We've been kicking it for 5 weeks now in the CFL. Get it? Ok. Good. Let's discuss statistics, highlights, Power Rankings, and more in this week's write-up;
Kickers
With only 3 games being played this week, there was not much content in terms of kickers. Only 6 took the field and they didn't play especially well, making just 12 of their 17 field goal attempts (Good for 70.6%). Let's discuss how the players performed with a look at my (un)Official Week 5 CFL Kicker Power Rankings;
Working top-down;
Rene Paredes (CGY) missed his first field goal this week, but no one in the top 5 performed well enough to usurp him from the First Position in our Power Rankings. He finished the night going 2/3 on field goals and 5/5 on PAT's.
Sean Whyte (BC) was perfect on the night, however, he wasn't given the opportunity to try any field goals. He made both converts attempted this week and is officially the last kicker in the CFL to remain at 100% for both Field Goals and PATs.
David Côté (MTL) had a Bye Week.
Brett Lauther (SSK) had an off week, making just 3 of the 4 field goal attempts and going 1/2 on PATs. He is lucky that no one below him is performing better than him and his 3, 50+ field goals lead the league. He will look to impress his Home Province (Nova Scotia) during Week 6's Touchdown Atlantic matchup against the Toronto Argonauts.
Marc Liegghio (WPG) was looking like he was going to have a good start to the game when he was 3/3 on field goals through the first 3 quarters. He had a mid-game collapse though and ruined his streak of 13 consecutive field goals made when he missed 2 field goals and a PAT.
Lewis Ward (OTT) was the kicker I had the toughest time placing this week. He had a great game, making both field goals and his only convert attempt of the game. I need to see more opportunities given to him before I can justify moving him up in the Power Rankings.
Boris Bede (TOR) will be the first player to experience any kind of movement this week, and he didn't even take the field!
Sergio Castillo (EDM) slides another position after missing yet another kick over 40 yards. He has been money inside of 40 yards but struggles to complete the longer field goal attempts. I believe he is officially in the Hot Seat.
Speaking of the Hot Seat. Michael Domagala (HAM) has been officially released. I wrote an entire article on the subject, so I wont get into much here, but I will say I am sorry to see him go. I wish him the best in his future ventures, and I will continue to report on him when new information becomes available.
Punters
There has been more movement in the Punter Power Rankings this week and a new leader for the first time in 2 weeks! Let's discuss how the players performed with a look at my (un)Official Week 5 CFL Punter Power Rankings;
Working top-down;
Richie Leone (OTT) jumps up three spots and snags the First Position in our Week 5 Power Rankings after a stellar game. He punted 5 times for 261 yards (52.2 Avg.) and 244 Net yards (48.8 Net Avg.). 4 of those 5 punts pinned the opponent inside the 20 yard line (2 of those were inside the 10). He also had 4 punts over 50 yards. He deserves this spot.
Marc Liegghio (WPG) had a piss poor punting performance in Week 5. He punted 4 times for a Net Avg. of just 27.8 Net yards per punt (2nd Lowest we've seen this season). We know he can do better, so we will have to wait and see how he performs in the coming weeks.
Matt Mengel (EDM) also struggled this week, but his great performances in the past couple of weeks even this out, statistically speaking. I want to see more consistency from Matt, and less of this 35 Net yards per punt one game, and 48 Net yards per punt the next. There's a lot of flip-flopping there.
Joseph Zema (MTL) had a Bye Week.
Cody Grace (CGY) made his 2022 Debut after being sidelined for the first 4 weeks with a groin injury. He had a good first game even though we got a very small sample size. I am confident enough in Grace's ability that I am placing him in the Fifth Position. He punted 3 times, for a Net Avg. of 37.7 Net yards and 2 within the 20 yard line. I can't wait to see what the West-Division All-Star is going to do next week!
Simon Laryea (HAM) will, unfortunately, be released this week after the Hamilton Tiger-Cats cleaned out their kicking house. This is due to the signing of Legendary Punter Jon Ryan. Read more here!
Stefan Flintoft (BC) will drop 2 big spots this week into the Seventh Position. Somethings going on with Flintoft. He isn't playing at the level we expect from him. I hope that whatever it is, it gets sorted out soon. His Net Avg. has been lackluster this year.
Kaare Vedvik (SSK) had the first good week of his 2022 season! He punted 5 times for a Net Avg. of 39.2 Net yards per punt. We need to see more of this, or else James Smith may take the field in his place.
John Haggerty (TOR) had a Bye Week.
Thank you for making it this far in my article! Please let me know what you think about the article through the contact page! Have a good day everyone :)