Offseason Grades

[voodoochylde]

Original Story Here

EAST DIVISION

MONTREAL ALOUETTES

Last year: 11-7, 1st in East, lost East Final

Who's in: Head coach Dan Hawkins, SB Arland Bruce (B.C.), QB Quinton Porter (Hamilton), CB Byron Parker (B.C.), RB Jerome Messam (Edmonton), DE Ejiro Kuale (Toronto)

Who's out: Head coach Marc Trestman (Chicago-NFL), WR Brian Bratton (released), LB Rod Davis (released), DB Dwight Anderson (Saskatchewan), QB Adrian McPherson (released)

Overview: The big news in Montreal was the coaching change, with Marc Trestman leaving for the Chicago Bears and long-time U.S. college coach Dan Hawkins taking over. There will be a transition period.

The Als needed to upgrade their defence, and the additions of Parker and Kuale are decent pieces. The pickup of Bruce was a slick move by GM Jim Popp, who kept all of his important free agents and extended other key players as well.

Off-season grade: B

TORONTO ARGONAUTS

Last year: 9-9, 2nd in East, won Grey Cup

Who's in: WR Romby Bryant (Calgary), LB James Yurichuk (B.C.), DT Khalif Mitchell (B.C.), DT Jermaine Reid (Edmonton), offensive co-ordinator Marcus Brady (Montreal)

Who's out: DE Ejiro Kuale (Montreal), K Noel Prefontaine (released), DT Armond Armstead (New England-NFL), DB Evan McCollough (Hamilton), DE Ricky Foley (Saskatchewan), DE Ron Flemons (released)

Overview: The Grey Cup champs still have Ricky Ray, who has settled in nicely with the Boatmen, so life is good.

The Yurichuk signing was a solid one, as he is one of those all-around Canadians who can do many jobs. The Mitchell acquisition was a risky move given his moodiness, but it could pay off if the coaching staff can get him to play at a top level.

The loss of McCullough to their rivals in Hamilton will hurt, as will Armstead's departure for the NFL.

Off-season grade: C

WINNIPEG BLUE BOMBERS

Last year: 6-12, 3rd in East, missed playoffs

Who's in: S Cauchy Muamba (B.C.), OL Mark Dewit (Calgary), QB Max Hall, QB Chase Clement, defensive co-ordinator Casey Creehan (Hamilton), special teams co-ordinator Craig Dickenson (Saskatchewan)

Who's out: LB Marcellus Bowman (Hamilton), DE Jason Vega (New England-NFL), QB Joey Elliott (released), QB Alex Brink (released), S Ian Logan (released)

Overview: It's all about the quarterback in Winnipeg, where the injury-prone Buck Pierce remains No. 1. GM Joe Mack jettisoned backups Alex Brink and Joey Elliott, and replaced them with former NFLer Max Hall and Chase Clement.

That means, along with returnee Justin Goltz, the three quarterbacks behind Pierce have thrown a total of 14 passes in the CFL. That could be trouble if Pierce goes down, so Mack didn't exactly fix the quarterback problem like he said he would.

Other than that, Mack stuck to his script. The only player with bona fide CFL experience he added was safety Cauchy Muamba. He didn't feel the need to put much experienced talent on the roster, which has led to problems in the past.

Off-season grade: D

HAMILTON TIGER-CATS

Last year: 6-12, 4th in East, missed playoffs

Who's in: Head coach/GM Kent Austin, S James Patrick (Saskatchewan), LB Shomari Williams (Saskatchewan), LB Marcellus Bowman (Winnipeg), DB Evan McCollough (Toronto), OL Greg Wojt (Edmonton), DT Brian Bulcke (Calgary)

Who's out: Head coach George Cortez (Saskatchewan), GM Bob O'Billovich (retired), RB Avon Cobourne (released), RB Martell Mallett (released), QB Quinton Porter (Montreal), DB Geoff Tisdale (Montreal), LB Rey Williams (Saskatchewan), LB Kevin Eiben (retired)

Overview: Ticats brass punted George Cortez after only one season and brought in Austin to save the day, just as he did in Saskatchewan in 2007. Austin brought his broom with him from Cornell University and cleaned house.

