Time to revisit CFL awards

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 01/11/2023 (700 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The CFL awards voting process is flawed.

There’s proof of that nearly every season, but this year really drove home just how problematic it can be.

To be clear, I have no issue with who is voting, which consists of members of the Football Reporters of Canada and the head coaches of all nine teams. There is no better option.

We all saw the outrage last year when the CFL released the incorrect list of all-stars, the result of accidentally giving too much weight to fan voting. Some suggest players should pick the winners, but I’d argue they can carry more bias than anyone.

The issue is how the players are selected as nominees for such awards, which includes most outstanding player, defensive player, special-teams player, offensive lineman, Canadian and rookie. The process, as it currently stands, begins in each market, with five local voters nominating a player for each award.

In theory, it seems like a reasonable process, not to mention an opportunity to acknowledge players from each club who had a strong year. In practice, though, having nine players, one from each team, make up the nominees for each award, to then be voted on by local and national voters, makes little sense.

This means only one player from each team can be considered for an award. In Winnipeg, that meant picking between QB Zach Collaros and RB Brady Oliveira for MOP; while in B.C., voters had to decide the same award between QB Vernon Adams and DE Mathieu Betts. There are examples like this for every award in the West and East Division.

What makes more sense is to have voters determine a top five for each award from each division, allowing everyone an equal chance for consideration. Then have the top five voted on to determine the nominee from the West and East.

While that might bother traditionalists, there’s no arguing it makes for a more competitive vote. For those who disagree, the good news is it won’t be changed this season, as nominees were announced early Wednesday, and I have a hard time thinking they’ll be tweaked in the near future.

Just some food for thought, so let me know what you think. Until then, let’s dig into the top stories from the final week of the regular season in the latest edition of CFL Rundown.

1) There’s been a lot of talk about how QB Chad Kelly is a slam dunk to win the MOP award this season after guiding the Argos to a historic 16-2 finish, tying the 1989 Edmonton Elks for the league’s top record since moving to 18 games. I’m not suggesting he isn’t a worthy candidate, and if Kelly does win, it will be far from shocking. There should also be strong consideration for West nominee Oliveira, who has been a wrecking ball all season, leading the CFL in rushing and touchdowns scored, while eclipsing 2,000 yards from the line of scrimmage. Both have been spectacular this season and both are worthy of the award, in what’s been the tightest MOP race in years.

2) Ottawa Redblacks GM Shawn Burke has confirmed that head coach Bob Dyce will be back patrolling the sideline in 2024. No big surprise here, as Dyce was coming off the first year of a three-year deal, and with the non-player operations cap in effect, it would be bad business to cut him loose now. Dyce has to find a fix fast, which probably includes evaluating his staff. The Khari Jones-led offence was particularly bad, ranking last in net offence and yards per play, while finishing in the bottom half of most of the other offensive statistics.

3) Staying on the Redblacks, it appears QB Jeremiah Masoli is preparing for a comeback in 2024 after suffering season-ending injuries in back-to-back seasons, including a ruptured Achilles tendon in early July. I’ve always appreciated Masoli’s game, and I hope he can return to the field after such horrible luck. Hamilton’s Bo Levi Mitchell and Saskatchewan’s Trevor Harris are in similar boats, all aging veterans with their best football likely behind them and all under contract for next season. To that point, along with the fact there have been several young QBs to emerge this year, I imagine if any of the aforementioned names do return in 2024 it will be with a restructured contract.

4) I’m taking the Alouettes over the Ticats in the East semifinal and the Lions over the Stamps in the West. I pick Montreal because they went 3-0 against Hamilton this year, by a combined score of 87-46, and because the Als enter the playoffs on a high, riding a five-game win streak. As for the Lions, I just can’t trust the Stamps, a club that won back-to-back games just once this season, to be able to go toe-to-toe offensively with their opponent in the comfortable confines of BC Place. But crazier things have happened.

5) Of the three teams (Saskatchewan, Edmonton and Ottawa) outside the playoff line, I think the Elks have the best shot of rebounding next season. The main argument for that is the Elks, who were made up of several first-year players, will have most of their team back in 2024. The emergence of Tre Ford has also given them some stability at QB. Finally, I see Chris Jones, who will be entering the final year of his contract as GM and HC, doing everything he can over the winter to improve his club and re-establish his reputation as a winner – something that’s taken a serious hit with a combined record of 8-28 since he took over in 2022.

6) With a vacant head coaching job in Saskatchewan, the rumours have already started to fly, including former QB Henry Burris being considered as one of the club’s top options. Burris poured cold water on the rumour a bit, noting he hadn’t spoken to the Riders, but added he is very interested in the opportunity. Burris has always been a leader on the field and while he’s spent some time coaching — including stints in the NFL with Chicago, Jacksonville and Los Angeles — the knock is he’s never been a head coach. While experience in the position is an asset, I don’t think it necessarily translates to success. I would argue what’s just as important, if not more, is being someone players want to play for, believe in, as well as constructing a staff you can trust will put in the same amount of work. Not sure if Burris possesses those traits, but I’d be finding someone who does.

7) I’ve been asked a lot this week about Bombers offensive co-ordinator Buck Pierce and whether he might be interested in the Riders job. I don’t know the answer and it’s something I wasn’t planning to figure out until Grey Cup week or if Winnipeg loses before that. I know Pierce is happy in his current role and with the people he works with on a daily basis. He’s also pondered being a head coach but would only act on it if it were the right time and fit for his family, which includes two young children. Pierce’s stock has never been higher, and there’s a risk involved with not jumping at an opportunity when you’re at the top of the mountain. Just look at Calgary’s Mark Kilam, who was seemingly atop everyone’s list a year ago, but after a 6-12 season, his name is now barely being mentioned.

8) It happened again. The Alouettes pulled off a second a successful onside kick that immediately followed a forward pass. Much like they did in late September, only this time it was Cole Spieker and not Jeshrun Antwi. The Als were facing a second-and-20 when Spieker caught a pass just before the line of scrimmage and then dribble-kicked the ball just over it before picking it back up, resulting in a first down despite gaining less than a yard. I wrote a month ago that I thought it was a cool loophole in the rules book and the latest only-in-the-CFL moment. I still do, but I also won’t be surprised if the league looks into it over the offseason and there’s a rule change for 2024. A lot of people seem to hate it.

Jeff.Hamilton@freepress.mb.ca

X: @jeffkhamilton