Top 25 Canadians in the CFL

Peterson has always been one of the CFL's most physically gifted players but, prior to joining the Eskimos in 2007, fans saw only glimpses of how good he could be (931 yards as a sophomore with Calgary). In Edmonton though, he has rediscovered his confidence and developed the consistency to be a legitimate go-to guy, and earn a well deserved Most Outstanding Canadian Award in '08.

Since 2004, no one in the CFL, Canadian or American, has registered more quarterback sacks than Johnson. Aside from his obvious value in that regard, it's also important to consider that he's a rarity as a Canadian who plays wideside (rush) end.

Most people look at Ben Cahoon and see Clark Kent but his seven consecutive 1000-yard seasons suggest something closer to Superman. Often defined by his great hands, and superior route running skills, this future Hall of Famer also possesses significantly higher degrees of athleticism and toughness than most people give him credit for. Despite approaching his thirty-seventh birthday, he shows no signs of slowing down, as evidenced by his leading 107 receptions last season.

It may seem like a cop out to have two teammates share one spot in the rankings but considering that they will share the Esks tailback job, possess different skill sets, and only become ratio breakers as a combination, it makes sense. In a nutshell, Lumsden's 6.7 yards per carry (second among the league's starting running backs) and McCarty 70 receptions (led all running backs) make this a very dynamic duo.

Jackson's production has increased in each successive year of his six year career. With that in mind, 2009 should be yet another career year, particularly in light of his full-time move from wide receiver to the busier slotback position to replace the departed Jason Clermont. Jackson should still be considered a potential ratio breaker though, as he is a prototypical shortside wide receiver.

In three down football, there's no such thing as “just a kicker”. It's hard enough to find one who combines a high level of accuracy with a range that extends to the fifty-five yard line. It's nearly impossible to find one who combines those traits with the confidence to consistently perform in critical situations. Enter DeAngelis, who proved in the '08 Grey Cup that he is the CFL's best clutch performer.

Some might expect that the broken leg that kept Fantuz out of eleven games last season would hurt his ranking. That's not the case though, considering that the numbers he posted in '08, projected over an eighteen game schedule, would've ranked him in the league's top five in receiving...and his best game came after the injury.

After an injury-filled 2008, it seems like many people around the CFL are ready to write off Jason Clermont. It's true that his physical style may be starting to take its toll but he is just a year removed from being named the league's Top Canuck.

Since 2001, the defensive line has consistently been listed as one of the Blue Bombers' strengths. The lone constant in Winnipeg's front four over the last eight seasons has been Brown. The extra attention that he commands in terms of opponents' blocking schemes has been a huge factor in the success of those around him.

Although his veteran teammate Scott Flory was named the CFL's Most Outstanding Offensive Lineman in 2008, Bourke gets the nod here because he has the more difficult task of playing left tackle. His position also makes him a more valuable commodity ratio-wise.

Being behind Bourque in the rankings takes nothing away from the performance of Flory, who was a very legitimate choice as the CFL's top O-Lineman in 2008. The durable eleventh year guard is dominant as both a run and pass blocker. The difference between the two is simply that guards are a little easier to find.

This ranking may seem high for a guy who doesn't play every offensive snap but Johnson offers, by far, the most unique combination of size and skill set of any player in the league, regardless of nationality. Anyone who doesn't think his retirement would've been a huge loss to the Stampeders doesn't understand that CFL offences are all about the exploitation of mismatches.

As is the case with Bourke, Gauthier effectively plays the most important...and most challenging position on the offensive line. In Hamilton, he not only upgrades the O-Line but also fills a position that has been occupied by imports for the last decade, in the process providing the Ticats with the ratio flexibility they required after losing running back Jesse Lumsden to free agency.

It speaks volumes about Glatt that he is frequently listed among the CFL's best middle linebackers without mention of the fact that he's Canadian. The fact that he doesn't play every down is a function of B.C.'s player development philosophy rather than a sign of weakness in his game.

At the end of last season, Tsoumpas was playing as well as any lineman in the league. With a year of experience under his belt, he should become a contender for Most Outstanding Offensive Lineman in ‘09.

Makowsky's best years may be behind him but he remains among the league's elite offensive linemen. Above and beyond his skill, it's also important to factor in his versatility, as he's one of the few players around who is equally effective at guard, centre, or tackle.

Nine years of doing battle in the trenches may finally be catching up to the Kissing Bandit, as a lingering pelvic injury caused him to miss all of training camp. If he's healthy enough to play, however, he raises the level of play of all those around him.

Historically one of the CFL's most dependable tacklers, Eiben dealt with uncharacteristic struggles in that area of his game last season, as he attempted to play through a knee injury. If he rebounds in '09, as the Argos desperately need him to do, he could climb back up the list.

