WEEK 12: STAMPEDERS vs RIDERS

[OzSome]

Calgary Stampeders will be playing the Riders for the 2nd time this season not including the pre-season. In their first game on Week 4, the Stamps beat the Riders in a one-sided game at home 40-20. The Stamps are red-hot right now winning 7 games in a row after losing to Toronto. The Riders on other hand have been struggling in their last few games. In fact, they decided changes are needed by releasing a highly touted off season trade acquisition in WR Prechae Rodriguez and their special team returner Dorsey were put on a 9-game injured list. QB Darian Durant been struggling and been hearing some catcalls lately. Some Rider fans actually suggested Coach Miller start Dinwiddie ahead of Durant last game.

OFFENSE:
Calgary's offense lead by CFL Offensive Player of Week QB Henry Burris have been playing well. The Offensive Linemen are the biggest reason why the Stamps' offense have been playing well. They been giving Burris a lot of time to take his pick on which receiver he should throw the ball to. As you notice, every single receiver, running back have at least a couple of catches in every game. The OLine is also the reason why the two-headed monster running back in Reynolds and Cornish have been racking up some yards. The question mark before the season start is one of the biggest reason the Stamps are having some success this season.

DEFENSE:
Well, what can we say about our defense? They are the best group in the CFL right now and finally Chris Jones is being noticed all over the CFL. Our amazing DLine can put different groups every game and we won't even notice the difference. The whole group is just awesome. The 3 Amigos LB crew are having some awesome season as well. Some suggested that OLB Malik Jackson is the best LB in the league and some pick MLB Juwan Simpson as the best. It is kind of odd that both players started off as a DLine last season for the Stamps. Both or one of them will only see duty as a special team guy and were also healthy scratches a few times. Malik Jackson took his opportunity in stride last season. Once the Stamps put him as a LB, he just excelled. The other LB Keon Raymond is the quiet one but when the other team challenged him, he usually answer the bell. The 3 Brandons(Smith, Browner and Isaac) in the backfield are on fire. Whenever the QB stay away from the Brandons, the other DBs like Collins, Anderson, Lysack and Fraser also answer the bell.

SPECIAL TEAM:
The special team group are actually very quiet lately. Murphy hasn't been returning that well that's why the Stamps atarted putting Forzani as a returner as well. Kicker Rob Maver have been struggling lately but so far he can get away with it because of the Offense and Defense play. I still think it is better for him to struggle now while the Stamps are playing well. I am sure he is learning from his mistakes and been trying to correct it. Punter Burke Dales is the only consistent special teamers lately.


Game Time: FRiday, 7:00pm at Mosaic Stadium

GO STAMPS GO!!

[Cecil Terwilliger]

I don't think Saskatchewan stands a chance but I've been wrong before. They are 5-0 at home this season afterall.

[octothorp]

I think Stamps need to finish this one early. If it's within 10 points in the fourth quarter, I'd be worried about Sask coming back. Fan attitudes aren't the best there right now, and if the Stamps can force a lot of two-and-outs early, maybe some turnovers, I think the home-town crowd will start to get on Durant.

[troutman]

Unless there is bad weather I can't see SASK staying with the Stamps for 60 mins.

[Erick Estrada]

Riders are a different team at Mosaic so this game to me is a toss up as the Stamps really haven't been tested for the last five weeks. I expect a close game being decided by seven points or less.

[Mazrim]

As nice as a blowout looks, it's not too fun after a while to watch. I really would like to see the Saskatchewan team so many people think they are so that we have a close game with lots of back and forth to keep it exciting. I imagine it will be another 40 point game for Calgary, but the Riders will likely keep it within 10.

[Da_Chief]

Originally Posted by Mazrim

As nice as a blowout looks, it's not too fun after a while to watch. I really would like to see the Saskatchewan team so many people think they are so that we have a close game with lots of back and forth to keep it exciting. I imagine it will be another 40 point game for Calgary, but the Riders will likely keep it within 10.

Disagree, blowing out eskimos and riders is always fun.

[mykalberta]

The way Burris plays anything is possible.

[OzSome]

I think if the Stamps pressure Durant and stop Wes Cates from gaing lots of yardage, I don't see how the Riders can beat the Stamps. Pressuring Durant so he doesn't get a chance to throw to those Canadian receivers would be #1.

[Frank MetaMusil]

Originally Posted by OzSome

I think if the Stamps pressure Durant and stop Wes Cates from gaing lots of yardage, I don't see how the Riders can beat the Stamps. Pressuring Durant so he doesn't get a chance to throw to those Canadian receivers would be #1.

