CFL Power Rankings: Week 7

Last Updated: Monday, August 16, 2010 | 1:02 PM ET

by Malcolm Kelly, CBC Sports

Once a week, CBCSports.ca breaks down the balance of power in the Canadian Football League.

	1. SASKATCHEWAN ROUGHRIDERS [up from 2] Overall record: 5-2 Streak: One win This is a tie for first. Four times the Riders converted on the ground from inside the 10 against B.C. Darian Durant (Condredge Holloway in a green shirt) wasn't at his throwing peak and those two interceptions were a concern, but the team was playing down a touch to its opponent. Durant's a big time pivot. This is a big time team.
	1. CALGARY STAMPEDERS [up from 3] Overall record: 6-1 Streak: Four wins Before the game against Edmonton was halfway done, Stamps QB Henry Burris had completed passes to seven different receivers. And why not? They were all open. The team's healthy, Dmitri Tsoumpas is back on the offensive line, the defence is fab and coach John Hufnagel is grumping around so you know he's really happy. After the bye week they get Edmonton twice more in the next three games.
	3. MONTREAL ALOUETTES [down from 1] Overall record: 5-2 Streak: One loss The loss to the Argos was hardly cause for concern overall, but we've been worried about that pass defence all season and they are still giving up too many big plays to good quarterbacks. Anthony Calvillo's injured finger seems bothersome but not too bad, and the bye week is coming up after this weekend's date with Winnipeg. Let's not anoint the Argos as the new kings of the East yet.
	4. TORONTO ARGONAUTS [unchanged] Overall record: 5-2 Streak: Two wins It's time for a big pat on the head to GM Adam Rita and the way he's worked with coach Jim Barker on personnel. With Plan A and B not working the last two years, Rita went to plan 'C', signing QB Cleo Lemon, who is starting to look very good, and league leading rusher Cory Boyd, plus stealing Chad Owens (163 yards and two TDs against the Als) from Montreal for a fourth-round pick. New ownership is letting Rita and his staff do their jobs, and they're doing it just fine, thanks.
	5. HAMILTON TIGER-CATS [up from 6] Overall record: 3-4 Streak: Two wins The Kitties finished the Hamilton-Winnipeg house league schedule 3-1, but they still haven't beaten anyone else. Still, lots to like in their game against the Bombers including a receiving corps willing to step up when Arland Bruce finally had an off-night, and the second-half resurgence of running back DeAndra' Cobb. Friday night against Toronto sets up as a wild one.
	6. WINNIPEG BLUE BOMBERS [down from 5] Overall record: 2-5 Streak: Three losses On Tuesday of last week the Bombers released kicker Alexis Serna, bringing in Louie Sakoda, who had been cut earlier by Saskatchewan. Sakoda hurt himself in practice and couldn't kick against Hamilton. Sunday, Winnipeg announced it had signed three new players. All kickers. Meanwhile, Steven Jyles is back at QB for a while because Buck Pierce's knee lasted about 30 minutes.
	7. EDMONTON ESKIMOS [unchanged] Overall record: 1-6 Streak: Two losses If QB Ricky Ray is going to be out for any length of time this might be a good moment for the GM to start building for next year. Of course, they have to get a GM first. So Paul Jones (player personnel head) and Ed Hervey (head scout) will have to work without an overall philosophy while checking NFL camps for import cuts. Right off they have to get some help for the front seven.
	8. B.C. LIONS [unchanged] Overall record: 1-6 Streak: Six losses They ran well against Saskatchewan, but there just isn't enough talent here right now to hang in against the best teams in the league. If QB Casey Printers can get back, the defence can find a way to put some pressure on the opposing pivot and some of the veterans can fire themselves back up again, Wally's boys could upset some folks.

People who read this also read …