Labinjo provides roster flexibility by having all the tools to be a ratio breaker at defensive end, while also serving as a backup linebacker and blocking back in short yardage situations. That said, he's a potential impact player, as he showed he could be in various stretches last season. If he can deliver that over a full season, he'll earn consideration for Top Canadian honours.

With two-thirds of last season's outstanding linebacker corps now playing elsewhere, Schultz's value to the Saskatchewan D will be fully realized. Much of the productivity of Maurice Lloyd, Anton McKenzie, and Sean Lucas in 2008 was a direct result of Schultz's ability to keep blockers from getting to them.

Chiu is the anchor and quarterback of the league's best offensive line. The former winner of Most Outstanding Offensive Lineman honours may not receive much consideration for the award any more but he's still a worthy All-Star.

Congi's field goal accuracy percentage is actually higher than that of Sandro DeAngelis. The Stamps kicker got the nod on this list though, mainly because of his history of making big kicks. Regardless, Congi's reliability will be key for the Riders early this year, with their inexperienced QBs and a banged up Wes Cates.

Playing the often overlooked wideside wideout position for the receiver-rich Stampeders, Ralph often flies under the radar...but it seems like every time the defence forgets about this underrated player, he makes them pay.

Sanchez is another player who isn't as dominant as he once was. Nonetheless, as a Canadian who starts at the traditionally American cornerback position, he offers the Alouettes tremendous ratio flexibility.

Lost in the discussion of the Argonauts struggles of last season was the fact that Talbot posted a career high in receiving yards (915) for the second consecutive season. Off-season housecleaning leaves him as Toronto's longest serving non-import, so he'll be counted upon to provide leadership, as well as catches, for a team in transition.

The 6'4'', 225 lbs. Arthur didn't have a chance to get involved in Calgary's offence last year after arriving at midseason following an NFL tryout but his preseason performance suggests he'll be a factor in 2009. As for his resume, he left the University of Akron as the Zips all-time leading receiver after starting his college career as a quarterback (hello, wildcat formation).

The first overall pick in the 2007 Draft, Bauman is a less polished version of Andy Fantuz. Despite playing limited snaps in '08, Bauman recorded almost 600 receiving yards. He'll see full-time duty this season on a Hamilton offence where everyone's stats should benefit from improvements at quarterback and O-Line.

Boulay, the 2006 East Division Rookie of the Year, was rapidly making his way up this list until an NFL tryout last season interrupted his development. After his return to Montreal, it was difficult to find consistent playing time on a team that was playing well without him. Nonetheless, he's a tremendous athlete who hopes to get back on track in '09.

Aside from being a valuable special teamer, Cornish also averaged the highest number of yards per carry (8.5) among running backs with more than 10 carries. He'll start the season on the injured list but the Stamps are committed to using him more on offence this year.

Had he not spent his career to date in the same receiving corps as Terrence Edwards, Derick Armstrong, Romby Bryant, and the now retired Milt Stegall, Franklin's numbers would be much more impressive. Although he's slightly undersized, his athleticism and work ethic rank in the CFL's upper echelon and, given the opportunity, he easily has the talent to improve upon last season’s 620 receiving yards.

Many people questioned Winnipeg's selection of the University of Regina product with the sixth overall pick in the 2008 Draft on the premise that there were more polished NCAA players available. LaBatte rewarded the Bombers for their faith by earning a starting job as a rookie, an almost unheard of accomplishment for a rookie offensive lineman from a CIS school.

Bertrand is something of a poster boy for homegrown football players, making whatever personal sacrifice is necessary to help the Esks win football games. The former CIS quarterback has successfully transformed himself into one of the CFL's finest when it comes to doing the grunt work that doesn’t show up in the highlights or boxscores.

A feature back in college at Stanford and kick returner with the NFL's Seattle Seahawks, Carter has willingly made the transition to the far less glamorous role of CFL fullback. He’s a solid blocker but is still skilled enough to be dangerous as a ball carrier and receiver.

It’s significant that he's one of three defenders that new Edmonton head coach Richie Hall brought with him from Saskatchewan. Gordon is one of the few safeties in today's CFL whose physical presence can change games by making receivers reluctant to come across the middle.

The CFL All-Star team, which is voted on by media and fans, lists Montreal's Bryan Chiu as its centre but, Hage got the nod from his peers on the CFLPA's version. He anchors an offensive line that paved the way for the league's #1 ranked rushing offence. Improving the group around him with the addition of veteran tackles Alex Gauthier and Dan Goodspeed should result in more recognition for Hage.

As recently as three years ago, this former nose tackle was considered an O-Line project. Now the massive Kabongo is regarded as one of the league’s better offensive linemen, capable of playing both guard and tackle.

Robertson has been Toronto's best offensive lineman since his arrival in 2007 but the unit is only as strong as its weakest link. With the group bolstered by the free agent signings of centre Dominic Picard and tackle Rob Murphy, Robertson will benefit.