be the worst starter out of on any of the teams. And we saw that in Calgary last year, five wins.
00:52:46
Speaker
So I don't hate the signing just to have some depth, but you're putting a lot on Trevor Harris at 40 years old to step up. you have some decent pieces around them. Like the strength of this team probably was the receiving core last year. You three guys who went over 700 yards, Keon Schaefer-Baker, Keyshawn Johnson, and Samuel Emilius.
00:53:07
Speaker
Like that's, those guys are going to have to pick up most of the slack here, along with AJ Hulat, who if he stays healthy, will be a top running back in the league as well. So I think the offense they're They're in a good spot. i think their defense is even better. like that's their Their identity is defense, especially with Corey Mace as their head coach. so If their offense can stay level to what it was last year, I think you can see this team taking that next step ah to to being the top team in the West.
00:53:37
Speaker
Do I think it's that much of an improved team of last year? No, I just think you're going to see kind of more of the same, but I think it's just another year together a, is a will, will result in improvement with this team.
00:53:50
Speaker
Yeah. I like that. Take a lot. I think that that this is a team that to take that step forward, it might just be, you know, a matter of, of having a group together another year under their belt playing together.
00:54:03
Speaker
um the the receiving core on this team's nuts. Like there's no secret about that. You got Mario Alford returning punts. Like it it is a strong, strong receiving core and an even stronger defense. They allowed the third fewest points last year.
00:54:18
Speaker
at 24.1 per game in the second fewest yards while forcing a league high 49 turnovers last year which is just ridiculous you got roland milligan coming off of defensive player of the year got marcus sales and nelson lacombo as it it you know joining him on that dv group really good they start the season in the east they go red blacks tie cats argos like at that I would not be shocked if they started the season three and oh, this was a team who started last year, extremely hot too.
00:54:49
Speaker
ah and And yeah, I I'm, I'm pretty positive of an outlook on Saskatchewan. I think that again, this is a team that can very easily take a step forward this year, but it's going to be on one, them staying healthy and to this, you know, starting group, if you want to call it starters on offense and defense, taking another step forward.
00:55:11
Speaker
Yeah, the the betting odds kind of see them having a similar year to last season. They're the fourth betting favorite, second in the West ah to win the Great Cups. So if you think that this is a team that can take that next step and they're another year better together or Winnipeg's going to come back to the field a bit, I think you can kind of see some value on the Rough Riders to...
00:55:33
Speaker
i like I think they're a real threat to make the Grey Cup. I don't know if they're going if I'm going to go out on a limb and take them or anything like that, but I think this is a team that's going to continue to go forward, but it's not because of like the off-season additions they had. It's just keeping it together.
00:55:49
Speaker
lot of it... lot of it You know, it kind sounds like a broken record a little bit with ah how much falls on the quarterback. That's kind of just the nature of the beast in these situations.
00:55:59
Speaker
ah But I think especially being 40 years old at quarterback, you have even more pressure on you to perform. And I just think your durability goes down as you kind of go north of 35. And I think a lot of these quarterbacks we' we're kind of talking about, they're on the other side of 35 in the West. So we'll see if if the young guns can kind of catch up or the Rough Riders stay you know second or better in the West. We'll see what happens.
00:56:27
Speaker
Yeah, I agree. um On to BC where the Lions...
Lions' Boom or Bust Potential
00:56:32
Speaker
This is a puzzling team to me, dude. Like out of, I would say out of every CFL team this year, i have no idea what the Lions are going to look like this year.
00:56:43
Speaker
Really weird season for them last year. Like I picked, I remember in our CFL preview last year, I picked the Lions to make it to the Gray Cup. They have a really weird, weird season where they start with Vernon Adams. Nathan Rourke comes back from the NFL and joins the team like three quarters of the way through the season.
00:57:02
Speaker
He then seems to not have a great like bad. some bumps kind of getting back into shape here. They have a pretty bad showing, uh, in the Eastern semifinal against the rough riders. And all of a sudden they're the playoffs.
00:57:16
Speaker
Um, in the off season, they lose Alexander Hollins, uh, at receiver. They lose William stand back to Ottawa. They lose Adrian green starter at DV shout out the carry blues on that one.
00:57:28
Speaker
Um, they lose Josh Archibald, couple big pieces of this team that they lost. However, I will give it to the Lions brass who went out and got guys like Dijon Allen on the offensive line from Toronto.
