Another new season of Canadian Football beckons and it is the start of a “New Era”, both on and off the field. This year, like any other year, sees athletes joining new teams from fellow CFL clubs and others crossing the border to play in the oldest Gridiron Football league in the world. In addition to this, a new collective bargaining agreement between the League and the Canadian Football League Players’ Association (CFLPA) is in place. This agreement is designed to give players more rights like healthcare, and working visas for the American players, to allow them to get jobs in Canada during the off-season. There is also a new era in terms of CFL gameday attire as the league switches from Adidas as their official supplier to Canadian brand, New Era. This season also sees for the first time an influx of players from Europe moving to the CFL, thanks to the agreement the league struck with leagues across Europe including in Germany, France, Austria and the Scandinavian countries. A number of the footballers who have moved include Max Zimmerman from Germany to Saskatchewan and Kimi Linnainmaa from Finland to play for Toronto. There is also a number of Mexican players who join the league after an agreement between the CFL and the league in Mexico. With all the various changes the CFL introduced during the closed season there is plenty to look forward to and see the effect of the new strategy that the Commissioner has developed. East Division Hamilton Tiger-Cats The Ti-Cats had a mixed end to the season under Head Coach June Jones, and they’ll be wanting to buck this trend in the 2019 one. However, Jones has moved into another role within the team to allow his assistant Orlondo Steinauer to take over after he sparked interest in a number of CFL teams for their head coach vacancy. Hamilton’s record last season saw them finish with an 8-10 record which got them into the play-offs, but they went into it on poor form with three losses. However, in the games where they showed glimpses of promise last season this was mainly down to quarterback Jeremiah Masoli and receivers Brandon Banks and Luke Tasker getting the yards on the board. They have also tightened up defensively with the additions of Rico Murray (Ottawa) and Ja’Gared Davis and Tunde Adeleke from Calgary. All of this and it is easy to see why they are the favourites for the East division this year. Questions will remain whether the Ti-Cats have the depth and quality to be able to win the Grey Cup this time around, but I am sure they will give it their best shot and stand a chance of progressing to the Grey Cup. Montreal Alouettes After years of struggle in recent times, Montreal will be hoping that their fresh rebrand (new badge) will do the trick as they look to advance to the end of season play-offs for the first time since the 2014 season. However, the franchise is currently undergoing a period of uncertainty having recently parted with coach Mike Sherman as well as the ongoing takeover saga, which seems to be never ending. Sherman has been replaced by Khari Jones, who has past coaching experience with other CFL teams but this will be his first Head Coach role so it is uncertain to see how they will do. However, one bit of exciting news is that the Alouettes have undergone a major rebrand in the off-season which may (or may not) help them this season. This includes a new badge and a new kit design. This bit of positivity may be short lived depending how the first bit of the season goes, but many fans will just want them to be challenging again. The glimmer of hope may lie in the hands of WR DeVier Posey who joins from BC Lions and has won the Grey Cup with Toronto, Running Back Jeremiah Johnson, while their defence is in the hands of Bo Lokombo. The main issue for the Als for the past 5 or so years is their QB situation, especially now Johnny Manziel has left for pastures new, which many see as a blessing. Anthony Pipkin (seems the favourite) with Vernon Adams and Matthew Shiltz awaiting their opportunity. However all three are inexperienced to be the starting QB. Nevertheless, they will be relying the inexperienced Antonio Pipkin to make the plays. Another long, hard season may await. Ottawa Redblacks Having impressed over the past few seasons by reaching 3 of the last 4 Grey Cup’s, Ottawa have surpassed expectations since forming the franchise in the capital. However, with a loss of key personnel over the off -season like Wide Receiver Greg Ellingson going West to Edmonton, the Redblacks may find this season a struggle. In addition to this they lost Diontae Spencer (WR) who left to pursue opportunities in the NFL, which he has quite rightly earned. These losses in personnel have seen Rick Campbell to be fairly active since the end of last season. Quarterback Jonathon Jennings arrived from the West Coast in Vancouver as the replacement for Trevor Harris and to add tough competition to Dominique Davis who is learning on the job. The Redblacks did manage to re-sign East division All-star Defensive Back Jonathan Rose, which was seen as a major plus for a side that lost so many talented individuals during the February free agency. Looking ahead to this season, I think Ottawa may find it tough going with Hamilton looking stronger, a resurgent Toronto and with Montreal who will be determined to give their fans something to cheer about this year. I am of the view that they may miss out on the play-offs. Toronto Argonauts After a poor end of season last year, the Argos cut ties with 2017 Grey Cup winning coach Marc Trestman, appointing Corey Chamblin from the backroom and there is a ton of positivity around. Chamberlain has put his own stamp on the team bringing in players from across the border as well as a number of home-grown Canadians. The most notable is Wide Receiver Derel Walker from Edmonton Eskimos, who is a three-time West division All-star side and one-time Grey Cup champion. Also, the Argos have acquired quarterback Brandon Bridge who joins Toronto from West division team Saskatchewan Roughriders having been used in rotation the last couple of seasons. Bridge will compete with James Franklin and McLeod Bethel-Thompson for the starters spot with veteran Ricky Ray having retired. As well as the additions, Toronto have been able to tie down key personal such as James Wilder JR, who was instrumental in the team winning the Grey Cup in 2017 in the Wide Receiver position. The Argonauts will be outsiders for the Grey Cup in 2019, but I believe that they will improve on their showing last year and get to the end of season play-offs. West Division
