Ratio round-up: Lions, Esks, Stamps

Achieving success in the CFL is nearly impossible without quality Canadian content. National players fill 21 of each team’s 44 roster spots, at least seven of whom must start. Aside from quarterback play, Canadian content is the biggest factor in determining season-long success in the CFL.

For CFL general managers, finding seven starting-calibre Canadians is one of the toughest parts of their job. Finding seven solid players to back them up may be the toughest.

Teams scour free agency, the draft, and local junior football clubs for players they feel can contribute as either a starter, back-up or special teamer.

With this in mind, my three-part Ratio Round-Up series will seek to review how each team navigated the ratio last season and project how they may approach it in 2017.

B.C. Lions

The Lions were very consistent in their approach to the ratio last season, starting national players in the same seven positions in all eighteen regular season games.

2016 Ratio Structure

B.C.’s ratio structure from a season ago was very similar to their approach in 2015, the lone change being the decision to start Canadians at both the wide receiver spots. This change was propagated by the departure of starting national running back Andrew Harris in free agency.

The Lions appear set to make one ratio change for the second consecutive year following the departure of Canadian defensive tackle Jabar Westerman in free agency.

2017 Ratio Projection

With Westerman now in Montreal, B.C. appears primed to start two Canadians in the secondary. Mike Edem and Eric Fraser are both capable safeties, while Keynan Parker (fresh off a two-year contract extension) showed flashes during spot duty at strong-side cornerback last season. Anthony Thompson, B.C.’s second round pick from a season ago, possesses the athleticism to play cornerback at the CFL level, while Matt Bucknor, signed in February, started 36 games at strong-side cornerback for the Bombers from 2014-2015.

#BCLions in negotiations with both DB Matt Buckner & DE DeQuinn Evans. Leos seem committed to starting 2 Canadian DBs. #CFLFA

— Farhan Lalji (@FarhanLaljiTSN) February 14, 2017

This quintet should provide the Leos with enough talent and depth to start two Canadians in the secondary, completing their ratio.

The future of Shawn Gore’s career may further impact the Lions’ ratio structure in 2017. Gore, who will turn 30 next month, is coming off the best season of his career that saw him post 59 receptions for 835 yards and three touchdowns in sixteen games. Concussions have limited Gore in the past and he may choose to avoid allowing them to impact his future.

Sounding more and more like Shawn Gore will be retiring from football. #BCLions #CFL

— BCLionsDen 🇨🇦 🍁 (@BCLionsDen) February 16, 2017

If Gore retires, the Lions may elect to start just one national wide receiver this upcoming season. If this is the case, expect fourth-year man David Menard to start at defensive tackle with his back-up coming from a strong 2017 defensive line draft class.

Calgary Stampeders

The Stamps have utilized the same ratio structure for many seasons and 2016 was no exception.

2016 Ratio Structure

Calgary has the deepest pool of Canadian offensive linemen in the CFL, allowing them to consistently start four national hogs despite significant injuries to Pierre Lavertu, Dan Federkeil, and Karl Lavoie in recent years. This group will serve as the core of the Stamps’ ratio structure next season and beyond.

If Calgary’s ratio had one weakness a season ago it was the lack of a Canadian back-up for running back Jerome Messam. The Stamps would be forced to make an adjustment elsewhere on the roster in the event of an in-game injury to the CFL’s reigning Most Outstanding Canadian, a significant inconvenience for a team that thrives on consistency.

2017 Ratio Projection

This issue has been taken care of for 2017. Not only did the Stamps add a veteran Canadian running back in Anthony Woodson, but they also promoted 2016 first rounder Alex Singleton to the starting middle linebacker spot late last season. Starting eight Canadians — one more than the minimum of seven — means that Calgary will not have to make any adjustments to its ratio in case of an injury to one of its national starters.

Edmonton Eskimos

The Esks were the only CFL team to consistently start three Canadian receivers in 2016, a trend that is expected to continue this upcoming season.

2016 Ratio Structure

Chris Getzlaf wasn’t re-signed following a disappointing 41-reception season, but Shamawd Chambers — now in his second stint with the club — should replace him in the starting line-up.

2017 Ratio Projection

The potential flaw with Edmonton’s approach to the ratio is the club’s lack of Canadian depth in the receiving corps. The Eskimos dealt with this short-coming a season ago by starting national Eddie Steele at defensive tackle when Cory Watson missed a stretch of games due to injury, allowing for international Greg Zylstra to replace the Canadian slotback. Edmonton no longer has the option of starting a national defensive tackle following the release of Steele last month and the departure of Don Oramasionwu in free agency.

A change along the offensive line appears likely should the Esks lose a starting Canadian receiver to injury in 2017. 2015 draftees Danny Groulx and David Beard should be ready to start, but incumbents Rottier, Sorensen, and O’Donnell have the three interior spots locked down. Is it possible that Groulx, a dominant tackle at Laval, becomes the Esks’ new starting right tackle? Or does O’Donnell, once considered a tackle prospect with the NFL’s Cincinnati Bengals, shift outside to allow Groulx to take over at guard?

Time will tell.

Stay tuned for parts two (Riders, Bombers, Argos) and three (Ticats, Redblacks, Als) of the Ratio Round-Up in the coming days.