00:57:41
Speaker
ah They go out and get James Butler from Hamilton. They go and get a Dwayne Hendricks from Toronto. They get Masoli at quarterback for a little bit of of added ah insurance at that position.
00:57:55
Speaker
The biggest change for this team last year is Buck Pierce. Obviously, as you mentioned, is now the head coach of the Lions, a guy who had a lot of success in Winnipeg. Uh, and ultimately i think the success of this team lies pretty much solely on Nathan Rourke's shoulders.
00:58:13
Speaker
That is the elephant in the room. He, uh, he won the battle over Vernon Adams Jr. I guess you could say, cause I do think there was some turmoil in that locker room. I think there is at least somewhat of butting heads between the, i don't know if it's between the two coaches, whatever, but that didn't work out between the two of them.
00:58:31
Speaker
We always thought it was weird. kind of the timing of when Rourke came back to the CFL and just saying, I'm signing with BC no matter what, which is fine. But BC was in a pretty fine quarterback situation with VA a and it was working out well. And then the second they kind of brought him in, it was just chaotic and you didn't know what team was going to show up. They were going back and forth from Rourke to VA. It just didn't really work out.
00:58:55
Speaker
But if you go back to Rourke's 2022 season, he was on record-setting pace through 10 games. He had over 3,300 yards, 25 touchdowns, 10 interceptions. It was like this guy is ripping up the league.
00:59:09
Speaker
Last year in nine games, just over 1,700 yards, four touchdowns, and nine interceptions. So... It is. Can there be somewhere in the middle? Is it? I don't know what we're going to get out of Nathan Rourke, but it has to be better than what we saw last season. And I think it will be. I think he'll just be a lot more comfortable.
00:59:27
Speaker
He'll be able to start week one with the team. He's not coming over halfway through the season like we saw last year. and i don't think you know losing a guy like Hollins is going to help that situation, but you have a guy in Justin McInnes who 1,400 yards last season. He was a great target for them, seven touchdowns as well.
00:59:50
Speaker
It's going to be interesting to see how it works out, and then you're also putting a lot of responsibility on James Butler coming in because their running game was... it was okay with Stan back, but now he's gone and you're bringing in Butler and they don't really have a lot in the depth chart there.
01:00:04
Speaker
so you're going to have, you're going to be asking a lot of a veteran running back and James Butler to step up here. So I think, think we're for a real boomer bus season with the BC lions. And I think if you're, if you're into that kind of stuff, there's a lot of value on BC. They were, they finished a clean 500 last year at nine and nine.
01:00:23
Speaker
But, uh, I, I, do not think 500 record is in their, future this season. I think you're either going to see an 11 and seven, 12 and six, or I think you're going to see a seven and 11 and just, I don't think there's going to middle road with this team.
01:00:40
Speaker
I think it's either roar comes out of the gate hot and it's like, okay, we're back to MOP Rourke or it's just, he can't get his feet settled back into this league. Yeah, it it is really boomer bust and and pretty much lying all on his shoulders.
01:00:55
Speaker
They're top heavy at receiver with McInnes and Hatcher um on defense. There's no secret that they have an incredible one, two punch ah with Matthew Betts and Christian Covington. ah They add Dwayne Hendricks, who's a great third option.
01:01:09
Speaker
um It seems like Tyler Coyle DB um who came pretty much from the NFL on the Cowboys. ah He already had a huge interception in the preseason versus the stamps. They need impact players, especially like that on their secondary team.
01:01:22
Speaker
um And for a team that kind of struggled on defense last year, they're going to have to really hold their lion's share ah on getting their offense back on the field and letting Rourke get into a flow and and do what you know we know that Nathan Rourke can do when he's at his best.
01:01:38
Speaker
Yeah, really, really interested to see how the Lions do this season. That is, you know what? I might, I might take a look at their futures. Who knows? There's plenty of value. If you, if, if you believe in Nathan Rourke, even to just win MOP, he has great value. And if you're a believer in him and you think, you know, starting the year in the CFL and being set and focused on, I'm going to spend the entire season in this league.
01:02:02
Speaker
Then I think there's a lot of value and you can kind of, get better price on some teams where I think there's, I'll mention when we get to that segment, but I think there's some teams that are overpriced, shall we say?
