We are creeping ever closer to June and the long-awaited CFL season opener in Montreal. Over the the waning weeks of the off-season, we’ll turn the spotlight on each division, breaking down players by position. There are new faces in new places and many of them have shifted the balance of power in the league. This series will bring you up to speed if you missed the flurry of activity these last few months. We continue with the CFL running back preview West Division edition.
CFL West Division Running Back Preview
B.C. Lions: Jeremiah Johnson/Chris Rainey
Jeremiah Johnson was part of a powerful two-headed running-back tandem last season. He, along with Anthony Allen, were used as interchangeable pieces in the Lions backfield. Now, Johnson stands alone. Allen was allowed to enter the free agent pool and has yet to find a home. A case could be made for either one of the two B.C. backs to handle the lead role alone last year. Instead, head coach Wally Buono used a “fresh legs,” approach to running game. It cut into individual numbers. But, it was a strategy that made the duo one of the best in the league. The combination of the 809 yards from Johnson with the 436 of Allen, would set the Lions rushing attack in first place.
Johnson should benefit from a solo effort and a shot to be the true number one. Alone, he was fifth in rushing yards as well as touchdowns. He proved his worth in the playoffs playing an important role in the win over the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. In that game, Johnson accumulated 110 yards on the ground. His 40-yard touchdown run helped advance B.C. to the West Division Final game against the Calgary Stampeders. It’s safe to assume that his resumé as a Lion helped make parting with Allen easier for the front office.
The Rise of Rainey
While Johnson might have earned top-dog status, he will not be completely alone. Also hoping to get some work is Chris Rainey. The versatile back was used mainly in the return game last season. As a kick returner, he led league with 1,359 kickoff return yards. He added another 942 punt return yards, good enough to finish third in that category. His special teams success was rewarded with his inclusion in the offence. The Lions found creative ways to get him touches out of the backfield. He had 36 carries for 309 yards and caught the ball 30 times for 252 yards. It all ended up giving Rainey the highest number of combined yards at 2,495. Look for him to get even more usage with Allen out of the picture.
Edmonton Eskimos: John White/Travon Van
The Esks had the league’s fourth-best running back in terms of yardage in John White last season. He carried the ball 164 times for 886 yards and eight majors. He’s a bruising back that averaged 5.4 yards per carry in 2016. It goes without saying that if he can consistently set his offence up in second-and-short situations, he is a valuable commodity. White did watch from the sidelines in the late end of the season as Shakir Bell stole some work. Bell came on strong in relief duties and started a handful of games for the Eskimos. But as of today, he is still a free agent and will more-than-likely not be a threat to dig into White’s workload.
Now here’s the twist. While Bell may no longer be an issue, Travon Van now is. Edmonton secured the free agent in mid-February. Van is a proven starter as well and will have last year’s Grey Cup ring to show for it. In an injury-riddled season, he played in only nine games for the Ottawa Redblacks. He totalled 422 yards on 81 carries for a respectable 5.2 yards per carry. This backfield may end up looking a lot like the one in B.C. last season. With two number-one calibre running backs to mix and match, the Eskimos will have a backfield to fear in 2017.
Calgary Stampeders: Jerome Messam
In this position the star stands alone. Messam was the league’s best rusher last season far and away. He asserted his dominance week after week accumulating 1,198 yards and 11 touchdowns in the process. He tallied his third career and second-consecutive 1000-yard season in 2016. Over the course of last season, he powered for five games of over 100 yards rushing en route to being named Most Outstanding Canadian. In his second full season with the Stamps, Messam is poised to have an even bigger year in 2017.
Saskatchewan Roughriders: Kienan LaFrance
One word best describes the Riders running game last season. Ouch. The entirety of it consisted of 262 carries spread out over 20 different players. Curtis Steele and Kendial Lawrence accounted for the lion’s share of the running-back carries. Steele turned his 54 carries into 314 yards, but he was released in the off-season. Lawrence managed to eek out 308 yards on 57 carries, but he too is gone, now reunited with the Eskimos.
There was already a hole in the Riders rushing attack, and the departure of their top-two backs leaves an even bigger one. Hoping to fill that void, the Green and White signed Kienan LaFrance, the former Redblacks national and hero of the East Final. He served as a backup to just about every player Ottawa had at running back last season. In that capacity, he only saw 37 carries and gained only 163 yards.
But in that one snowy day in Ottawa in November, he turned heads. His gritty performance propelled the Redblacks to the Grey Cup. His 25 carries for 157 yards was enough to put him on the map and in the free agent conversation. He will move to Saskatchewan where he will not have to back down to being a backup. There is no real depth there, the job is his and his alone. Unless maybe 33-year-old quarterback Vince Young throws it back to his Texas Longhorns days.
Winnipeg Blue Bombers: Andrew Harris
Harris is another in the line of outstanding national backs in the West. In 2016 Harris finished third in rushing piling up 974. That number would have been higher and may have even surpassed Messam at first place had Harris not missed three games. The Bombers rusher is a north-south back that is as powerful as anyone in the league. Harris has proven to be a great weapon to deploy when in need of ground yardage. He’s also valuable as a pass catcher. On top of his rushing totals, Harris led all running backs in receiving with 631 yards on 67 receptions. He will once again be the man in the backfield for Winnipeg.
Timothy Flanders is a name to keep in mind this season. He will serve as the backup, but if needed, he has proven he can produce. In his three relief games for Harris, Flanders had games of 102, 95, and 65 yards. He registered a major in two of them.
Next Week: CFL Wide Reciever Preview – East Division
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