If there is one player who deserves a lot of credit for the Edmonton Elks' turnaround this season, it is Austin Mack. The American receiver has been outstanding in his first season in Green and Gold and has quickly become one of the most important pieces of the Elks’ offence.

Through 17 games, Mack has put together an impressive season with 82 receptions for 1,254 yards and 9 touchdowns, averaging 15+ yards per catch. Those are excellent numbers by any standard and a significant improvement on his previous season in Montreal, where he finished with half the amount of yards and only 2 touchdowns in 12 games last season.

What stands out about Mack is his ability to make big plays. He has become a reliable target for Cody Fajardo while giving the Elks a legitimate deep threat. Mack had 8 receptions for 30+ yards this season. The next closest on the Elks was Justin Rankin with only 4. Whether it is making a difficult catch, or moving the chains, Mack has proven to be a threat in just about every aspect of the passing game.

I also think his importance to this offence goes beyond the stat sheet. With Justin Rankin providing a strong running game, having a receiver like Mack forces opposing defences to respect Edmonton's passing attack. That balance has been a big part of what has made the Elks go 13-5 this season.

Looking ahead to the playoffs, Mack will be someone to watch closely. Edmonton has earned the right to host the Western Final on November 7th, and the opportunity is there to make their first serious run at the Grey Cup in over a decade. Mack's ability to stretch the field and make plays in important situations could be a major difference-maker in the Elks’ quest to win the Grey Cup.

The Elks have given their fans plenty of reasons for optimism heading into the playoffs. Austin Mack has been a major part of that turnaround, establishing himself as one of the CFL's premier receivers and an important piece of Edmonton's offence. Legendary Edmonton coach Hugh Campbell once said, “It's amazing how much a group of people can accomplish when none of them care about who gets the credit.” That philosophy seems fitting for this year's Elks team. As Edmonton heads into the Western Final, Mack's ability to deliver in big moments will be critical.