WEEK 17: Riders vs STAMPEDERS
WEEK 17: Riders vs STAMPEDERS
Three more games left and maybe Hufnagel thinks the time is now to make some changes. He probably figures #1 in West is getting away from Stampeders and it is the best time to try something. Two big changes due to inconsistensies and one changes due to injury. The first big changes is in QB position. Henry Burris will give way to backup QB Drew Tate because the coaching staff were not happy with Burris past 2 performances. Tate replaced Burris last game before the end of the first half and almost won the game for the Stamps. He ended up with 28 passing attempts and completed 19 passes for 263 yards. He was impressive. Burris on the other hand struggled in the past two games. Is Tate's impressive performance in replacing Burris against the Argos warrant the changes? Only time will tell. Like I mentioned there is a possibility that the Stamps might not get into 1st place and they are already in the playoff spot so it might be the time to see if Tate can help the Stamps to go after the #1 spot and even lead them in the playoff. If he is unsuccessful in this game, Huf can still put Burris back in their remaining games. 2nd changes is in defense. With Hughes coming back after sitting out due to injury, they need a spot for Robert McCune. He'll be starting as the MLB and Simpsons will be moved to another LB position. The 3rd changes will be Joffrey Reynolds playing to replace the injured Coker.
Stamps is now in third place with 8-7 record. They are 2-5 in the last 7 games but 3-0 against the Riders this season. Riders were officially eliminated last week lost the last 4 games. Their offense is the major reason they were struggling and they haven't scored an offensive TD in the last 17 quarters. Durant been struggling and he's been replaced by Dinwiddie.
OFFENSE:
As everyone hears, Drew Tate will be the starting QB for the Stampeders to replace Henry Burris. Tate played well replacing Burris before the end of the 1st half and almost won the game. They were actually ahead by 1 point less than 3 minutes left in the game when the Stamps defense collapsed with 3 bad penalties that gave the Argos a lot of yardage and gave Prefontaine an awesome spot to kick the winning field goal. RB Jon Cornish is this week's most outstanding Canadian. He rushed 12 times for 128 yards. Most of those yardages came early and like in the past few games, Stamps abandoned the run again in the 2nd half. Cornish just needs 338 rushing yards to hit the 1,000 yards this season. He will be the first Canadian RB in Stampeders' history to reach the 1,000 yards plateau. Joffrey Reynolds after missing a few games will dress for the game against the Riders replacing the injured LaMarcus Coker.
Johnny Forzani with 76 receiving yards and 22 yards TD catch had a good game vs the Argos. Nike Lewis caught 6 catches for 82 yards while Landan Talley caught 3 for 71 yards.
DEFENSE:
Defense actually played good last week until late in the game when the defense collapsed with 3 unnecessary penalties that gave the Argos good field goal position. They played well in defending the pass but they were terrible in stopping RB Cory Boyd and the Argos running game. Boyd finished with 148 rushing yards and the Argos' ground game finished for a total 236 rushing yards.
Geoff Tisdale with 2 interceptions and Eric Fraser had one. DL Chris McCoy in his 2nd game had a couple of QB sacks.
DE Charleston Hughes will be back in the lineup vs the Riders and that prompts Hufnagel's move to put Juwan Simpson, who struggles this season into another LB position. Huf figures the only way he can put Robert McCune in the lineup is to put him as a MLB. The Stamps actually had a winning record with McCune playing as Middle Linebacker.
SPECIAL TEAMS:
After Larry Taylor's good game on special team against BC Lions, the Stamps were average in their return game. The Special Team defense couldn't stop Chad Owens return though. Kicker Rene Paredes went 5 for 5 in field goal while Punter Burke Dales average 45.8 yards in punting.
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This week's question: Do you think Hufnagel made the right move in putting QB Drew Tate as a starter replacing Henry Burris?
This is Tate's game to shine. Success and we might see him play the last two more games and maybe the playoff game. He falters and he's back as a backup again.
Please Double D, when the running game is successful early..keep it and don't abandon it later in the game.
GO STAMPS GO!!!!
Game time: Friday, 7:30pm at McMahon Stadium
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