Ten games are down with eight to go in the CFL season and it's a good time to look back on the first half of the 2011 campaign. As all eight teams gear up for the second-half run to the playoffs, let's examine the top performers to date and hand out some Your! Call mid-season awards. Today, we finish it off with a look at the top performers so far this season.
Who is the Most Outstanding Player at mid-season? Here are the nominees for your consideration:
Jamel Richardson - Montreal Alouettes: Statistically, Richardson may be having the best season in the league. The eight-year veteran leads the league in catches with 65 (12 more than the second leading receivers) and receiving yards with 1,015 (more than 200 yards more than his closest pursuer, Geroy Simon.) On pace for almost 2,000 yards receiving, Richardson also leads the league in touchdowns with eight. While it doesn't hurt having All-Star Anthony Calvillo throwing him the ball, it also says something that the 31-year-old import is Calvillo's No. 1 target in a loaded Montreal receiving corps.
Nik Lewis - Calgary Stampeders: While Lewis has decent stats for the year, it's his intangibles that make him so valuable for the Stampeders. Lewis is tied for second in the league in catches with 53, fourth in receiving yards with 757, and has a respectable four touchdowns through 10 games. But what can't be ranked is his leadership and compete level, not to mention his blocking prowess. Stamps QB Henry Burris - a 13-year CFL veteran - would be the first to say how valuable Lewis really is, earlier this season calling him the league's most complete receiver ever.
Ricky Ray - Edmonton Eskimos: A big reason why the Eskimos went from last place in the West Division a year ago to second place through 10 games this year is the resurgence of Ray. Some questioned whether Ray was washed up after he struggled through most of last season, but the nine-year veteran is proving that isn't the case this year. Ray is first in completion percentage (65), and fourth in yards (2,520) among starting quarterbacks, despite missing his top receiver - Fred Stamps - for three games this season due to injury. The 31-year-old is also second only to Calvillo with a 98.0 quarterback rating.
Odell Willis - Winnipeg Blue Bombers: The Bombers have already nearly doubled their win total of four from a year ago and are sitting in first place in the East Division through 10 games, and the main reason is their defence. While the offence has struggled at times, the Swaggerville D has turned Winnipeg into one of the toughest teams to play against, and leading that unit is none other than Willis - the Mayor of Swaggerville. The third-year defensive end leads the league with an eye-popping 10 sacks through 10 games (three more than the next highest players) and is a vocal leader on and off the field for the Bombers.
Anthony Calvillo - Montreal Alouettes: In more games than ever this year, the 39-year-old Calvillo appears to be showing his age. But while he may not be putting up the consistent week-to-week performances Als fans are accustomed to, the numbers don't lie - he's still having an outstanding season. Calvillo leads the league in passing yards (3,100), touchdowns (21) and quarterback rating (104.9). The 18-year veteran also surpassed Damon Allen for first overall in two major categories this year - all-time touchdown passes and completions, and will likely surpass him in a third later this year - all time passing yards. So while there may be a few more cracks showing in his armour this season, Calvillo is still putting up a very Calvillo-like season.
Kevin Glenn - Hamilton Tiger-Cats: Glenn is coming off a rough outing in Montreal in Week 11, and he probably hasn't put up the kind of consistent performances to warrant legitimate Most Outstanding Player consideration, but one thing is certain: when the Tiger-Cats win, Glenn is always a big reason why. Despite ranking just sixth in passing yards with 2,499, the 33-year-old has thrown 15 touchdowns and his 95.1 quarterback rating is third in the league. A year removed from his best season ever, Glenn may now be even more vital to the Ticats' fate.
Solomon Elimimian - B.C. Lions: An MVP candidate list that includes the Bombers' Willis, must also include Elimimian from B.C. The second-year import leads the league with 62 tackles, and adds two sacks, two interceptions, and a forced fumble. The intimidating middle linebacker will certainly garner Most Outstanding Defensive Player consideration, and if the Lions continue to improve in the second half of the season, he could find himself in the MOP mix as well.
Fred Stamps - Edmonton Eskimos: Stamps was out for a three-game span earlier this season, during which the Eskimos went 1-2; when he's in the lineup, Edmonton's record jumps to 5-2. And despite missing those three games, the five-year import is seventh in the league with 658 receiving yards, and tied for fifth with five touchdown catches. Ray's go-to guy, Stamps also likely leads the league in highlight reel catches.
Avon Cobourne - Hamilton Tiger-Cats: Cobourne is a lot like Lewis in Calgary: his stats aren't exceptional, but he more than makes up for it with his intangibles. A vocal leader, Cobourne is lauded in Hamilton for his outstanding blocking from the running back position. And while he ranks just third in rushing yards with 623 - more than 100 yards behind leading rusher and former teammate Brandon Whitaker in Montreal - the 32-year-old does lead the league in rushing touchdowns with six.
You've heard what we had to say; now it's your turn. Who is the Most Outstanding Player at the mid-way point of the season? As always, it's Your! Call.
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