BC Lions BC are the talk of the town so to speak this season after signing quarterback Mike Reilly from Edmonton. Riley is seen as one of the showcase athletes within the league and will be pivotal to the Lions success if they are to go all the way this year. Reilley’s CFL record speaks for itself with a total of 148 touchdowns and over 27,600 passing yards. The Vancouver based franchise has recruited massively in the off-season, determined to win their first Grey Cup since 2011. These additions include controversial Wide Reciever Duron Carter who is certain to add some flare to the team and Vancouver native Lemar Durant who arrives from Calgary having recorded 102 receptions for 1280 yards and eight touchdowns in his 3 years with the Stampeders. In addition to their player recruitment they have recruited a new coach too with DeVone Claybrooks coming from Calgary Stampeders, where he held the Defensive Coordinator position, replacing the retiring Wally Buono. There’s a lot of positivity around the team given the recruitment they have undertaken and positioned as one of the favourites this season, but being the favourites comes extra pressure. Will they be able to live up to the hype? Calgary Stampeders The Stampeders best bit of off-season business was the re-signing of Grey Cup winning quarterback Bo-Levi Mitchell and this will be the season that he can prove that he is the elite QB that so many believe that he is. Questions will remain over his fitness, however when he is 100% there is very few defensive players who can stop him as proved last year when Calgary lifted the Grey Cup. Mitchell’s record last season included 5,124 passing yards and 35 touchdowns from 18 games which made it one of his best seasons in the CFL. Another factor that many will watch with interest his how Calgary’s defence fairs as that is seen as their weakness, impacted further with the loss of Canadian All-star Alex Singleton who went to pursue NFL opportunities. However, they have added defensive pair Courtney Stephen and Fraser Sopik to try and rectify this issue. If Mitchell can stay fit and the Stamps can tighten up defensively then I am sure another Grey Cup may be heading their way. It will be tough though. Edmonton Eskimos After missing out on the play-offs last season Edmonton will be looking to bounce back, however they may find it difficult after losing star quarterback Mike Reilly. Despite Reilly moving on Head Coach Jason Maas has been able to recruit Trevor Harris from East division side Ottawa, who will bring plenty of experience with him and link up well with the Wide Receivers (DaVaris Daniels and Tevaun Smith). Harris has been one of the driving forces in Ottawa which saw them win a Grey Cup and reach two other finals in their short history as a franchise. The Esks were also able to recruit Harris’ teammate, Greg Ellingson from Ottawa, and the wide receiver will provide an excellent target for Harris to throw touchdowns to. The fanbase in Edmonton will be wanting major improvements from last season with the team finishing bottom of the West division and subsequently missing out on the play-offs with a 9-9 record. With these additions I believe that this is possible, although I doubt their credentials to go all the way. A play-off spot should be a certainty though. Saskatchewan Roughriders Arguably the best supported team in the CFL, helped largely due to them being the team of the province, so expectations will be high. General manager and Head Coach Chris Jones decided to leave the team in the off-season in order to take up a role in the United States, so this has allowed the Roughriders to freshen up their backroom to the relief of some. In comes rookie coach Craig Dickenson who is one of four new backroom incomings as the departing Jones held four roles with Saskatchewan during his time there. Having underachieved during Jones’ time in Regina there will lower expectations on them this year, especially with a rookie coach, which may favour them and allow them to thrive. Craig Dickenson looks set to bring an attacking style to the team which would make a change from the defensive style under Jones. Saskatchewan, like a number of other teams in the CFL, have quarterback issues with limited options and their main starter Zach Collaros is very injury prone. His likely replacement at QB should Collaros succumb to injuries is Cody Fajardo, who has previously won the Grey Cup with Toronto and showed considerable promise while he was there. The transition from Jones to Dickenson will be an interesting watch for the neutrals, but I think that this season is all about building on the foundations led by Jones ready to go forward in the future. Winnipeg Blue Bombers The Blue Bombers have gradually been building over the last few years to create a Grey Cup winning side and some believe that 2019 could be their year that they break a 29-year duck. Winnipeg’s last Grey Cup came in 1990 and are the team on the longest run without winning the trophy. The Blue Bombers possess one of the best quarterback and receiver pairings in the league with Matt Nichols and local Canadian Andrew Harris providing excellent link up play. In fact, they had the top scoring attack last season in the CFL with Chris Matthews out wide having a major impact for the Bombers last season in the Endzones. Furthermore, as last season showed they have additional options in the offence with Kenny Lawler and Rasheed Bailey providing depth which any Grey Cup winning side needs to have. Their defence will be an interesting watch too with more speed making them a much tougher opposition than previous, coupled with players like Adam Bighill and new edition Willie Jefferson. Pressure will be on Winnipeg to break the hoodoo, but I think that they may lift the trophy this time around.
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