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, an MOP rarity is possible. A change in Ottawa might be coming. And puncturing a well-worn practice myth.<\/p>\n
RELATED A RARITY IN THE CARDS<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n With Montreal\u2019s Tyson Philpot<\/a> and Edmonton\u2019s Justin Rankin each enjoying another big week, some would say we are right on track for a rarity: Quarterbacks being shut out in the George Reed Most Outstanding Player Award final nominations.<\/p>\n Only four times in the last 30 years have we seen seasons where there hasn\u2019t been at least one quarterback nominee in the MOP finalists, the last being in 2012 when Toronto receiver\/returner Chad Owens<\/a> went up against Calgary running back Jon Cornish.<\/p>\n Philpot crushed it, again, on Saturday night, with nine catches for 132 yards and a touchdown, along with a rush for 16 more yards. Rankin was a monster in Edmonton\u2019s win on Thursday, with 107 rushing yards, 43 receiving yards and three touchdowns.<\/p>\n \u201cPhilpot and Rankin lead the MOP race.\u201d<\/p>\n THE VERDICT: Fair.<\/p>\n With CFL quarterbacks really enjoying the early going in the 2026 season, it might be hard to imagine that we might not have one of them on the final MOP ballot.<\/p>\n But as of now, Philpot is on pace to beat the single-season receiving yardage (2,036) and receptions (160) records, currently sitting at 719 yards and 45 catches after five games.<\/p>\n Rankin is on course to become the first ever 1,000-1,000 man (rushing and receiving) in CFL history, with 519 yards on carries and 297 more in receptions.<\/p>\n As great as CFL pivots have been, right now they are chasing a receiver and a running back in the MOP race.<\/p>\n FROM FIREWORKS TO GRIND-IT-OUT<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n In the wake of the Hamilton Tiger-Cats\u2019 38-7 loss to the Saskatchewan Roughriders, most of the talk will be around an offence that had been all pistons pumping being stymied in the wake of the injury to quarterback Bo Levi Mitchell.<\/p>\n While that offence, under the direction of Jake Dolegala<\/a>, couldn\u2019t manage to get on track in a sweltering Mosaic Stadium oven, the Hamilton defence hung very tough under the big load it was shouldering, until that load and the oppressive heat forced an inevitable wilting in the fourth quarter.<\/p>\n \u201cThe defence is now gonna have to carry the Ticats.\u201d<\/p>\n THE VERDICT: Fair. For the short term, at least.<\/p>\n While head coach Scott Milanovich sorts out the puzzle that is life without Bo as the offensive trigger man, the Ticats will need that defence to rise to the occasion until the Hamilton offence gets some of its breath back.<\/p>\n The good news is that the defence does look quite capable of doing that, meaning the offence doesn\u2019t need to \u2014 nor should it be expected to \u2014 get back to the level it saw under Mitchell\u2019s direction, in order for the Ticats to return to the win column.<\/p>\n \u201cIf I execute, we\u2019ll be fine,\u201d said quarterback Jake Dolegala<\/a>.<\/p>\n That, then, is the key question. Do the Ticats have a quarterback who can make just a little magic with that elite stable of pass-catchers?<\/p>\n On that one it\u2019s \u2018too soon to tell.\u2019<\/p>\n ENTER MCBETH?<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n With an oh-and-five record, and an extra long week to prepare for the visiting Winnipeg Blue Bombers in Week 7, there\u2019s a sense among some that the Ottawa REDBLACKS could really use a change at quarterback ahead of that game, and that they ought to turn to McLeod Bethel-Thompson<\/a> as the starter this Sunday night.<\/p>\n \u201cTime for a tendency-breaker. Maier to QB2.\u201d<\/p>\n THE VERDICT: Fair. But\u2026<\/p>\n Yup, Jake Maier<\/a> has started in all five of Ottawa\u2019s losses, and sometimes you change things up in order to reconfigure a team\u2019s aura. The fiery Bethel-Thompson could add some spice to the general temperament, \u2018tis true.<\/p>\n As for the general prosperity of the Ottawa offence going forward, whether it\u2019s Bethel-Thompson or Maier back of centre, it would be a boon if the REDBLACKS could fire up a rushing game that entered Week 6 in last in the CFL, and whose game average of 65.3 yards (last in attempts as well with 59) took a hit against Edmonton, with 25 yards on 10 runs.<\/p>\n Is this a dagger I see before me?<\/p>\n Could very well be if that dagger is an activated running back Greg Bell.<\/p>\n A SHORT WEEK AND A NEW STARTING QB IS AN IMPOSSIBLE HURDLE TO OVERCOME<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n The Winnipeg Blue Bombers were hoping that starting quarterback Zach Collaros<\/a> could go against the Toronto Argonauts, but he couldn\u2019t, and that meant that newly-reacquired pivot Dru Brown<\/a> was in to start on Friday night.<\/p>\n Brown had one full practice with first team reps in order to prepare for the game and so the \u201cconventional\u201d wisdom was that the Argos would come in with quite an advantage.<\/p>\n \u201cHe can\u2019t be effective with that little time to prepare.\u201d<\/p>\n THE VERDICT: Overreaction.<\/p>\n Brown sure looked pretty good going 25\/31 for 339 yards and a touchdown (as well as a long bomb interception) in a 30-21 win over Toronto.<\/p>\n Scant opportunity for prep, sure, but head coach Mike O\u2019Shea pointed to a quality that Brown has and that his success came down to good ol\u2019 preparatory effort.<\/p>\n \u201cHe works his ass off,\u201d O\u2019Shea said.<\/p>\n I\u2019ve said this before and here I am to say it again; Short week, shmort week.<\/p>\n YOU JUST CAN\u2019T MAKE INEXCUSABLE MISTAKES LIKE THAT AT CRITICAL MOMENTS<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cToo many men on the field? That CANNOT happen.\u201d<\/p>\n THE VERDICT: Overreaction.<\/p>\n Turns out you CAN make inexcusable mistakes at critical moments.<\/p>\n And that mistake can actually help you. As the old proverb goes: Good luck? Bad luck? Who\u2019s to say?<\/p>\n Ask the Blue Bombers, who were forced to take a timeout when they thought they might have 13 men on the field as Toronto was\u00a0 about to kick a field goal, a field goal that would\u2019ve cut Winnipeg\u2019s fourth quarter lead to five points.<\/p>\n
\u00bb Justin Rankin, defence lead Elks over REDBLACKS<\/a>
\u00bb Blue Bombers hold on to defeat Argonauts at home<\/a>
\u00bb Balanced Alouettes attack fuels win over Stampeders<\/a>
\u00bb Roughriders take care of Tiger-Cats in dominant win<\/a>
\u00bb\u00a0Buy tickets for the 2026 CFL season<\/a>
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