Tyrice Beverette of the Montreal Alouettes is the week 10 top defensive performer. Week 10 Stars of the Week, 1st team and 2nd team. Includes breakdowns of why defensive players were named among the stars of the week.

The purpose of this article is to draw attention to CFL players who stood out in week 10 and to describe what defensive players had the biggest performances and the impact they had for their team. Quarterback, running back, and wide receiver performances are outlined in Week 11 QB Weekly, RB Weekly, and WR Weekly.

Other Articles:

Montreal Alouettes Week 10 Takeaways, BC Lions Week 10 Takeaways

Mike Mitchell’s Week 11 Power Rankings

Week 10 QB Weekly, Week 10 RB Weekly, Week 10 WR Weekly

Week 9 First and 2nd Team Top Performers, Week 8 1st and 2nd Team

Week 9 QB Weekly, Week 9 RB Weekly, Week 9 WR Weekly

CFL First Period All-Star Team (Weeks 1-7)

First Team

1st Team Defensive Line

First Team DE – Mathieu Betts (BC)

Betts made life very difficult this past week for Calgary’s quarterback, Jake Maier. There were at least 6 plays in which he put quality pressure on the passer often resulting in an incompletion. He also showed good pursuit on a quarterback scramble in the 2nd quarter. Betts made a great special teams play also blocking a punt.

First Team DT – T.J. Rayam (CGY)

T.J. Rayam had multiple pressures throughout the game against BC with 3 plays standing out as higher quality pressure although it was often negated by Vernon Adams Jr. effectively rolling out of the pocket to extend the play. Rayam also had a very good run stop in the third quarter.. 

First Team DT – Jake Ceresna (EDM)

Ceresna made a good impact for the Elks in a game where he was listed as a second-string defensive tackle. He had at least 3 plays in which he put quality pressure on the passer. Ceresna had a really good 4th quarter with 2 quality pressures, a run tackle, and later a run stop for a loss.

First Team DE – Anthony Lanier II (SSK)

Lanier had 5 plays in which he put pressure on Montreal’s Caleb Evans which is particularly impressive given the fact that Montreal did not have many passing plays. He also had a great tackle for a loss on a run play in the second quarter.

1st Team Linebackers

First Team LB – Tyrice Beverette (MTL)

In my opinion, Beverette had the greatest impact of any defensive player this past week in the win against Saskatchewan. He made a good tackle on Tevin Jones on a short pass early in the game. He had 8 tackles throughout the game which were often quality run stops or closing in on short passes to ensure receivers did not break loose. Beverette scored a touchdown as well after recovering a fumble.

First Team MLB – Micah Awe (CGY)

Awe made an assortment of good plays in the loss to BC such as a great run stop early, another very good tackle for a loss on a short pass. He had a knockdown on a play in which he was blitzing, an interception over the middle, and another run stop later in the game.

First Team Cover LB – Adarius Pickett (TOR)

Pickett made plays such as pressuring on a blitz in the first quarter, a good tackle on a short pass, and a sack in the second quarter. He also helped with run stops with a quality run stop in the 2nd quarter.

1st Team Defensive Backs

First Team CB – Cariel Brooks (OTT)

Brooks had a pretty solid game in one in which Toronto made a lot of longer plays against Ottawa yet Brooks provided good coverage against the Toronto receivers. He made a good tackle on a short pass early in the game, he jumped an out route and he ran back for a touchdown. He also had a good run tackle on Ouellette and provided good coverage on Kurleigh Gittens Jr. in the 4th quarter on a deep ball targeting him which resulted in an incompletion.

First Team HB – Robertson Daniel (TOR)

Daniel provided a lot of physicality in addition to good pass coverage. He had 2 sacks in the 2nd quarter and multiple run tackles including a run stop in the 4th quarter when Dustin Crum decided to run.

First Team S – Marc-Antoine Dequoy (MTL)

Dequoy had another game in which he made his presence felt all over the field. He had a pressure in the first quarter, helped with a quick tackle on a short pass preventing a first down, and another quick tackle on a short pass in the 2nd quarter preventing YAC. He also had a good pass break up on a deep ball targeting Samuel Emilus.

