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2008 CFL Preview
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Most of you guys probably aren't a fan of Canadian Football or maybe you just haven't really seen much of it (unless you live in Canada) but I'm here to preview the 2008 CFL Season, with training camp set to open in about a week and with the season set to begin at the end of June I think it's about time to start predicting
East Division
1. Winnipeg Blue Bombers
The defending East Division champs are back and ready to get back to the Grey Cup, Lets flashback to the 2007 Eastern Final, Starting Quarterback Kevin Glenn and the East's nominee for Most Outstanding Player went to grab a botched handoff and was landed on by Kevin Eiben and has his arm broken, Winnipeg later went on to win that game but headed into the Grey Cup with a Quarterback making his first ever start... in the biggest game in all Canadian Football, he didn't play all that bad losing 23-19 to the Saskatchewan Roughriders makes you think what would be the outcome if Glenn did take the field the following week.
The 2008 season is do or die for the Blue Bombers with a great mix of Experience, Talent and Youth 2008 seems to be the best year to go out and bring the Grey Cup back to Winnipeg, No key losses in the offseason and a great draft class, pretty much everyone is back including the CFL's all time leading Touchdown King in Milt Stegall could 2008 be his last chance at winning is first Grey Cup and with Kevin Glenn and Charles Roberts plus a great defense this could be the year.
Prediction:13-5, 26 Points
2. Montreal Alouettes
The 2007 Season was not the best of times in Montreal, with Jim Popp taking the reins after Legendary Coach Don Matthew's retired just before the end of the 2006 season, 2007 was a rebuilding year in sense but with most of the team in tact from what was kinda a 4 year dynasty the Als were poised to be raising the Grey Cup in November but after a less then steller year to Montreal standards, they were about 2 minutes away in the 2007 East Semi Final to heading to there 6th Eastern Final in the last 7 years until a blunder by Popp on a 3rd and 1 on there own 44 yard line with a lead was stopped by Winnipeg Linebacker Barrin Simpson sent the Als packing.
This year should be different a new Head Coach in Marc Trestman, the Grey Cup in there own backyard, the Return of there star Quarterback Anthony Calvillo and with most of the team back plus key additions we could see the old Alouettes.
Prediction: 11-7, 22 Points
3. Toronto Argonauts
The 2007 season was filled with position controversy a 3-6 record as of week 10 and so much more drama but some how the Argos finished at the top of the East and had a bye to the East Final and with the Grey Cup being played at Rogers Centre everything was in a perfect spot for the CFL's most successful franchise to add another Grey Cup to the already full trophy cabinet but with Michael Bishop (a once Heisman Trophy finalist) having a not so good East Final and with other players performing not so well too it was poised to be a busy 2008 off season.
2008 brings with it 3 Quarterbacks capable of starting, Michael Bishop last years QB, Damon Allen Pro Football's All-Time leading passer and the 2007 MOP and Grey Cup winning Quarterback in Kerry Joseph some more QB Controversy will be a question that will plague the Argos till the start of the season but with a good gain theirs going to be some key losses which will be the downfall of this team.
Prediction 9-9, 18 Points
4. Hamilton Tiger-Cats
The CFL's worst team 4 of the last 5 seasons making the playoffs once in those seasons the 2007 season was another dismal year in Steel Town but it also saw the emergence of a star in Running Back Jesse Lumsden and the signing of Casey Printers to take over QB will both be vital in the Future success of this Franchise. Key additions this past off season have the Ti-Cats in a good place but I expect at least 1 more year at the CFL basement before Playoffs seem likely.
Prediction 7-11, 14 Points
West Division
1. BC Lions
The Lions are the CFL's version of the New England Patriots, Outstanding Offense and a Talented Defense equal the CFL's elite juggernaut, the 2007 Season was suppose to be a Grey Cup appearance and maybe a win but some could say they might have over looked the eventual Grey Cup champs who blew them out of the water in the West Final but they also found a Quarterback in 2007 in Jarious Jackson who earned the starting job due to injuries to Dave Dickenson and Buck Pierce.
2008 will bring a Quarterback Controversy to the table with 2 QB's capable of playing the staring roll (Jackson and Pierce) but with all the team in tact plus 2007 CFL All Star in running back Joe Smith is just the Cherry on an all around Talent pool of a team.
Prediction: 14-4, 28 Points
2. Calgary Stampeders
2007 was again another year another First round playoff exit but saw that the team can hang with the best of them, 2008 should be a different story with the biggest addition in former Stamps QB Dave Dickenson who will be a great backup for starting QB Henry Burris and other key additions this team does have the youth and talent to get them to a Grey Cup.
Prediction: 11-7, 22 Points
3. Edmonton Eskimos
2007 was the second straight year they had missed the playoffs previous to 06 and 07 the Esks had made the playoffs a North American professional sports league record (regardless of the sport) 34 straight years and winning 10 Grey Cup's, 5 of them being consecutive over that time, but a aging roster and issues in the front office have been the downfall the last 2 seasons. This past offseason the Eskimos were the CFL's most active team signing the most players Jason Maas and Fred Perry being the most key and with Ricky Ray still the great QB he has been (baring injury) 2008 should be the year the Esks get back to the playoffs.
Prediction: 10-8, 20 Points
4. Saskatchewan Roughriders
What a magical year 2007 was... Great season, first home playoff game in 19 years, and a return to the Grey Cup which they later won for the first time in 19 years everything was just perfect in Saskatchewan but there's always an off season and you'll always lose some key guys... but losing the 2007 MOP in Kerry Joseph that is huge also losing a beast of a DE in Fred Perry will also hurt, but you have the 2001 Grey Cup winning QB in Marcus Crandell and a still steady offense and an alright defense 2008 shouldn't be that bad of a season.
Prediction: 9-9, 18 Points
Playoff Predictions: (*- Cross Over)
East Semi-Final: Saskatchewan* over Montreal
West Semi-Final: Calgary over Edmonton
East Final: Winnipeg over Saskatchewan*
West Final: Calgary over BC
96th Grey Cup in Montreal: Winnipeg over Calgary
Hope you liked my predictions, feel free to reply and it should be a great year
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