01:02:15
Speaker
I would agree. Plus 340 to win the West division. Pretty good number on that. um Moving to the last two teams in the West and the two teams that I am most interested to talk about in this entire West division, the stamps and the Elks.
Stampeders' Offensive Revamp
01:02:30
Speaker
We'll start with the Calgary Stampeders because This is one of the most interesting teams to me after this offseason. Calgary made some massive, massive changes, and they are changes that I love, starting with the biggest change. Vernon Adams Jr. comes into Calgary.
01:02:47
Speaker
This podcast has a love-hate relationship with Jake Meyer. It's no secret. um But Vernon Adams instantly makes this team so much more dangerous. The thing about... the stamps in the past couple of seasons is that their receiving room has been bonkers. Like that is a team where you look at them and you're like, man, like the amount of good receivers on this team is just insane.
01:03:09
Speaker
They go and they also add Dominique rhymes who had over a thousand yards and 72 catches last year already has an established connection with Vernon Adams. So, you know, that's going to be, you know, his favorite target probably.
01:03:23
Speaker
Jalen Philpott primed to take another step with a QB. You can get him the ball. Clark Barnes, same thing. Reggie Bagleton put up 92 catches and 1100 yards last year. They go out and get Tevin Jones from Edmonton who had 730 yards and five TDs.
01:03:39
Speaker
And then you add first overall pick Damian Alford, who's six, five and runs a four, four. Like it, it is a receiving crew crew that is just stacked with stars and with guys who have a lot of potential. It is, they're going to be exciting on offense.
01:03:56
Speaker
One thing about that, still very confusing to me that Mark and Michelle is a free agent. He was statistically a top 20 receiver in the CFL last season. 68 catches, 774 yards.
01:04:08
Speaker
bit puzzling for me that he is you know not on a CFL roster right now, um but just on the offensive side of the ball. Love what Calgary did this offseason. This was a team that needed to make changes, and they did that. And they addressed it in the most important spot, like you mentioned, with quarterback.
01:04:27
Speaker
But yeah, with a 5-12 record last season, that's just five twelve and one Can't forget. Can't be short, not tie. they They had to make changes, and they did that. And I think there's a short leash with the coaching situation, but I think for the most part, Vernon Adams Jr. is running free with this team. And like you said, Dominique Rimes proves probably becomes his top target.
01:04:50
Speaker
And I think you're going to see him starting to build a little bit more relationship with guys like Bagleton, Jalen Philpott. I think it's it's a team that is going to get better as the season progresses.
01:05:04
Speaker
ah The rushing game, I think it's going to be you know very, very similar. Dedrick Mills is was ah had a productive season last year, just under 1,000 yards. You'd probably like to see him get in the end zone a little bit more. like Tommy Stevens was...
01:05:18
Speaker
their leading touchdown guy by a lot. He had 10 and then he had three guys with one. So I think you're going to like to see some more production in again the end zone from the running crew.
01:05:30
Speaker
But I think the the wide receivers, the you know quarterback addition of Vernon Adams Jr., I think the Calgary Stampeders instantly become a better team. They instantly get more respect and do Is it 100% that this is all going to work out and click instantly? No, but like I said before, they made the moves necessary to improve on this team and try and... you know We talk about the Argos situation with fans and things like that nature...
01:06:01
Speaker
McMahon Stadium has seen better days and they need to get that powerhouse of a franchise back to CFL prominence. Yeah, i agree. they The 18 season run of making the playoffs ended last year. And I think for Dave Dickinson to keep his job, they need to make it back into the playoffs at the very least, let alone a playoff win.
01:06:21
Speaker
um Does this team still have some holes? Sure. Like line linebacker, particularly. They lose Cameron Judge in that trade. um But they get Ormelade back, who has time in Calgary, you know, built kind of cut his teeth in Calgary, and you know is going to be a productive guy off the edge.
01:06:39
Speaker
ah They go out and get Adrian Green, like I mentioned, um who should help what was a hurting secondary. Same with Damon Webb from Ottawa. Guy had five interceptions last year. They go out and get, you you know, a scrappy guy like Frazier Sopik, who is a bit of an unsung hero in the Argos Grey Cup win.
01:06:57
Speaker
This team certainly, certainly has holes here, um but they are a team who is massively, massively improved from being dead last in the season last year. Very excited to see what Damian Alford is like, and that's not because we share a name.