First Team HB – Amari Henderson (SSK)

Henderson had an interception in the endzone in the second quarter. He also had a good run tackle and a tackle for a loss on a short pass.

First Team CB – Kordell Rodgers (MTL)

Rodgers broke up a pass to Tevin Jones in the second quarter. He showed good pursuit on a play forcing Morrow out of bounds on an outside run as well as contributed many tackles on short passes and often closed in quickly to help his teammates finish their tackles. 

1st Team Quarterback

Quarterback performances are outlined in the Weekly Quarterback rankings

First Team QB – Dru Brown (WPG)

17 completions on 24 passes for 307 yards and 4 touchdowns

1st Team Runningback

Running back performances are outlined in the Weekly Running back rankings

First Team RB – Brady Oliveira (WPG)

14 rushes for 110 yards (7.9 average), 2 receptions for 20 yards, and a touchdown

1st Team Wide Receivers

Wide receiver performances are outlined in CFL Wide Receiver Weekly.

First Team WR – DaVaris Daniels (TOR)

6 targets, 6 catches, 180 yards, and 3 touchdowns

First Team WR – Keon Hatcher (BC)

10 targets, 9 catches, 170 yards, 1 touchdown

First Team WR – Jaelon Acklin (OTT)

7 targets, 6 catches, 157 yards, 1 touchdown

First Team WR – Kyran Moore (EDM)

6 targets, 5 catches, 96 yards, 1 touchdown

First Team WR – Cam Phillips (TOR)

9 targets, 5 catches, 115 yards

1st Team Offensive Line

First Team OL – Winnipeg Blue Bombers

LT Stanley Bryant, LG Geoff Gray, C Chris Kolankowski, RG Patrick Neufeld, RT Jemarcus Hardrick

I felt that the Edmonton Elks did a good job putting pressure on in the first half against Winnipeg but that Winnipeg did a good job giving Dru Brown protection as the game went on. They also made holes that helped Brady Oliveira rush for 7.9 yards per carry.

1st Team Special Teams

First Team Kicker – Sean Whyte (BC)

Made all 3 of his field goals with a longest of 47 yards and also went 4 for 4 in point after converts.

First Team Punter – Cody Grace (CGY)

He punted it more than anyone in week 10 and had the longest average punt as he had 9 punts averaging 47.4 yards per punt.

First Team Returner – Javon Leake

He scored a 79-yard punt return touchdown early in the third quarter to give Toronto some separation was very close before that point 

Second Team

2nd Team Defensive Line

Second Team DE – Julian Howsare (CGY)

Howsare did a good job getting pressure on the quarterback against BC in a game in which Vernon Adams Jr. was very smooth at eluding pressure. There were 4 plays that stuck out as quality pressures by Howsare and he also contributed to a good run stop.

Second Team DT – Miles Brown (SSK)

Miles Brown had an eventful first half with a run tackle and a sack in the first quarter and a really good run stop for a loss in the 2nd quarter.

Second Team DT – Derek Wiggan (CGY)

Wiggan had a couple of pressures, a quality run tackle, and a sack that came in the third quarter in the loss to BC.

Second Team DE – Woody Baron (BC)

Woody Baron contributed to making Calgary’s passing game as difficult as possible. He had 5 quality pressures throughout the game and also contributed to a run stop in the 2nd quarter.

2nd Team Linebackers

Second Team LB – Wynton McManis (TOR)

McManis had 3 plays in which he put quality pressure on the quarterback blitzing. He had an assortment of quality run tackles as well. He had a great run stop in the third quarter and then the next play a good tackle on a short pass forcing Ottawa to punt.

Second Team LB – Niles Morgan (EDM)

Morgan had a pretty good game against Winnipeg in what was another tough loss for Edmonton. He had quite a few run tackles on Brady Oliveira throughout the game and also some tackles quickly on short passes. Morgan covered a lot of ground and finished the game with 10 tackles which was more than anyone in week 10.

Second Team Cover LB – Emmanuel Rugamba (BC)

Rugamba closed early on a receiver contributing a tackle for a loss on a short pass. He had multiple good tackles on short passes ensuring Calgary’s receivers were unable to draw up a YAC attack. Rugamba also had a knockdown in the 4th quarter when pressuring the quarterback.

