CFL Week 15 Offensive Line Rankings: Argonauts climb into top two

• Toronto moves to No. 2: Peter Nicastro earned an 87.2 run-blocking grade and an 85.6 pass-blocking grade, each of which is the highest mark of any offensive lineman this week.

• Edmonton ascends once more: Since Week 10, the unit has earned an 82.3 PFF grade and has allowed an 18.2% pressure rate, ranking third and second in the CFL, respectively, in that time period.

• BC Lions drop to No. 6: It was a tough week for their guards, who both earned sub-30.0 pass-blocking grades.

Estimated Reading Time: 6 minutes

Few things are more important to a team’s success than the quality of its offensive line. Disastrous lines, or even disastrous weak-link mismatches, can determine the outcome of games, while strong units give an incredible advantage to an offense.

This CFL season, we will be keeping track of PFF’s offensive line rankings as well as highlighting the biggest weak-link player and their upcoming opponent to identify any obvious matchup advantage one way or the other.

Key:
Red text = weakest link

1. Winnipeg Blue Bombers (No Change)

LT Stanley Bryant
LG Geoff Gray
C Chris Kolankowski
RG Patrick Neufeld
RT Jermarcus Hardrick

• Winnipeg averaged 3.8 yards before contact this past week, the best mark in the CFL.
• Jermarcus Hardrick earned a 78.0 PFF grade against the Tiger-Cats, making him the highest-graded tackle in Week 15.

Upcoming Week: BYE

2. Toronto Argonauts (Up 1)

LT Ryan Hunter
LG Gregor Mackellar
C Darius Ciraco
RG Peter Nicastro
RT Dejon Allen

• Usual starting left tackle Isiah Cage went down with what appeared to be a hamstring injury in the third quarter.
• Ryan Hunter, normally at left guard, played decently at left tackle, posting a 67.7 PFF grade, but struggled in pass protection on the edge. He earned a 42.9 pass-blocking grade when playing as a left tackle.
• Peter Nicastro earned an 87.2 run-blocking grade and an 85.6 pass-blocking grade, each of which is the highest mark of any offensive lineman this week. 

Upcoming Week: Hamilton Tiger-Cats

• The Tiger-Cats' pass rush diminished significantly in the three meetings between these teams this season. Their pressure rate went from 40.0% in Week 2 to 29.0% to a dismal 15.4% in the last matchup.

3. Montreal Alouettes (Down 1)

LT Nick Callender
LG Pier-Olivier Lestage
C Justin Lawrence
RG Kristian Matte
RT Jamar McGloster

• Another tough week for the Alouettes' offensive line sees them drop again, losing the top-ranked East team title to the Argonauts.
• Sixth offensive lineman Philippe Gagnon (59.2), Kristian Matte (53.5), Justin Larence (53.2) and Nick Callender (51.4) were all negatively graded run blockers this week.
• They allowed a 36.2% pressure rate and a league-high six sacks this week.

Upcoming Week: Calgary Stampeders

• In the only other matchup between these two teams this year, Calgary struggled to stop the Alouettes' ground game. They allowed an average of five yards per rush and surrendered four explosive runs.

4. Hamilton Tiger-Cats (No Change)

LT Brandon Revenberg
LG Jakub Szott
C David Beard
RG Coulter Woodmansey
RT Jordan Murray

• Left tackle Joel Figueroa went down with an apparent shoulder injury in the second quarter.
• Left guard Brandon Revenberg slid out to left tackle and performed well. He earned an 84.4 pass-blocking grade with zero pressures allowed.
• Moving Revenberg away from the left guard position made the Tiger-Cats vulnerable. On 36 non-Revenberg left guard snaps, Szott and Dayton Black earned 51.7 and 40.8 PFF overall grades and 38.3 and 0.7 pass-blocking grades, respectively. 

Upcoming Week: Toronto Argonauts

• The Argonauts have found success rushing the passer against the Tiger-Cats this season. In their three matchups, the Argos' pressure rate has been 41.2%, 40.5% and 38.3%.

