Game 9: Battle Of Alberta 2 - Labour Day Classics

[OzSome]

As of Thursday, the game on Labour Day at McMahon Stadium is already sold out. Blackout will be lifted so for those of us who lucked out on getting a ticket will be able to watch the game on TV and watch with our friends at home.

Well, as we all know the Stamps just won two games in a row on the road (vs Saskatchewan and BC Lions). Those two games are very important win for the Stamps because of the Western Division competiveness. Sask is #1 with 6-2, followed by the two Alberta teams Calgary and Edmonton at 5-3 then BC at 4-4. I am always looking forward to the Labour Day Classics. The rivalry was not as intense as it used to but players and the fans still gets pumped up.

OFFENSIVELY: Burris is doing great especially whenever he uses all his arsenal. Offensive Lines did well against BC Lions and Saskatchewan giving Burris lots of time to pick his receivers. They also did well giving Joffrey Reynolds lots of room to run. Receivers are starting to get hot again and hopefully we see the real Copeland and Ken Yon Rambo on the field. The two of them seems to struggle a bit lately but they are both to pick up as well. Nik Lewis is always exciting to watch especially his yardage after the catch and those catches in traffic. I have to say Burris should always look to Lewis when we badly needed first down. Brett Ralph, the quiet receiver seems to forgotten one from the defensive opponent which is good because he usually make them pay after. Ryan Thelwell hasn't play much but he seems to be catching the ball when needed. Last year in Labour Day Classics Thelwell caught 199 yards. Will he repeat that feat? Then we have the up and coming monster receiver Teyo Johnson. Johnson had a great game against BC using his big body and height to catch those 4 passes. Rob Cote will be back in this game.

DEFENSIVELY: Outstanding Canadian of the Week Mike Labinjo had a heck of a game vs BC. The guy defintely is better suited as Defensive End than as MLB. I hope to see another game like BC for Big Mike. Charleston Hughes should have won a weekly honour as well but that's okay. He had a monster game against BC with QB pressures and a sack. I thought he had two sacks but according to TSN only 1. The Lines are starting to pick up and pressuiring the QB more often. The LB crew with MLB Armour are having a blast stopping the run. Against BC they had a tough time stopping the slick running of Stefan Logan. Dwayne Carpenter and Shannon James are quiet in a good way. Matt Grootegard is a good backup as an LB. Defensive backs Dwight Anderson, Brandon Browner, Julian Battle and Calvin Bannister start playing aggressive lately. Safety Wes Lysack who had a great late game against BC is looking to rub his luck to the next game. Richard Karikari is the backup safety.

SPECIAL TEAMS: Sandro deAngelis winning the Special Team player of the week was no surprise. The guy is by far the most consistent player in the league. Call him Mr. Automatic! I hate to say that I might be happy to finally see someone other than Markus Howell as a punt returner but I do! I just cannot stand seeing the 2, 5 or 10 yards punt return all the time. MOST of the time, the Stamps only get good yardage after the punt is when he let the ball bounce all the way to the end zone. Yes, I have to admit he had good punt return on 2-3 occassions so far this season. Hopefully Nate Curry can do a lot better than that. I haven't seen Curry play yet so I am not sure what to say. Our coverage team (punt and kick return) are solid all the time.

Stamps should stick to using Reynolds a lot. Mix up the play like run, short passes, long passes, QB running the ball and so on. In other words confuse the heck out of Edmonton defense.
On defense, pressure, pressure, pressure..... do not give Ricky Ray lots of time in the pocket like last game. Put him down. The more pressure Ray gets, the better DB can play against Eskimos receivers. Make Kamau Peterson drop passes like the way he used to. Punish the guy.
Stop Thristan Jackson!!!

I think the Stamps will beat the Eskimos by a big margin.
I will post any roster moves later. GO STAMPS GO!!

[flip]

This is going to be an interesting one. I think the key here is the Stamps defense. Burris and the offense should be fine, but will that secondary be able to stop Ray and will the D-line be able to put any pressure on Ray forcing the Esks to run the ball.

Personally I don't think Harris (esks RB) is a huge threat despite his performance against Sask.

I don't care who wins as long as they split the next 2 games and Sask sweeps to up their lead in the west.

[OzSome]

According to the Herald, punt/kick returner Tristan Jackson of Edmonton might not play on Monday. Stamps Howard Hodges might suit up.

