Hello everyone! Welcome to another edition of the Touchdown Talks Canada blog entries. This is BIG AL! Today I will be doing something fun. I will be tying in this blog entry with the next weekly podcast episode coming out on Monday night. I do have a podcast episode projected to come out today but that is a bonus edition to Touchdown Talks Canada podcast. As that latest podcast will be with a special guest! So how this blog entry will work is I (Big Al), will imagine that the 2020 Canadian Football League (CFL), season is not only a go… but also that a 10th CFL team has been added to the league. Usually when there is an expansion team in any league especially professional leagues, that said league will give that said expansion team a competitive edge by allowing them to draft players from any current team that plays in that said league, however, each team in that said league before such draft takes place usually gets to protect no more than 7 players. The rest is fair game for the expansion team to pick up. This blog entry will go through all 9 CFL teams and decide which players those teams should most likely protect. Then come Monday night when the latest podcast episode is released for Touchdown Talks Canada, during the Wildcat Segment of the show, I (Big Al), will draft the remaining available players that the expansion team should go for. I hope this makes sense! Anyways let’s get on with it and start out with the teams furthest west and work our way out to the furthest east until all 9 teams of the CFL have protected 7 different players on their own team.
British Columbia or BC, Lions.:
I think the first player BC is most likely wanting to protect is obvious. This player BC worked hard to get and put up a lot of money to sign him. Without this player BC would be in a difficult situation, more so then BC is at now. This player is starting quarterback, Mike Reilly. Mike Reilly is an excellent player for BC to protect as he is the toughest QB in the league. He also is a top tier QB in the league for many other reasons.
The next player BC would protect is Mike Reilly's number 1 target. He is Reilly’s number 1 go-to guy for good reason. He put up really impressive numbers last season and is one of the top 3 wide receivers in this league. That is Bryan Burnham. Burnham's last season in 2019 caught 100 receptions and only dropped 46 passes. On top of that Burnham put up nearly 1500 yards in receiving. 392 yards after the catch. With 11 touchdowns and didn’t even play a full 18 game season. That is incredible! Therefore, BC would definitely want to keep this guy! Especially if they plan on keeping Mike Reilly.
The next player BC is probably most interested in protecting is Brandon Rutley. Rutley's return game both in punts and in kicks and even field goals is incredible! Ryan Lankford use to be BCs all-star in this until he moved to Ottawa after week 13. But Rutley has been around longer and has done better over the years. It would be a HUGE mistake for someone to give up Brandon Rutley!
The next player BC would want to protect is Odell Willis. Willis is not only a veteran and not only is very popular in BC. Willis is also a top 10 defensive end in this league. Not protecting this player would just be outright disrespectful!
Another player BC probably wants to protect is wide receiver, Shaq Johnson. Johnson is not just good, but he adds to the ratio content. Thus, keeping a talented wide out like Johnson is a big deal!
Usually, if you have the worst offensive line in the league and maybe even league history, you probably are not too concerned with losing out on O Linemen. However, when your starting O Line consists of a top-caliber player in the league who is a vet to the CFL you would be interested in protecting that said player. Which is why Sukh Chung has got to stay!
Next, this one might come to a surprise to a lot of my audience, but Jordan Williams is someone BC has to protect! He may just have been drafted by BC in this 2020 year’s draft. But BC traded up for this pick and worked hard to get him on the team. You can’t work that hard to get a player just for him to leave. This is why protecting what could be a future CFL all-star is important.
Next, we have Edmonton protecting there 7 players and the first player is obvious and he also belongs in the QB department. That is all-star CFL quarterback, Trevor Harris. Harris is essential to making Edmonton a competitive team in the CFL. Harris at one point in the 2019 season was projected to throw almost 8 thousand yards in a single season. But after being placed on a 6-game injured list, Harris ended up with over 4 thousand passing yards and a pass completion rate of nearly 72 percent plus 16 throwing touchdowns and only 6 interceptions. Such stats are incredible! On top of that Harris passes the eyeball test with flying colors. Thus, Harris is an amazing quarterback with outstanding talent and almost lead a last to get into the playoffs team to a Grey Cup final just last year. Which is just unheard of. Plus, Harris is the comeback king! Which is why letting him go would be beyond crazy!!
If you want to stay competitive you have to successfully set your main guy up for the best scenario possible which is why when Edmonton took on slot receiver Greg Ellignston, who has great chemistry with QB Trevor Harris such move was a wise one. Thus, protecting Ellignston would also be wise, plus Greg is probably a top 5 slot in the CFL. It would thus almost be disgusting not to protect him.