01:07:12
Speaker
A lot on the line for this team, but I expect them to be a bit of a dark horse. They start the season with Hamilton, Toronto, and Ottawa. You'd love a two one split there if you're Calgary.
01:07:22
Speaker
Oh, that would be huge for Calgary. I... I don't think the start is going to make or break this team necessarily. I think, like as um I mentioned, it I think going to get better as the season progresses.
01:07:34
Speaker
Just don't get off to the nightmare story. Like, don't go 0-5. Just avoid absolute disaster out of the gates. And then I think you're going to just can see constant improvement and just a team that...
01:07:47
Speaker
Had no fun last year. Have some fun this year. And I think they're going to be an even more fun team to watch. ah The gambling perspective, I think you're going to see a lot of overs because the defense, like we mentioned, isn't great. And I think the offense is quite explosive now with VA a and the wide wide receiver room.
01:08:02
Speaker
This is going to be my over team for the season, I believe. I love that. Love. ah We'll get to it. But a week one over between them and the Ticats. That is screaming at me. um And coming in.
Elks' Defensive Strengthening
01:08:15
Speaker
Last but certainly not like least, the Edmonton Elks. Here's the deal. We've done this before. Edmonton is the most improved team in the CFL. This might be the year that they're actually the real deal. We've done this before.
01:08:29
Speaker
But what the Edmonton Elks did this offseason is nothing short of like incredible, like be a GM shit on on a video game.
01:08:40
Speaker
They add pretty much the entirety of the Argos defensive line. Jared Brinkman, Jake Ceresna, and Robbie Smith. That is a group that had 17 sacks last year.
01:08:53
Speaker
Then you go out and get Brandon Barlow from Hamilton, who had five sacks of his own in a forced fumble last year. Defensive line is immediately launched into one of the better defensive lines in the entirety of the CFL.
01:09:06
Speaker
You add Royce Mechier and Tyrell Ford and Kobe Williams at defensive back. Tyrell Ford is the best defensive back in the CFL. You know, it it was reported that he turned down contract offers from the NFL to stay in the CFL this season to go and play with his brother.
01:09:23
Speaker
And that is just an immediately better DB group who, again, instantly launched into being probably one of the better DB groups in the CFL.
01:09:34
Speaker
That's a group that those three guys that they added had 10 interceptions, three forced fumbles, and almost 200 defensive tackles last year. Receiving core, you add Steven Dunbar Jr. from Hamilton, who's fourth in receiving yards.
01:09:49
Speaker
You add Kayon Julian Grant. Again, shout out to Kerry Blues, who has proven to be a reliable option in the CFL. to a group that already has Curly Gittins. Sure, you lose Geno Lewis, you lose Hergie Maia, Dylan Mitchell, Tevin Jones. like the the The receiving group kind of just did a complete switch, but you could argue got better.
01:10:10
Speaker
Whatever side of the aisle you fall on with Trey Ford, who I would say has a this season to really make or break it, you now have Cody Fajardo at backup, a Grey Cup winning quarterback. like What they did in this offseason is unreal.
01:10:27
Speaker
It's almost overwhelming. you know We just talked about a team who had a ton of turnover, but it was because they kind of had to do it and they were just in the in the basement. They had to get out of it.
01:10:38
Speaker
Edmonton was the team just on the outside looking in on the West last year. ah you know Not the worst season, but were they kind of underwhelming as a whole? Yes. I think a lot of that kind of fell with Them going with Trey Ford one game, then Bethel Thompson, and just kind of, they didn't commit to either guy. And I think that was a big problem.
01:11:00
Speaker
Well, guess what they did this off season to go along with everything you just mentioned. They have committed to Trey Ford. So you, you touch on it. This is a make or break season with Trey Ford. who I'm a believer in.
01:11:11
Speaker
I'll get that out of the way. I'm a Trey Ford guy. i understand that he hasn't necessarily proven that he can do do what he his highlights for the entire year, but I think his highs are so high that you have to ride it out and you have to stick with them.
01:11:28
Speaker
There's going to be some low points. Absolutely. You know, he's 26 years old. This is going to first season with, you know, having the full reins of a football team in the CFL. But I think he's going to add an element of this team and just kind of fun.
01:11:41
Speaker
And now you're bringing in these veteran receivers. I think a key part of this is you also kept your two running backs. So if things do get a little wild, you have the guys that you're used to. You can hand the ball off.
