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News July 15, 2015

This Week in the CFL

THIS WEEK IN THE CFL

Facts, trends and figures worth noting as we head into Week Four of the regular season

  

   

SCOREBOARD STUFFING

  • Scoring continues to be way up: we are averaging 53.5 points per game after a week in which the games averaged 55.8 points per game and we saw 19 offensive touchdowns.
  • Last year, we averaged 45.5 points per game — so we’re up by a converted touchdown, with a two-point convert.
  • Net offence is averaging 712 yards per game — 60 yards or 9 per cent higher than last year and the best since 2012.
  • Key appears to be second down conversion: it has climbed to 50.5 per cent this year compared to 42.2 per cent last year.
  • Number of “two and outs” is down 23 per cent from last year.
  • Teams are completing 68.2 per cent of their passes – on pace to break the all-time record of 63.4 per cent, set in 2012.
  • Teams have made successful kicks to complete single point converts 79 per cent of the time (38 of 48), compared to 99 per cent a year ago (334 of 336).
  • Two point converts (where the ball crosses the goal line via a run or pass) have been successful almost as consistently: 74 per cent (14 of 19).
  • Coaches have opted to “go for two” 24 per cent of the time (15 attempts out of 63) as opposed to setting for one (excluding overtime, when “going for two” is mandatory).
  • Last year, they opted to “go for two” only 6 per cent of the time (23 out of 336).

 

DEFENCE GETS OFFENSIVE

  • Defences are contributing to the scoring parade.
  • Defences have already scored 9 TDs this season – on pace to post 61 scores this season, shattering the old mark of 43 scores, set in 2004.
  • Eight of the nine defensive scores have been on interception returns – on pace for 54 interception returns for touchdowns. That would smash the previous record of 27, set in 2004.
  • Last year, one interception out of every 7.6 picks was returned for a TD. This year, one out of every 3.4 has been taken to the house.

 

THAT WAS CLOSE

  • Three of last week’s four games were decided by five points or less.
  • Seven of 12 games (58 per cent) so far have been decided by five points or less. Last year, 29 per cent were decided by five points or less.
  • The average margin of victory so far this year is just 10 points.

 

SO ARE THE STANDINGS

  • It might be parity, or simply that it is early, but teams are tightly bunched. No one is undefeated.
  • Four teams are 2-1 (Winnipeg, Calgary, Ottawa and Toronto).
  • Three are 1-1 (Hamiton, BC and Edmonton).
  • One is 1-2 (Montreal).
  • Only Saskatchewan is 0-3 but their three losses are by a combined 9 points, and two went to overtime.
  • It’s the first time in 33 years (1982) that the Riders have lost three in a row by four points or less.
  • This marks only the third time in CFL history that teams have had back to back overtime losses (BC in 1991 and 2010).


CATCHING FEVER

  • Last year, we had three 1,000 yard receivers. This year, we are on pace for 17.
  • Ryan Smith SSK, Weston Dressler SSK, S.J. Green MTL, Chad Owens TOR, Eric Rogers CGY and Nick Moore WPG have surpassed the 200-yard mark already.
  • Last year’s exclusive 1,000 yard receiver club: Adarius Bowman EDM, Clarence Denmark WPG and Duron Carter MTL. 


LEAGUE CONTINUES TO PRODUCE QUALITY QUARTERBACKS

  • All of this receiving, and scoring, is happening with four starting quarterbacks out for extended periods of time (Ricky Ray TOR, Mike Reilly EDM, Jonathan Crompton MTL, and Darian Durant SSK.
  • The two quarterbacks that have thrown for the most yards through three games are backups: Kevin Glenn SSK (868 yards) and Trevor Harris TOR (837 yards). 
  • Kevin Glenn also has the highest completion percentage (79.3), followed by another stand in/standout, Rakeem Cato  MTL (75 per cent), along with Drew Willy WPG (also 75 per cent), Trevor Harris TOR (74.7) and Zach Collaros HAM (74.6).
  • Glenn has also generated the most net offence: 1,292 yards, or an average of 41.7 yards per possession. Harris has generated the second most  (1,073 yards, and an average of 25 yards per possession).
  • While quarterbacks get the glory, offensive linemen and overall protection are part of the scoring story: there has been an average of four sacks per game, down from 5.4 a year ago.
  • If this trend holds up, it would be the lowest sack average since 2002. 


LET’S TALK PENALTIES

  • Week three averaged 27. 5 infractions per game, compared to 28.0 in week two, and 30 in week one.
  • Bulk of the penalties are in the “preventable” category — things like offsides and procedures account for 45 per cent of all flags.
  • These preventable fouls are up 20 per cent while roughness calls are down 29 per cent from a year ago.
  • Technical fouls — such as defensive pass interference, illegal contact on a receiver, and illegal interference — are up 35 per cent.
  • We are averaging 28.5 flags per game this year compared to 21.6 all of last year — an increase of 32 per cent.
  • But when you compare the first three weeks of this season (28.5 penalties per game) to the first three weeks of last season (24.9 penalties per game), the increase is a more modest 14 per cent, and more fodder for those who predict infractions will continue to decline.
  • Average game length is holding relatively steady (2:56 this year compared to 2:55 last year) despite the increase in penalties.


FAN ENGAGEMENT

  • Attendance is up, despite a regular season game in a relatively small venue in Fort McMurray.
  • Almost 300,000 people have attended a CFL game this season (295,124 this year, compared to 291,694 at this time a year ago).
  • Average attendance is 24,594 — compared to 24,308 at this time in 2014.
  • More than 661,000 fans have visited CFL.ca (from June 8-July 8, 2015), generating more than 3.3 million page views.
  • The three most viewed items: roster update following cuts in training camp, roster update following final cuts at the end of training camp, and a story on Darian Durant’s injury