Tevuan Smith is another ratio guy to keep around. Plus, he may not be top tier in the league per se but he is one of Edmonton’s best wide outs. Thus, Smith is a valuable player to protect for Edmonton.
With CJ Gable no longer on the team, Edmonton needs a guy like Shaquille Cooper who is an outstanding back in this league protecting such player is like saving your team from a bum running game.
Vonte Diggs is probably Edmonton’s next best bet to protect! Defense wins games and even championships, hence why your number 1 defensive player needs to stay! Diggs is their guy on D to protect.
David Beard on Edmonton’s O Line is a HUGE reason why Edmonton has so much success on offense. Therefore, protect the guy like you protect your quarterback! (See what I did there…)
As much as you want to protect your own players so your team can still have as much success as possible, protecting players to keep them away from the expansion roster is a valid strategy as well. This can create stock in trade bait, as well as keep away talent from a potential competitive team and of course, you get to keep the guy that is obviously skilled enough that there is interest in them, to begin with. This is why if Harris goes down having a reliable quarterback like Antonio Pipkin is a valuable option thus protect Pipkin. As mentioned earlier Pipkin can be traded for a better player which would work because William Arndt is still on the team to back up Harris while at the same time it keeps a talented QB out of the expansion team's hands, at least paying a fair price for such player.
The Calgary Stampeders are next to protect there 7 players.
Although I often claim he is overrated I think the obvious pick for the first player to protect is yet another quarterback which is Bo Levi Mitchell. If you don’t know why the Stamps should protect BLM… why are you reading this?? To put simple Bo may be overrated but for sure is still a modern-day GOAT thus protecting him is key for Calgary.
The next player Calgary needs to look into to protect is Wide Receiver Reggie Bengelton. Bengelton put up some impressive stats in 2019 and is probably a top 3 WR in the CFL. Thus, protecting him is a no brainer.
Another offensive player is who Calgary needs to look at it to protect. This player is all-star running back Don Jackson. Although Jackson spent the majority of the 2019 season injured. Jackson normally puts up close to Andrew Harris like numbers. So again, protecting this guy is like protecting your running game from losing crazy amounts of talent.
Calgary is one of those teams with a stacked D. Thus, protecting anyone on their defensive side of the ball that isn’t taking a shot to the National Football League or NFL is very important for all their next protections, I shall allow the reader to use there imagination on who those players could be.
Saskatchewan Roughriders is next up.
Let’s be real here Saskatchewan hasn’t seen such high talent in the quarterback talent in a super long time until Cody Fajardo came along. This is why yet again the most obvious first protection is another quarterback, Cody Fajardo.
Since we are being honest, it is also fair to say the WR Shaq Evans for Saskatchewan is a top 10 or better receiver in the CFL. Evans is still young and is putting up hall of fame type stats of late. Thus, protecting a reliable target for quarterback Cody Fajardo to throw to is an excellent decision.
Solomon Elimimian is probably the most obvious player on this list. He is a veteran and on the CFLPA which is a great character to have in the locker room. He is arguably a top 3 if not 5 defensive players in this league. He is very popular in Saskatchewan. But his age might be a factor to some as to why you wouldn’t keep him around. Given that most Linebackers retire around the 35+ range and he is pushing 34. On top of that Solomon is pricy. However, he might be worth the price as long as you can get a good return… he makes good trade stock at this point and you can trade him for a valuable younger player that is just as good that doesn’t cost as much. You don’t want an expansion team to just get a freebie like this. Therefore, I (Big Al) say lock up Solomon!
Charleston Hughes is almost consistently leading the league in pass rushing. Thus, it is without a doubt you HAVE to keep Hughes protected so your front 7 has strength.
William Powell and if you don’t know why… google his stats! And YouTube some videos of the guy.
Naaman Roosevelt is another talented WR you just got to keep.
The final team out west is Winnipeg Blue Bombers.
The most obvious pick here is a guy that was already mentioned in this blog entry. That is a future Hall of Famer Canadian Running Back and 2019 Grey Cup MVP, Andrew Harris. Year in year out he leads the league in rushing and is the HUGE reason why the Peg has any success whatsoever.
Perhaps one of the reasons why Andrew Harris has so much success is due to the big man upfront that is protecting the backfield Offensive Linemen, Stanley Bryant. Bryant is clearly a top 5 O linemen in this league with incredible size and strength so protecting this guy is very important.
Nic Demski is a young Canadian and local talent to Winnipeg, he is a must-have for sure because he is probably your top WR on the team. Protect this guy.
Adam Bighill plays at NFL caliber level no doubt and could easily be the next greatest Linebacker down south. Players fear this guy for good reasons. He is probably CFL’s strongest, toughest, and most talented Linebacker. It is simple… protect Bighill.