The defence needed a major overhaul especially, and while the additions of Williams, Patrick, Bowman and Bulcke are nice, none of them will come in and save the day. McCollough was the best acquisition on defence.

Also of note was Hamilton's inability to sign first overall draft pick Linden Gaydosh before the draft, which allowed him to bolt to the NFL a week later. There is also the Chris Williams fiasco hanging over the club heading into camp.

Off-season grade: C

WEST DIVISION

B.C. LIONS

Last year: 13-5, 1st in West, lost West Final

Who's in: WR Emmanuel Arceneaux (NFL), DE Julius Williams (Edmonton), QB Joey Elliott (Winnipeg)

Who's out: SB Geroy Simon (Saskatchewan), QB Mike Reilly (Edmonton), SB Arland Bruce (Montreal), DT Khalif Mitchell (Toronto), CB Byron Parker (Montreal), LB James Yurichuk (Toronto), S Cauchy Muamba (Winnipeg)

Overview: It was an odd off-season on the West Coast, where GM Wally Buono once again got rid of some aging veterans -- most notably the CFL's career leading receiver in Geroy Simon -- but he also lost some young talent. Gone are backup quarterback Mike Reilly, starting safety Cauchy Muamba and special teamer James Yurichuk.

Getting Arceneaux to return to the Lions' den after a failed NFL stint was a huge coup, but there wasn't much else for fans to get excited about. The offensive line remains a question mark.

Buono did re-sign the league's best O lineman in Jovan Olafioye and brought linebacker Solomon Elimimian back to the fold, and he also extended the contracts of about half the team. So that brings the grade up to average.

Off-season grade: C

CALGARY STAMPEDERS

Last year: 12-6, 2nd in West, lost Grey Cup

Who's in: LB Rod Davis (Montreal), OL Dan Federkeil (Toronto), WR Terence Jeffers-Harris (Saskatchewan), DT Etienne Legare (Edmonton)

Who's out: WR Romby Bryant (Toronto), WR Arjei Franklin (retired), DT Brian Bulcke (Hamilton), DE Anwar Stewart (released), DT Chris McCoy (Philadelphia-NFL)

Overview: The only players GM John Hufnagel probably wanted to keep were Bulcke and McCoy, but he went out and got Legare on draft day to back up Corey Mace on the defensive line anyway.

Other than that, it was another quiet off-season in Cowtown, where they lock up their players early and often. That means they don't have to get into off-season bidding wars, nor do they lose much talent.

In addition, seven of the 11 players they either re-signed or extended are non-imports. Their priorities are straight.

Off-season grade: A

SASKATCHEWAN ROUGHRIDERS

Last year: 8-10, 3rd in West, lost West semifinal

Who's in: SB Geroy Simon (B.C.), DB Dwight Anderson (Montreal), DE Ricky Foley (Saskatchewan), DB Weldon Brown (Edmonton), K Brody McKnight (Edmonton), LB Rey Williams (Hamilton)

Who's out: S James Patrick (Hamilton), DE Odell Willis (Edmonton), LB Shomari Williams (Hamilton), LB Joe Lobendahn (released), DE Brent Hawkins (retired), KR Tristan Jackson (released), DB Chris McKenzie (unsigned FA)

Overview: It's quite clear the Riders are focusing on playing in the Grey Cup in their own park this November, because the team has been built for this year. Since that appears to be the case, the Simon trade was a great move and adding a winner like Foley won't hurt.

Anderson is a risky pickup because of his attitude and his acrimonious past with new teammate Weston Dressler, but he can play.

The defensive end positions are question marks going into the season, but it was a solid off-season for GM Brendan Taman.

