Is Chad Owens still the Best Playmaker in the CFL?

[jerrym]

CFL.ca is asking who is the best playmaker in the league?

Chad Owens no longer does kick or FG returns, is 18th in receiving yards with 263 yards, and 11th in punt return yardage with 192 yards (but has played up to two games less than other receivers and returners). However, he is still the spark plug of the Argo offence, but is he the league's best playmaker as he was in the past?

http://www.cfl.ca/video/index/id/112751

http://www.cfl.ca/statistics/list/year/2015

[argonaut11xx]

If i was offered any player , on any team, i still would not trade Chad Owens.

Not for any other player on any other team

[1argoholic]

He's the toughest player in the league. Hope he's not injured to bad as legs aren't meant to bend like that.

[Stevoman]

He is a top level receiver but, as of right now, not as big a threat as he once was on returns but that could be because of coaches or schemes or age or who knows what else. I think a stat was mentioned yesterday that he has the best punt return average in the league this year but none of our returners have looked like a threat for big yards so far this season.

[Argo57]

He is a top level receiver but, as of right now, not as big a threat as he once was on returns but that could be because of coaches or schemes or age or who knows what else. I think a stat was mentioned yesterday that he has the best punt return average in the league this year but none of our returners have looked like a threat for big yards so far this season.

Chad is getting older and the wear and tear accumulates, should be playing him at slot and that's it, will keep him in the league longer which is great for all fans!

[argotom]

Unfortunately it appears so far this year Chad has lost a step and is no longer the force he was.
We all hope he can be the dominant player again.

[AngeloV]

Unfortunately it appears so far this year Chad has lost a step and is no longer the force he was.
We all hope he can be the dominant player again.

I don't think he's lost a step at all. I think that Harris just seems to have good chemistry with the 3 bigger receivers and they are seeing the ball more on the downfield routes.

[Ballstothewall]

CFL.ca is asking who is the best playmaker in the league?

Chad Owens no longer does kick or FG returns, is 18th in receiving yards with 263 yards, and 11th in punt return yardage with 192 yards (but has played up to two games less than other receivers and returners). However, he is still the spark plug of the Argo offence, but is he the league's best playmaker as he was in the past?

http://www.cfl.ca/video/index/id/112751

http://www.cfl.ca/statistics/list/year/2015

No,

[Gill The Thrill]

Not anymore. I'd say Brandon Banks is the most dangerous playmaker in the league right now. It's very difficult to sustain being atop the KR/PR position for such a long stretch. Chris Williams had that great season before going to the NFL and he has not been able to recapture that same dominance, same goes with Stefan Logan since he's returned from the NFL. Chad Owens has nowhere to go but down really, when you realize how strong his statistics were in 2012 and 2013. He's a former league MVP who is playing on a team with a little more depth now, but the knicks and knacks are definitely catching up to him. It's the nature of the beast in a sport like football.

Look at how many RB's capture lightning in a bottle to have those one or two fantastic seasons, where they can carry the mail regularly and stay healthy enough to rack up big numbers because of it. They may still be capable, but they start to show some wear and tear and begin to show signs of needing a longer recovery period not just between games, but even between plays. Some guys are freaks of nature and can take the beating, but most guys zenith in that one or two years and that's their carear season.

[argonaut11xx]

Not anymore. I'd say Brandon Banks is the most dangerous playmaker in the league right now. It's very difficult to sustain being atop the KR/PR position for such a long stretch. Chris Williams had that great season before going to the NFL and he has not been able to recapture that same dominance, same goes with Stefan Logan since he's returned from the NFL. Chad Owens has nowhere to go but down really, when you realize how strong his statistics were in 2012 and 2013. He's a former league MVP who is playing on a team with a little more depth now, but the knicks and knacks are definitely catching up to him. It's the nature of the beast in a sport like football.

Look at how many RB's capture lightning in a bottle to have those one or two fantastic seasons, where they can carry the mail regularly and stay healthy enough to rack up big numbers because of it. They may still be capable, but they start to show some wear and tear and begin to show signs of needing a longer recovery period not just between games, but even between plays. Some guys are freaks of nature and can take the beating, but most guys zenith in that one or two years and that's their carear season.

I wouldnt trade Chad Owens for Brandon Banks.....no chance.

[tennyis]

If i was offered any player , on any team, i still would not trade Chad Owens.

Not for any other player on any other team

I can think of about 15-20 players I'd trade Owens for without even thinking about it!

He's clearly not the same player he was in years past, that could be because of Harris or because he's lost a step.

[Argo]

Certainly not. He's still a fine player, however.

[Will]

I don't think he's lost a step at all. I think that Harris just seems to have good chemistry with the 3 bigger receivers and they are seeing the ball more on the downfield routes.

Well, according to FZ, he is working through some injuries so that has an impact. I think that with Harris under centre there has been a bit of a shift in the passing game where, as you say Angelo, there is a bigger emphasis on downfield routes.

[tennyis]

Well, according to FZ, he is working through some injuries so that has an impact. I think that with Harris under centre there has been a bit of a shift in the passing game where, as you say Angelo, there is a bigger emphasis on downfield routes.

as well as depth at WR that they have not had in a very long time. At least 5 games into the season.

[Will]

The depth at receiver turned out to be a disappointment last year, however, the 2013 receiving corps was pretty good if you ask me with Durie, Owens, Barnes, Inman, Chiles, Watt and Bradwell. I think the first five each got 500+ yards with Durie and Owens getting close to a 1,000. I think the difference this year is the shift in emphasis to a more downfield passing game, which we haven't seen and the decreased reliance on Durie and Owens (for obvious reasons on Durie).

[argonaut11xx]

I can think of about 15-20 players I'd trade Owens for without even thinking about it!

He's clearly not the same player he was in years past, that could be because of Harris or because he's lost a step.

20 players better than Chad Owens????....please provide that list...wow

[AngeloV]

20 players better than Chad Owens????....please provide that list...wow

It's a typical small sample size opinion. I don't get carried away with 2 or 3 not so productive games nor do I with 2 or 3 very productive games. As I said, he doesn't appear to be Harris main read. Harris may feel more comfortable with the bigger targets right now (and I don't think that is a bad thing). If Ray comes back, and Owens is healthy, you will see him start to put up his regular 8-9 catches for 90-100 yards more often than not.

[Argocister]

I think Chad is still in the top 5 .... I think he is covered extremely well now . When he was out of the game on
Monday vs the kittens, Stala had quite a few touches, and I would assume it's because the Ticats D didn't worry about
Stala as much.
I don't mind Stala filling in for Owens either .... Sort of the
Bradwell type .... Always dependable .

[jerrym]

Chad is getting older and the wear and tear accumulates, should be playing him at slot and that's it, will keep him in the league longer which is great for all fans!

That's what Don Mathews did with Pinball, thereby extending his career by several years while remaining a key cog in the Argo machine. Milanovich should do the same.

[AngeloV]

That's what Don Mathews did with Pinball, thereby extending his career by several years while remaining a key cog in the Argo machine. Milanovich should do the same.

I don't think returning was ever completely taken out of Pinball's game. It was definitely reduced, but not taken out. Milanovich has done the same with Owens, as he is completely off of kickoff return team, and occassionally replaced on punt return with Jefferson.