After statement wins from Calgary and Hamilton on Saturday night, we closed the books on Week 8 of the CFL schedule.
In this week’s roundtable featuring members of Sportsnet.ca’s CFL panel on three hot-button issues, we discuss whether Brandon Banks’s Most Outstanding Player candidacy, as well as look at the short tenure of Michael Sam and the state of the Argos’ running-back situation.
1. Can Brandon Banks be league MOP primarily as a special-teams player?
Donnovan Bennett: Yes, by default, as he might be the last man standing. Theoretical options like Darian Durant, Ricky Ray, Mike Reilly, Drew Willy, Andre Durie, Chad Owens and Jon Cornish have all been hurt. Banks showed this week that he deserves more snaps on offence, but regardless of that, if he continues on to have a record-breaking year he should win. The best player on one of the league’s elite teams that opposing teams game-plan for and still can’t stop… sounds like Most Outstanding Player material to me.
Justin Dunk: History would show that’s nearly impossible, but Banks could give himself a chance. He’s the most dangerous player with the football in his hands in the CFL right now. He can turn a game in the Ticats’ favour in mere seconds. And if he keeps up his return touchdown–scoring pace, legitimate CFL MOP consideration should definitely follow.
Arash Madani: Absolutely. He is one of the league’s true special talents, who is not only electrifying and game-changing, but one of the CFL’s most dominant players, too. Look around the league, and who is classified as elite? Andrew Harris, Trevor Harris, Bo Levi Mitchell, you should put Adarius Bowman in there, and Banks. Through seven weeks, he’d get my East Division nomination vote.
Jamie Thomas: Before this season I would have said there is no way a special-teams player could win MOP. But my thoughts have changed. I’m sure like me everyone sits back and waits with either fear or anticipation when Banks is waiting for the ball to come down. He is entering Gizmo Williams territory—a guy who can change a game in seconds with his speed and ability to make people miss. I hope he keeps this pace up.
2. If everyone is healthy who starts for the Argos at RB?
Bennett: The Argos knew what they had in Curtis Steele, Henry Josey and Chad Kackert, and still felt the need to sign Brandon Whitaker, who was a late camp cut by Montreal. Whitaker was dominant when he was healthy in Week 1 but has slowed since while accumulating a variety of injuries. If he’s healthy down the stretch he’ll be the one lining up seven yards deep in the backfield.
Dunk: Curtis Steele, Brandon Whitaker and Chad Kackert all have had trouble staying healthy. If all three are 100 percent I would go with Kackert. He has fewer miles on his body than Whitaker and appears to have the most burst of the group. Kackert has almost always stepped up in big games for the Argos—see his 2012 Grey Cup MVP performance, where he rushed for 133 yards on 20 carries and made eight receptions for 62 yards.
Madani: Andre Durie, hands down. He’s such an integral part to what the Argos were doing on offence. Some may call him a receiver, but he’s a true hybrid who knows both WR and RB assignments, and in situational pass protection he was incredibly valuable. The Argos have protections that alert whether or not to stay in if opponents send pressure. Durie was terrific in recognizing the defence early, releasing to his route if the opposing team brought more defenders than the Argos could block. That makes him a valuable commodity in that offence.
Thomas: Considering the Argos didn’t really have a running game until last weekend, I believe Chad Kackert is the No. 1 option at the position. Seventy-three yards on just 12 carries in his first game since October 2013 is eye-opening.
3. The Michael Sam era in the CFL was ______?
Bennett: Divisive. A quick Twitter search is proof of that. But in the end the outcome is sad as it didn’t benefit Sam, the Alouettes, or—maybe most importantly—the next homosexual player looking to come out, as a positive precedent never had time to be set. Hopefully Milwaukee Brewers prospect David Denson coming out is a sign that Sam’s ordeal won’t scare off others.
Dunk: Nearly shorter than a New York minute—on the field. Sam played 12 CFL snaps before stepping away from the game for mental-health reasons. I really hope he can work to overcome those concerns.
Madani: Yet another example of a high-profile name the Alouettes brought into the organization that didn’t live up to any of the hype. See Smith, Troy; Johnson, Chad; Green, Jacquez; Hamilton, Joe. Hopefully this exercise is a reminder that no player unproven at the pro level deserves preferential roster treatment.
Thomas: Too short. Whatever Sam is going through is unfortunate and it seems like we won’t know what his abilities are. He seemed to have the right size and skill, and Jim Popp believed he could be a special player in this league. I agree that Sam could succeed in the CFL—it’s just sad that we won’t find out in the immediate future.