01:11:53
Speaker
Javon Leak is just like the the Swiss army knife of the NFL. You can do it in the receiving game, do it in the running game, ah special teams as well. So I think the offense is going to be very explosive.
01:12:05
Speaker
Trey Ford's just got to learn to have an average game sometimes. You know, it can't always be I'm a Hall of Famer one game. then the worst quarterback in the league, the next, he's got to be able to have a middle of the road game when things aren't going well, make something happen with his feet, but also not be too reckless and get themselves in trouble.
01:12:24
Speaker
But like you said, if he does, and you know, it doesn't necessarily work out with Trey Ford, you bring in a veteran, a great cup champion, Cody Fajardo. So this team a lot of turnover, but ah i think a lot of turnover that will take them from, shall we say, just on the outside looking in the West to, I think presenting ah a good opportunity to find themselves in a playoff spot come this season.
01:12:48
Speaker
I agree. Uh, another one, they add David beard to the offensive line, all CFL center for Hamilton who started all 18 games last season. and That's a big deal for a guy like Trey Ford, having a super, super reliable center to work things out of, um,
01:13:04
Speaker
like practically a new roster. Like it it is one full of gamers, which is huge. ah Defense has been a problem. They did a ton to address that. um Just going to immediately have a great defensive line. And then you have like the best
Edmonton vs Calgary: A Comparison
01:13:19
Speaker
DB. Like I just this defense is going to be the biggest leap for me ah it with this team. And hopefully that kind of reliability helps a guy like Trey Ford.
01:13:29
Speaker
um who has a you know more chances to get back out on the field, even if he's you know starting a game rough. um They have a very tough start. They start Lions, Alouettes, Blue Bombers in the first three games. like that is Again, like like Calgary, this isn't you know a start of the season that's going to make or break them. This is a team that's very likely going to need some time to gel together, um but they're not going to have a ton of time to do it.
01:13:55
Speaker
No, I think we're going to know what this team is pretty early. I think it's they're in a similar spot to Calgary with a lot of turnover, but like the key pieces are still there in Edmonton. And I mean, aside from the receiver room, there there was a lot of turnover there, but still have Curly Gaines Jr., who I'm assuming is going to start the season as the guy, especially because he has a bit of a relationship with Trey Ford.
01:14:17
Speaker
And then the running backs are still the same. So I think we're going to know immediately on the offensive side of the ball what the Elks are. And the defense, like that's that's something that can just naturally happen. like I don't think you need a full a half a season to get it going.
01:14:32
Speaker
Maybe the system might take a couple of games, but the players on the defensive side of the ball for the Elks are going to just be good enough to make plays. And they didn't have enough playmakers last season on that team to kind of make a difference and make that play in a tie game to you get the fumble, force the interception. there There was no real playmakers on the team.
01:14:54
Speaker
So I think they addressed that. And I think this is a team that is, I think they're going to make the step forward. I think, uh, especially on the West side where, you know, the, the top two teams of last year, it's, they are what they are. They, they haven't had much turnover.
01:15:09
Speaker
The teams from the middle down had turnover and kind of are, are gunning for the two teams at the top of the West.
Challenges in Team Power Rankings
01:15:16
Speaker
Yeah. Yep. And and that is kind of the lay of the land here, Patrick. And now we have to do the hard part because this is a tough power ranking like it is at more than any other season to to go out and try and power rank these teams um based on how much turnover there's been on how much uncertainty there kind of is in the air here.
01:15:39
Speaker
This is going to be a tough, a tall task. Where do you want to start? Right at the top? I think i like you have to almost. like e I think working bottom bottom up is going to be even harder.
01:15:51
Speaker
Yeah. So and I don't know. Tell me if you disagree, but I think we just give the great cup champions their respect. I'm talking about this team with Chad Kelly, not necessarily with Nick Arbuckle at quarterback, but with Chad Kelly at quarterback, the Argos are my number one team in the CFL.
01:16:07
Speaker
I agree. I think that they, we did that this season before with Montreal. We just put Montreal starting number one. I think you earn that ah until somebody takes it away from you.
01:16:18
Speaker
Yeah, sign of respect.
