There are a few tiers in the CFL heading into the year: the staff that received the Grey Cup that has the focus on on its back, the 5 teams that made the playoffs searching to end the task up coming yr and the a few groups out of the playoffs that are accomplishing everything to get in the dance this year.
Here’s a glance at the a few groups and the a few explanations to believe they can make the soar in 2023.
Linked
» Free Agency moves: Edmonton Elks
» Cost-free Agency moves: Saskatchewan Roughriders
» Cost-free Company moves: Ottawa REDBLACKS
Edmonton Elks
Eugene Lewis highlights a loaded acquiring corps for Taylor Cornelius to get the job done with this year in Edmonton (Kevin Sousa/CFL.ca)
1 – Chris Jones in Yr 2. I’m heading to say this in excess of and about and above until eventually anyone understands what 2022 was for Chris Jones. It was a fact obtaining mission. He applied the year to evaluate the business and the roster inside and out and use that details to take a soar in Calendar year 2. He recognized his system. He proven the expectation. He established a main. Now he’s complimented the roster with players to acquire an additional soar. I watched it up close in Saskatchewan. In Yr 2, he was a enjoy away from finding his group to a Gray Cup.
2 – New weapons on offence. Eugene Lewis, Steven Dunbar Jr. and Kyran Moore are coming in to fill out the playmakers in Edmonton that Jones enjoys. Lewis is my best receiver in the league. Dunbar was another person I pegged for a breakout year past year and I’ve had an eye on Moore to be dependable 1,000-property calibre receiver, however, a knee damage in 2021 derailed that for him. Taylor Cornelius‘ skill to prolong performs will only give these dynamic players time to discover open up area.
3 – A refreshed defensive line. Following dropping a number of defensive linemen the last several many years in Kwaku Boateng, Mathieu Betts and Almondo Sewell, Jones has included A.C. Leonard, re-signed Jake Ceresna and he introduced in Avery Ellis mid-year last yr. If Leonard is completely nutritious, he is lined up for a big return to All-Star position. Avery Ellis has been a consistent rusher but experienced his best yr break up among Montreal and Edmonton previous year. Then there is Jake Ceresna, who is a person of my most below-rated defensive linemen in the CFL.
Saskatchewan Roughriders
A new starting QB in Trevor Harris and some modifications to the offensive line could turn issues around in Saskatchewan (Riderville.com)
1 – Trevor Harris. That is it. That’s the tweet. Harris suits with what the Riders want. A veteran who is prepared to handle the heat in Saskatchewan. He’s by now been open about using on the force in the fishbowl in Saskatchewan. But, Harris is reliable, he’s accurate and with his brief release can truly do wonders for an offensive line that struggled to defend the quarterback. With Harris’ ability to get rid of the ball quickly, he’ll enhance the offensive line all by himself.
2 – Digging the trenches. Typical supervisor Jeremy O’Day’s priority was in the trenches and he was able to solidify the group with Peter Godber and Philip Blake. He and his assistants have also loaded up on American tackles to have an rigorous schooling camp battle to acquire the starting off employment to lock down the edges alongside the offensive line. On the defensive line, I have pegged Stefen Banking institutions as a breakout applicant in 2023 off the edge. Micah Johnson will no cost up Anthony Lanier II to make havoc, while Pete Robertson was phenomenal final year right until an damage stalled his generation.
3 – New offence, new thoughts. I’m fascinated with Kelly Jeffrey as the new offensive coordinator in Riderville. He has an comprehensive coaching background and his team of jogging backs persistently were the brilliant location of the Riders’ offence final calendar year. With the marketing, Jeffrey comes in with a name of getting a fantastic teacher and communicator. There was surely no star electric power by advertising Jeffrey but it’s not like choosing the big identify coordinator in Jason Maas worked out effectively for head mentor Craig Dickenson.
Ottawa REDBLACKS
Bob Dyce normally takes over the sidelines and a refreshed Jeremiah Masoli could make all the distinction in Ottawa in 2023 (Kevin Sousa/CFL.ca)
1 – The new manager. Bob Dyce as head mentor is similar to Jeffrey in Saskatchewan. The name and respect will go a long way to permit Dyce to continue on to put into action the variety of workforce he desires. I also preferred his hires this off-year with Khari Jones and Barron Miles. When Dyce has been all-around the league a lengthy time, it is his very first comprehensive season to be the person in demand or working the total present. Possessing two incredibly seasoned coordinators will go a very long way.
2 – Inspired Masoli. Indeed, Ottawa did not acquire a video game with Masoli guiding centre right before his harm but the REDBLACKS plainly took to their new franchise person very last time as showcased on the team’s Guiding the R series. Masoli is continue to one of only three quarterbacks presently in the CFL who can say they’ve thrown for over 5,000 yards and previous calendar year was on tempo for over 4,500 yards if you regular out his output for a full 18-video games. Masoli is my extensive shot option to prospective have a M.O.P. time.
3 – Capital defence. Lorenzo Mauldin, Patrick Ranges, Income Hunter return and the workforce adds Cariel Brooks and Jovan Santos-Knox to the combine. Add to that Barron Miles as coordinator and I feel Ottawa will have a considerably improved time getting their offence back on the industry than they did previous calendar year.