2nd Team Defensive Backs

Second Team CB – Garry Peters (BC)

Garry Peters has consistently been one of the best corners in the CFL. Calgary’s longest passing play was 15 yards in BC’s win. Peters closed in quickly on receivers to help his teammates finish their tackles on a couple of short pass plays. He also had a breakup in the first half that he nearly intercepted and an interception in the 4th quarter.

Second Team HB – Wesley Sutton (MTL)

Sutton put pressure on the quarterback twice and later helped with a sack that resulted in a fumble. He nearly had an interception in the first half and provided great coverage on a deep ball targetted Shawn Bane Jr. in the third quarter.

Second Team S – Brandon Alexander (WPG)

Edmonton had only 2 long passing plays in the loss to Winnipeg neither of which the blame could be attributed to Brandon Alexander.. One was a 70-yard touchdown by Kyran Moore that was a short pass to the sideline that was all YAC against the blitz that a cornerback missed their tackle. The other was a 53-yard pass to Kyran Moore who was being covered by 2 other defensive backs.

Outside of those 2 plays Edmonton only had only 66 yards of passing offense. Alexander had 4 tackles including a tackle on Tre Ford rushing and a quick tackle on a short pass in the 4th quarter.

Second Team HB –  Reggie Stubblefield (MTL)

Prevented a completion on what would have been a 45-yard touchdown and good coverage the next play on an incompletion in which his receiver was again targetted. He also provided good coverage preventing receivers from catching passes targetting them on a deep ball in the 3rd quarter and on the 2-point convert attempt in the 4th quarter.

Second Team CB – Mike Jones (BC)

Jones contributed a pass breakup in the first quarter and also a run stop, 2 tackles on short passes, and assisted his teammates with tackles on a couple of other plays.

2nd Team Quarterback

Quarterback performances are outlined in the Weekly Quarterback rankings

Second Team QB – Chad Kelly (TOR)

21 completions on 28 attempts (78%) for 417 yards and 4 touchdowns with 1 interception.

2nd Team Runningback

Running back performances are outlined in the Weekly Running back rankings

Second Team RB – Kevin Brown (EDM)

10 rushes for 98 yards (9.8 average) and a touchdown

2nd Team Wide Receivers

Wide receiver performances are outlined in CFL Wide Receiver Weekly.

Second Team WR – Alexander Hollins (BC)

8 targets, 7 catches, 80 yards, 1 touchdown

Second Team WR – Justin Hardy (OTT)

9 targets, 7 catches, 62 yards, 1 touchdown

Second Team WR – Rasheed Bailey (WPG)

6 targets, 5 catches, 85 yards

Second Team WR – Nic Demski (WPG)

4 targets, 3 catches, 61 yards, 1 touchdown

Second Team WR – Kenny Lawler (WPG)

7 targets, 2 catches, 49 yards, 1 touchdown

2nd Team Offensive Line

Second Team OL – Edmonton Elks

LT Martez Ivey, LG David Foucault, C Mark Korte, RG Tomas Jack-Kurdyla, RT Brett Boyko

I was really surprised by the protection that Edmonton was able to provide for Tre Ford. Ford made a lot of passes quickly which made things easier on his offensive line. The Elks line looked rejuvenated after their bye week. Winnipeg’s defensive ends, Willie Jefferson and Jackson Jeffcoat, were limited compared to the normal pass rush they typically generate.

2nd Team Special Teams

Second Team Kicker – Rene Paredes (CGY)

Paredes made all 3 of his field goals with the longest one being a 46-yarder.

Second Team Punter – Joseph Zema (MTL)

Zema punted 5 times averaging 45.8 yards per punt which was third among punters in week 10. He put a lot of his punts in difficult spots to return and Mario Alford only averaged 7.4 yards per return for Saskatchewan. He had a great 48-yard punt in which he kicked his leg and a hard right to left angle surprising Alford and sending the ball to Saskatchewan’s 16-yard line with no return.

Second Team Returner – Tobias Harris (OTT)

Returned 4 punts for 9.8 yards on average and also returned 6 kickoffs averaging 22.5 yards per return. He had the longest average punt returns outside of Javon Leake who had the punt return touchdown and a very good average kickoff return.