Montreal's Betting Odds Skepticism
01:16:20
Speaker
A little tip of the cap from the goalpost pod to the Argos. Actually, I think we can do that with the first top two. like I think that you can slide Winnipeg into that two spot. Yes, but I'll be quicker to move them than the Argos if things go awry early. That's for sure. Yes, I agree.
01:16:33
Speaker
um Three to nine is where it gets hairy, man. Can just say a statement and you can disagree, agree, whatever. I'm not as high on Montreal as the betting odds may indicate that they are. They have them as the third favorite to win the Great Cup, second in the East.
01:16:51
Speaker
i don't I don't think they're even... i just don't know what Davis Alexander fully is. he's the He's the Trey Ford of the East. He's just kind of a wild card, and you don't really know what you're going to get from game to game.
01:17:02
Speaker
Highs are high, lows are low. And I just... I don't know. There is something about Montreal where I don't necessarily think they made the moves that are going to send them... back up into second and competing for the the Eastern bid to get to the Great Cove? Where where do you stand with the third spot here?
01:17:21
Speaker
I think that given what we talked about with the Rough Riders and the Rough Riders really keeping things solid and consistent and not doing much versus a team like Montreal, who we both agreed we didn't think got better, I'm fine with doing Saskatchewan in third and Montreal in fourth.
01:17:43
Speaker
I think that's safe. I think that's safe. And yeah, yeah, I agree with that. Yeah, because it I mean, their downation did their power rankings and they put Montreal first, which just kind of blew my mind. So yeah, I mean, they're they're clearly very high on Davis Alexander, and I'm not disputing that, but I think it's still a big question mark, and I'm going to err on giving, like, I know what Saskatchewan is. Like, I just know what that team is. I still don't necessarily know how it's all going to work with Davis Alexander and Montreal.
Eastern Conference Predictions
01:18:13
Speaker
I agree. Do you want to make a statement with five? I think that's where you start making statements. i I agree. it so do we go with the last team that maybe we discussed? where we like Is that where you stand or like where where do where do you think? It's a hell of a statement.
01:18:28
Speaker
Ottawa lingers. Ottawa is always going to be in that middle of the pack. ah Maybe they make this step up to a second in the East the this year, but I think that is their ceiling, is second in the East.
01:18:39
Speaker
I don't think they
Western Conference Rankings Debate
01:18:41
Speaker
come last. I think... Unfortunately, i don't know if I'm gambling here by saying this, but I think Hamilton is going to be lost in the East. I don't know if you did.
01:18:51
Speaker
Yeah, I'd agree. So where do you where do you want to go? Where do you stay with BC? BC is the biggest kind of where do you put them? I think I know. I it mean, i have that one's confusing to me. I think in the five, six.
01:19:04
Speaker
i' I'm still hesitant to put Edmonton at a five, you know, like, and no, that's like my brain, like, goes straight to putting a team like Ottawa at the five. You know what? That's what they are. Ottawa is the, what was the grocery stick of the CFL? You know, the the benchmark, like you, you want to get above them. That means you you have a shot to win the great cup.
01:19:24
Speaker
If you're below them, you're probably a pretender. Yeah. But I'm fine with putting Edmonton at six. Edmonton, BC six, seven. Yeah. And then Calgary Hamilton to round it out.
01:19:37
Speaker
Yeah. Or do you want to go Hamilton, Calgary? Yeah, we're going make some people angry in Hamilton if ah if we do that. But they i mean they had three more points than Calgary last year. It's not like they were you know miles above them.
01:19:55
Speaker
I think we can put Calgary last. It doesn't feel great.
Final Team Rankings
01:19:58
Speaker
I think they're to fun team, and I think we we're going to have a soft spot for them throughout the year based on both how we were talking about them in this episode.
01:20:06
Speaker
Yeah, you're right. They got to prove. They got to prove. Similar with Toronto. It's like yeah if you were last, you got to prove that those offseason additions did anything. Calgary to the basement. Calgary of the basement, which goes Toronto, Winnipeg, Saskatchewan, Montreal, Ottawa, Edmonton, BC, Hamilton, Calgary. There it is, folks.
01:20:22
Speaker
So Edmonton fans are going to be happy with us. Hamilton fans a little upset. BC fans may be upset and probably Montreal as well. Yeah, it's okay. That's fine.