[troutman]

Anyone want to watch the game at Petes Pub?

[OzSome]

Roster Moves:

STAMPEDERS:
DL Julian Jenkins(leg), OL Antonio Hall(ankle),DB/PR Markus Howell(groin),S Richard Karikari(groin),DL Pat McDonald(shoulder),LB Saleem Rasheed(shoulder) are injured.OL Fabio Filice and R Reggie Williams are healthy scratch.
Going in:
OL Derek Armstrong, R Nate Curry and DE Howard Hodges

ESKIMOS:
DL Adam Braidwood(leg),OL Dan Comiskey(leg),DL Fred Perry(ankle),R Jason Tucker(neck) and LB Trey Young(ankle) are inhured. DL Joe Anoai is out
Going in:
LB Derrick Doggert.

Notables:
Calgary Stampeders won the last 4 Labour Day Classics and was 3-1 on the rematch.

Joffrey Reynolds is ranked third in the CFL in rushing yardage and 2nd in Touchdowns.

Last week's Players of the Game were split by both Alberta teams.
Outstanding Canadian Player: DE Mike Labinjo - Stamps
Outstanding Defensive Player: DE Dario Romero - ESkimos
Outstanding Offensive Player: RB A.J. Harris - Eskimos
Special Team Player: K Sandro deAngelis - Stamps

I cannot wait for the game. I've been sick so I'll just watch the game on TV. For those of you going to the game at McMahon, help the Stamps promo successful by BRING a CAN.

GO STAMPS GO!!!

[OzSome]

1st half just ended. The game is kind os slow or low scoring so far. The Stamps couldn't capitalize on their 3 TD opportunities and ended up getting field goals instead. Eskimos scored on their first drive but Stamps' D starts stepping up. Calgary had 1 forced fumble by Dwight Anderson and interception by Wes Lysack. Eskimos had 1 QB sack which hurt Burris. Dave Dickerson came in and did a good job at the beginning. Penalties helped the Eskies on this drive. Dickerson first play was handed in to Reynolds for 11 yards, then a long pass Brett Ralph but there was a holding penalty which the Eskimos declined so 2nd and 10. 3rd play a long pass to Copeland for over 30 yards. Reynolds ran the ball for 3 yards then he threw the ball incomplete with another penalty offside by Copeland. Eskies declined 3rd down and field goal by Sandro. Score is 12-9 for Eskimos after the 1st half.

[transplant99]

updates would be great score wise, so thanks OS...cant watch this one.

[flip]

Calgary TD to make it 16-12.

Eskies just responded with a TD of their own. 19-16.

[moon]

Calgary hands Edmonton some more points 27-16.

Stamps look awful, Edmonton doesn't look much better but are taking advantage of their opportunities and Stamps are giving them plenty of those.

[Saint Troy]

....and the Stamps completely mess the bed with consecutive special team fumbles. Prefontaine may have kept the Stamps in this one with that garbage kick, need the d to step up and produce another turnover.

[flip]

Edmonton has a full 100 yards more offence than the Stamps. 335 to 236 if I heard right on the radio. This isn't looking good for the red and white (and gold i guess today).

[flip]

Another TD edmonton 37-16. This game's over.

[Saint Troy]

Complete meltdown in the second half by the Stamps, and with that secondary I can't see Calgary keeping it close on Friday.

[moon]

Originally Posted by Saint Troy

Complete meltdown in the second half by the Stamps, and with that secondary I can't see Calgary keeping it close on Friday.

The only chance they have is that Edmonton aren't exactly world beaters. The Esks could easily hand Calgary the game the way Calgary handed the Esks this year.

The West looked a lot better than the East this year but after the performances of the 4 Western teams this week it might just be that the whole CFL sucks this year.

[GirlySports]

Originally Posted by Saint Troy

Complete meltdown in the second half by the Stamps, and with that secondary I can't see Calgary keeping it close on Friday.

Linebackers are terrible too. I keep hearing how great Armour is but he's way too hyped-up. He needs to slow down because I counted 5 occasions where he over pursued and went right by the ball carrier. If someone as slow as Ricky Ray can take one step for you to go flying by, you need to be in more control!

