CFL West Preview: Blue Bombers once again the team to beat

The Winnipeg Blue Bombers have been the class of the CFL the past three seasons — and don't appear ready to relinquish that lofty status.

About the only thing Winnipeg has done wrong the last three campaigns is lose last year's Grey Cup in a close encounter against the underdog Toronto Argonauts — denying the Blue Bombers a rare three-peat.

You get the feeling if football had a best-of-seven series instead of a winner-take-all showdown for the championship, it would have been Winnipeg coming out on top. But full credit to Toronto, which made the plays when it needed to and was a worthy champion.

The stinging setback should only motivate the Blue Bombers, who have given Winnipeggers plenty to cheer about while the Jets have been spinning their wheels in recent years.

Once again, everyone is chasing the Blue Bombers in the West Division this year. The 2023 season kicks off Thursday night with a West showdown between the Calgary Stampeders and visiting B.C. Lions.

Here's a look at the West teams in order of predicted finish.

Last season: 15-3, first in West Division, lost to Toronto in Grey Cup.

Head coach: Mike O'Shea (82-58 in eight seasons in CFL, all with Winnipeg. Has won two Grey Cups) 

Starting quarterback: Zach Collaros (Entering 12th season in CFL, fourth with Winnipeg. CFL’s most outstanding player last two seasons).

The skinny

The Blue Bombers fell just short of becoming the first team to three-peat since Edmonton won five in a row from 1978 to 1982. One bad fourth quarter was no reason to reinvent the wheel. The Blue Bombers signed O'Shea to a contract extension and have most of the key parts back.

Collaros, the clear No. 1 player in the league, is the only opening-day starting quarterback from last year back in the role with the same club this season.

There was a bit of a hiccup in the pre-season with key free-agent receiver Kenny Lawler placed on the suspended list — Postmedia has reported it's for immigration issues. The Bombers have said Lawler, who returns to the team after playing in Edmonton last year, will miss three to four weeks.

However, the Bombers are deep at receiver. Dalton Schoen, last year's rookie of the year, is back and gives Collaros a sure-handed target.

Last season: 12-6, third in West Division, lost to B.C. in West semifinal.

Head coach: Dave Dickenson (73-29-2 in six seasons in CFL, all with Calgary. Won 2018 Grey Cup).

Starting quarterback: Jake Maier (Entering third season in CFL, all with Calgary. First year as starter).

The skinny

There was a changing of the guard last year when Maier replaced Bo Levi Mitchell midway through the season. The Californian put up solid numbers (league-best 74.7 per-cent completion rate, 14 touchdowns, seven interceptions) before his season ended when the Stamps lost in the West semifinal for the third year in a row.

The Stamps did lose some key players in free agency — including defensive end Shawn Lemon (cut by B.C.), linebacker Jameer Thurman (Hamilton) and defensive lineman Folarin Orimolade (Toronto).

Offensively, Maier should be helped by league-leading running back Ka'Deem Carey.

Last season: 12-6, second in West Division, lost to Winnipeg in divisional final.

Head coach: Rick Campbell (61-77-2 in eight seasons in CFL, two with B.C. Won Grey Cup with Ottawa in 2016) 

Starting quarterback: Vernon Adams Jr. (Entering seventh season in CFL, second with B.C.).

The skinny

The Lions orchestrated a huge turnaround last year, going from 5-9 to 12-6 and falling one win short of a Grey Cup appearance. But, of course, they did that with star Canadian quarterback Nathan Rourke, who has taken his significant talents to the NFL after he was signed by the Jacksonville Jaguars.

When Rourke was hurt in mid-season last year, the Lions traded for a veteran in Adams Jr., who had fallen out of favour in Montreal. He kept the Lions afloat before Rourke returned for the playoff run.

The Lions hope Adams can return to 2019 form when he was a CFL East all-star. They also acquired Dane Evans, who struggled last year with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats after helping them reach the Grey Cup the past two seasons. It is an intriguing 1-2 punch at QB.

Receivers Dominique Rhymes, Keon Hatcher and Lucky Whitehead all finished in the top 10 in receiving yards last year. The big question is can they maintain that pace without Rourke.

Last season: 4-14, fifth in West Division, missed playoffs.

Head coach: Chris Jones (57-51 in six seasons in CFL — three with Edmonton and three with Saskatchewan. He returned to Edmonton for a second stint last year).

Starting quarterback: Taylor Cornelius (Entering third season in CFL, all with Edmonton).

The skinny

Jones inherited a mess last year and the result was predictable. The roster was a revolving door during a true rebuilding season.

By year's end, though, the Elks believed they identified a starting quarterback in the six-foot-five Cornelius.

The big quarterback has a top target in marquee free agent Eugene Lewis, a huge producer the past few years with a Montreal team that had trouble settling on a starting quarterback.

The Elks are on an astounding 17-game losing streak at home, a CFL record. They haven't won at Commonwealth Stadium since before the pandemic in 2019.

To their credit, the Elks haven't been above poking fun at themselves.

They have a real shot to end that streak in Week 1 when they host Saskatchewan.

Last season: 6-12, fourth in West Division, missed playoffs. 

Head coach: Craig Dickenson (28-20 in three seasons in CFL, all with Saskatchewan).

Starting quarterback: Trevor Harris (Entering 12th season in CFL, first with Saskatchewan).

The skinny

A disaster of a Grey Cup-hosting season ended with the Roughriders missing the playoffs after losing their final seven games.

The Roughriders gave up a franchise-record sack total, had numerous off-field woes and stripped starting quarterback Cody Fajardo of his job late in the season when the team still had playoff hopes.

However, the team decided to retain Dickenson and general manager Jeremy O'Day, giving them a chance to clean things up after they guided the team to the West final the previous two seasons.

The big new piece is Harris, who revitalized his career in Montreal last year before signing with the Roughriders this off-season.

Linebacker Larry Dean anchors the defence after fellow LB Darnell Sankey departed for the XFL.

B.C. Lions at Calgary Stampeders (-3.5), Thursday, 9 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. PT

Rematch of last year's West semifinal — except with no Rourke. Including that game, Calgary was 1-3 versus B.C. last year. A message could be sent with a win here. PICK: Calgary

Hamilton Tiger-Cats at Winnipeg Blue Bombers (-5.5), Friday, 8:30 p.m. ET / 5:30 p.m. PT

Mitchell faces a massive challenge in his Hamilton debut. Winnipeg was 8-1 at home last season. PICK: Winnipeg

Ottawa Redblacks at Montreal Alouettes (-3.5), Saturday, 7 p.m. ET / 4 p.m. PT

Redblacks starting quarterback Jeremiah Masoli isn't ready to return just yet from a season-ending leg injury suffered last year. That gives the start to Nick Arbuckle. This is Montreal's first game with Fajardo as starting quarterback and Pierre Karl Peladeau, fresh off a Memorial Cup win with the Quebec Remparts, as owner. PICK: Montreal

Saskatchewan Roughriders (-2.5) at Edmonton Elks, Sunday, 7 p.m. ET / 4 p.m. PT

Harris returns to one of his former CFL homes in his first game as a Roughrider. Jones' teams showed improvements in second seasons in his previous coaching stints with Saskatchewan and Edmonton. We expect the same this time around with the Elks. PICK: Edmonton

Odds from FanDuel on Wednesday afternoon.