With all the attention and praise around the league, Drew Willy and the greatly improved Winnipeg Blue Bombers have become the feel-good story of the 2014 CFL campaign. But Edmonton, too, is on the rise from the depths of the CFL basement.
The Edmonton Eskimos are doing everything right. They sit at 5-1, and more importantly they have a 2-1 record against the West division. Those divisional contests included a 26-3 throttling of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers and a 27-20 win against the Lions. Their single blemish was a four-point loss to hated rivals Calgary. They are the only team in the West division with a winning record against western teams.
Give the Eskimos their Due
The Eskimos look like the team the city of Champions wants and needs. It has been tough in Edmonton; the once-feared team with 35 straight appearances in the playoffs has faltered over the last eight years. QB Mike Reilly is trying to change that, with decent stats from last year carrying over to this season. It’s no secret that he is the key to the success of the Esks.
Statistically, Mike Reilly does not have the mind-blowing numbers of Winnipeg’s Drew Willy this year. But Reilly deserves credit. He is a winner, and finds ways to be productive whether with his arm or his legs. Last year he threw for over 4200 yards and ran for over 700 on a team with a 4-14 record. Those are mind-blowing totals.
So far this season, he has thrown for 1348 yards with 11 TD passes, and he’s rushed for 248 yards (stats from cfl.ca). Yes, those numbers are below the league’s leading pivots, but unlike the rest of those QBs, he will not force the issue with a potential momentum-swinging interception in the picture. Think of Willy’s pass into the flat against the Riders; that must have left a sour taste in his mouth. Reilly doesn’t make those kinds of mistakes.
Keep in mind that Reilly is doing all these great things without the production of veteran WR Fred Stamps. You’d expect Stamps would have helped Reilly’s stats with big play catches, but Reilly is racking up yards without him, while Stamps himself sits at only 11 receptions this season.
When observing this transformation in Edmonton we need to also note this isn’t just production on offence. It’s a full team effort. Every game, the Esks’ defence is downright scary, allowing an average of just under 18 points per game. The Edmonton defence forces the issue by rushing the quarterback, and when things begin to break down they really show their value, forcing timely stops and getting Reilly back onto the field.
This season is still young, and everyone is enjoying the story the Bombers have had so far; as they should. But with a 2-1 record against the West division and the team gelling together, don’t be surprised if the Eskimos are 6-1 and looking at Calgary for supremacy in the West.
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