ESKIMOS MID-SEASON GRADING
BY DARREN POPOWICH

Rather than evaluate Friday night's Edmonton Eskimos 33-25 win over the Saskatchewan Roughriders a complete mid-Season Eskimos grading from The Boneyard:

Coaching Grading: B-

Jason Maas is not without his detractors, but he has the offense first in passing yards, scoring and top three in many other offensive categories. Maas has his quarterback on track to be the second highest single season passer all-time in the CFL and two receivers that lead the CFL in receiving. The rookie head coach has been a good teacher, leader and play caller with an inclusive style.

On the defensive side of the ball Mike Benevides has been much maligned by Eskimo and non-Eskimo fans alike. Nevertheless, Benevides has chosen to ignore the hoard and go about his business. He has called for patience while development is in progress, but some have chosen to disregard that plea. At times throughout the season it has been hard to watch the passive zone scheme, but it has been impressive to see it slowly evolve to a tighter zone designed to jump routes. Benevides scheme is all about a ball hawking secondary coverage with a straight up pass rush that collapses the pocket from the inside out. It has taken time and it has evolved, in part as a result Benevides coaching and in part due to veteran player signings.

The overall coaching grade would be higher except for Cory McDiarmid's coaching effort on special teams. Overall the special teams has been the weakest of all three phases with the exception of Sean Whyte's kicking game. McDiarmid uses some strange bunch formations that are designed to disguise which side will be overloaded. However, it seems the coverage teams have been burnt for bigger games as a result of this scheme. The return game has been largely a disaster and while that is on personnel the blocking schemes are unimaginative.

Offense Grading: A-

Overall the offense has been good. However, there have been hiccups at inopportune times that have killed drives, caused turnovers and have held back the offense. The Esks have moved the football well, but have had a tough time on occasion in the red zone. All things considered the offense merits an A-.

Quarterbacks Grading: A

Led by Mike Reilly who is having his best season as a CFL starter with a 104.9 quarterback rating. Reilly is on track to pass for around 6200 yards. A number that would put him in the conversation concerning second on the all-time single season passing record. A record owned by Kent Austin and would put Reilly behind Doug Flutie. Nonetheless, it is Reilly's leadership and ability to put the team on his shoulders to win games that has him in the MOP conversation. James Franklin and Jordan Lynch have both been non-factors this season so far. However, both have solid skills and can contribute at a reasonable level if required to do so.
Running Backs Grading: B+

The primary back John White has four touchdowns and a just under seventy-eight combined receiving and rushing yards per game. His numbers have been a bit of a disappointment this season, but the running game has been coming along of late. Case in point was Shakir Bell's performance on Friday night.

Expectations remain high for both White and Bell to not only run the ball, but also be a a receiving back. White’s pass blocking has been exceptional and better than Bell's keeping White in as the primary back. Calvin McCarty has filled in nicely two games ago after White’s injury, but expect Shakir Bell needs to be mixed in going forward. McCarty blocks better than Bell, but Bell is shifter and faster.

Receivers Grading: A-

Adarius Bowman and Derel Walker are first and third in total yards receiving making them the best tandem in the CFL right now. Bowman was on pace to break Allen Pitts single season record for most yards of 2,036. However, he has slipped some over the last two games and needs a big effort to get back on track. The rest of the receiving corps with the exception of big play receiver Cory Watson have been largely unremarkable. Nate Coehoorn has a reception rate of fifty-two percent and Chris Getzlaf is slightly better at sixty-six percent making it imperative that both pick up their play. Devon Bailey has been a non-factor as the third receiver option mostly due to an injury. With a fourth shallow route receiving option and a consistent big play third receiver this crew would be an A+, but until then it remains an A-.
Offensive Line Grading: C+

The Esks offensive line has given up a less than two sacks per game. A respectable stat that is good enough for second in the CFL. Conversely the Hamilton and Winnipeg game seen the line give up three sacks per game and a ton of hurries. The reality is this veteran ladened group who has played well, but incontinently at times. Matt O'Donnell, Simeon Rottier and D'Anthony Batiste have been better than average with O'Donnell and Batiste playing superb football of late. The rest of the line has been a mix of average and ugly. Justin Sorensen needs to be more consistent while Tony Washington needs to be much better on the pass rush. If it wasn’t for Mike Reilly moving the launch point and rushing the ball the Esks would not be tied second overall for sacks allowed.

For the Defense and Special Teams Rankings go to my new magazine blog called the Boneyard: http://yegboneyard.blogspot.ca/2016/...n-grading.html