01:20:33
Speaker
Bring on the heat. Come on. Not in the business of making friends here. And to finish off the episode here, it's been a great CFL preview. ah We'll do some week one picks. I think starting out, like you said, that Hamilton Ottawa over 52 a half.
01:20:51
Speaker
Add it to the card. Not Hamilton, Ottawa. Hamilton, Calgary over. Yep. Yeah, yeah. 52 and a half. Add it to the card. That game's a pick them. ah I think we we we move our power rankings based on who wins that game.
Week One Predictions
01:21:05
Speaker
a meet An immediate shift in the bottom of our power rankings just to make something happen.
01:21:10
Speaker
um I'm going to go out and give another pick here. It's not really a confident one, but it's going off of last year. like I still think these teams are kind of question marks.
01:21:21
Speaker
First game of the year, Ottawa-Saskatchewan, under 49.5. I love Saskatchewan's defense. ah you know You never know what you're going get out of Ottawa. and It's also just the first game of the year.
01:21:32
Speaker
We'll see. Maybe there there'll be some drop passes early, some rusty ah handoffs or something like that. We'll see what goes on, but I'm going with under 49 and a half in the first game the season. I like that a lot.
01:21:43
Speaker
um I like Argos plus four and a half. I think that's a lot of points for even if it's Nick Arbuckle at quarterback. I think that that is most likely a field goal game either way.
01:21:55
Speaker
um And I wouldn't be surprised if the Argos won. Yeah, I agree with that. And you know what? I'm going back to the first game. I'm gonna take the Rough Riders, minus three and a half. Yeah. yeah I like that. i think therere i think they're just a better team than Ottawa, and they can win that by more than field goal. I agree.
01:22:12
Speaker
I agree. That's going have for week one. I have some futures I'll give out if if anyone has ah any interest. Please. um So I kind of mentioned it already. I hinted at where I'm at with... ah Where is it here? I had the number...
01:22:27
Speaker
I'm losing it. I'm losing it. The Alouettes. I'm a little lower on the Alouettes than maybe most. So I'm taking their under 10.5 win total. it's minus one 13 each side.
01:22:39
Speaker
Uh, give me the under on that one. And then because I was kind of teasing myself, uh, I'm going to go, I'm going to go over for Edmonton seven and a half. It's a little juiced if you're going to give me it, but they're only giving me seven and a half. It's minus one 74.
01:22:54
Speaker
It feels like cheating, but, uh, it, you know, the options are limited with CFL gambling. Maybe that's an area where we can grow fan
Future Bets and Player Performances
01:23:02
Speaker
duel. If you're listening, um,
01:23:05
Speaker
And then I think if you're high on the BC Lions, I think you have, I think he got some value on Nathan Rourke to win MOP at 7-1. Yeah, I agree with that i i One MOP pick that I liked was ah Vernon Adams at 20-1.
01:23:24
Speaker
Like if if a guy like Bo Levi can win Eastern MOP and really be in the running for regular MOP on a eighth overall Hamilton team last year, then why not Vernon Adams, you know, lighting up a season with Calgary and and, you know, blowing the rest of the QB crowd away.
01:23:43
Speaker
I agree with that big time. If Bo Levi Mitchell won it last year, who knows? And you know if it starts off the first half of the season, how last year was, where you know who knew who was going to win the MOP? Just keep your eye on those odds. You can find some value out there. You can kind of beat the books in CFL.
01:24:00
Speaker
Another thing to look for for for me with Chad Kelly, and we The timeline still just kind of unclear of when he's going to come back. if If it's going to take him a little while to come back, then you know maybe we initially thought.
01:24:14
Speaker
Maybe you take a sprinkle on some Argos offensive players not named Chad Kelly to win MOP. You can get him... Demonte Coxie is 40 to one. And that's like the benchmark. It just goes up from there. So if you're high on the Argos and you think that, you know, some guys can make plays out there, I wouldn't pay that that short of a price on Chad Kelly. I think he was at three, just just under three and a half to one to win MOP.
01:24:38
Speaker
I would kind of stay away from that and maybe just look to ah some other players on the Argos.
Podcast Wrap-up
01:24:43
Speaker
agreed man i i think the some sharp picks sharp picks from this podcast um but that'll do it i think for our cfl preview here gearing back up for the summer so get your headphones out get ready to cat we'll catch you after a big cfl weekend and uh and get everything back up and sorted for you um but until next time patrick i'll see you see you damien