Five-minute gridiron guide

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Ed Tait predicts that Edmonton running back Jesse Lumsden will lead the CFL in rushing.

It wasn’t too long ago, as recently as a dozen years back, when the open­ing of a Canadian Football League sea­son would often set off a wave of nostalgic fare­wells across the country.
  The grand ol’ loop was dying, after all, and many had already begun pen­ning the obituary for the national institution.

That was back in the mid-to-late 1990s after the colossal failure of American expansion and countless save-the-(insert franchise name here) telethons left the CFL teetering on extinction.

Even the Grey Cup, the league's showcase event, was struggling to play to capacity crowds.

Well, here we are entering another season without the once-familiar sounding of alarm bells and the league -- while still struggling to capture the market in southern Ontario and to revive the game in the nation's capital -- is as healthy as it's been in eons.

All this reminds us of a line trotted out by a grizzled observer back during Grey Cup week in 1996. Going against the popular notion then that the league was doomed, the old newspaperman barked, "Ah, don't go shedding a tear for the CFL just yet. Didn't you hear? There are three things in this world that can survive a nuclear war: cockroaches, Keith Richards and the Canadian Football League."

OK, so it's not exactly a marketing slogan to make you warm and fuzzy, but we think it fits perfectly as another campaign sets to open on Canada Day in Hamilton and Calgary. And with all that in mind, we respectfully submit our best guesses/predictions in our annual Five-Minute Guide to the CFL season:

FIVE BOLD PREDICTIONS

1. In news that will positively make the folks at CFL headquarters cringe, both the Toronto Argonauts and Hamilton Tiger-Cats will miss the playoffs in '09.

2. Edmonton running back Jesse Lumsden will not only stay healthy this year (we did say 'BOLD' predictions) but lead the CFL in rushing. In the process, he'll become the first Canadian to win the title since Ottawa's Orville Lee back in 1988.

3. Montreal's Anthony Calvillo will throw for over 6,000 yards this season for the second time in his career. Only three other QBs have eclipsed the 6K mark (Doug Flutie with B.C. in 1991 and Calgary in 1992 and 1993; Kent Austin with Saskatchewan in 1992 and David Archer with Sacramento in 1993).

4. Two defensive co-ordinators will emerge as the hot head-coach-in-waiting candidates: B.C.'s Mike Benevides, who turned down the Argo job this winter and Calgary's Chris Jones.

5. Winnipeg Blue Bomber head coach Mike Kelly will be one of the three Coach of the Year finalists. That's Coach OF the Year, not coach FOR the year.

FIVE CAN'T-MISS GAMES

1. Sunday, Sept. 6 -- Winnipeg at Saskatchewan: The annual Labour Day Classic between the Bombers and Riders is always our second-favourite contest next to the Grey Cup. Expect this one to be even nastier with roughly 87,000 references to Regina being 'the Crotch of Canada.'

2. Monday, Oct.12 -- Calgary at Montreal: The season opens with a Grey Cup rematch on Canada Day in Calgary, but when these two face each other on Thanksgiving weekend there figures to be hype as a possible championship-game preview.

3. Friday, Sept.11 -- The Battle of Alberta is always juicy, but we love the post-Labour Day rematch that comes with just three days in between. Same opponent, little rest and frayed nerves make for outstanding drama.

4. Friday, July 3 -- B.C. at Saskatchewan: The faces may change, but the vicious assault doesn't extinguish a thing when the Lions are in Regina to face the Riders and their rabid fans.

5. Monday, Sept. 7 -- Toronto at Hamilton: The records won't matter because this one is just simply about two organizations with a big-time hate on.

FIVE PLAYERS WORTH

THE TICKET PRICE

1. Avon Cobourne, RB, Montreal: With Stefan Logan and Dominique Dorsey in the NFL and Charles Roberts out of the game, the fleet of dynamic little men took a hit this off-season. But Cobourne is a dandy.

2. Mike Labinjo, DL/LB, Calgary: So much of what this Canadian does on the field reminds us of the late great Tyrone Jones. And he's all butt and gut like Jones was, too.

3. Prechae Rodriguez, WR, Hamilton: Big target who looks like a big basketball centre pulling down a meaty rebound on every pass over his head.

4. Maurice Lloyd, LB, Edmonton: Just love those guys who fly around from the moment the ball is put on the tee to the final gun.

5. Sandro DeAngelis, PK, Calgary: What's this? A kicker? If you've not seen this guy hit a game-winning field goal, pay attention. The post-kick celebration is fast becoming legendary.

FIVE PLAYERS POISED

TO BUST OUT

1. Stefan LeFors, QB, Winnipeg: He's been handed the starting QB chores and does have an array of weapons at his disposal.

2. Andy Fantuz, WR, Saskatchewan: Will post his first 1,000-yard campaign this year.

3. Terry Caulley, RB, Hamilton: Kenton Keith's injury will be a blessing for Caulley and for the Ticat organization, which finally recognizes what kind of player it has here when given regular work.

4. Jamal Robertson, RB, Toronto: He's got big-time skills and last year became the first Argo tailback since 2001 to finish with seven TDs.

5. Buck Pierce, QB, B.C.: As much as he has future star written all over him, Pierce has battled injuries over the last couple of years.

TAKING HOME THE HARDWARE

Most Outstanding Player -- Henry Burris, QB, Calgary: He was robbed last year, but this fall -- as the best player on the best team -- he'll get his just due.

Most Outstanding Canadian -- Jesse Lumsden, RB, Edmonton: As we predicted above, he'll stay healthy and win the rushing crown.

Most Outstanding Offensive Lineman -- Josh Bourke, Montreal: Dominant tackle will keep Calvillo upright and help open big holes for Avon Cobourne.

Most Outstanding Defensive Player -- Mike Labinjo, DE, Calgary: He'll post big tackle and sack numbers and is just one of those guys always around the ball.

Most Outstanding Special Teams Player -- Ian Smart, returner, B.C.: He had over 160 kick returns last year and will be even busier this season.

Most Outstanding Rookie -- Greg Peach, DE, Edmonton: The Esks are raving about this guy and his ability to put pressure on the passer. We'll take their word on it.

Coach of the Year -- John Hufnagel, Calgary: The champs repeat and Hufnagel gets all the love as the main architect.

GREY CUP CHAMPS

Calgary defeats Montreal at McMahon Stadium, becoming the first team to win a Grey Cup at home since the 1994 Lions.

ed.tait@freepress.mb.ca

Division previews C3

Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition June 30, 2009 C1