Power rankings

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 01/09/2009 (5931 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

ONE man’s totally subjective rankings of the eight CFL teams after Week 8 of the season (last week’s rank in parenthesis):

1. (1) MONTREAL ALOUETTES (7-1) — The Als take their turn at the bye week and we see no reason for a change in their ranking.

2. (3) EDMONTON ESKIMOS (5-3) — The Esks knocked off a tough Tiger-Cats club and looked resilient in doing do. They have a slight edge on the rest of the West.

3. (2) SASKATCHEWAN ROUGHRIDERS (4-4) — Bye week was good and they’ll be rested and ready when the Bombers get to town for the Labour Day Classic.

4. (5) CALGARY STAMPEDERS (4-4) — A win on the road, even against the hapless Argos, is always tough to make happen. There’s some life in the champs.

5. (4) HAMILTON TIGER-CATS (4-4) — A loss in Edmonton is no shame. Do we believe in a Kevin Glenn-led team? Not really. They need a healthy Quinton Porter.

6. (6) B.C. LIONS (3-5) — The bye week was quiet on the Left Coast. Can the Lions roar down the stretch? Doubtful.

7. (8) WINNIPEG BLUE BOMBERS (3-5) — This club has been inconsistent. All eyes are on them to see how they’ll perform against the Riders after the bye week and a win over the Lions.

8. (7) TORONTO ARGONAUTS (2-6) — The worst record in the league earns them this spot, but Cody Pickett did show some life in a loss to the Stampders.

Juicy number — 53

THAT’S how many points the Toronto Argos have been outscored by in the fourth quarter this season.

Having opponents hang 82 points-against versus 29 points-for is a clear example of why the Argos suck.

FYI

THE Saskatchewan Roughriders have come to terms with kick returner Jason Armstead, and he’s en route to Regina and expected to be on the practice field today.

The former Blue Bombers returner ran into legal issues in the off-season and the club opted to release him. Armstead was charged with domestic violence after waving a gun at his girlfriend as he passed by her in a car.

The Riders have struggled in the return game all season and Armstead is a former all-star in the CFL.

Say what?!

CALGARY Stampeders receiver Jeremaine Copeland on the hit his teammate Nik Lewis put on Argos lineback Zeke Moreno in the Stamps win over Toronto last Friday night. "Just oooh. Put a whole lot of Os in a row. Ooooooh. That was my reaction," Copeland told the Calgary Sun.

gary.lawless@freepress.mb.ca