defences, they could potentially play
for the Grey Cup come late November.
If this season’s talent carries on to next
year, they could be cup contenders

for years to come. They are a young
team, and only getting better. To
expect a Grey Cup victory, or even an
appearance, may be a bit much at the
moment, but give this squad time.

The Calgary Stampeders. The
Stampeders are in the middle of a
changing of the guard. It started at
about midseason, when running back
Joffrey Reynolds was benched for
Jon Cornish. Reynolds spent most of
his career tearing up this league. He
has been a CFL all-star three times
(in 2005, 2006, and 2008) and was
repeatedly a contender for the Most
Outstanding Player. Jon Cornish
stepped in, rushing for over 825
yards and 7.4 yards a carry with eight
touchdowns and only fumbling once.
He also has huge potential to be a
superstar in this league.

Another star of this league that
has been benched is quarterback
Henry Burris. Burris, who was the
league’s most valuable player last
year, was benched for fifth-year man
Drew Tate during a game against
the BC Lions where the Stamps had
no offence and not a big chance to
come back. Tate came in and led his
team to a touchdown quickly and
efficiently. Burris definitely still has
a lot of football in him and a place
in this league, but that place is not in
Calgary. Calgary came into this year as
the favourite to represent the Western
Conference in the Grey Cup, and split
most decisions to win it.

The Stamps winning a playoff
game is unlikely —the inexperience

of Drew Tate will be their downfall.
Tate has all the potential in the world
to develop into a great quarterback in
this league (if he stops turning the ball
over), and with the defensive pressure
and intensity of a playoff game he will
get great experience, but Calgary still
won’t come out on top.

The East

The Winnipeg Blue Bombers. Bomber
nation finally has a contending team

to support. After many years of inept
quarterback play and a weak defence,
the Blue Bombers finally have a team
to be proud of.

Winnipeg plays Calgary in their
last game of the season and, like
Edmonton, they will be looking to
win this game to redeem themselves
for their previous mediocre seasons.
Calgary just won’t match up well to
a Winnipeg team with its head full of
steam.

nfortunately though, although
this team is full of talent, not being
a playoff team for years will come
back to bite them in the can. The one
playoff game they get to host, they
will probably lose. This team won’t
play with discipline, and will be far too
pumped. Still, the Bombers are a young
team under Coach Paul LaPolice, and
could be a contender for years if they
keep the “swaggerville” defensive line
together.

The Montreal Alouettes. Despite
Montreal probably winning against

the Lions in week 19, no matter what,
they’ ll be hosting a playoff game in the
semi-finals if Winnipeg beats. Calgary.
As long as Anthony Calvillo is the
quarterback for Montreal, they’Il be in

 

the playoffs, and a potential contender.

This year though, has been an off
one for Montreal. Calvillo is probably
still going to win the MVP, and led the
league in passing yards, and running
back Brandon Whitaker stepped in for
Avon Cobourne, who had been a star
for Montreal for years.

The years of the dynasty may be
potentially over though, even if they
win the Grey Cup. Montreal has not
been nearly as dominant as they have
been in recent years. Montreal was the
team that most people picked to win
the Grey Cup again, even with their

decline, which shows just how talented

and deep of a team they are. They will
most likely go back to the Grey Cup,
but Montreal is on the decline.

The Hamilton Tiger Cats. No team
can succeed in a two quarterback
system, and Hamilton is no different.
No matter how much coach Marcel
Bellefeuille claims that they are both
starters, no quarterback can go into a
game mentally calm when at any point
they could be taken out of the game
for the other. Kevin Glenn is the better
of their two quarterbacks, but in all
likeliness, Quinton Porter is the guy

 

.¢&
Sats.

who will be the guy moving forward.

Glenn, like Burris, still has a lot of
football left in him and definitely has a
place in the league, but he probably will
take the Kerry Joseph route and back
up a team who is solid at the position.
Kerry Joseph of course, started for the
Ottawa Renegades, before being picked
up by Saskatchewan in the dispersal
draft when the team folded. Joseph
led the team to a Grey Cup win before
being traded to Toronto, then finally
ended up in Edmonton as a backup.
Glenn quite possibly could end up
in Calgary to mentor Tate as he’s
mentored Porter, back up Buck Pierce
in Winnipeg, or start in a place where
they might be in the market for a new
quarterback, such as Saskatchewan or
Toronto.

The acquisition of running back
Avon Cobourne has been huge for
Hamilton, but their defence has been
below average, and with switching
quarterbacks every quarter or so, the
offence lacks consistency.

Hamilton again will fail in the first
round, and will need a big off-season
to improve for next year, if they don’t
want to finish with a 9-9 record for a
third season in a row.