It’s only week three of the CFL season, but there are already some very important storylines heading into this week’s slate of games. Here are five things you need to know before week three kicks off on Thursday.
Montréal Alouettes QB Controversy
The Montréal Alouettes’ offseason became lined with questions surrounding their quarterback room the minute they brought back veteran Trevor Harris, just weeks after releasing him earlier the offseason. The Als committed to Vernon Adams Jr. as their starting pivot with a re-worked contract. Now, after being benched in a week two loss to the Toronto Argonauts and missing week three due to COVID-19, there are questions around if Adams Jr. can/will be the starting quarterback once he returns to the roster have already started to prop up.
Harris will still need to prove that he can be an effective starter in the CFL, and has a tough task ahead facing a Saskatchewan Roughriders defence unit that has already recorded 13 sacks in the club’s first two games this season.
Dane Evans Health
When Dane Evans went down awkwardly due to a Mike Rose horse-collar tackle, it looked like he had just suffered a serious and potentially season-ending knee injury, but to the surprise of many who watched the play, Evans bounced up and was able to finish the game.
Evans is expected to start after being a full participant on Tuesday and Wednesday practices, but with starting left tackle Kyle Saxelid suffering an injury in week one against Calgary and now starting centre Alex Fontana listed as out for week three against Winnipeg, Evans mobility will be tested early on.
Expect Vintage Bo Levi Mitchell Against Edmonton
The Stampeders are keeping pace with the Roughriders and Blue Bombers as all three teams enter week three sitting at 2-0, but they haven’t been dominant wins by any stretch.
In six out of the eight quarters of regulation football, Bo Levi Mitchell has looked like a shell of his former self, but with a massive second half that showed flashes of his former self in a come-from-behind 33-30 win over Hamilton, expect to see Mitchell regain his form in week three.
Mitchell goes against a defence that has given up a horrible 83.6% completion rate against opposing quarterbacks and given up four passing touchdowns through the first two games of the season.
Saskatchewan Roughriders’ Defence Looks to Dominant Again
I will be the first to admit it, the Roughriders’ defence has been a lot better than I was expecting to be this early in the season, racking up 13 total sacks and four interceptions through the first two games of the season.
The Roughriders head to Montréal and line up against an offensive unit that has given up six sacks and had to use six or seven blockers against Toronto in week two to help protect Harris. If the roughriders can generate pressure with a four-man front, this should be another stat sheet-filled game for this defence.
BC Lions Try to Keep Momentum Going
After a dominant week one win vs Edmonton that saw Nathan Rourke throw for three touchdowns and rush for two more, the BC Lions will try to regain momentum after having a week two bye.
It won’t be easy, however. Hosting the Toronto Argonauts who feature Ja’Gared Davis and Shane Ray (listed as doubtful) on the exterior with Shawn Oakman and Dewayne Hendrix on the inside of the front four.
Watch out for James Butler to hit 150 total yards for BC if they want to come out this week 2-0.
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