Three Down Football in Final Quarter

by user Erooster

After Week 16 of the 2006 CFL season, many questions have been answered and some things are still in doubt.

Western Division

The British Columbia Lions still appear to have the best overall team. However, they are without their top two pivots. First string QB Dave Dickenson is out with post-concussion syndrome and number two QB Buck Pierce has a bone contusion. The Lions are depending on second-year quarterback Jarious Jackson to finish out the season, with a possible return of Pierce before the end. A call has been placed to Todd Mortensen to back him up. The Lions do boast the best receivers in the league. Geroy Simon is the league leading receiver and Paris Jackson is in the top 15 (receivers). Kicker Paul McCallum is the third best kicker in the league. Their only flaw is a mediocre defense. Their win over Hamilton, last week, put them into the playoffs.

Just behind the Lions in both overall points and second in the division is the Calgary Stampeders. Currently, the Stamps pivot Henry Burris is ranked second among league quarterbacks and has the most passing touchdowns. Calgary also has four receivers in the top 17. Nikolas Lewis leads the receiving corps, with Jeremaine Copeland, Elijah Thurmon, and Ken-Yon Rambo filling out the threat. The Stampeders also have the top kicker in Sandro DeAngelis. Sandro currently leads the CFL in scoring with 193 points. Joffrey Reynolds leads all running backs in the league with 1345 yards. The Calgary defense is strong up front and along the backers, but the secondary is questionable. Calgary also clutched a 2006 playoff spot with the Saskatchewan loss, last weekend.

The Saskatchewan Roughriders are sitting on the doorstep of the playoffs. A Sask win combined with an Edmonton loss will see them into the playoffs. The Green Riders have the fourth best rusher in the league in Kenton Keith, but he has put the ball on the ground 7 times this season. They have a good defense, but not great. Pivot Kerry Joseph and wide receiver Jason Armstead show signs of brilliance, but are inconsistent.

Edmonton is all but mathematically eliminated from the playoffs. The only bright spot for the Edmonton Eskimos is at quarterback in Ricky Ray. Ray is the leading QB in passing yardage at 4179 yards with a passer rating of 92.3.

Eastern Division

The Montreal Alouettes were the dominate force in the East for the first half of the season. QB Anthony Calvillo is the third highest passer, but his game has been off recently. Robert Edwards is the third best rusher in the league and has fumbled six times this season. The Als are struggling to stay tied at the top of the East and are clearly not the same team.

Also at the top in the East are the Toronto Argonauts. This fortune is due, in large part, to pivot Damon Allen. The Boatmen also got back their star running back, current NFL suspended player, Ricky Williams. The Argos have probably the best offensive team in the East, but their defense is off and on. Look for the Argos to do well at home and struggle on the road for the remainder of the season and into the playoffs.

Winnipeg Blue Bombers fans took a heavy blow to their playoff chances when slot back Milt Stegall went out for the season with a strained knee. The best attribute left on the offensive side of the ball in running back Charles Roberts. QB Kevin Glenn can create big plays, but has been hampered in mobility since his knee injury earlier this season.

The Steel City Hamilton Tiger-Cats are the only team eliminated from making the playoffs.

Date

Mon 10/02/06, 9:49 pm EST