Here are the 15 things to watch in 2015 and the big question for each of them:
1) RULE BOOK
The CFL grabbed an eraser and went to town on its rule book over the winter in an effort to increase scoring, making drastic changes to the way the game is played. Illegal contact will be prohibited five yards past the line of scrimmage, giving quarterbacks and receivers more breathing room. The five down linemen on punt teams can?t go down field until the ball is kicked, which should result in longer returns and reduce no-yards penalties. Finally, converts will be kicked from the 32 instead of the 12, and two-point converts will be scrimmaged at the three instead of the five. How big of an impact will the rule changes make?
2) UGLY SCHEDULES
The schedule is once again ugly for the vagabond Toronto Argonauts and Hamilton Tiger-Cats. The Pan Am Games and Toronto Blue Jays are preventing the Boatmen from playing their first game at Rogers Centre until Aug. 8. The Ticats are out of Tim Hortons Field until Aug. 4, because of the Pan Am Games. How much will that affect how these teams play?
3) SCHEDULE DEBATE
This won?t happen until the fall, but you can bet the debate about moving the season up a couple of weeks will continue. Playing the Grey Cup in Winnipeg on Nov. 29 is a huge risk when it comes to fan enjoyment, and it could be the straw that breaks the camel?s back. Most teams are pushing for the season to move up so playoff games are contested in more comfortable conditions for fans. Will the CFL, and more importantly, TSN, finally smarten up and pull the trigger?
4) FASTER GAMES
Ever feel like you could do The New York Times crossword puzzle during a CFL stoppage in play? You?re not alone. In addition to the rule changes, the CFL is desperate to reduce the number of stoppages during its games. It wants a quick pace, and measures have been taken for that to happen, including the officials wearing head sets. Will the games actually feel faster this year?
5) MORE OFFENCE
Scoring plummeted last season, with B.C.?s 7-5 win over Ottawa a personal favourite for Dog?s Breakfast of the Year. The new rules are intended to increase scoring, but the offences across the league will have to do their parts as well. Defences are dominating these days. The good news is with the exception of Trevor Harris starting in place of the injured Ricky Ray, all starting quarterbacks are back this year. Then again, that might be bad news. What are offences going to do to put a little more pizzazz back into the three-down game?
6) BACK-TO-BACK
Only two organizations ? Toronto in 1997 and Montreal in 2010 ? have won back-to-back Grey Cups since the Edmonton Eskimos captured five straight in the late 1970s and early ?80s. The Calgary Stampeders are the only team that has a chance to do it this season, and many believe they?ll be able to do it in John Hufnagel?s final season as head coach. This question is simple: Will the Stamps be able to do it again?
7) ROOKIE IMPACT
They called last month?s draft one of the best in years thanks to eligibility changes that made many more players available to be picked this year. Personnel people last year were bemoaning the lack of Canadian talent available as a result, but it looks like the stock has been replenished. Of all the players from the first four rounds who tried out for the teams that picked them, only one failed to stick with his team in one form or another. How much of an impact will the draft picks have this year?
8) CORNISH FOR 2,000?
Stampeders running back Jon Cornish won the rushing title last season despite playing just nine games. If he can do that every year and the Stampeders win the Grey Cup, why would they play him more? Running back is the most punishing position on the football field. That being said, if Cornish does play an entire season, could he hit 2,000 yards this season?
9) REDBLACKS
The Ottawa RedBlacks won just two games in their inaugural season, but that was cool with everyone in the nation?s capital. TD Place was sold out every game, and the team brass expects that to be the case again in 2015. They looked terrible in the pre-season, however, and the pass they got for being an expansion team will expire soon. How many games will the RedBlacks win?
10) QB HEALTH
The health of the league?s quarterbacks will be under the microscope this season, as three of the CFL?s premier passers are coming off serious injuries. Toronto?s Ricky Ray will begin the campaign on the six-game injured list, while B.C.?s Travis Lulay is back after missing all but one game last year because of his throwing shoulder. Saskatchewan?s Darian Durant is healthy again after tearing a tendon in his right elbow. How long will Lulay last, how will Durant fare, and when will Ray be back ? if at all?
