Western Semi-Final: Riders at STAMPEDERS

[OzSome]

Calgary Stampeders (12-6) will be hosting the Saskatchewan Riders (8-10) on Sunday, November 11, 2:30PM MST at McMahon Stadium. The game will be televised on TSN and RDS2. Game will be seen in the US on NBCSN and webcast on ESPN3.

OFFENSE:

Stampeders offense had the most productive season in 2012. They led the CFL in TD, 2nd in points (29.7 per game) and first down (395) and they are thrid in total offense averaging 377.0 yards per game.

Stampeders have two capable QB who can start and can win the game on Drew Tate or Kevin Glenn. Hufnagel chose Drew Tate to start the game against the Riders. He will be looking for some redemption after being pulled at halftime in his 1st playoff start against the Eskimos in their last season's lost. This season Tate only played 4 games dues to shoulder injury. He started well on his first game this season then went down early on the 2nd game. Tate ended up passing for 570 yards and 4 TDs.

RB Jon Cornish broke Normie Kwong's 56 year old record for most rushing yards by a Canadian RB in a season with 1,457 yards. He also won the CFL Rushing title in 2012(the first time since Orville Lee won it in 1988). Cornish was picked to be on a all star this season and nominated for the Most Outstanding Player and Most Outstanding Canadian(first Canadian to be nominated on both awards since Tony Gabriel won it). Cornish is also the first Stampeders since Dave Sapungis was nominated for both awards in 1995.
Cornish was a 3-time CFL Canadian Player of the Month and 7-time CFL Canadian Player of the Week this season.

RG Dmitri Tsoumpas also picked as All Star this season is the longest serving of Calgary's offensive linemen. Only member of the OLine to start every game this season. He and along with the rest of the OLine are responsible for giving Jon Cornish lots of room to run around.

R Nik Lewis is the only receiver in the CFL with 100 receptions this season. He caught 1,241 yards this season with 10 TDs.

R Maurice Price in the last 3 games of the season registered 11 receptions for 324 yards, 3 TD(all with more than 53 yards). He filled in well when R Marquay McDabiel and Johnny Forzani went down with the injury.

DEFENSE:

Defense was solid all season long. They finished 3rd in points allowed at 23.9 per game and 1st downs allowed at 356. They were ranked 4th in TD allowed at 44 yards allowed at 353.6 per game.

DE Charleston Hughes gained an all star nod this season after registering 11 QB sacks(2nd in the league), 53 tackles, 5 forced fumbles, 7 tackles for losses and 3 pass knocking.

LB/DB Keon Raymond another all star was pretty solid this season with 5 INT(2nd in the league) and 44 tackles. Raymond is the most versatile defensive player for the Stamps.

MLB Juwan Simpson, an all star lead the team in tackles with 82, 2 sacks and 3 fumble returns.

DE Anwar Stewart joined the Stampeders late in the season and registered 4 QB sacks against BC Lions. He helped the Stampeders registered 17 sacks over the last 4 games(all in wins) and put the Defensive brigade into 2nd place for QB sacks with 43.

SPECIAL TEAM:

Stampeders' special team coverage only gave up in punt return TD all season. Tim Brown of BC Lions returned a punt on their last game against BC Lions this season.

Two All Star nod for the Special Teamers. K Rene Paredes ended up 3rd in the league in scoring with 170 points. He only missed 3 FG attempts all season (40/43) and led the CFL with a 93.0% field goal accuracy rate, best in teh Stamps' history.

P Rob Maver had an exceptional best season as a Stampeders. He averaged 43.2 yards per game per punt(4th) and lead the CFL in net punting with 36.8 yards average.

Ret Larry Taylor was one of the leader in the CFL for punts return until he went down on injury. He's back healthy and will start against the Riders.

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Stampeders need to pressure QB Darian Durant and make him run all game and not give him time to have time passing the ball to the R Weston Dressler, who happens to lead the Riders with 94 catches for 1,206 yards and with the league best 13 TDs. The more Durant run, the better chances he can make mistakes.

GO STAMPS GO!!!

[You Need a Thneed]

Go Stamps Go!

[Flickered Flame]

The Stamps are the better team however, they tend not to show up in playoff games vs the Riders. I also worry about PI calls against the Stamps. When Durant stretches the field on the Stamps, more often than not, the Riders get the call. Could make a big difference.

