CFL Week 9 Offensive Line Rankings: Toronto Argonauts fall to No. 5

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. Montreal Alouettes (No Change)

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

• It was a fantastic week for the Alouettes' offensive line. Kristian Matte (85.3), Justin Lawrence (82.9), Nick Callender (80.7), Pier-Olivier Lestage (77.9) and Jamar McGloster (77.8) all finished with pass-blocking grades above 77.0.
• Left tackle Nick Callender had one of his best games of the season this past week. He earned his best overall grade (76.9) and pass-blocking grade (80.7) of the year, in addition to a solid 73.3 run-blocking grade.

Upcoming Week: Saskatchewan Roughriders

• The Roughriders ranked second in the CFL last week in run-defense grade. As a unit, they earned an 82.6 grade with 12 defensive stops.

2. Winnipeg Blue Bombers (No Change)

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

• The Blue Bombers got all-star-level play from both of their tackles this past week. Stanley Bryant (85.3) and Jermarcus Hardrick (82.4) finished first and second, respectively, in pass-blocking grade among tackles.
• Left guard Geoff Gray returned to the lineup this week. He continues to struggle in pass protection, earning a 51.4 grade, but he was the top run-blocker this week, earning a 68.2 grade.

Upcoming Week: Edmonton Elks

• The Elks continue to be the only CFL defense whose run-defense grade is below 60.0; they currently sport a 45.7 grade as a defense.

3. British Columbia Lions (Up 1)

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

• This move up the rankings for the Lions is more a result of poor play from the Argonauts and not enough solid play from the Tiger-Cats to jump them yet.
• Typically solid left tackle Jarell Broxton had his worst pass-blocking game of the season. Before this week, he had a 75.4 season-long pass-blocking grade, third among qualified tackles. After earning a 46.4 pass-blocking grade and allowing two pressures, he has dropped to a 70.7 season-long grade and ranks fifth among tackles.

Upcoming Week: Calgary Stampeders

• The Stampeders were the CFL's top-graded pass rush unit last week. The Stamps' defense finished with a 74.0 grade, a 38.5% pressure rate and a 53.8% pass-rush win rate.

4. Hamilton Tiger-Cats (Up 2)

LT Brandon Kemp
LG Brandon Revenberg
C David Beard
RG Coulter Woodmansey
RT Kendrick Sartor

• Another week of excellent play sees the Tiger-Cats continue to climb up these rankings. All five starters — Brandon Revenberg (85.9), Kendrick Sartor (77.5), Brandon Kemp (73.5), Coulter Woodmansey (73.1) and David Beard (69.0) — earned 69.0-plus pass-blocking grades.
• Brandon Revenberg’s 85.9 mark was the top pass-blocking performance of any offensive lineman in the CFL last week.
• It is no surprise that when this unit has been able to stay healthy and avoid the constant changes to its lineup, it has produced great play from every starter.

Upcoming Week: BYE

5. Toronto Argonauts (Down 2)

LT Trevon Tate
LG Ryan Hunter
C Peter Nicastro
RG Gregor Mackellar
RT Dejon Allen

• A poor performance by this unit sees them drop outside of the top four. The line surrendered two sacks, two hits and six hurries this past week, earning a 39.1 grade.
• Left tackle Trevon Tate had a week to forget. He was the lowest-graded offensive lineman this week, with a 41.2 overall grade and an 8.7 pass-blocking grade.

Upcoming Week: Ottawa Redblacks

• Jovan Santos-Knox was the top-graded run-defender in the CFL last week. He earned a 91.3 grade with two defensive stops and a forced fumble.

6. Saskatchewan Roughriders (Down 1)

LT Eric Lofton
LG Evan Johnson
C Peter Godber
RG Logan Ferland
RT Colin Kelly

• Among interior offensive linemen this week, Evan Johnson (21.8) and Logan Ferland (31.9) ranked last and third to last, respectively, in pass-blocking grade.
• The Riders' offensive line also struggled in the run game this week. Across 22 attempts, the Riders’ running backs were given only 0.6 yards before contact.

Upcoming Week: Montreal Alouettes

• Mustafa Johnson's 83.5 pass-rush grade ranks as the second best in the CFL. He has four sacks, six hits and 17 hurries this season.

7. Calgary Stampeders (No Change)

LT Bryce Bell
LG Zack Williams
C Sean McEwen
RG Ryan Sceviour
RT D.J. Coker

• It was an all-around solid week for the Stampeders' offensive line; all five starters earned pass-blocking grades above 60.0. As a unit, they surrendered only four pressures and achieved their lowest pressure rate allowed of the season, at 14.8%.
• Ryan Sceviour (78.9) and D.J. Cooker (76.1) graded well as pass blockers while earning their highest grades this season.

Upcoming Week: British Columbia Lions

• The Lions fielded the lowest-graded pass-rush unit last week. The group posted a 57.6 grade, a 27.6% pressure rate and a 20.7% pass-rush win rate.

8. Ottawa Redblacks (No Change)

LT Dino Boyd
LG Drew Desjarlais
C Cyrille Hogan-Saindon
RG Hunter Steward
RT Jacob Ruby

• There have been changes along the Redblacks' line for the first time this season. Hunter Steward made his first start of the season this past week and performed well in pass protection, earning a 66.3 grade. His run-blocking was below average, leading to a 58.8 grade.
• After having his best game of the season, old right guard and new right tackle, Jacob Ruby regressed to an abysmal pass-blocking performance. He earned a 42.4 grade across 31 snaps.

Upcoming Week: Toronto Argonauts

• Folarin Orimolade is the Argonauts' top pass rusher this season. He has earned an 80.3 pass-rush grade with five sacks, seven hits and 23 hurries.

9. Edmonton Elks (No Change)

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

• The struggling Elks were on a Week 9 bye. The unit has given up 12 sacks, 16 hits and 74 hurries this season. They rank last in both overall grade and pass-blocking grade, and they rank second to last in run-blocking grade. 
• Center Mark Korte is having a fantastic year despite his surroundings. Through nine weeks, he ranks third among interior offensive linemen in pass-blocking grade (75.0).

Upcoming Week: Winnipeg Blue Bombers

• Willie Jefferson was the top pass rusher in the CFL last week. He earned a 78.1 grade with four total pressures, including 3 quarterback hits.