Welcome to Overreaction Monday, where we look back on the previous week\u2019s action and root out some angles that could be prone to hot takes that might be a tad over the top. Either from fans and the media in general or, maybe just specifically me.<\/p>\n
Then, I\u2019ll render a verdict as to whether I think it\u2019s an \u201coverreaction\u201d, a \u201cfair\u201d assessment, or if it\u2019s \u201ctoo soon to tell.\u201d<\/p>\n
This week, how much love is too much love for the Argos?<\/p>\n
Same question when it comes to Edmonton quarterback Cody Fajardo<\/a> and also the Calgary defensive line.<\/p>\n RELATED TO THE TOP OF THE POWER RANKINGS THEY GO<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n That was some kind of statement win by the Toronto Argonauts on Friday night. In an explosive \u2014 if uneven \u2014 performance against the Saskatchewan Roughriders, the Argos made a statement to all who had them ninth on the preseason power rankings list.<\/p>\n \u201cThey beat the number one guys, the defending champs. So they\u2019re tops now, right?\u201d<\/p>\n THE VERDICT: Overreaction. That\u2019s not how the power rankings work, in my eyes, otherwise we\u2019d have teams changing places with each other very week based only on that week\u2019s results. They are a cumulative mix of trends over a few weeks, although, sure, they can be a bit more mercurial in the early going based on smaller sample size.<\/p>\n The Argos have earned a big bump in the rankings, make no mistake. \u201cNinth? Pffft,\u201d they say (echoing the 2023 Montreal Alouettes).<\/p>\n They have a ways to go before they can lay claim the top rung, however. Right now, at least, they are looking capable of that.<\/p>\n RUN FOR YOUR LIVES, QUARTERBACKS<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Defensive tackle Jaylon Hutchings is back. So is defensive end Folarin Orimolade<\/a>.<\/p>\n And the Calgary Stampeders sacked BC quarterback Nathan Rourke<\/a> four times in a 41-33 victory; one each for Hutchings and Orimolade and one each for Charles Wiley<\/a> and Miles Brown. Those four had 10 tackles between them.<\/p>\n Would have been five sacks had Clarence Hicks<\/a> not had his own nullified by a Calgary penalty.<\/p>\n \u201cThe Stamps have the best D-line in the CFL.\u201d<\/p>\n THE VERDICT: Overreaction. Maybe. With a taste of \u2018too soon to tell\u2019 mixed in. But man, oh man did that unit shout from the rooftops on Saturday. The verdict may be upgraded to \u2018fair,\u2019 very soon.<\/p>\n PROBLEMS: SOLVED<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n The Ottawa REDBLACKS didn\u2019t get the win in Montreal on Sunday night, but a second-half offensive burst has to have them feeling optimistic about the unit moving forward.<\/p>\n Quarterback Jake Maier\u2019s halftime line might have had friends of McLeod Bethel-Thompson<\/a> texting \u201cyou might need to be ready for next week\u201d to the newly-signed veteran, but in the final 30, the tumblers really clicked and Maier finished the night going 27-for-38 (71 per cent) for 336 yards and three touchdowns, leaving a first half interception far away in the rearview.<\/p>\n \u201cThat Ottawa offence is on track now.\u201d<\/p>\n THE VERDICT: Too soon to tell. While there were so many encouraging signs \u2014 Maier getting synced up with receiver Justin Hardy<\/a> looms large \u2014 we all know that stacking efforts is the way to continued success for any football player.<\/p>\n But that second half performance could be very telling.<\/p>\n SHOULDN\u2019T HE BE IN THAT CONVERSATION?<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n It seems to me that talk of who the elite quarterbacks are has been restricted to a handful of names, with none of those names being that of Cody Fajardo<\/a>, by and large.<\/p>\n With less fanfare, maybe less flair, Fajardo has been instrumental in getting his team off to a three-and-oh start.<\/p>\n Statistics push the QB narrative and the 34-year-old does not have the noisy numbers of the usual suspects, so far, that\u2019s true. So his name comes up, generally, when talk of quarterbacks widens.<\/p>\n But he certainly has the sandpaper, the determination levels of elite-status quarterbacks.<\/p>\n \u201cCody Fajardo<\/a> deserves full membership in the \u2018elite quarterbacks\u2019 club.\u201d<\/p>\n THE VERDICT: Fair.<\/p>\n Fajardo\u2019s football talents are top-tier, and his team leadership skills might be the best at the position in the entire CFL. Certainly, he does not take a backseat to anyone in that latter category, does he?<\/p>\n On Thursday night, in Winnipeg, Fajardo spent most of the second half being stymied by the activities of the Blue Bombers\u2019 defence, including the possession that immediately followed the touchdown and convert that gave Winnipeg an 18-17 lead.<\/p>\n On his last chance, though, Fajardo leveled up and marched the Elks\u2019 offence 57 yards, going 6\/7 for 48 yards in the air \u2014 including an eight-yard TD strike to TJ Luther<\/a> with 53 seconds remaining. He also rushed for two, hard-traffic first downs on the drive as well.<\/p>\n Not the first time he\u2019s done something like that, I write, remembering the 110th Grey Cup game in 2023.<\/p>\n THE NEXT DALTON SCHOEN<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n
\u00bb\u00a0Alouettes fend off late REDBLACKS push<\/a>
\u00bb\u00a0Stampeders spoil the party in Kelowna to earn first win of season<\/a>
\u00bb Tyler Kahmann<\/a>\u00a0scores twice in Argos\u2019 road win over Riders<\/a>
\u00bb\u00a0Elks hold off Bombers on Thursday to win third straight<\/a><\/p>\n