11) NEW KID IN TOWN
There?s only one new head coach in the league this year, although he?s been in the league before. Lions GM Wally Buono tapped his old friend, Jeff Tedford, on the shoulder to replace Mike Benevides in Vancouver. Tedford was with Buono in Calgary in the early 1990s, when they revolutionized the CFL offence with six receiver sets. Will Tedford, who spent the past 20 years in the U.S., be able to bring something new and exciting to the league this year?
12) FAT CFL CONTRACTS
The CFL lost a good chunk of talent to the NFL in the off-season, including more Canadians than usual. Calgary centre Brett Jones, Saskatchewan right tackle Ben Heenan and Edmonton guard Matt O?Donnell are three Canucks who made the move down south. How fat will their new CFL contracts be if they get cut and decide to return north?
13) DRUG POLICY
It looks like the World Anti-Doping Agency is going to be like a pit bull on a bone when it comes to the CFL?s lax drug policy. WADA wants the CFL to start punishing first-time offenders and also not reward CIS players who test positive for performance-enhancing drugs by drafting them. Will the CFL and the CFLPA give in to WADA?s demands and toughen up their drug policy?
14) ARGOS NEED MOMENTUM
The Argos have a new owner and a new place to play their home games, but neither is going to come into effect until 2016. That makes this an intriguing transition year with a couple of questions. How many people attend games in their last year at Rogers Centre? How do they build momentum going into BMO Field next year?
15) RIDERS COACHES
Ottawa and Winnipeg were the two worst teams last season, so both organizations will no doubt be looking for improvement this year. That puts both teams? GMs and head coaches on watch, if nothing else. Last year?s other non-playoff team, the Argos, just gave GM Jim Barker and head coach Scott Milanovich three-year extensions, so they?re safe. Patience is not a virtue found often in football-mad Saskatchewan. Is GM Brendan Taman or head coach Corey Chamblin toast if the Riders struggle early?
1) RULE BOOK
The CFL grabbed an eraser and went to town on its rule book over the winter in an effort to increase scoring, making drastic changes to the way the game is played. Illegal contact will be prohibited five yards past the line of scrimmage, giving quarterbacks and receivers more breathing room. The five down linemen on punt teams can?t go down field until the ball is kicked, which should result in longer returns and reduce no-yards penalties. Finally, converts will be kicked from the 32 instead of the 12, and two-point converts will be scrimmaged at the three instead of the five. How big of an impact will the rule changes make?
2) UGLY SCHEDULES
The schedule is once again ugly for the vagabond Toronto Argonauts and Hamilton Tiger-Cats. The Pan Am Games and Toronto Blue Jays are preventing the Boatmen from playing their first game at Rogers Centre until Aug. 8. The Ticats are out of Tim Hortons Field until Aug. 4, because of the Pan Am Games. How much will that affect how these teams play?
3) SCHEDULE DEBATE
This won?t happen until the fall, but you can bet the debate about moving the season up a couple of weeks will continue. Playing the Grey Cup in Winnipeg on Nov. 29 is a huge risk when it comes to fan enjoyment, and it could be the straw that breaks the camel?s back. Most teams are pushing for the season to move up so playoff games are contested in more comfortable conditions for fans. Will the CFL, and more importantly, TSN, finally smarten up and pull the trigger?
4) FASTER GAMES
Ever feel like you could do The New York Times crossword puzzle during a CFL stoppage in play? You?re not alone. In addition to the rule changes, the CFL is desperate to reduce the number of stoppages during its games. It wants a quick pace, and measures have been taken for that to happen, including the officials wearing head sets. Will the games actually feel faster this year?
5) MORE OFFENCE
Scoring plummeted last season, with B.C.?s 7-5 win over Ottawa a personal favourite for Dog?s Breakfast of the Year. The new rules are intended to increase scoring, but the offences across the league will have to do their parts as well. Defences are dominating these days. The good news is with the exception of Trevor Harris starting in place of the injured Ricky Ray, all starting quarterbacks are back this year. Then again, that might be bad news. What are offences going to do to put a little more pizzazz back into the three-down game?
