As an avid fan of the Canadian Football League, I am constantly bombarded by comments declaring the CFL to be a cheap bastardisation of the glorious game of football practiced in the United States. What inevitably follows is a discussion of how successful a CFL team would be competing against an NFL team. I'm here today to make the argument that a CFL could compete...under the right circumstances. My obvious love for all things Canadian aside, (except Celine Dion...just not a fan) it is entirely plausible that a mediocre NFL team could be bested in a game of Canadian football by the greatest team in all of sports, the Hamilton Tiger Cats.
The obvious differences between the two leagues comes in the form of its rules. The CFL plays with 3 downs, a longer and wider field, more players, and a slightly different scoring system. I can tell you right now that if the game were played under the rules of the National Football League that a CFL team would suffer a similar fate to the 2008 Detroit Lions (read: winless) BUT under CFL rules, I would contend that the CFL teams would be competitive...and dare I say it, victorious.
The major difference comes in the skills required to be successful under CFL rules. The large field and reliance on passing offence changes the game completely, particularly when it comes to defensive players. Players in key positions are required to be more mobile and athletic, with the ability to cover a larger amount of the field. This is particularly true of the linebacker and linemen positions. The NFL features men who resemble the shape of mountains attacking each other in close quarter trenches, it is an awesome sight to watch, but their skills would not transfer over to CFL rules. Both key positions defensively require players to have greater foot speed, as well as the ability to cover the larger field completely. CFL defenders tend to be more athletic, not necessarily as big, but far more mobile and explosive, and also with better catching ability. In the NFL, a wide reciever matching up against a linebacker is typically considered a mismatch, in the CFL it is considered a typical defensive play.
While much is made of the NFL's titanic athletes, it is easy to see why those same titans would be gassed physically following a CFL game. Rosters are far smaller in the CFL, which means the players are required to do multiple things at multiple positions, playing for longer at high speeds than NFL players could manage. The shortened amount of time set between plays also contributes to the elevated stamina level in the CFL. Canadian football is not a game for the faint of heart, and those who can't keep up will quickly be left behind. Smaller rosters also means that the CFL athletes typically bring a slightly larger range of skills, given that they cannot expect to specialize in one particular position. The changes in skills and athletics needed is what gives Canadian teams a chance under CFL rules.
On offense the run driven offenses of many NFL teams would also lead to a hard adjustment. Its not coincidence that the all time professional football leader in passing yards comes from the CFL (Anthony Calvillo - Montreal Alouettes). The average NFL running back gains about 4.4 yards per carry, a very effective number under a four down system, unfortunately though not not enough to gain a first down under Canadian rules. Also the fact that a typical CFL offense runs out of a shotgun formation would contribute to a even smaller amount of rushing yards per carry as running backs would start even farther back from the line of scrimmage. The CFL is a shootout, a high octane passing game, and while there are some NFL teams who have the proper passing setup to dominate in the CFL as well, the majority of NFL teams would have difficulty adjusting to the different offensive setup without much prep time.
Its clear that the NFL has a higher skill level, and is definitely full of teams that would dominate a CFL team at any given time. CFL teams feature mostly unwanted athletes that American football had no interest in drafting. When playing in a four down system, the technical aspects of the game become amplified. Coaching is far more in depth, players are more set in their skills, and therefore it can largely be considered the better league. I'll go on record saying a CFL team would be crushed by an NFL team under NFL rules. Put my Hamilton Tiger Cats up against the New England Patriots in Foxsborough, Massachusetts and smart money is to bet on Patriots to dominate, but play that same game in Canada, and I might be inclined to at least believe that the Ti-Cats could pull off the unthinkable. And what good is a sports fan without belief in the impossible. Oske Wee Wee, Oske Wa Wa, Holy Macana, Tigers Eat 'Em Raw.
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