Brutal back-to-back losses for the Stampeders. Stamps lost 55-36 after starting the game in a positive note. As much as I love watching Dave Dickerson while paying QB for the Stamps back then, and love the way he coached the running back a few seasons back. As Offensive Coordinator, he doesn't coach the way he plays. He is not creative enough and his coaching is so predictable. I know Hufnagel loves to give his coaching staff freedom to make their own calls but i think it is time for him to go against some of the predictable play calling. During his two years as an OC, he practically abandoned the plays that usual work for the Stamps and not taking advantage of some of the Stamps strength. We have the best running back in the CFL a few season back and one of the best backup RB in the league. We even have a good 3rd string back in Lumsden before but those 3 players were not being used properly. Short passes works wonder for the Stamps before. We have Nik Lewis who is so amazing when he catch the ball and usually gets more yardage. Rambo playing as a slotback were not being used much. Instead he tries to get his QB going for a long passes but the problem was they ignored a reliable speedsters in Romby Bryant. Stamps offense are so predictable in the past few games no wonder the other defense can shut them down easily lately. Stamps benched Reynolds in this game. At the beginning it is looking like a good decision because f Cornish plays in the first series leading to Bryant's TD. Then suddenly, Cornish disappears not because of his plays but because he became the forgotten man on offense, the way Reynolds becomes in the past few games. Cornish stat in the 1st half??? 3 carries?? Notice what happens when the Stamps abandoned the run, Hamilton defense went after Burris because they knew he will try to throw the ball and most of the time he was looking for a long passes. 1st quarter Dr. Jekyll of offense showed up and Hank the QB was playing. Then Mr. Hyde of offense replaced Dr. Jekyll in the 2nd quarter and then followed by Frank the QB. Oh don't forget, the OLine suddenly forgets to block. When the offense collapsed, the defense and the special team follows. Penalties and turnovers follows and there goes the ballgame.
I thought the reason for benching Joffrey Reynolds is so they can see how Jon Cornish performs as a starting RB. I thought the guy showed he is capable in the first series but suddenly he becomes the forgotten man. Cornish blocks well today too but they definitely miss the extra blocking by Reynolds. So in other words, i am still puzzled with the decision to bench Reynolds. One of the positive notes for the Stamps are Romby Bryant 3 TDs and Nik Lewis but Lewis didn't get used as much again in the 2nd quarter but I guess Dickerson realized to use him again but it was way too late. Landan Talley on the other hand was just brutal on the offensive side. He was missing his routes, dropping balls and not going back to the ball to help his pressured QB. Maybe I missed it in the first half but i don't even think they used Coker as a RB at all.. oh wait Dickerson just decided forget the short passes and forget about the running plays..let's go after the Ticats secondary. He forgot that in order to throw the ball deep, someone has to block the defensive linemen and LBs, which the Stamps' OLine forgot how to do.. The lost of Ben Archibald is starting to take effect.
What about the defense?? Huf benched one of the veteran DLinemen Devon Claybrook and got burned. Avon Couborne, rookie Terry Grant and even Thigpen coming on a short passes are unstoppable. Too many rookies on DLine and those guys can't stop the run and passes from the backfield. Not much pressures on QB Kevin Glenn. Hamilton gave up a lot of QB sacks in the past two games and Chris Jones' defense didn't even pressure a struggling QB. Deja Vu to Eskimos Labour Day game, we all figured they add lots of QB sacks but instead they gave up more QB sacks. What about the secondary... i have to say I hope Seattle Seahawks cut Brandon Browner soon. By the way, whatever happen to Milton Collins? Defense been hit by way too many injuries this season though. Hope to see Hughes, Claybrooks, Mace and McCune combo back together again.
Special Team did good with their return play but they can't tackle Ticats returners as well. I know we can't really blame Rene Paredes in this game but I think we will see Rob Maver back next game.
PENALTIES and TURNOVERS needs to be cut down or else it is going to bite them in their behind before the playoff.
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