A lot has changed over the past couple weeks in Canadian football. The CFL East division is making a move and trying to redeem itself after a horrible half-season.
The Toronto Argonauts are quickly getting healthy again, and Ricky Ray has shown when he has someone worthwhile to throw to he is still one of the best performers in the game. Aside from letting a victory slip away against Calgary, the boatmen looked strong on offence in the first half. That mindset and attitude carried over to Vancouver, where again Ray stepped up and played a very smart and decisive first half, a half the Argos wouldn’t give up a second time.
Hamilton is showing signs of maturing as well under the coaching of Kent Austin. Back to back wins against West division teams have helped the Ticats crawl back into the hunt for first place in the east division. Quarterback Zach Collaros is silencing critics and showing he has earned a starting position. The one concern about Hamilton is that they’ve lost so many tight games. You could argue that this team should be better than their record indicates, but winning teams find a way to get it done in the dying minutes.
Montreal has crawled out of the grave they dug for themselves at the start of the 2014 season. Gone is Troy Smith and his offence, whose prevailing strategy was “hand off for a four yard gain, over throw a wide open target by 15 yards”. The Montreal defence has looked sharp over the past month. Their new realization that fewer turnovers equals less time on the field for the Als defence should keep them hanging around.
The beast of the east for 2014 will be a two horse race between the Toronto Argonauts and the Hamilton Ticats, with Montreal slipping a way in 3rd place in the east division.
The reason for that is simple: stability at pivot. Both Toronto and Hamilton have that, whereas Montreal is still going through the mess that is life after Calvillo.
For an air attack, despite what their records indicate, the Argos are ranked number 1 in the air followed by the Ticats at number 2 in the air, at 280 and 276 yards per game (cfl.ca). Montreal is back in 8th position at 199 passing yards per game.
Toronto also has the luxury for five games at home out of the next six. To be playing in doors and at home this late in the year is going to help Toronto greatly. The Argos won’t need to worry about the weather to be able to turn any game into a high scoring track meet.
Hamilton, meanwhile, has no more bye weeks for the rest of the year and will be playing three out of their next seven at home. The road games include two at Rogers Center to take on the Argos.
For now, with Toronto getting healthy at the right time, having a bye this week, and playing five out of their last six games at home, the Argos look to be the strong favorite to win the East division crown. The two home games against their rivals from just down the highway will show who it’s going to be. Hamilton took Labour Day, so Toronto will be looking for a sweep during the home stand in October against the tabbies.
The race to the finish is heating up, and the Toronto Argonauts will be standing atop the East at season’s end.
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