One third of the season in

It is about time I talked some CFL is it not? I thought I would give some report cards for the 8 teams in the CFL

A British Columbia Lions
4-2-0
The could easily be 6-0 except for a couple of ifs. If Dave Dickenson had not been hurt against Saskatchewan and if Buck Pierce had not been hurt in the same game, I think they would be rolling to the Grey Cup. Instead, they lost both and are in a dogfight for first place. BCs defence seems strong, they are stingy against the run and are a team of ballhawks. They are still the best team in the CFL. My biggest concern is the health of Dickenson, if he gets hurt again, he could wind up permanently damaged, how many concussions are enough?

A- Winnipeg Blue Bombers
3-2-1
Winnipeg has built a team that went 5-13 two years ago to a team with 3 wins in their first 6 games this year. They lead the CFL East with 7 points and should be the favourite to come out of the East. Kevin Glenn has gone from being the backup in Saskatchewan to being the best starter in the CFL this year. Their defence is solid. Only the team's failure to show up against Hamilton stops them from being an A or better. Their early season shakiness against Edmonton has not helped either.

B Saskatchewan Roughriders
4-2-0
I would love to give them an A+ after they beat BC, but their poor showing against Edmonton in Week 4 (no points in the second half?) and getting blown out by BC in Week 3 show that Saskatchewan still has some room to grow. The strength of the Riders is their defence, leading or second in the league in 20 of 25 categories. The offence seems to be suspect once in awhile with Kerry Joseph not really convincing me yet he can take the Riders all the way. Wes Cates has proven an unexpected surprise for a run happy team.

C- Edmonton Eskimos
2-3-1
Edmonton is a bit of an anomaly, they have beaten or tied teams better teams than they are, but the next week they fail to show up. I still don't know if their 21-20 win over Saskatchewan was due to amazing defence or a complete collapse by the Green Riders. The Edmonton defence has done nothing, last or near the bottom in every category (except yards allowed). You never know which team is going to show up the bad one, or the really bad one.

D+ Hamilton Tiger-Cats
1-5-0
The Ti-Cats are a tough team to judge, Jesse Lumsden is going to be a superstar in this league, he has rushed for 600 yards on 67 carries, too bad the rest of the team looks so bad. The constant misuse of Corey Holmes makes me wonder about the sanity of the teams offensive coordinator. Hamilton has to make some adjustments to their defence to win some games.

D Montreal Alouettes
3-3-0
Now you might be wondering why I placed a 3-3 team beneath the 1-5 Ticats, there is only one reason why the teams below Hamilton are scored worse, they have better teams than Hamilton, they are just underperforming. Montreal may be .500 but the teams they have beaten have a combined record of 3-9! Montreal has looked awful, they seem to be too old and slow to compete against the top teams in the league anymore. Jarret Payton may change all that, another great rusher in the East may help take the pressure off this team, otherwise they will be a mediocre team in the weaker division.

D Toronto Argonauts
2-4-0
Toronto does have an excuse, they tried to go back to the Damon Allen well one too many times, now he is too old and hurt to play, Michael Bishop is hurt, Mike McMahon doesn't have the confidence of the coaches, which leaves Rocky Butler, the 3rd string QB from Saskatchewan 2 years ago (see Kevin Glenn). Toronto prides itself on it's defence, which it better, because until Butler gets comfortable steering, or Bishop gets back, they are going to be fighting Hamilton for the basement.

D- Calgary Stampeders
3-3-0
I don't understand this team at all. They have arguably the CFL's most exciting quarterback (and probably the 2nd best) in Henry Burris, a recieving corps most teams would kill for, one of the top three RBs in Joffrey Reynolds and a defence that couldn't stop a granny with a walker. Calgary used to have a great defence, did a year make that much difference? They have beaten nobody of note, blowing out Toronto and Hamilton is meaningless and the only important game they won was against Edmonton. I was tempted to mark them an F, because they are a grossly underperforming team. Calgary should be 4-2 or 5-1, instead they are .500.

Now a first third Grey Cup prediction, Saskatchewan vs Winnipeg in the Banjo Bowl, with Saskatchewan winning with a Luca Congi field goal, unless Dickenson gets healthy, then it is a Lions cup.