Off-season grade: A

EDMONTON ESKIMOS

Last year: 7-11, 4th in West, lost East Semifinal

Who's in: GM Ed Hervey, OC Doug Sams, DC Greg Marshall, QB Mike Reilly (B.C.), DE Odell Willis (Saskatchewan), DT Eddie Steele (Hamilton)

Who's out: DC Mark Nelson, QB Steven Jyles (released), RB Cory Boyd (released), DB Rod Williams (Minnesota-NFL), RB Jerome Messam (Montreal), DE Julius Williams (B.C.), DB Weldon Brown (Saskatchewan), OL Greg Wojt (Hamilton), WR Tyler Scott (released)

Overview: Like Kent Austin did in Hamilton, Hervey came in and made sweeping changes to the roster. The only difference is a fair amount of talent went out the door but not a lot of proven players came back through it.

A lot of CFL talent evaluators believe Reilly is the real deal, but we won't know until he plays. Hervey gets bonus points for orchestrating that trade with B.C. for Reilly before he hit free agency.

Willis is a wild card as well. He has the talent, but the effort and discipline isn't always there.

The coaching staff is basically new under head man Kavis Reed, so it looks like there will be a significant transition period in the City of Champions.

Off-season grade: B

[kelownabomberfan]

what? The Bombers got the lowest grade of all the teams? I am shocked!! :shock: This is only what, the 5th year in a row?

[Mike]

I have no idea how Hamilton gets a C.

[RagingIce]

I have no idea how Hamilton gets a C.

This is what is baffling to me - They literally did nothing besides sign a flashy coach. I hardly think that warrants a C especially considering where they finished last year. Not to mention the whole Chris Williams fiasco.

[Fred C Dobbs]

It's Penton, what do you expect?

Wally, Huf and Popp get props for re-signing their free agents and extending some of their players. But not a mention of the fact that Mack did the same thing with Edwards, Turner and Denmark.

Here's a much better article about the run up to training camp:

http://www.cfl.ca/article/3-to-see-ques ... mbers-camp

The un-named author even gives us fans some props:

Unlike Dan Hawkins in Montreal, Burke isn’t faced with monstrous expectations, but an intelligent and passionate fanbase in Winnipeg is expecting some sort of improvement, if not more.

[Zontar]

I have no idea how Hamilton gets a C.

This is what is baffling to me - They literally did nothing besides sign a flashy coach. I hardly think that warrants a C especially considering where they finished last year. Not to mention the whole Chris Williams fiasco.

Fuuny, people are usually complaining HAM getting A's for their usual big offseason moves and now a C is too high.

[Mike]

I have no idea how Hamilton gets a C.

This is what is baffling to me - They literally did nothing besides sign a flashy coach. I hardly think that warrants a C especially considering where they finished last year. Not to mention the whole Chris Williams fiasco.

Fuuny, people are usually complaining HAM getting A's for their usual big offseason moves and now a C is too high.

They lost their coach, GM, best player, starting MLB and a number of other players.

Their major add was Greg Wojt. (as far as "name brand" goes)

How is that a C if we're a D.

Maybe a C isn't wrong, but if Hamilton had a better offseason than us, I'm not seeing how.

[bluto]

I have no idea how Hamilton gets a C.

This is what is baffling to me - They literally did nothing besides sign a flashy coach. I hardly think that warrants a C especially considering where they finished last year. Not to mention the whole Chris Williams fiasco.

Fuuny, people are usually complaining HAM getting A's for their usual big offseason moves and now a C is too high.

If anything Zontar, you ought to be happy about that.

Every season that the TiCats win the preseason GC (which seems to be most of them), they don't win SFA in the regular season and playoffs... if people are grading you lot the other way this year, maybe it bodes well for the Cats...?

[Zontar]

Imaginary report card written by a WPG columnist based on offseason absolutley no one will care about by the end of the weekend nevermind by the start of the season.

[bluto]

Imaginary report card written by a WPG columnist based on offseason absolutley no one will care about by the end of the weekend nevermind by the start of the season.

exactly... the only guide that counts is the one we're making here.

[rebusrankin]

Hamilton always gets props for their off-season.

[Noeller]

Our media...constantly shitting on the team. Gotta love it.