eskimos writers predict 2014 season
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Edmonton Sun Sports writers read the CFL's tea leaves and make their predictions on how this season will go.TRANSCRIPT
CFL PREVIEW 5The Edmonton Sun n Thursday, June 26, 2014
EDMONTON ESKIMOS
Reading the CFL’s tea leavesOur Eskimos writers fearlessly predict how the league will shake out over the 2014 season
WEST DIVISION1. B.C. LIONSn Betting line favourite, but Travis Lulay isn’t ready to start the season and there’s plenty of pressure as Grey Cup hosts.
2. CALGARY STAMPEDERS n Are Bo Levi Mitchell and Drew Tate going to lead John Hufnagel’s team to the promised land?
3. SASK. ROUGHRIDERS n Lost a few key components on offence. With Grey Cup hangover expect slow start.
4. EDMONTON ESKIMOS n Most improved team in the league. Should be 10-8. But that’s on paper.
5. WINNIPEG BLUE BOMBERSn Going to regret they’re back in the West.
EAST DIVISION1. TORONTO ARGOSn Keep Ricky Ray healthy and they should be able to finish first despite losses on defence with Jones departure.
2. HAMILTON TIGER-CATSn Just because they got to Grey Cup last year doesn’t mean they’ll be back.
3. MONTREAL ALOUETTES n Life without Anthony Calvillo is going to have the same effect on Als as Eskimos losing Ricky Ray.
4. OTTAWA ROUGE ET NOIR n It’ll take a while despite excellent job putting team together.
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WEST DIVISION1. CALGARY STAMPEDERS n Any team with Jon Cornish on it has to be a contender.
2. SASK. ROUGHRIDERS n Plenty of changes on Grey Cup champs roster.
3. EDMONTON ESKIMOS n This team will go as far as its defence allows.
4. B.C. LIONS n Will be in heated playoff battle with Eskimos all season.
5. WINNIPEG BLUE BOMBERS n At least they’re back in the right division.
EAST DIVISION1. TORONTO ARGOS n As long as Ricky Ray continues to let his receivers do the work.
2. HAMILTON TIGER-CATS n Zach Collaros showed last season he’s a legitimate CFL starter.
3. MONTREAL ALOUETTES n A franchise whose downward spiral not even Ocho Cinco can reverse.
4. OTTAWA REDBLACKS n Rick Campbell a rookie head coach in an expansion franchise.
WEST DIVISION1. SASK. ROUGHRIDERS n Losing big names to the NFL means reinforcements come September. They shored up their running backs stable with Hugh Charles.
2. CALGARY STAMPEDERS n Bolstered by the best 2014 draft of any CFL club, they have the league’s top running back and he’s Canadian. Their biggest question is at QB.
3. EDMONTON ESKIMOS n They could be twice as good as last season and still not reach .500. A new head coach is the fastest way to put a 4-14 record behind them.
4. B.C. LIONS n Not only is their starting QB coming off of shoulder surgery, but they are missing a staggering number of veterans.
5. WINNIPEG BLUE BOMBERS n Their biggest problem is getting bumped from an East Division where there would at least be an expansion team to kick around.
EAST DIVISION1. HAMILTON TIGER-CATS n Made a push all the way to the Grey Cup final a year ago and only got better over the off-season.
2. TORONTO ARGOS n A healthy Ricky Ray has shown he can put up ridiculously efficient passing numbers in Milanovich’s offence.
3. MONTREAL ALOUETTES n The acquisition of larger-than-life Chad Johnson helps the Alouettes, but ocho might be the number of wins this team is looking at.
4. OTTAWA REDBLACKS n No one expects miracles in a franchise season. Slow and steady wins the race, but strike three and you’re out.
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