Inside the CFL: Kelly’s Peerless Pigskin Prognostications: It’s time to Ride-r

By MEDICINE HAT NEWS on June 5, 2025.

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Will the Winnipeg Blue Bombers finally show signs of age?

Is Nathan Rourke the second coming of Russ Jackson?

Can Trevor Harris stay out of sick bay for most of the season?

Will a rookie head coach recapture Edmonton’s days of glory?

Will Quick Six earn his oats this year?

Can Snoop Dogg get the Lions off on the right paw?

It is time for my fearless football forecast, otherwise known as Kelly’s Peerless Pigskin Prognostications.

B.C., Calgary and Edmonton are in a state of transition. Winnipeg has won the West the last five years in a row. To quote Shakespeare’s Henry V, it’s “once more into the breech, dear friends,” to equal the 1977-’82 Edmonton record of six.

“The Deacon’s Masterpiece” by Oliver Wendell Holmes describes how a person set out to build the perfect one-hoss shay that would never break down. Every piece, carefully selected, did its job for 100 years, when poof, the shay collapsed all at once. Can the Bombers keep replacing valuable parts and win, or is their dynasty in its dying days?

The average age of the offensive line is 35. QB Zach Collaros will be 37 in August. But runningback Brady Oliveira is only 27, in the prime of his football life.

Two-time Most Outstanding Canadian, last year’s Most Outstanding Player winner, CFL rushing champion, 2023, 2024, he is the heart of the Bomber attack.

The Bombers have lost three starting receivers, Kenny Lawler, Drew Wolitarsky and Ontaria Wilson. But the great Dalton Schoen is back from a season of injuries, along with Nic Demksi, Keric Wheatfall and Kevin Clercius, as well as free agents Dillon Mitchell and Jereth Sterns.

They lost CB Tyrell Ford to the Elks and MLB Adam Bighill to retirement. Safety Brandon Alexander wasn’t re-signed.

Can Winnipeg win another Western title?

I don’t think so.

Will they slowly slip down the division standings, or like the Deacon’s Masterpiece, collapse and finish out of the playoffs? It depends on an aging O-line keeping an old quarterback healthy. They don’t have a decent backup.

If not the Bombers carrying Western colours into the Grey Cup, then who?

Saskatchewan.

Last year the Riders fielded the toughest defence in the CFL. They’ve improved it by signing CFL and NFL veteran Tevaughn Campbell to fill the only hole in the secondary.

They replaced two DL starters with Stampeder Mike Rose and Shane Ray.

The linebackers are the best. To shore up the O-Line they signed free agents Sean MacEwan and Philip Gagnon, both now injuired. Not to worry, newcomers draft pick Daniel Johnson at 6-foot-5, 317lbs from Purdue and Braydon Noll, 6-foot-4, 297lbs will team up with Logan Ferland, 2024 Most Outstanding O-Lineman, as well as Jermarcus Hardwick and Trevor Tate.

The solid receiving corps has been improved with Argo free agent Tommy Nield. The oft-injured Trevor Harris is the QB backed up by Jake Maier who unfortunately during the exhibition games was in pre-season form. They have the depth to withstand injuries and will finish first.

With Saskatchewan first, the other playoff spots are up for grabs.

B.C., Calgary and Edmonton all struggled last year, especially at quarterback. Elk pivot Tre Ford and Lion leader Nathan Rourke are still works in progress.

Edmonton landed Cody Fajardo to mentor Ford and bail him out when necessary. B.C. has Jeremiah Masoli behind Rourke. The Stamps traded for nine-year veteran Vernon Adams Jr., who looked sensational during the preseason. Behind him is P.J. Walker who started nine games in the NFL. The receiving corps is better by signing Dominique Rhymes. The defence will be bigger, faster and tougher. I like Calgary to finish third behind Winnipeg.

Given the near collapse of the Elks, it’s no wonder they have gone through a major rebuild with a new GM, new and rookie head coach Mark Kilam, also adding lots of new talent. They have made the most changes, really improving the defence and O-Line but it will take time for them to gel.

Then watch out!

B.C. also has a new rookie head coach, Buck Pierce. The receiving corps is top-notch, the O-line, quarterbacking and running game suspect.

Mathieu Betts is a great defender.

Only two Leos made an all-star team last year., WR Justin McInnis and place-kicker Sean Whyte.

This team has a steep mountain to climb.

Graham Kelly has covered the CFL for the Medicine Hat News for 53 years. Feedback for this column can be emailed to sports@medicinehatnews.com.