5. Edmonton Elks (Up 1)

LT Martez Ivey
LG David Foucault
C Mark Korte
RG Tomas Jack-Kurdyla
RT Brett Boyko

• Since Week 10, this group has been in the discussion as the CFL's top offensive line. The unit has earned an 82.3 PFF grade and has allowed an 18.2% pressure rate, ranking third and second in the CFL, respectively, in that time period.
• Week 15 saw David Foucault (84.4), Brett Byko (82.7) and Mark Korte (71.3) continue their solid play, as they all earned pass-blocking grades above 71.0. Foucault and Boyko put together perfect games in pass protection.
• Since Week 10, the Elks have generated a CFL-leading 2.8 average yards before contact.

Upcoming Week: British Columbia Lions

• The Lions' defense has been successful at getting pressure against the Elks this season but has not faced off against the Elks since their Week 10 turnaround. Will their 39% pressure rate against Edmonton hold, or is this a new offensive line?

6. British Columbia Lions (Down 1)

LT Jarell Broxton
LG Andrew Peirson
C Michael Couture
RG Sukh Chungh
RT Kent Perkins

• It was a tough week for both guards. Chungh (29.9) and Peirson (17.4) earned sub-30.0 pass-blocking grades and ranked as the 17th and 18th guards this week out of 19 qualified guards.
• Couture (84.4) and Perkins (82.7) were on the other end of the pass-blocking spectrum, earning pass-blocking grades above 82.0.

Upcoming Week: Edmonton Elks

• The Lions have dominated the Elks on the ground this season. In their two matchups, the Elks' defense has earned a 47.5 run-defense grade with five yards allowed per rush.

7. Saskatchewan Roughriders (No Change)

LT Eric Lofton
LG Evan Johnson
C Peter Godber
RG Logan Ferland
RT Brandon Council

• Saskatchewan had two of the three worst pass-blocking tackles this past week. Lofton (39.8) and Council (29.0) allowed eight total pressures and lost nine other reps.
• This group was able to clear running paths this week, though, with the Roughriders' running backs averaging 2.8 yards before contact — good for the third-best mark in the CFL.

Upcoming Week: Ottawa Redblacks

• In their only other matchup this season, the Redblacks were able to earn a 30.0% pressure rate and stifle the Roughriders' rushing attack with an 87.3 team run-defense grade.

8. Calgary Stampeders (No Change)

LT Brandon Weldon
LG Zack Williams
C Sean McEwen
RG Ryan Sceviour
RT D.J. Cooker

• The idle Stampeders remain at No. 8.
• Out of the eight Stampeders offensive linemen with 100 snaps this season, no player has a PFF grade over 70.0. D.J. Cooker has been their best lineman this season, earning a 67.2 PFF grade, a 65.0 run-blocking grade and a 64.9 pass-blocking grade.

Upcoming Week: Montreal Alouettes

• In their previous matchup, the Alouettes generated 21 total pressures with a 57.5% pass-rush win rate and a 31.9% pressure rate against the Stampeders.

9. Ottawa Redblacks (No Change)

LT Dino Boyd
LG Drew Desjarlais
C Cyrille Hogan-Saindon
RG Jacob Ruby
RT Dontae Bull

• Drew Desjarlais was able to bounce back from two bad weeks and earned a 78.9 pass-blocking grade this week.
• This week for the Redblacks was a tale of one bad side and one good side. The left side of the offensive line saw Desjarlais (78.9) and Dino Boyd (76.7) earn pass-blocking grades above 76.0. On the right side, Jacob Ruby (33.5) and Dontae Bull (30.9) earned grades below 34.0 with a combined eight pressures allowed.

Upcoming Week: Saskatchewan Roughriders

• In their Week 9 matchup, the Roughriders' defensive ran circles around the Redblacks' offensive line for 17 total pressures — including six sacks and a 41.9% pressure rate.