Here we are, after five months of gruelling and entertaining football, the 103rd Grey Cup preview is ready to cause debate before the big game’s underway. Two teams that have turned their franchises from the laughing stock of the league to the Division Champions are ready to be crowned kings.
This game is full of storylines and hope from each fan base. The Grey Cup hasn’t visited Edmonton since 2005 and their glory years thirty years ago are long forgotten. It has been forty years since an Ottawa franchise has won the holy grail and the city is ready for a championship.
The LWOS CFL Staff gives you the most in-depth 103rd Grey Cup preview there is.
103rd Grey Cup Preview
Kelly Bale (@LWOSKBALE): Ottawa 32-41 Edmonton
Matthew Bin (@LastWordOnCFL): Ottawa 17 – 29 Edmonton
Greg McCulloch: Ottawa 18-33 Edmonton
Nicholas Di Giovanni (@LWOSNick): Ottawa 25-23 Edmonton
Ottawa Redblacks
Offence
Nicholas’ Thoughts: The number one offence versus the number one defence. How great of a match-up is that? This will finally settle the question of who wins championships; the offence or defence? Henry Burris and co. will make a strong case for the former but will need to get past the stellar Edmonton defence.
As the league’s leading passer at 40-years-old, Burris is used to critics and will be facing many more heading into this game. With the young, but not-so-inexperienced receiver core that he has at his hands, Burris can do some real damage. Maurice Price, Brad Sinopoli, Chris Williams and Greg Ellingson all earned over 1000 yards of receiving this season and can give the Eskies defence some real trouble come Sunday. Even with some of the best defensive backs in the league, there is only so much the Edmonton defence can do to stop Smilin’ Hank. Expect Hank to find his secondary and tertiary receivers, especially Ellingson, Sinopoli and even Ernest Jackson & Marcus Henry to make the big-time plays.
Running back William Powell has filled in well in the place of the injured Jeremiah Johnson but the Redblacks need to be reluctant in giving him many touches. With such a strong front seven, including Odell Willis, Almondo Sewell and J.C. Sherritt, Powell will have a hard time finding green grass to run.
In order for the Redblacks to win this Grey Cup, their offence will need to be firing on all cylinders and allow the defence to protect leads. After so many consecutive dominating performances by the Redblacks attack, there is no reason to believe why they cannot win the Grey Cup with this offence.
Defence
Nicholas’ Thoughts: This Ottawa defence has been something to marvel at this past season. Sitting in second in the league in terms of yard allowed per game with 322.8, just a single yard back Edmonton, their defence is not getting the recognition they deserve.
Many are talking about the attack but forget the stars on the other side of the ball. The defensive line featuring CFL veterans and past Grey Cup winners in Shawn Lemon, Keith Shologan, Moton Hopkins and Justin Capicciotti, has been terrorizing quarterbacks all season and will look to do so one more time on Sunday.
The secondary might have trouble with the star receivers in Edmonton but by judging their past performances against some of the league’s best in Andy Fantuz, Luke Tasker and Brandon Banks, they could handle Edmonton’s speedy attack. Abdul Kanneh, Jerrell Gavins an Jovon Johnson will need to be play physical in the cold Winnipeg climate to do damage to their opponents.
Linebackers Damaso Munoz, Antoine Pruneau and David Hinds will also need to use their body and get physical in the cold weather. Mark Nelson needs to tell his players that the key to the game is to hit hard and play hard.
Although the Redblacks defence is not as intimidating as their counterparts, Rick Campbell needs his troops to play the game of their lives in order for this game to be remembered for the rest of their lives.
Special Teams
Matt’s Thoughts: As with elsewhere on the field, Williams is the highlight for Ottawa’s punt return squad; but it’s the best of a mediocre bunch. And on kick returns, the squad spread out the duties without any player making a serious mark. Without a single kick return touchdown, it’s unlikely that Edmonton will have much to fear from the Ottawa special teams attack, and the Redblacks won’t get much field position advantage on their returns either.
Where Ottawa can rest their hopes, however, is on kicker Chris Milo. Released after only a single game after four years with the Saskatchewan Roughriders, Milo was picked up by Ottawa in August. He’s been solid on field goals and points after, although his punting has been middling at best. But Milo performed perfectly in the Eastern Final, sinking four field goals (including a 43-yarder into a shifting wind) and three converts. His numbers aren’t the equal of Edmonton’s Sean Whyte, but you can expect Chris Milo to produce when called on in the Final.
