MULLINDER’S WEEK 2 #PROPERSPECTIVE

Luc Mullinder

All Eyes On You
By: Luc Mullinder

With the CFL’s opening week out of the way (minus Ottawa), I was thinking about our CKRM/Riderville.com’s Pre-Game show.  Before Rod and Carm blessed you guys with the game call, we spoke about some of the players that will really be leaned on by their respective squads in the next few weeks, as teams attempt to start the season off quickly.

I’m not someone who likes sitting and staring at the raindrops as they fall on my window pane, so instead I figured (after re-thinking a couple of guys) I’d throw it on screen and pass the 9 guys on to y’all…Also, I was really bored, and watching American Ninja Warrior brings down my self esteem!!!

Every team in the CFL wants to be at the top of the league, and here are my guys that I feel can really contribute to their club’s successful starts.  I’ll list them by organization.  KEEP IN MIND:
THIS IS NOT A TOP 10 PLAYERS LIST!

BC Lions:  Shawn Gore SB

• Realistically someone in this position group needs to stand out.  TSN mentioned that Gore needed to step up this year, but only mentioned his stats being down over the last couple of years as a sort of explanation.  The reason BC needs him though, is a lot deeper. Shawn Gore is talented, he’s also in his 7th year, and other than him, they have a couple really young guys (Jackson, Haidara, Williams and Taylor) and an unproven vet in Kito Poblah.  Kevin Glenn needs a guy to throw to, and the Lions need a guy to lead this young group.  BC can’t just go into these early games trying to role out Stefan Logan and Andrew Harris all game.  As a matter of fact, they still haven’t figured out how to utilize both talents on the field at the same time.  The offense needs another weapon, and if Glenn and Gore can get a rhythm with each other, especially on the shorter routes in the BC passing tree, it will work wonders for a team that currently is trying to find a harmony between two of the CFL’s more exciting players.

Calgary Stampeders:  Jeff Fuller WR

• Hopefully Jon Cornish is alright after a controversial tackle by Kyries Hebert ended his afternoon in the Stamps opener.  Cornish the best back in league, one of the best Canadian players the CFL has, and is also the Stampeders’ bread and butter.  Every CFL team knows that Cornish is the engine in the Stamps attack, however this is also a team that is going to be without their fastest player in Mo Price for a period of time and someone is going to have to pick up for the absence of Price’s production.  Fuller has the potential to be a beast, and the injury to Price makes him more important.  Calgary jumped to re-sign the big target; he’s 6’4 and goes about 218.  He might remind some of you of Jamel Richardson circa 2009/10.  In a jump ball situation, he catches the ball at the highest point, like you’d want your receivers to do.  He can also make difficult catches while being blanketed by a DB.  Fuller also has that long stride that he uses deceptively and may surprise you with how fast he actually is.  In order to prevent teams from scheming for a run heavy offence, Bo Levi Mitchell needs to get this guy the rock.  Obviously Nik Lewis and Marquay McDaniel will get their touches, but the future of the Stamps air attack should go through the Texas A&M product.

Edmonton Eskimos:  Eddie Steele DT

• Before Eddie went out and got a sack, an INT and a couple of tackles, I swear to you guys that he was my guy for the Eskimos that I’m excited about.  You’ll just have to believe me.  Steele, has seen limited action since signing in Edmonton after being a two year starter in Hamilton and he’s been pissed about it ever since.  What I like about Steele’s chances is his versatility in a Chris Jones scheme that asks his D tackles to be inside and out, and even play in limited coverage.  Steele is a solid athlete with very quick hands and feet and the departure of Ted Laurent opened up the door here for Steele to showcase himself.  The Esks Dline disappointed last season and hopefully Odell Willis shows up, because the other linemen they have on the roster are really good.

Winnipeg Blue Bombers:  Drew Willy QB

• Obvious choice here.  No team in this league has gone through a tougher time trying to find consistency at the QB position than the Riders’ little brothers from Manitoba.  The new regime made the right choice by picking up Willy, and it was a brilliant move by Mike O’Shea to firmly entrench the youngster in the media as their starter regardless of what was asked or said.  Drew Willys success will go hand in hand with the way Marcel Bellefeuille calls the plays this year.  The fact that Winnipeg’s OC is no George Cortez (scheme wise) may actually be better for a QB that is carrying a franchise for the first time.  He’ll have an upgraded O’line in front of him, thanks to the teachings of O-line guru Bob Wiley, which may buy him some time in the pocket to scroll through his progressions and make the right throw.  Drew has to be consistent and a lot of variables unfortunately will play a role in that journey.  When you’re the starting QB of a team and a community that expects a lot, all eyes are on you…pretty sure that Drew has gotten the blueprint on how to act in those situations though.