I think a key stat here is that despite many people ragging on Burris about his interceptions, Durant is tied with him for the league lead at 14.

If Calgary gets things going early this will be another blowout, which I don't mind at all.

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by mykalberta

The way Burris plays anything is possible.

Pretty much. My biggest fear is that Frank shows up at the worst time in the playoffs and wastes a great regular season for the team. I love Henry Burris. He's one of the most genuine people you will ever meet but I don't ever remember an elite QB that was so bipolar. He's so talented that he can be the best player on the field but flip the coin and he can be the worst player on the field making terrible decisions that can sink the team single handedly. We've seen much, much more of the good than bad since Burris returned to Calgary but Bad Hank still makes the occasional appearance and the results can be disasterous.

[Cheese]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

Pretty much. My biggest fear is that Frank shows up at the worst time in the playoffs and wastes a great regular season for the team. I love Henry Burris. He's one of the most genuine people you will ever meet but I don't ever remember an elite QB that was so bipolar. He's so talented that he can be the best player on the field but flip the coin and he can be the worst player on the field making terrible decisions that can sink the team single handedly. We've seen much, much more of the good than bad since Burris returned to Calgary but Bad Hank still makes the occasional appearance and the results can be disasterous.

I think the same thing can be said of just about every starting QB inthe league. Love Anthony C in Montreal, but up until last year he choked all the big ones away. Up north in Edmonchuk, Ricky Ray, everyones annointed hall of famer is having a couple of horrendous campaigns in a row, would you trade him for Hank? BCs QBs arent anything to write home about, and the 'Pegs glass man is done for the year. Hamilton marches out a retread and Im certainly not sold on the Lemon thats running Torontos offence yet.
Hank drives me nuts too...some throws you just sit back and say WTF? Then next series he leads the team downfield on a 8 minute march and runs it in himself.
Most NFL QBs are the same as well...outside the top 4 or 5 elite guys.

/back to work

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by Cheese

I think the same thing can be said of just about every starting QB inthe league. Love Anthony C in Montreal, but up until last year he choked all the big ones away. Up north in Edmonchuk, Ricky Ray, everyones annointed hall of famer is having a couple of horrendous campaigns in a row, would you trade him for Hank? BCs QBs arent anything to write home about, and the 'Pegs glass man is done for the year. Hamilton marches out a retread and Im certainly not sold on the Lemon thats running Torontos offence yet.
Hank drives me nuts too...some throws you just sit back and say WTF? Then next series he leads the team downfield on a 8 minute march and runs it in himself.
Most NFL QBs are the same as well...outside the top 4 or 5 elite guys.

/back to work

I want to make it clear I think he's the best current QB in the CFL. I was just commenting on how
Calvillo has the odd bad game but you seldom see him lose a game on his own as the Als offense is based on timing and rythm quick passes and when a good defense takes that away the whole offense including him is ineffective. Ray is an overrated drop back passer with an average at best arm that needs good pass protection and clear lanes to be successful. Give him that and he will pick a defense apart however he can't carry a team on his back like Burris who can scramble and make throws on the run or run the ball down your throat. Ray doesn't have the boom/bust factor Burris has. Ray get's killed on those sideline passes that go for pick 6's all the time but that's a product on playcalling but you don't usually see him make the poor decisions Burris does at times.

Guys like Dickenson, Flutie, and Garcia all had their moments of failure but it wasn't often they would have you pulling out your hair like Burris does.

[Jason14h]

Guys like Dickenson, Flutie, and Garcia all had their moments of failure but it wasn't often they would have you pulling out your hair like Burris does.

They did, we just don't remember as well! Those guys didn't have any better playoff success!

[arloiginla]

What a crazy week - despite a league without parity this year, I can honestly say I have no idea who is going to win most of the games this week, as opposed to most weeks where I usually have a pretty good idea.

The key is the QBs tonight. If Burris outplays Durant I think the Stamps will be fine as they are better than the Riders in most other facets. But the ability for Hank to have a bad night, combined with Durant being able to take off with the ball and buy time, means this game is anything but a sure win.

I think it will be very close, within a field goal or so, and right now the Riders have the special teams edge and that might make the difference.

24-21 for one of the two teams. Not sure which.

[octothorp]

I was in the other room, but did I just hear Milt Stegall predict that the Riders would win the west?!

[arloiginla]

Originally Posted by octothorp

I was in the other room, but did I just hear Milt Stegall predict that the Riders would win the west?!

See my post in the other topic.

[arloiginla]

Oh dear Glen Suitor's covering this game. Sigh.

[LockedOut]

Ah ha ha ha ha. 7-0 Stamps on a pick 6.

[Erick Estrada]

I like this start.