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 Landon Rice
• At the unofficial halfway point of the CFL season, the Alouettes offensive line ranks first in both pass-blocking grade (76.5) and run-blocking grade (82.4).
• Star right tackle Landon Rice returned this week and performed marvelously, earning an 81.7 pass-blocking grade and a 69.9 run-blocking grade.
• On the season, Rice ranks first among qualifying CFL tackles in PFF overall grade (83.5) and run-blocking grade (81.6), while his 79.8 pass-blocking grade comes in second.
Upcoming Week: Ottawa Redblacks
The Redblacks fielded the worst-performing run defense last week, as they earned a 51.1 run-defense grade while allowing 5.8 yards per rush.
2. Winnipeg Blue Bombers (No Change)
LT Stanley Bryant
LG Geoff Gray
C Chris Kolankowski
RG Patrick Neufeld
RT Jermarcus Hardrick
• The Blue Bombers' offensive linemen have pushed themselves clear of the tier below them and are the only genuine contenders to knock Montreal out of the top spot. At the halfway point, the Bombers rank second in pass-blocking grade (63.1) and run-blocking grade (71.8).
• Jermarcus Hardrick has been the standout individual in this group. He is the highest-graded pass protector in the Western division, and he's allowed just 10 total pressures across 284 pass-blocking snaps.
Upcoming Week: Calgary Stampeders
The Stamps were incredibly stout against the run last week. Their 74.3 run-defense grade ranked second in the CFL, and they allowed a league-best 3.0 yards per rush.
3. Hamilton Tiger-Cats (Up 1)
LT Brandon Kemp
LG Brandon Revenberg
C David Beard
RG Coulter Woodmansey
RT Kendrick Sartor
• The surging Tiger-Cats enjoyed a Week 10 bye. The unit has given up 13 sacks, 10 hits and 53 hurries this season. They rank fourth in run-blocking grade (65.3) and third in pass-blocking grade (61.6).
• Center David Beard is the top pass-blocking center in the CFL this season. His 81.5 pass-blocking grade ranks first at the position, while his pressure rate of 2.6% ranks second.
Upcoming Week: Edmonton Elks
A.C. Leonard has been the Elks’ top pass-rusher this season. He has earned a 75.2 pass-rush grade with 19 total pressures, including seven sacks.
4. Toronto Argonauts (Up 1)
LT Isiah Cage
LG Ryan Hunter
C Darius Ciraco
RG Peter Nicastro
RT Dejon Allen
• Peter Nicastro (85.9), Isiah Cage (85.2) and Dejon Allen (83.9) all had marvelous games in pass protection in Week 10. All three ranked among the top four offensive linemen this past week.
• The Argonauts' offensive line ranks third in run-blocking grade (67.0) and fifth in pass-blocking grade (59.3) on the year.
Upcoming Week: BYE
5. British Columbia Lions (Down 2)
LT Jarell Broxton
LG Andrew Peirson
C Michaek Couture
RG Sukh Chungh
RT Kent Perkins
• A tough week for three starters sees the Lions fall to fifth and to the bottom of the second tier of offensive lines.
• Peirson (29.3), Chungh (35.7) and Perkins (48.3) struggled in pass protection. For Chungh and Perkins, this past week was their worst pass-blocking week of the season.
• At the halfway point, the Lions rank fourth in pass-blocking grade (59.6) and seventh in run-blocking grade (55.3).
Upcoming Week: Saskatchewan Roughriders
The Roughriders fielded the third-lowest-graded pass rush last week. The group posted a 56.9 pass-rush grade and a sixth-ranked 31.3% pass-rush win rate.
6. Saskatchewan Roughriders (No Change)
LT Eric Lofton
LG Evan Johnson
C Peter Godber
RG Logan Ferland
RT Colin Kelly
• The Roughriders rank seventh in pass-blocking grade (49.5) and sixth in run-blocking grade (57.2).
• This past week was dreadful for the Roughriders' offensive line. They combined to post a 37.2 pass-blocking grade, allowing two sacks, three hits, four hurries and nine other pass-blocking losses.
Upcoming Week: British Columbia Lions
The Lions were the CFL’s top-graded pass-rush unit last week. The Lions’ defense finished with an 83.2 pass-rush grade, a 42.9% pressure rate and an outstanding 91.9% pass-rush win rate.
7. Ottawa Redblacks (Up 1)
LT Dino Boyd
LG Hunter Steward
C Cyrille Hogan-Saindon
RG Jacob Ruby
RT Zack Pelehos
• Despite missing star left guard Drew Desjarlais, the Redblacks' offensive line earned a 68.3 overall grade and a 66.5 run-blocking grade in Week 10.
• Right tackle Zack Pelehos returned to action this week and had arguably his best performance of the season. He earned a 71.1 overall grade and an 80.5 run-blocking grade.
• At the season's midway point, the Redblacks unit ranks fifth in run-blocking grade (60.6) but ninth in pass-blocking grade (44.8).
Upcoming Week: Montreal Alouettes
Avery Ellis was the second-highest-graded pass-rusher in the CFL last week. He earned an 83.1 grade with three total pressures, including one sack.
8. Calgary Stampeders (Down 1)
LT Bryce Bell
LG Zack Williams
C Sean McEwen
RG Ryan Sceviour
RT D.J. Cooker
• It was a tough week for the Stampeders' offensive line. Ryan Sceviour (52.4), Bryce Bell (49.5), Zack Williams (54.9) and Sean McEwen (54.3) earned overall grades below 60.0.
• This past week was the unit's worst week in terms of pressure allowed. They surrendered pressure on 57.1% of their 35 snaps.
• On the season, the Stampeders rank eighth in run-blocking grade (53.5) and sixth in pass-blocking grade (50.2).
Upcoming Week: Winnipeg Blue Bombers
The Bombers fielded the CFL's top-ranked run defense last week. As a unit, they earned a 77.0 grade with eight defensive stops. The unit was led by Jackson Jeffcoat, who earned a 94.2 run-defense grade.
9. Edmonton Elks (No Change)
LT Martez Ivey
LG David Foucault
C Mark Korte
RG Tomas Jack-Kurdyla
RT Brett Boyko
• It was a fantastic week for the Elks’ offensive line in pass protection. Coming into this week, the unit was yet to earn a pass-blocking grade above 57.1. In Week 10, the group put up an 86.1 grade, allowing only two pressures and a pressure rate of 9.1% across 22 snaps.
• Despite the stellar week, they still rank as the worst group in the CFL at the halfway point. They rank ninth in run-blocking grade (53.1) and eighth in pass-blocking grade (44.8).
Upcoming Week: Hamilton Tiger-Cats
The Tiger-Cats have been below average against the run this season. They rank sixth in the CFL with a 68.9 run-defense grade.
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