Edmonton Eskimos
Offence
Kelly’s Thoughts:
The Edmonton Eskimos offence in 2015 was vastly improved compared to just two seasons ago where we saw the Eskimos finish the season with a 4-14 record. This year the offence stepped out of the shadows cast over them mostly by Saskatchewan and Calgary in previous years.
The coaching staff, the personnel and the playbook have undergone a retooling process. The offensive line is now a cohesive unit that is among the top in the league. The addition of players like Kenny Stafford via trade and Derel Walker via free agency, has pushed the Eskimos offence to new highs.
The club finished third in the league for 2015 in total offence, passing yards, and rushing yards. The rushing numbers were by-committee with incumbent starter Shakir Bell sitting on the sidelines for a significant amount of games. I expect to see Edmonton running hard and often in this Grey Cup game to remain unpredictable and create passing lanes.
In the passing yards category the Esks were led by veteran Adarius Bowman and newcomer Walker, who both cracked the top five in receiving yards. Stafford tallied 732 yards with just 47 receptions. Can you say big plays? We’ll see several from this trio in the 103rd Grey Cup.
An injury last year and a set back this year for QB Mike Reilly wasn’t an issue for the Eskimos offence. Despite his 2015 89.8 QB rating, the infallible Reilly has saved his best for the playoffs. He will step in front of league MOP, and his opposition on Sunday, Henry Burris.
Defence
Greg’s Thoughts:
It is no secret that the Edmonton Eskimos come into the Grey Cup with arguably the CFL’s best overall defence. While being ranked third in both passing and rushing yards allowed they still managed to be first overall in yards allowed from scrimmage with 321.8 yards per game. The Esks also only allowed a mere 18.9 points per game and only once did a team score more than 30 on Chris Jones’ defence.
Probably the most amazing thing about this defence is the fact there isn’t one stand-out player, and this is truly a defensive unit. Odell Willis is considered one of the leaders of the group, and while his tackle numbers were the same as last year, his turnover and sack totals took a hit. However, when the other linemen include Eddie Steele, Willie Jefferson, and West Division All-Star Almondo Sewell, Willis isn’t expected to carry the front four anymore.
Moving further from the line of scrimmage, Dexter McCoil showed no signs of a sophomore slump as he earned his second West Division All-Star nod in as many years. Rookie cornerback John Ojo and three-year veteran DB Aaron Grymes round out the Eskimos’ defensive All-Stars.
While the Redblacks have been a great feel good story for the league and its return to the Canadian Capital, it is going to be a long day for Smilin’ Hank and the Redblacks. The Eskimos defence is healthy and will be buzzing to return a championship back to the City of Champions.
Special Teams
Matt’s Thoughts:
The Edmonton Eskimos signed kicker Sean Whyte during one of the many Montreal Alouettes fire sales in the late summer. The starting kicker for Edmonton, Grant Shaw, went down in practice with an injury, and Whyte was asked to step up. And step up he did. He’s missed only two of 26 field goals since he first walked on the field for Edmonton, and he’s been perfect on points after; he’s also been solid punting.
Edmonton’s primary kick and punt returner is Kendial Lawrence, who has been capable but not electrifying this year. His overall yardage on punt returns was just shy of four figures, but he also fielded more punts than any other returner – the Edmonton defence had much to do with his success. And although Lawrence’s totals are good, his kickoff return average has dropped from 29.0 yards last year to 20.5 this year.
Edmonton’s special teams have been solid this year. But if this Grey Cup comes down to a kicking duel, Whyte will very likely put them in a position to win.
Summary
There you have it, even though the feel-good story of the Ottawa Redblacks, the Edmonton Eskimos are favoured to win the 103rd Grey Cup. Despite the prediction, this game will still be close and exciting to watch. Storylines have filled this entire week after the Redblacks nearly swept the awards show and the Eskimos were getting little recognition.
Two teams with very few individual stars but rather great cohesions of overall units will leave the individual awards on the side and battle for the beautiful trophy that is called the Grey Cup. One game. Sixty minutes. Here we go.
Main Photo.
