[OzSome]

It was a very interesting game against the Blue Bombers last week. It seems that the Stamps are dominating the game yet the score doesn’t show it. In fact, the Stamps almost lost the game. This Saturday they are playing a Western rival BC Lions is struggling a little bit with 1-4 record. BC Lions gave the Edmonton Eskimos their first win last week so I got the feeling that they will be so mad at themselves and will be so pumped up to play the Stamps. Sometimes a struggling team just needs to play a better team in order to wake up. I hope it is not the case for this game.

QUARTERBACK: Henry Burris seems to be getting better especially with his communications with the receivers. I thought he had a good game against the Bombers and pretty much took most of the possession time in the game.

RUNNING BACK: Reynolds and Cornish was not a factor last game vs the Bombers. It seems like Bombers always have success against Joffrey Reynolds. I think Reynolds will break out against the Lions on Saturday.

OFFENSIVE LINE: The OLine seems to be doing their job especially in the first half of the game. Second half were a little bit different though. There are times they dominate the line and other times the DLine from the other team runs them over. With Dmitri Tsoumpas back with the Stamps practicing, I see him going back to the lineup against the Lions slowly. Hufnagel mentioned this week that he might use Tsoumpas on Tackle instead of his usual position as an Offensive Guard. It just means that Steve Myddleton’s job is safe for now.

RECEIVERS: What can you say about NIk Lewis night against the Bombers? He was awesome all night. He gained 64 yards on one play that led to Ken-Yon Rambo’s first TD of the season. He pretty much ran over his man Ike Charlton all night. Maybe that is the biggest reason why Charlotin were released this week.
First game by Ken-Yon Rambo was a success. He scored his first TD and a few catches. The only bad thing about Rambo’s first game was losing his tempers a few times. I guess you can’t blame him especially on the first tackle where Ian Logan looks like he horse-collared Rambo.
Romby Bryant is starting to have a better communications with Burris. Against the Bombers, I don’t think he dropped an easy catch at all. Deon Murphy is also becoming a threat on offense as well as the return.

DEFENSIVE LINEMEN: Tom Johnson been playing very well lately. Too bad he still hasn’t record his first sack this season yet but he’s been a force early this season. With Johnson playing well, it looks Tearrius George might have a problem getting his job back. Mike Labinjo hasn’t been noticeable so far this season but remember he always have a huge game against the BC Lions. Charleston Hughes might not play vs the BC Lions due to injury and according to the report former Riders DLine Mike Stadnyk will play in his place.


LINEBACKING: I like the way the Linebacking crew is improving. MLB Juwan Simpson is getting better and better every game. Malik Jackson is still a bit quiet but quiet in a good way. He is doing his job well and rarely miss his assignment. Keon Raymond is showing how versatile he is with his play. I noticed not a lot of RB getting some passes from the QB in the past few games.


DEFENSIVE BACKS: Most of the night against the Bombers, the DB played so well. Yes I understand they got burned a few times with long passes by Jyles to his receivers but most of the time they seemed to play well with the coverage. They didn’t really give Steven Jyles a lot of options most of the game. There is one instance that they got burned because of the mixed-up on who is responsible for whom. I am sure BC Lions will put Geroy Simon against Milton Collins on Saturday and stay away from Brandon Browner. Or they might try to go after the rookie Brandon Isaac. Isaac seems to be responding well so far but this might be a difficult task for him.

SPECIAL TEAM: Deon Murphy is becoming to be a good overall football player. He is such a good returner both on kickoff and especially on punt return something we were lacking the last few years. Murphy’s return is the reason why the Stamps field position rarely starts so deep of the field.
Our coverage team started off slowly but is getting stronger every game they play. Punter Burke Dales doesn’t go for the distance much this season but his placement is much improved. Most of the time, opposition’s returner doesn’t even get a chance to return the ball for more yardage.
Kicker Rob Maver is the top percentage field goal in the CFL so far. He is definitely making us Stamps fans that guy Sandro.


THE OPPOSITION: Wally Buono’s BC Lions are struggling so far this season with 1 and 4 record. Their starting QB Casey Printer is out for a few more games and even rumoured to be out of the season. Their backup QB Jarious Jackson still hasn’t recovered from his injury from last season. They are playing their 3rd string QB Travis Lulay right now who at times plays like a veteran QB but there are times plays like a rookie. BC definitely missed some of the toughness in OLine in Rob Murphy (tough and cheapshot artist). RB Jamal Robertson is a good replacement Martell. Geroy Simon has been quiet so far and hopefully Nik Lewis twitter comments don’t wake him up. BC defense played so well in their first game against the Eskimos but their play just declined after. Their offense plays went south as well and this is the reason why Offensive Coordinator Jacques Chapdelaine’s job is trouble right now according to some of the BC media.
This is the first game of the season between the Calgary Stampeders and the BC Lions. Are we going to see a fired-up opponents or the brutal BC team? I am hoping for the latter.

GO STAMPS GO!!