CFL Passing Defenders through Week 5 — Top 20, best man defenders, & more
Deatrick Nichols is having a tremendous rookie season with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.
The CFL needs more publicly available advanced statistics, and explainers on the “why” within the games. While my defensive passing statistics don’t have some fancy algorithm to grade overall performance on a 0–100 scale, and I’m not in the film room with the actual defences — I’ve always said my numbers paint a damn accurate picture of who’s doing their job well and who’s not.
After examining all-24, I assign each pass to a defender. Then I track it as a vicinity or responsible defence.
Responsible targets are charged to the defender who’s responsible for the targeted receiver. This mainly boils down to zone coverages or quick-hitter passes such as screens and dump-offs, hence linebackers’ numbers mostly falling into this area. Hint: don’t put a lot of stock into a defender’s responsible coverage numbers, unless they’re fantastic.
Vicinity targets are all targets where a defender’s in man coverage or has the ability to make a play on the ball — they’re in the vicinity of the ball, a situation that ideally all man coverage defenders get in. These targets separate the average from the elite. I have a separate chart for vicinity statistics in here.
So let’s get to it. My top 20 list so far based on my numbers, with more weight on vicinity numbers. I also give love to the players with lower target rates, because lockdown defensive backs need love too.
Top 20 CFL Passing Defenders through Week 5 of the 2021 season
Observations
Gary Peters, boundary cornerback BC Lions #4
Peters has been an absolute stud this season and for my money is the top cornerback in the league at the moment. Exhibit A — you don’t notice him. As a corner, that’s a positive. Peters has nine tackles in four games (averaged 3.5 a game before this season) and is the only BC starter in the secondary without a pick because he simply doesn’t get the looks, or drops a ball against Ottawa. Rick Campbell often gives Peters man-on-man responsibility and worries about his other scheming up his other 11 players. Seriously, 42 yards and five catches against in four games is absurd.
Deatrick Nichols, boundary halfback Winnipeg Blue Bombers #32
You heard it from Alden Darby live on TSN first, but Nichols is the frontrunner for Most Outstanding Rookie. Keep scrolling and you’ll see Nichols as the top vicinity/man defender in the entire CFL. You see a lot of praise about the 27-year-old and he’s worth every bit of it. Nichols’ technique and intelligence are off the wall for a rookie; he just simply doesn’t get beat and has a sense on where QBs are going. Winston Rose and Marcus Sayles were great in Winnipeg during 2019, but I’m telling you Nichols is having a better season than both of those guys were. And both got looks at the NFL, just saying.
Brandon Alexander, safety halfback Winnipeg Blue Bombers #37
A big reason for Winnipeg’s late-season push and title in 2019 was the move of Alexander to safety. Winnipeg deploys Alexander often as a deep middle-of-the-field-closed type of safety on first downs, and will often put him in a 1/4 or 1/2 look in second downs where his range really shows off. Alexander’s best trait is his physicality though. Opponents should fear his presence, and it’s become evident this season through hard hits over the middle, and very few deep shots over Winnipeg’s middle. Teams attack the Bombers on the outside and underneaths for a reason, and it’s 37 in blue and gold.
BC Lions field-side
KiAnte Hardin was a day-one rookie starter for BC and has a legit case for Most Outstanding Rookie too, having two interceptions in four starts. Hardin’s a sound defender with strong closing speed, whether it be timing up a break on a slant or reading a 2x MOP trying to beat him on a seam shot in a zone. Then there’s Jalon Edwards-Cooper, BC’s “fix” at field corner. Edwards-Cooper has seen a ton of action in his three starts and has held it down. The Lions would be my top-ranked secondary in the CFL, if not for the guys named below.
Edmonton Elks — the vets
Jonathon Mincy is another true lockdown cornerback, lining up in press and not letting balls get caught behind him. Aaron Grymes is arguably the league’s best defensive back when healthy and hasn’t shown any signs of slowing down — he still reads offences well, and can step up and deliver the boom. Trumaine Washington’s getting his first legitimate shot to start an entire season and has looked strong thus far, and Jonathan Rose is a solid boundary corner who’s at the field right now.
Top 2O CFL Vicinity Passing Defenders through Week 5 of the 2021 season
Observations
Jumal Rolle, boundary cornerback Hamilton Tiger-Cats #25
It’s a shame Rolle has two vicinity touchdowns against him (Week 1, Kenny Lawler and Week 2, Mitchell Picton) because he’s been lights out for most of the season when in man looks. Rolle’s 28% completion percentage against in vicinity targets leads all starting cornerbacks, he’s just been a victim of some tough breaks.
Bo Lokombo, weak-side linebacker BC Lions #20
Having a weak-side linebacker in the top 20 man defenders is wild at face value, but Lokombo’s much more than your average WIL. Lokombo’s a linebacker who can drop back to safety, take a running back on without hesitance, or even line up and carry a receiver vertical. He’s got an interception to show for too, along with a 29% completion percentage against.
Way-too-early All-Star ballot
One thing that makes me feel good about this list is it’s for the most part how my secondary All-Star voting would play out thus far. Peters and Mincy would be my West corners, Nichols and Purifoy my West halves (Purifoy adds so much in the run and short passing game), and Alexander my safety. In the East, Rolle and Williams would get my corner votes, and then likely Randall Evans and Money Hunter at the halves — with consideration for Ciante Evans, Greg Reid, and Abdul Kanneh. East safety would have to be Crezdon Butler at this point, almost by default.