[OILFAN #81]

Awesome win! Man I love Ray! Definately the best QB in the CFL. His aerial attack is awesome. 1st half was kind of slow but the offense clicked in the 2nd. Stamps/Peterson/Campbell really have stepped up since Tucker's injury and that's been great to see but #15 has been the MVP hands down. Hopefully the Harris injury isn't too bad and he can suit up for the rematch. Calgary has a good offense but the key to beating them is the long pass. It seems that they can never stop that. Hopefully Saskatchewan loses next game so we can tie them for 1st!

[OzSome]

Stamps started of really well in the 3rd quarter with Dave Dickerson on with Dickerson using Reynolds a lot. The drive were consististed of run plays and ends with Reynolds TD run. Stamps. Then Eskimos answered back with Ricky Ray TD pass to Kamau Peterson.

Then the special team and defense collapsed. First Nate Curry fumbled the ball on the punt return. Commentators were mentioning Hufnagel should have challenge the call. NOt sure if it will make a difference. On that turnover, the Stamps paid for it by Edmonton scoring a TD pass. Ray to Stamps. Edmonton. Sloppy tackling by the Stamps defense on Ricky Ray run. At that point, Eskies are still ahead by 26-16.

Edmonton kickoff. Reynolds retunred then got hit hard by Edmonton and fumbled the ball. Eskimos recovered again. Reynolds injured. Luckily Prefontaine missed the FG so Eskies 27-16. Stamps next possession Dickerson to Ralph, then Lazeo handed the ball too high and Dickerson recovered and tried to run the ball but short of a first down.

Eskimos ball. Ricky Ray was having a field day throwing the ball in the 4th quarter. He throws to Fred Stamps, Kamau Peterson and Campbell. Eskies settled with a field goal 30-16. On Stamps next possession, it is two and out. Cornish ran the ball for a few yards, then Dickerson threw the ball to Nik Lewis. It was a high throw which Leiws tipped in. Shannen Garrett almost had an interception and could have been a sure TD. 9:06 left, McCarthy of Edmonton had a good run for 26 yards.
Ricky Ray torched the Stamps again with another TD pass to Fred Stamps. The score is 37-16 with a little over 3 minutes left in the 4th period.

Stamps next possession, QB Barrick Nealy is in for Dickerson. The game was already out of reach and no hope for the Stamps anymore to come back. Final score 37-16 Eskimos.

The difference were the turnover and the collapse of both special team and defense for Calgary. For some reason late in the 3rd, the Stamps were just doing mostly 3-man rush and the Eskimos OLine were giving Ricky Ray lots of time in the pocket. It was like a deja vu from the last game in Edmonton. Dickerson with exception of the beginning of the 3rd period was not a factor at all. I guess the turning point was the two fumble by special teams. Then the ESkimos defense suddenly got so pumped up.
Not sure if the Stamps could have come back if Burris didn;t get injured but that's how the game goes. Injuires to Stamps: Burris and RB Reynolds left the game. RB A.J. Harris from Edmonton left the game as well.

Stamps need to readjust next game in Edmonton. Maybe Chris Jones should review Ricky Ray's play over and over again. Was it the case of Eskimos offense made a better adjustment than Stamps' defense or Ray is just plain Stamps' killer?

[Kidder]

Originally Posted by GirlySports

. I keep hearing how great Armour is but he's way too hyped-up. He needs to slow down because I counted 5 occasions where he over pursued and went right by the ball carrier.

He needs to shut his yap. Nothing more embarrassing than a player who runs his mouth and can't back it up. Speak softly and carry a big stick.

[OILFAN #81]

Originally Posted by moon

Calgary hands Edmonton some more points 27-16.

Stamps look awful, Edmonton doesn't look much better but are taking advantage of their opportunities and Stamps are giving them plenty of those.

Doesn't look much better?

26/38 for 383 yards and 3 TD. That looks fine to me! We got 4 TD's compared to 1 from Calgary. Calgary's pass defense is horrific. That's the difference.

[moon]

Originally Posted by OILFAN #81

Doesn't look much better?

26/38 for 383 yards and 3 TD. That looks fine to me! We got 4 TD's compared to 1 from Calgary. Calgary's pass defense is horrific. That's the difference.

At that point in the game the Esks hadn't looked much better then the Stamps. The Stamps handed them first downs like candy and just turned the ball over twice in a row and the game was still close.

Once Calgary completely tanked they were able to turn it on and they certainly took advantage of the numerous opportunities that Calgary gave them but considering how many gifts and mistakes that Calgary handed them the game was pretty close until the 3rd quarter.