CFL.ca Staff
There are still plenty of storylines to watch as the season enters Week 9. We look at the latest around the league, including analysis of what has gone right and wrong for many teams, in the latest edition of Checking Down.
Ottawa REDBLACKS
- The team signed two players and released three, most notably punter Anthony Alix.
- The REDBLACKS know that many of the mistakes they made in the loss to the Stamps are fixable and are unlikely to be repeated.
Toronto Argonauts
- The return of Chad Kackert to the lineup inspired the team’s running game. He rushed for a game-high 73 yards. In the locker room after the game, Kackert received the game ball from his teammates and delivered an emotional speech.
- Ricky Ray has been returned to the 6-Game Injured List as he continues to recover from off-season shoulder surgery.
- AJ Jefferson is definitely making his presence felt in his rookie year with the Argos. The team’s starting cornerback is also a punt returner.
BC Lions
- Solomon Elimimian, last year’s Most Outstanding Player, is likely to miss the rest of the season after tearing his Achilles tendon. Expect linebacker Alex Hoffman-Ellis to fill in for Elimimian in the starting lineup.
- After a dispute with head coach Jeff Tedford last week, rookie lineman Josh Aladenoye was released from the practice roster. He was brought back and now looks to be starting in Week 9.
Edmonton Eskimos
- Matt Nichols decided to play it safe over being sorry later after taking some big hits against the Alouettes. He’s expected to start on Friday.
- Sure, the Eskimos are 5-2. Their upcoming schedule? A pair of games against Hamilton and Calgary plus a matchup with Toronto. Three of the five games are at Commonwealth Stadium but that doesn’t make the stretch any easier.
- Even without their top quarterback, running back and wideout, the Eskimos are still winning football games.Edmonton’s defence has improved over last year’s performance.
Calgary Stampeders
- The Stampeders released Jasper Simmons on Tuesday. Simmons’ agent previously expressed frustration over the linebacker’s lack of playing time after the Stampeders acquired him in an off-season trade for Maurice Price.
- Every young football player grows up with the dream of spiking the ball in the end zone after a touchdown. In his 15th CFL season, Randy Chevrier finally had his first chance to do just that.
- The Stampeders had a convincing victory over the REDBLACKS but are still looking to establish their running game. The team rushed for 92 yards and are hoping for an improvement against the Riders.
- Calgary is confident heading into its matchup at Mosaic Stadium with the Riders but are making sure that it doesn’t turn into cockiness.
Saskatchewan Roughriders
- The team cut a pair of defensive backs as Geoff Tisdale and Michael Carter were both released by the team.
- Rob Vanstone of The Leader-Post examines what has gone right for the Roughriders so far this season and highlights some players who have played well.
Winnipeg Blue Bombers
- The Bombers will be spending their bye week reviewing what went right and wrong in their first eight games of the season.
- Paul Friesen of the Winnipeg Sun digs deeper into some of the Bombers’ statistics in all phases of the game and how they compare to the rest of the CFL.
- Winnipeg’s special teams have been a roller coaster all year long. After giving up a punt return touchdown, the unit is frustrated with how things have gone. “It’s overly frustrating, because we got the guys. We have the team. We have the team to seal this,” said Lin-J Shell.
- Robert Marve and the Bombers were ahead for the majority of their game against the Argonauts. Giving up multiple leads can be demoralizing but the team has to be encouraged by Marve’s play.
Hamilton Tiger-Cats
- Perhaps one of the reason’s for the strong play of Hamilton’s defence is the fact that the entire unit meets together every day to review film. Typically, linemen, linebackers and defensive backs all meet with their respective coaches but the Ticats unique approach is obviously working for them.
- The Ticats are on pace to break numerous defensive records including the number of pick-sixes and defensive touchdowns.
Montreal Alouettes
- Michael Sam announced he is stepping away from football.
- Herb Zurkowsky of the Montreal Gazette believes offensive coordinator Turk Schonert could be on the hot seat as a result of the team’s struggling offence. The team has scored a league-low 11 offensive touchdowns.