6) BACK-TO-BACK
Only two organizations ? Toronto in 1997 and Montreal in 2010 ? have won back-to-back Grey Cups since the Edmonton Eskimos captured five straight in the late 1970s and early ?80s. The Calgary Stampeders are the only team that has a chance to do it this season, and many believe they?ll be able to do it in John Hufnagel?s final season as head coach. This question is simple: Will the Stamps be able to do it again?
7) ROOKIE IMPACT
They called last month?s draft one of the best in years thanks to eligibility changes that made many more players available to be picked this year. Personnel people last year were bemoaning the lack of Canadian talent available as a result, but it looks like the stock has been replenished. Of all the players from the first four rounds who tried out for the teams that picked them, only one failed to stick with his team in one form or another. How much of an impact will the draft picks have this year?
8) CORNISH FOR 2,000?
Stampeders running back Jon Cornish won the rushing title last season despite playing just nine games. If he can do that every year and the Stampeders win the Grey Cup, why would they play him more? Running back is the most punishing position on the football field. That being said, if Cornish does play an entire season, could he hit 2,000 yards this season?
9) REDBLACKS
The Ottawa RedBlacks won just two games in their inaugural season, but that was cool with everyone in the nation?s capital. TD Place was sold out every game, and the team brass expects that to be the case again in 2015. They looked terrible in the pre-season, however, and the pass they got for being an expansion team will expire soon. How many games will the RedBlacks win?
10) QB HEALTH
The health of the league?s quarterbacks will be under the microscope this season, as three of the CFL?s premier passers are coming off serious injuries. Toronto?s Ricky Ray will begin the campaign on the six-game injured list, while B.C.?s Travis Lulay is back after missing all but one game last year because of his throwing shoulder. Saskatchewan?s Darian Durant is healthy again after tearing a tendon in his right elbow. How long will Lulay last, how will Durant fare, and when will Ray be back ? if at all?
11) NEW KID IN TOWN
There?s only one new head coach in the league this year, although he?s been in the league before. Lions GM Wally Buono tapped his old friend, Jeff Tedford, on the shoulder to replace Mike Benevides in Vancouver. Tedford was with Buono in Calgary in the early 1990s, when they revolutionized the CFL offence with six receiver sets. Will Tedford, who spent the past 20 years in the U.S., be able to bring something new and exciting to the league this year?
12) FAT CFL CONTRACTS
The CFL lost a good chunk of talent to the NFL in the off-season, including more Canadians than usual. Calgary centre Brett Jones, Saskatchewan right tackle Ben Heenan and Edmonton guard Matt O?Donnell are three Canucks who made the move down south. How fat will their new CFL contracts be if they get cut and decide to return north?
13) DRUG POLICY
It looks like the World Anti-Doping Agency is going to be like a pit bull on a bone when it comes to the CFL?s lax drug policy. WADA wants the CFL to start punishing first-time offenders and also not reward CIS players who test positive for performance-enhancing drugs by drafting them. Will the CFL and the CFLPA give in to WADA?s demands and toughen up their drug policy?
14) ARGOS NEED MOMENTUM
The Argos have a new owner and a new place to play their home games, but neither is going to come into effect until 2016. That makes this an intriguing transition year with a couple of questions. How many people attend games in their last year at Rogers Centre? How do they build momentum going into BMO Field next year?
15) RIDERS COACHES
Ottawa and Winnipeg were the two worst teams last season, so both organizations will no doubt be looking for improvement this year. That puts both teams? GMs and head coaches on watch, if nothing else. Last year?s other non-playoff team, the Argos, just gave GM Jim Barker and head coach Scott Milanovich three-year extensions, so they?re safe. Patience is not a virtue found often in football-mad Saskatchewan. Is GM Brendan Taman or head coach Corey Chamblin toast if the Riders struggle early?