From the Stamps perspective, I'm interested to see how committed to the run they are tomorrow. With Tate in there, I think we might see more passes. And with Tate, if he struggles, even though Huff has said no short leash, I'm curious to see if Huff sticks with his word or does he get Glenn in there? IMO, Glenn is a great security blanket for this team.

I think it comes down to a play or 2 in the 4th qtr. Stamps 37-Riders 28

[M*A*S*H 4077]

I think the Stamps will likely win. I think Tate and Durant are going to have rough games, 2 or 3 picks thrown by each QB.

Go Riders. I hope every CFL fan in Calgary gets out to the game. Fill the stadium for once this season!

[Fire]

Unfortunately Tate's grandmother died this week, but I think he will win this one for her.

[OzSome]

ROSTER MOVES: (according to the Calgary Herald)

CALGARY:

IN: DB Derrius Brooks and DB Jeff Hecht.

OUT: R Arjei Franklin(knee), WR Johnny Forzani(ankle), R Anthony Parker(ankle), RB/ret LaMarcus Coker(hamstring), FB/LS Tim St. Pierre(knee), OL Na'Shan Goddard(knee), OL Steve Myddleton(knee), DB/LB Tad Kornegay, DB Jamar Wall(ankle), DL Stevie Baggs(quad), DL Kevin Dixon(knee), DL Chris McCoy(knee), DL Kenny Pettway(foot), DL Justin Phillips(knee), DL Dorain Smith(leg), DL Luis Vasquez(knee), LB Marc Calixte(knee), LB Demetrice Morley(shoulder),

SASKATCHEWAN:

IN: DL Jay Alford, LB Joe Lobendahn, DB Terrel Maze and Taj Smith.

OUT: R Ismael Bamba, R Dallas Baker(lower body), R Rob Bagg(knee), R Sinorice Moss(knee), R JOrdan Sisco(wrist), RB Jock Sanders(knee), OL Dan Goodspeed(knee), P Chris Milo(ankle), DB Milt Collins(wrist), DB Woodny Turenne(leg), LB Abraham Kromah, DL Kenny Rowe, DL Mick Williams.

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Not sure why DB/LB Tad Kornegay will not be in the lineup according to the Herald. I am pretty sure he will play if he is not injured. I also think DL Cordarro Law will be playing also with Kenny Pettway being injured.

[OzSome]

With Chris Cutthbert and Glen Suitor doing the Toronto-Edmonton game, it means we will not hear these bozos talk about Dressler, Durant, Patrick and Lobendahn all game. Yes!!

[M*A*S*H 4077]

OzSome: I did not see Kornegay on the field for warmup so I doubt he's playing

[Clarkey]

Our American players are going to beat Saskatachewan's American's!

[saskflames69]

Stamps are gonna get stamped.

[The Goon]

I don't watch many CFL games, but I am really hoping that the Stamps win quite handily today. It's great to watch Saskatchawooners head back home all sad and angry, because they are terrible, terrible people. They deserve to lose.

They are terrible people.

[transplant99]

I hope that the Stamps stretch the field a couple times early so as to loosen up the Riders run d and allows Cornish to do his thing.

Do that and, win or tie the turnover battle, and they win.

[Magnum PEI]

Originally Posted by Clarkey

Our American players are going to beat Saskatachewan's American's!

I hope it's not decided by field goals then.

[saskflames69]

Originally Posted by The Goon

I don't watch many CFL games, but I am really hoping that the Stamps win quite handily today. It's great to watch Saskatchawooners head back home all sad and angry, because they are terrible, terrible people. They deserve to lose.

They are terrible people.

Keep in mind that someone of your kind wished the Riders plane would crash.

[transplant99]

Originally Posted by saskflames69

Keep in mind that someone of your kind wished the Riders plane would crash.

it was said in complete jest....dumb and ill thought out, but he never ever actually wished it.

Perspective.

[The Goon]

Originally Posted by saskflames69

Keep in mind that someone of your kind wished the Riders plane would crash.

I wish you safe travels back home! Just a really, really sad ride.

[killer_carlson]

2 sacks early by the good guys.

Now unleash cornish

[transplant99]

tate looks very iffy thus far...throws arent real sharp.

[greentree]

Tate doesn't seem to have the arm strength...

[GreenLantern2814]

Price has to catch that. Ditto Bryant. Hold onto the damn ball.