Saskatchewan Roughriders:  

• Here’s the interactive part of the show folks!!!  Let Rod and I know who you feel will be a guy that Corey Chamblin, and the staff can lean on early in the season…Obvious choices are anyone wearing the #4 jersey, but really think on this one.  I could have talked  about a ton of guys here, but this is your team and you’re invested like no other community…would love to hear your reasoning behind your pick!

Hamilton Ti-Cats:  Craig Butler Safety

• Much was made of Saskatchewan losing the playmaking Canadian during free agency, and it was probably the only type of victory that Hamilton will be able to claim over the Green & White in the next little while.  Butler is the only player on that defensive depth chart that has played in, and WON a Grey Cup.  Austin needs Butler to be a leader on and off the field in order for them to seriously challenge for the Grey Cup.  Granted he had a rough season opener, which Ti-Cat other than Andy Fantuz didn’t?  Butler is like Tyron Brackenridge.  He has the DB skills and LB toughness, but he also possesses a fantastic ability to locate and catch the ball.  He should definitely be featured in this Ti-Cat D moving forward.  Orlando Steinhauer needs to blitz him and let him roam around in different types of coverages.  Hamilton did a lot to get him, now they need to tap him as a crucial resource.

Toronto Argonauts:  Andre Durie SB

• TO has to lean on Durie, who is the Eastern Conference’s version of Andrew Harris.  Watts and Chiles aren’t the consistent threats YET that make defenses account for their whereabouts on the field, and the Argos defence looked really sloppy in the season opener.  Obviously Chad Owens is a guy that is going to draw a fair amount of attention, but it’s Durie who’s going to have to really excel in order to offset the deficiencies that Toronto needs to address during their first few outings.  Scott Milanovich is a great coach, so if there is a guy that can figure out a way to get Durie the rock, it’s him.  Durie can play every position on the offence, except for O-line and has been a playmaker since arriving in the CFL from the York Lions.

Montreal Alouettes:  Aaron Lavarius MLB

• Montreal is officially in trouble.  For the first time in 20 years, there is a huge question mark at the QB spot, and there is no offensive identity.  The saving grace for Jim Popp and the Montreal fan base is that they have one of the best defences in the league, led by DC Noel Thorpe.  The problem is, that the Defence now looks like it has to score for the Als as well.  They have some ballers on the side.  Chip Cox has been one of the best pound-for-pound football players the CFL has seen in awhile.  Kyries Hebert doesn’t age, and their D-line and Secondary can compete with any of the premier players in the league.  Amongst all this, is the sneaky way that Noel Thorpe employs his Middle Linebacker, Aaron Lavarius.

He plays on the edge, in coverage and in the middle of the box.  When you have a LB that does all that, offensive lines and QBs always have to account for his whereabouts, and how it relates to what may be coming at them.  Lavarius himself is a solid player.  He’s a tough kid, with the obvious athletic ability to have such a football palette, and is good at finishing tackles and knowing where he needs to get to, in coverage.  Like I said, Montreal is in trouble.  Hamilton and Toronto will be fine once they get the kinks out, but they are ok when it comes to the one position that touches the ball on every offensive possession (QB).  Until the offence in Montreal finds an identity, it will be on the Defense in ‘La Belle Province’ that needs to shoulder the load.  They have a good one in Aaron Lavarius.

Ottawa RedBlacks:  Keith Shologan DT

• My boy Sholo is now in a spot he hasn’t found himself before…He has to be a leader!  Keith was the best expansion draft pick available.  Ottawa got a guy that has been through all the highs and lows of the football business.  Losing and winning huge Grey Cup games, being a featured player on a defense and more importantly, they got a really good player.  Sholo is your prototypical Nose Tackle, and he pushes the pocket very well using his farm strength inherited from his upbringings in Edmonton.  He always wanted a chance to rush the passer more on 2nd down in SK, and now he will get it in Ottawa.  Ottawa’s offense is in good shape.  They have a ton of talent, and an OC in Milke Gibson who will work tirelessly to squeeze that talent as much as possible.  The defense is more of a question mark, so this is where the staff is going to have to rely on the guys who have “been there.”  Like it or not, Keith Shologan is now one of the guys in the locker room that is going to be looked up to.  He’s up to the task, and will be fun to watch this year.

Alright folks, hope you enjoyed this impromptu ‘watch list.’  I’ll see you on the flipside!

#ProPerspective