2025 CFL Offensive Line Rankings: Week 1 Overview 🏈
The excitement of the Canadian Football League (CFL) season is in full swing! As teams battle for dominance on the field, we take a closer look at how the offensive lines fared in Week 1. Here’s a roundup of the performances that stood out across the league, showcasing strength, skill, and room for improvement.
Saskatchewan Roughriders: A Strong Kickoff 🌾
Offensive Line:
- LT Payton Collins
- LG Trevon Tate
- C Logan Ferland
- RG Zack Fry
- RT Jermarcus Hardrick
The Roughriders made a statement right out of the gate with a formidable performance. Their offensive line soared to the top of the rankings with a grade of 69.4. They demonstrated exceptional skills in both run and pass blocking, boasting a 62.9 run-blocking grade and an impressive 81.4 pass-blocking grade—an outstanding feat compared to other teams.
Rookie Payton Collins showed remarkable poise, playing like a veteran. Before an unfortunate leg injury in the third quarter, he achieved an eye-catching 84.4 pass-blocking grade with zero pressures allowed during his 22 snaps.
Montreal Alouettes: Staying Strong 💪
Offensive Line:
- LT Nick Callender
- LG Pier-Olivier Lestage
- C Justin Lawrence
- RG Donald Ventrelli
- RT Jamar McGloster
The Alouettes picked up right where they left off last season, ranking near the top once again. The trio of Callender, Lestage, and Lawrence continued their dominance, while McGloster returned to the lineup after injuries plagued him the previous season.
Donald Ventrelli was a notable performer, securing the right guard position and finishing with an overall grade of 65.9. His 79.8 pass-blocking grade and 62.7 run-blocking grade contributed significantly to their victory against last year’s Grey Cup champions. Impressively, he allowed no pressures on 33 pass-blocking snaps! Additionally, first-round pick Tiger Shanks made his CFL debut and registered a promising 75.5 pass-blocking grade.
Calgary Stampeders: Solid Performance 🎉
Offensive Line:
- LT D'Antne Demery
- LG Zack Williams
- C Bryce Bell
- RG Christy Nkanu
- RT Joshua Coker
The Stampeders showed up strong with an all-around solid performance, earning a 62.5 overall grade. D'Antne Demery standout as a key player, ranking second among tackles with an 83.0 pass-blocking grade and maintaining a clean sheet with no pressures allowed.
Rookie Christopher Fortin also made an impact with 11 snaps as a tight end and achieved an incredible 80.0 run-blocking grade. This early success breeds optimism for their season!
British Columbia Lions: Grit and Determination 🦁
Offensive Line:
- LT Jarell Broxton
- LG Kory Woodruff
- C Michael Couture
- RG Chris Schleuger
- RT Dejon Allen
Despite not breaking the 60.0 mark in any category, the Lions still emerged as the fourth-best group of the week. They posted a 54.7 overall grade with 54.5 in run-blocking and 46.9 in pass-blocking.
Dejon Allen stood out as the leading performer for the Lions, finishing above the 60.0 threshold with a 63.2 overall grade. His presence showcased potential for further enhancements.
Toronto Argonauts: Room for Improvement ⚠️
Offensive Line:
- LT George Moore
- LG Sage Doxtater
- C Darius Ciraco
- RG Anthony Vandal
- RT Ryan Hunter
The defending Grey Cup champions faced challenges during Week 1. They registered a 49.0 overall grade as their offensive line struggled, particularly in run-blocking with a low 43.6 grade. The Argonauts barely relied on their ground game, only executing seven non-quarterback kneel-down runs.
Notably, rookie Sage Doxtater shone in his debut with a 71.3 pass-blocking grade, allowing just one pressure over 38 snaps. His performance is a reason for hope amidst the difficulties.
Hamilton Tiger-Cats: A Tough Start 🐯
Offensive Line:
- LT Brendan Bordner
- LG Brandon Revenberg
- C Coulter Woodmansey
- RG Liam Dobson
- RT Quinton Barrow
For the Tiger-Cats, Week 1 offered a challenging scenario. With a 53.4 overall grade alongside a 36.9 pass-blocking grade, they struggled to protect quarterback Bo Levi Mitchell, who faced tremendous pressure throughout the game.
Yet, Liam Dobson emerged as a highlight among a tough outing, achieving a stellar 75.7 pass-blocking grade by allowing only one pressure across 50 snaps.
Edmonton Elks: A Rocky Performance 🦅
Offensive Line:
- LT Martez Ivey
- LG Mark Korte
- C David Beard
- RG Gregor MacKellar
- RT Mark Evans II
With a 52.5 overall grade, the Elks found themselves in a precarious position. Their strength leaned towards the run game, garnering a 62.0 run-blocking grade, yet they fell short in pass protection with a disappointing 27.1 grade.
Two rookies, Mark Evans II and Jaxon Morkin, faced steep learning curves, both struggling against opposing defenses. Morkin allowed one pressure on two snaps, while Evans’s matchup against Mathieu Betts resulted in six pressures.
Ottawa Redblacks: A Challenging Performance 🖤❤️
Offensive Line:
- LT Dino Boyd
- LG Drew Desjarlais
- C Jacob Ruby
- RG Dariusz Bladek
- RT Darta Lee
The Redblacks had the steepest decline, landing at the bottom of the rankings with a 44.8 overall grade. Their run-blocking performance yielded only 49.2, and their pass-blocking was a mere 32.8 grade, indicating they need substantial improvements.
Despite the struggles, rookies Darta Lee and second-round pick Sam Carson showed potential. Carson's 61.7 grade in his limited snaps was a bright spot, while Lee garnered a 52.6 grade across his 59 snaps.
Looking Ahead 🔮
The first week of the CFL season provided thrilling action along the offensive lines. The performances highlighted strengths and areas for growth, setting the stage for what will undoubtedly be an exciting season ahead. As the rankings reset each week, fans can look forward to following their teams' journeys in the ever-competitive CFL landscape!