Week 7 in the CFL was an undeniable drop-off from a highly entertaining Week 6 as defences dominated, offences made key mistakes, and the officials threw a zillion flags (well, not literally, but you get the point).
The CFL season has generally been entertaining so far but here’s hoping Week 8 features a lot fewer penalties and a lot more points than this last one, which left much to be desired.
These awards are selected by 3DownNation’s contributors and will be presented weekly throughout the 2024 season on Tuesday mornings. Enjoy.
Offensive player of the week: QB Jake Maier, Calgary Stampeders
The 27-year-old had an excellent day against B.C.’s tough secondary, completing 25-of-32 pass attempts for 307 yards and three touchdowns, including strikes to Reggie Begelton, Jalen Philpot, and Clark Barnes. It was Maier’s first three-touchdown performance of the season and his first game in over a month without throwing an interception. Through six games, Maier is on pace to throw 33 touchdown passes this season, which would smash his previous career high of 19.
Honourable mention: RB Brady Oliveira, Winnipeg Blue Bombers
Defensive player of the week: DL Bryce Carter, Ottawa Redblacks
The reigning East Division all-star had a relatively quiet start to the season but came to life against the Elks this past week, recording four defensive tackles, two tackles for loss, and one sack. Carter still has a long way to go to match last year’s sack total of 12, though the 26-year-old native of Steelton, Pa. and the rest of Ottawa’s defence is a big reason the Redblacks are 4-2 for the first time since 2018.
Honourable mention: DB Rolan Milligan Jr., Saskatchewan Roughriders
Special teams player of the week: KR Janarion Grant, Toronto Argonauts
Is it too early to crown Janarion Grant this year’s Most Outstanding Special Teams Player? The two-time Grey Cup champion and one-time CFL all-star recorded yet another return touchdown this past week, bringing his total to three through only six games on the season. Grant now has 11 return touchdowns on his career, putting him only one back of tying Keith Stokes and Earl Winfield for fourth all-time in league history.
Honourable mention: KR Peyton Logan, Calgary Stampeders
Breakout player of the week: REC Ajou Ajou, Saskatchewan Roughriders
The rookie out of Garden City Community College entered Friday’s game against the Blue Bombers after Kian Schaffer-Baker went down with an injury and made a huge impact, catching four passes for 110 yards. The native of Brooks, Alta. plummeted to the seventh round of the 2024 CFL Draft following a disappointing end to his collegiate career and a lackluster performance at the CFL Combine in Winnipeg but has looked like a steal since stepping on the field in Riderville.
Honourable mention: DB Tyler Richardson, Calgary Stampeders
Offensive line of the week: Saskatchewan Roughriders
It wasn’t a brilliant week for offensive lines across the CFL but the Riders stood out for how well they managed the loss of Jermarcus Hardrick, who suffered a quad injury last week that will likely cost him the rest of the season. Jacob Brammer started his first career CFL game in Hardrick’s place and the unit was solid, limiting the Blue Bombers to only one sack and helping A.J. Ouellette rush for 88 yards on 17 carries.
Honourable mention: Toronto Argonauts
Coach of the week: DC Brent Monson, Calgary Stampeders
Though a strong wind at McMahon Stadium was a factor, the Stampeders still managed to do something no other team had previously done this season: slow down B.C.’s passing game. Vernon Adams Jr. was held to 192 yards, two touchdowns, and two interceptions on Sunday night as the Lions saw their five-game winning streak come to a close. Tyler Richardson and Kobe Williams both intercepted Adams, while James Vaughters got his first sack of the season.
Honourable mention: HC Corey Mace, Saskatchewan Roughriders
BY THE TIP OF HIS TOES 😱
Jalen Philpot has incredible awareness to keep his foot inbounds on this TD!#CFLGameday on TSN & CBSSN
📲: Stream on CFL+ pic.twitter.com/bfp1erAiDM— CFL (@CFL) July 22, 2024
Best play of the week: REC Jalen Philpot, Calgary Stampeders
The former first-round pick was working against five-time West Division all-star T.J. Lee near the sideline when Jake Maier threw a 23-yard strike. Philpot maintained his body position, grasped the ball above his head, withstood contact from the defender, and got his foot in bounds by no more than an inch, resulting in a touchdown. The play was so close that the officials initially ruled that Philpot was out of bounds, though upon replay it was clear he got his toe inside the line. What a grab.
Honourable mention: REC Ontaria Wilson, Winnipeg Blue Bombers
WAIT, WHAT 🙀
William Stanback (@WillStanback28) stays with the play and turns this almost INT into positive yardage!#CFLGameday on TSN & CBSSN
📲: Stream on CFL+ pic.twitter.com/r1oZKcBqFq— CFL (@CFL) July 21, 2024
Worst play of the week: DL Charles Wiley, Calgary Stampeders
The first-year CFL edge rusher was in perfect position to intercept a screen pass intended for William Stanback but was unable to corral the ball early in his team’s win over the Lions on Sunday. Instead of making the catch, he knocked the ball into the air where it landed perfectly in Stanback’s hands for a completion. Dropping an easy interception is one thing, but volleying it into the hands of the intended receiver? Yikes. That’s bad.
Honourable mention: QB Zach Collaros, Winnipeg Blue Bombers
Best game of the week: B.C. Lions at Calgary Stampeders
Let’s be clear: this was not a good football game, though it was the best of a bad bunch in Week 7. The two teams combined for 23 penalties for 250 yards, many of which were deserved but some of which were overreaches from the officials. If nothing else, the game’s final five minutes were highly entertaining as the teams traded errors, including a fumble from Jalen Philpot that Ciante Evans was unable to recover before the ball ended up right back in the hands of Philpot.
Honourable mention: Toronto Argonauts at Hamilton Tiger-Cats
Worst game of the week: Edmonton Elks at Ottawa Redblacks
This was an ugly slugfest as the two teams combined for only 34 points, one touchdown, and 547 yards of offence. The most entertaining part of this game came after the final whistle when McLeod Bethel-Thompson doubled down on comments he made three weeks ago ripping the CFL for scheduling teams to play on short weeks, citing serious injuries sustained by Sam Acheampong, Scott Hutter, Hunter Steward, and Tobias Harris.
Honourable mention: Winnipeg Blue Bombers at Saskatchewan Roughriders