Jackson Jeffcoat, he most certainly can get your team to a championship or in the playoffs. He definitely a guy I would love to have around.
Willie Jefferson is kind of like Jeffcoat’s and Bighill’s left-hand man and so if you are protecting both Jeffcoat and Bighill you should probably protect Jefferson as well.
Lucky Whitehead is quick, and his return game is phenomenal would hate to see him go to an expansion team just top play him and he whip by our players and score a touchdown. Protect Whitehead.
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Hamilton Tiger-Cats is up now!
Wide Receiver Brandon Banks is absolutely the best option to protect you should have zero regrets with such a decision.
Jeremiah Masoli is the next most important player to protect. Between Dane Evans who has really proven themselves to be a top contending QB in this league and Jeremiah Masoli who has tied passing records with THE GOAT Anthony Calvillo… you should stick with Masoli he is like a face of the franchise and Evans really only painted his stripes 1 season plus a game. Hamilton hasn’t really struggled in the QB department especially with these two as the quarterback options but Masoli is your guy indeed.
Chris VanZel is Canadian so ratio wise its beneficial to keep him around and an amazing O lineman one of the greats for sure. Thus, protecting him is key for the Tie-Cats.
Maleek Irons is an all-around RB that can really do it all and comes up big when you need him handy to have when as a backup and as a starter. I’m not giving this guy up.
Who is faster Speedy B as in Banks or Speedy B as in Breaux? Delvin Breaux has to be one of the quickest defensive backs in this league. He sure is a keeper.
Simoni Lawrence might be a grey player but that kind of aggression is important to teams plus you can’t deny talent. What can I say? Keep him!
Sending it across the GTA now and directing it to the Toronto Argonauts:
Chris Ackie, DaVaris Daniels, and Marcus Thigpen are all newly signed players that are all really good so giving them up would be just plain stupid. Protect those three for sure!
Declan Cross is one of those must-haves on the team because he has been around a decent amount and I think he is due to a breakout year as a full back. I would give him a shot to prove himself self and hopefully, it pans out to protect him.
Levi Noel is an extremely hard worker this is the type of player that is a must in every roster. Protect him.
Protecting newly acquired quarterback Matt Nichols is a no brainer! So is Michael O’Connor a guy that has a lot of potential in this league.
Ottawa RedBlacks are next on the list:
I think the most important player to protect and my Kingston biases might be kicking in but the field goal kicker the can't miss kid and the guy that has saved Ottawa’s ass one too many times Lewis Ward should be protected.
They Can’t afford to give up Nick Arbuckle right when a shed of light of hope shines on the team this upcoming season! Must have!
Brad Sinopoli has too much talent to just let go plus he can track a football like no other. It’s easy… keep him!
Brad cannot do it all so it would be important to have another wide out that is reliable on the field. So, RJ Harris is very key for this team to protect.
Antione Pruneau, I think is there only defensive player worth keeping.
Sherrod Baltimore has a unique story and his talent may lower a protection rank but his story is what makes me want to keep him, shows players that you can overcome adversity
The seventh guy can be basically anyone that will add more strength to the offense.
Finally, Montreal Alouettes:
Vernon Adams Jr took over the starting role in Montreal for excellent reasons. In just the 2019 season alone he threw for nearly 4 thousand yards and had a 65.7% pass completion rate with 24 throwing touchdowns. On top of that, he rushed nearly 400 yards in 16 games and had 12 rushing touchdowns. Not too shabby for his first year as a starter. Plus, the eyeball test is like a rainbow. Beautiful to look at! To me, it is a no brainer you must protect Adams Jr. On top of this, you should protect Mathew Shultz because he is an excellent short-yardage QB and can do much more. If Adams goes down a player with similar playing style and skill is a must-have back up! Thus, Shultz is also a lock up.
Vernon number 1 target is also a must-have Eugen Lewis is that guy who is very much so an all-star!
John Bowman being a Montreal vet is a very serious player to keep.
Henroc Muamba is one of the CFL’s greatest current defensive players with 93 defensive tackles close to Alex Singleton numbers!
Quan Bray is another lock-up for sure! They succeed both on special teams and offense.
Last but certainly not least we have Taylor Loffler who played a huge role in Montreal’s Success in the 2019 season and a big help to Winnipeg in former years so keeping him around and allowing him to adjust to a new team, home city and playbook would be a smart move for sure!
Well… that is all she wrote for now folks! Take Care and please stay tuned for the upcoming Monday night podcast where all those players still on the board for the expansion team to draft might get picked up. For Big Al and for Touchdown Talks Canada thanks for reading! Have a great weekend! :)