CFL provides plenty of fireworks

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This article was published 05/07/2023 (880 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The CFL created plenty of fireworks over the Canada Day long weekend despite it being a lighter schedule than usual.

Indeed, it was a three-game slate for Week 4, with the Calgary Stampeders (1-2), Saskatchewan Roughriders (2-1) and Hamilton Tiger-Cats (0-3) all on bye weeks. It opened with the Edmonton Elks (0-4) extending their losing streak dating back to last season, while the Ottawa Redblacks (1-2) snapped their lengthy losing streak at home with a 26-7 victory at TD Place.

The Winnipeg Blue Bombers (3-1) got the redemption they were seeking after a disappointing loss to the B.C. Lions in Week 3, earning a 17-3 decision over the Montreal Alouettes (2-1) at Molson Stadium. The week was capped off with a rare Monday night affair, as the unbeaten Toronto Argonauts (3-0) flexed their collective muscles against the Lions (3-1) with a 45-24 triumph at BMO Field.

We return to regularly scheduled programming, with Week 5 featuring the traditional four-game run. Before we look too far ahead, let’s take a look back at the week that was in the three-down loop, with the latest edition of CFL Rundown.

1) The curse at TD Place finally came to an end, with the Redblacks snapping a 13-game losing streak at home — a skid that dates back to Sept. 28, 2021, when Ottawa defeated, go figure, the Elks. QB Tyrie Adams looked pretty good in the win — finishing 14-for-20 passing for a modest 185 yards, one touchdown and no interceptions, along with three runs for 31 yards — but there’s no doubt the Redblacks are excited to see Jeremiah Masoli return behind centre. Masoli has already been announced as the starter for Week 5, with his triumphant return coming exactly a year to the day he suffered his season-ending leg injury last season.

2) Remember when we used to associate Chris Jones with winning? Feels like a distant memory now. The Elks GM/HC is 4-18 since taking over in Dec. ‘21. He has yet to win a single regular season game at home; and Edmonton is currently riding an eight-game losing streak dating back to last season. How much more pain will president Victor Cui want to endure before making a move?

3) Among Jones’ biggest sins this season is the treatment of his QBs. Jones has long had a reputation for making his QBs feel uncomfortable and it’s once again coming back to bite him in the rear-end. Taylor Cornelius, who was benched partway through week 3 in favour of rookie Jarrett Doege, is back at practice this week taking reps with the first-team offence and will start against the Roughriders this week. Jones had pulled Cornelius despite going 14-for-18 passing for 135 yards, one touchdown and no interceptions. We’ll see how long he can last this time knowing how he’s playing with a short leash.

4) Speaking of curses, not sure what the deal is between the Bombers and lengthy weather delays. Thanks to heavy rain and lightning, the Bombers-Alouettes game was postponed for nearly two hours. It was reminiscent of the home game against the Ticats back in August 2016. That start time was pushed back two and a half hours and was the third time that season the Bombers had a delayed start. Two years later, for a home game against Edmonton in 2018, the delay lasted two hours and 55 minutes, marking the longest weather delay in CFL regular season history.

5) It was a tidy win for the Blue and Gold, who came just three points shy of recording a rare shutout. It wasn’t the most dominating display we’ve seen from the Bombers in recent years, but it should be enough to silence the critics after the beatdown by B.C.

6) For the Alouettes, it was the first loss of the season and the first two touchdowns allowed by the team. After spending the weekend in Montreal and talking with a few players, I like what they’re building there under new head coach Jason Maas. I see Montreal battling it out for the top spot in the East, even if I don’t see them ultimately beating out the Argonauts.

7) Speaking of the Argos, the victory over the Lions moves them into the best team in the CFL conversation, even if Bomber fans may take exception to that. Toronto beat up on B.C. and have played complementary football in all three wins this season. HC Ryan Dinwiddie has the boys in Double Blue believing in themselves, and you can see it in the confidence with which they’re playing.

8) After a smooth ride the first three weeks for Lions QB Vernon Adams, the wheels finally fell off in Week 4. Adams threw for three TDs, but tossed an eye-popping six interceptions, falling one short of the league-record seven. What’s worse, all six picks turned in points going the other way, with Toronto countering with four touchdowns and a pair of field goals. A lack of consistency has been the main knock against Adams over his career and it appears to have reared its ugly head again. The Lions return home to play a stingy Alouettes defence in Week 5, and the pressure will be on Adams to see how he battles back from his first bout of adversity this season.

9) If Adams had nightmares over the loss, they likely featured Argos DB Robertson Daniel. Daniel was rated the league’s top DB in Week 2, had two fumble recoveries in Week 3, only to save his best outing this year against the Lions, recording three of Adams’ interceptions. On those picks, the 31-year-old recorded 170 return yards, including a 62-yard pick-six to close out the game with an exclamation point. The Argonauts D is a scary challenge, made all the more dangerous by an offence that can turn an opponent’s mistakes into points. That’s the ultimate sign of a good team.

10) Kudos to CFL on TSN play-by-play man Marshall Ferguson for doing all three games over the weekend. Ferguson is relatively new to the gig but brings a seasoned approach to the booth thanks to his playing experience (he starred at McMaster University) and passion for three-down football. Doing three games in a weekend is exhausting when you simply consider the travel involved; that Ferguson was able to bring enthusiasm for each tilt made it all the more impressive.

11) The Stamps entered the bye week extremely banged up, particularly at receiver with Reggie Begelton on the six-game injured list and Malik Henry ruled out for the season with a ruptured Achilles tendon. The hope was the time off would help heal some bodies and also provide an opportunity to bring in some much-needed reinforcements. Calgary was able to do just that, inking receiver Marken Michel, who returns to the Stamps after spending the last four years in the NFL. At 29, Michel should have plenty left in the tank. In 24 games with Calgary, split between the 2017 and 2018 seasons, Michel had 72 receptions for 1,215 yards and eight TDs. He’s also a threat in the run and return game, where he had four carries for 47 yards and a TD, along with five kickoff returns for 89 yards and five punt returns for 39 yards.

12) Power rankings heading into Week 5: 1. Toronto 2. Winnipeg 3. B.C. 4. Saskatchewan 5. Montreal 6. Calgary 7. Ottawa 8. Hamilton 9. Edmonton.

Jeff.Hamilton@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @jeffkhamilton