• Big week for QB Vernon Adams Jr.: Adams finished the game with a 90.7 passing grade, thanks to four big-time throws and an 80.0% adjusted completion rate. He also picked up a first down with his feet and earned a league-high 91.2 overall grade.
• Double-digit receptions day for BC WR Keon Hatcher: Eight of those catches went for first downs, and he also forced three missed tackles after the catch. His 4.10 yards per route run average led the league this week, as did his 82.4 receiving grade.
• Hamilton’s Casey Sayles dominates from the interior: Sayles finished with a sack and three quarterback hurries but also had five other pass-rush wins. On top of that, he batted down two passes at the line of scrimmage.
Estimated Reading Time: 5 minutes
Only a few weeks remain in the 2023 CFL regular season, which means there are only a few more weeks to highlight great performances.
There were plenty of those this past week, with seven players making their first appearance on the Team of the Week. But there were also some familiar faces, such as guard Brandon Revenberg (league-leading seventh appearance on the Team of the Week), center Chris Kolankowski (sixth appearance) and cornerback Garry Peters (fifth appearance).
OFFENSE
QB: Vernon Adams Jr., BC
RB: James Butler, Hamilton
Outside WR: Keon Hatcher, BC
Slot WR: Tre Odoms-Dukes, Calgary
Slot WR: Dominique Rhymes, BC
Slot WR: Jerreth Sterns, Saskatchewan
Outside WR: Marken Michel, Calgary
LT: Nick Callender, Montreal
LG: Brandon Revenberg, Hamilton
C: Chris Kolankowski, Winnipeg
RG: Patrick Neufeld, Winnipeg
RT: Jermarcus Hardrick, Winnipeg
DEFENSE
DI: Casey Sayles, Hamilton
DI: Mustafa Johnson, Montreal
Edge: Mathieu Betts, BC
Edge: Malik Carney, Hamilton
LB: Cameron Judge, Calgary
LB: Frankie Griffin, Ottawa
Cover LB: Chris Edwards, Hamilton
CB: Qwan’tez Stiggers, Toronto
CB: Garry Peters, BC
HB: Mason Pierce, Toronto
HB: Brad Muhammed, Calgary
S: Marc-Antoine Dequoy, Montreal
SPECIAL TEAMS
K: Sergio Castillo, Winnipeg
P: Joseph Zema, Montreal
Returner: James Letcher Jr., Montreal
QUARTERBACK OF THE WEEK: QB VERNON ADAMS JR., BRITISH COLUMBIA
We said in the Week 17 Preview that a couple of big games down the stretch could vault Adams into the Most Outstanding Player award conversation. He certainly got off to a flying start in last week’s game. Adams finished the game with a 90.7 passing grade, thanks to four big-time throws and an 80.0% adjusted completion rate. He also picked up a first down with his feet and earned a league-high 91.2 overall grade.
Adams' season-long passing grade of 86.6 ranks third and he is tied for the league lead with 35 big-time throws. There’s no doubt now that Adams belongs in the top echelon of CFL quarterbacks after his strong play this season.
OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK: WR KEON HATCHER, BRITISH COLUMBIA
With quarterback Vernon Adams Jr. having such a big week, his receivers were always going to benefit. But nobody put on more of a show than Hatcher. The hybrid slot/outside receiver caught 10 of his 11 targets for 172 yards and a touchdown. Eight of those catches went for first downs, and he also forced three missed tackles after the catch. His 4.10 yards per route run average led the league this week, as did his 82.4 receiving grade.
Hatcher currently ranks second this season with an 80.3 receiving grade (trailing Dalton Schoen’s 80.8) and second with a 2.34 yards per route run average (trailing Kenny Lawler’s 2.67).
OFFENSIVE LINE OF THE WEEK: WINNIPEG BLUE BOMBERS
The Bombers' line, with three players earning a spot on the Team of the Week, anchored a rushing attack that gained 191 yards on 32 attempts. Almost exactly half of those yards came before first contact (49.2%). In the passing game, the line allowed just one sack and 12 total pressures. Center Chris Kolankowski led the way there, as he wasn’t defeated on a single pass-blocking snap.
It was a complete game for a Bombers offensive line that has struggled at times this season but looks to be heading in the right direction late in the season.
PASS-RUSHER OF THE WEEK: DI CASEY SAYLES, HAMILTON
With all due respect to Montreal’s Tyrice Beverette and his four sacks, Sayles was the most dominant pass-rusher in Week 17. He finished with a sack and three quarterback hurries but also recorded five other pass-rush wins. On top of that, he batted down two passes at the line of scrimmage on his way to earning the CFL's highest pass-rush grade of the week.
Sayles is having a quietly dominant season as a pass-rusher. His 84.9 pass-rush grade ranks first among interior defenders, and his 12.4% win rate ranks third. He also trails only Willie Jefferson in batted passes, with six.
RUN DEFENDER OF THE WEEK: LB BEN HLADIK, BRITISH COLUMBIA
The Lions held the Saskatchewan Roughriders to a measly 37 rushing yards on 20 designed run attempts. Only five of those yards came after first contact, as the Lions didn’t miss a tackle. The run-defense effort was spearheaded by middle linebacker Ben Hladik, who led the way with five tackles. When he wasn’t making the tackle, he was shedding his block and wreaking havoc in the Roughriders’ intended point of attack.
Hladik's 77.0 run-defense grade led the league this past week. After suffering through a bit of a rough patch midway through the season, he is putting it all together at the perfect time.
COVERAGE PLAYER OF THE WEEK: HB MASON PIERCE, TORONTO
The Argos may have been resting some players this week, but the ones who did play were not taking any snaps off. Pierce led the defense, making play after play in coverage. He was targeted multiple times and allowed only one catch for 19 yards. His close coverage all night produced one direct pass breakup and multiple incompletions. But he had everyone buzzing when he ripped a sure-fire touchdown out of the hands of Winnipeg wide receiver Rasheed Bailey for an interception in the end zone.
Pierce has been active only since Week 13, but the Argos may have a star on their hands. Over that span, the rookie ranks third in the CFL with an 88.5 coverage grade and has four pass breakups.
© 2024 PFF - all rights reserved.