Inside the CFL: The CFL has shown up in spades this season
By MEDICINE HAT NEWS on August 29, 2024.
sports@medicinehatnews.com@MedicineHatNews What a fascinating topsy-turvy season 2024 has been. As we head into Labour Day week, the West Division leaders continue to lose after beginning the campaign with five-game winning streaks. The leading candidate for the Most Outstanding Player Award has been benched. Veteran head coach and general manager Chris Jones, finally fired in Edmonton, landed on his feet three weeks later as the defensive co-ordinator of the horrible Hamilton Ti-Cats, coached by his old pal Scott Milanovich who after taking the job as head man in Edmonton abandoned the herd before a game was played. Bad boy Chad Kelly is back at the helm of the Good Ship Argonaut. The way the CFL Command Centre reviews plays has been clarified and changed after an uprising of fans, club directors and sideline personnel. Despite the off-field shenanigans, the games have been the most exciting and entertaining in years. Twenty-two games out of 48 have been decided by four points or less. There were 19 in that category all last season. The average margin of victory is 9.2 points, the lowest in CFL history. The toothless 2-9 Ti-Cats lead in net offence thanks to quarterback Bo Levi Mitchell who has impressed everyone except his coach, who has no faith in him. Montreal leads in big plays and have surrendered the fewest. The Ottawa Redblacks, laughing stocks of the league since 2019, could very well win it all. It would seem parity has come to the CFL. Eight of the nine teams are still in the race, (the Ti-Cats will need a miracle). Parity explains why the top-two teams through July have gone into a tailspin while the losers have found new life. That is especially true of Edmonton who are 3-1 since firing Jones. When a team turns around like that, it is obvious the problem was the coach. Saskatchewan is 0-4-1 in their last five games, yet remain in first place with eleven points, one more than the luckless Lions and Winnipeg, three up on Calgary. A lot of Labour Day classics don’t live up to the hype. Next week could be an exception. If Edmonton sweeps Calgary, the Stampeders will be in deep ruminant doo. Same as the more interesting series. A Rider sweep and Saskatchewan should finish first. If the Bombers take two, they will have the edge for first place. Because Saskatchewan beat Winnipeg 19-9 July 19, a split would give them the nod in any tie-breaker scenario. Despite terrible play calling last week in Toronto by offensive co-ordinator Mark Mueller and despite their losing streak, they have a turnover ratio of +15 to Winnipeg’s -6. Zach Collaros is having the kind of season that starts retirement rumours. The Roughriders lead the league in special teams penalties which have cost them dearly in field position and contributed big time to their loss down east. I don’t know why coaches don’t tell their coverage teams to just get in the opponent’s way, don’t physically engage them. After a terrible schedule through 10 games, the Stamps have been enjoying a bye week and will meet their rival after 18 days of rest. Calgary seems to be a team stuck in a rut, not getting better, not getting worse. Although the Elks blew an 11-point lead against Les Larks at Molson Stadium, their three-game win streak included victories over Saskatchewan, B.C. and Winnipeg. Sunday’s Labour Day game is still a big, big deal in Saskatchewan, the highlights of the regular season. A whole series of family fun fest events are planned for the weekend. It is all more exciting with first place on the line. The Banjo Bowl in Winnipeg will also feature a wild weekend. Unfortunately, the same can’t be said for the Labour Day Classic at McMahon on Monday or the rematch up north. I remember when a huge contingent of Elks fans came down and the same the other way. The rematch at Commonwealth with its back-to-school promotion always drew over 50,000 fans. It is hardly a rivalry anymore. As the new school year begins I want to salute all the volunteers who make high school football in southern Alberta so successful. The same goes for the minor football programs. Best of luck to all the players. Play hard and play safe. Graham Kelly has covered the CFL for the Medicine Hat News for 52 years. Feedback for this column can be emailed to sports@medicinehatnews.com. 32-31
