Post Pre-Season Power Rankings

With the regular season about to start, I better get these up.

1. Toronto Argonauts
After the last pre-season game with Hamilton, the fact remains that the Argos quarterback Ricky Ray is a known, decent quality. He's only got so much downside barring injury. I'm assuming that the Argos defence will again be good, if only because the Argos usually start five Canadians on the offensive line so they barely start any Canadians on defence.

2. Calgary Stampeders
The Stamps didn't look all that great in the last pre-season game, however at least John Hufnagel is going to start Bo Levi Mitchell ahead of Drew Tate at quarterback. They've still got Jon Cornish so they should be OK.

3. Hamilton Tiger-Cats
Didn't do anything that great against the Argos and the assumed starter Collaros hasn't been overpowering. Not having Andy Fantuz due to injury definitely hurts, as these power rankings are based on what the team will be able to do the coming week. The Cats are pretty deep in Canadian talent so the effect shouldn't be terrible. C.J. Gable will probably be leaned on on.

4. Saskatchewan Rough Riders
The Riders are the defending Grey Cup champs, but they lost a lot of important pieces from that team. I'm not sure how much to expect.

5. BC Lions
No Travis Lulay in week one, but they have Kevin Glenn to pick up the slack. They've still got Andrew Harris plus whatever talent Wally Buono has managed to unearth. Plus they have an envious record against EST teams so there's that.

6. Montreal Alouettes
None of the Alouette quarterbacks were impressive in the pre-season and much talked about signing Chad Johnson caught a pass. Tom Higgins has been historically an effective coach so we'll see what happens. The offensive co-ordinator has already been torched and replaced by Ryan Dinwiddie of all people. I'm assuming Jim Popp won't torch Higgins midway through the season, but I won't be totally surprised either.

7. Winnipeg Blue Bombers
Some year the Bombers have to get better. Probably not this year, but it has to happen eventually.

8. Edmonton Eskimos
It probably isn't a good sign when you're clamping down on reporter access  during the pre-season. Mike Reilly looks to be a decent quarterback, although I'm assuming he'll be spending a lot of time running for his life and at some point carted off with a concussion.

9. Ottawa Redblacks
They're an expansion team. Haven't looked shabby. But without seeing any real game experience this is where they have to go. I'm assuming depth will kill them.