WEST SEMIFINAL: Eskimos at CALGARY

[zamler]

Wow we squeaked this one out, no way Edmonton should be even close. Let's hope Calgary can get it together against the Riders.

So long Esks! Always a pleasure seeing you lose. Oh yea and the Oilers lost again, this time to Atlanta.

[Ren]

Ha ha stupid Oilers.

[LockedOut]

Calgary team beats an Edmonton team again. Getting old but never tired.

[arloiginla]

Fantastic play call by Cortez on 2nd and 5 with the Burris PA option run.

[silentsim]

Burris is predecting the future

Happy the boneheaded single give-up by Summers didn't cost us, nor did the close but not quite apparent Fumbles.

Stamps defense came up HUGE with the sack, and pressuring Ricky Ray to force the late holding calls.

[OzSome]

Yahoo!!! You gotta believe people!! Never doubt that the Stamps will lose this game.

[zamler]

Originally Posted by OzSome

Yahoo!!! You gotta believe people!! Never doubt that the Stamps will lose this game.

You're a better person that me, I had my doubts from the beginning.

[jammies]

Offence and defence played well, but the special teams have been a problem all year and they aren't getting better - Summers did break the long return, but giving up the single and fumbling the ball on 2 other returns reminded me of Titus Ryan before they traded him, and that isn't a good player to be reminded of.

Still, they won, and the score was a lot closer than it should have been - Edmonton's offence did little on their own, while Calgary's O moved the ball seemingly at will. However, the Stamps need to start scoring points early, or next week the Riders will take advantage again of the slow starts that have become all too familiar.

[octothorp]

I thought Burris did a great job with the play-calling, that option play was impossible to stop in key situations. There were a few times he failed to notice open guys down the middle, but the sideline play was there every time too, he just tended to overthrow it. Even those situations where the Esks forced him to scramble, he was very much in control and allowed things to develop every time. The Eskimos were lucky this wasn't a rout. That said, a few things they need to work on: special teams execution, obviously; discipline on defense; stretching the field a bit more.

The TSN announcers kept harping on how Edmonton was close to making the big downfield plays, but I didn't see it that way; there was one overthrow that could have gone for six, but overall the Calgary secondary was in perfect position to make plays every time.

[OzSome]

Originally Posted by zamler

You're a better person that me, I had my doubts from the beginning.

I never bail out on my team. I may be hard on some players ie: Howell but not the whole team. I could have won more money today but I just can't handle taking money from an old man, who happens to be a Rider fan. Only thing he initiated and told me Stamps will lose so I said okay I'll bet him $20. I would love to see his face tomorrow and tell him I will play his $20 in Vegas slot this week.

[arloiginla]

Nice to get the win but that kind of playing won't do the job in Regina next week.

Something still seems to be missing from this years' version of the Stamps. The beauty is they still have another week to find it, and anything can happen.

[calgaryred]

Yeah Stamps will have to up their play and hope Riders playing a pressure cooker at home will be too much to handle for them.

They play another game like they did against Edmonton and they will be in for a surprise in Regina.

Hope the boys can pull out another win and come back home for the Grey Cup

and congrats to the Lions hope they take down the Als next week

[transplant99]

Nice to get the win but that kind of playing won't do the job in Regina next week.

Which kind of playing?

The 454 yards of offense for?

or the 234 yds given up on defense?

This game wasn't even close save for the kick return for a TD...something that happens rarely.

[arloiginla]

Originally Posted by transplant99

Which kind of playing?

The 454 yards of offense for?

or the 234 yds given up on defense?

This game wasn't even close save for the kick return for a TD...something that happens rarely.

-Settling for short FG's early
-giving up a KR touchdown
-fumbling punts
-giving up free singles

Stats don't always tell the story.

[OzSome]

Edmonton shouldn't even be in this game as the Stampeders dominated the game unfortunately the score doesn't show it. Our offense I thought played well except for some overthrown balls by Burris. They moved the ball well and they even moved the ball from deep on the Edmonton zone. Burris definitely outplayed Ricky Ray in this game. Nik Lewis had a huge game and he's there whenever Burris calls for him. Of course the MOP finalist Joffrey Reynolds were awesome again with over 100 yards rushing. I don't think the Eskimos did enough to stop the Stamps. I just love it when some pinhead shoots his mouth off but couldn't deliver on the field. Yes, I am talking about you Maurice Llyod and Byron Parker. MO who??? It looks like the Freight Train Reynolds just ran over you today. Parker didn't do much either. Only reason he stopped Bryant or Ralph was because Burris was overthrowing the ball. JC started off well but they started double-teaming him so Burris sort of forgot about him. Our OLine had a decent game even after Lazeo got injured.

Our defense played well stopping Ricky Ray. Only one TD by Ray but part of the reason was those bad penalties that gave the Eskimos 35 yards gain. Our run defense were awesome as I don't remember seeing Whitlock or Ray getting a good chunks of yards running the balls except for the few occassions. CB Dwight Anderson and Browner were always there making plays. John Eubanks, Milton Collins and Raymond did well stopping the pass. THey even came close to getting some INTs.

Special Team on the other hand were brutal all night except for P Burke Dales and K Sandro. They have one good positive gain when Summers almost run the kickoff return for a TD. Coverage were terrible and got burned once. I didn't even notice if Jon Cornish played tonight. Usually he's the first one to try to tackle the returner. I don't understand why Browner is not the first one to chase the returner anymore. Punt Returner Marcus Howell, as i said all season long is the worst and useless punt returner in the CFL. The only way we get some good field position is because of the no yard penalties or the opposing punter making mistakes kicking the ball. At least with Titus Ryan before, there is a possibility that we might get a TD punt return. Kickoff Returner Summers I think were always good in this season but he made a couple of mistakes that almost cost us a game. The first one was giving up the single which is unneccessary. But I have to give him the benefit of the doubt on that mistake. The other mistake was the fumble that was almost touch by the Eskimos before it went out of bounce. By the way, Mr. suitor and Mr. Cuthbert, you guys need to get your eye check. On one angle, it was clear that the Eskimo player did not touch the ball until the ball went a little out of bounce.

Happy with the win especially against the Edmonton Eskimos. It is always sweet when a Calgary team beat an Edmonton team no matter what sports are we talking about. I can't wait to see the Stampeders play the Riders next week in the Finals.

[transplant99]

Yeah i know they dont...thast why the eyeball test is best...Calgary on both sides of the ball were great...maybe came up short scoring a TD early, but this is the CFL...all part of the game.

you are selling the club way to short.

[browna]

Yup Calgary clearly the better team today. A close game kept them sharp and focused and should help them next week. No injuries suffered today I don't think today.
Man I remember coming home from McMahon 4 or 5 years ago cursing Renyolds' name when he fuumbled 3 or 4 times in those playoff losses.

Should be a good game next weekend....wonder how the retro-fest, still dusting off those Ron Lancaster pics from 1976 off, is going in Sask.?

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by transplant99

Yeah i know they dont...thast why the eyeball test is best...Calgary on both sides of the ball were great...maybe came up short scoring a TD early, but this is the CFL...all part of the game.

you are selling the club way to short.

The Stampeders were the better team by far on offense and defense (special teams play was underwhelming as usual) and don't need to make any apologies for this effort. They will need more finish in the end zone, some better defensive game planning on keeping Durant in the pocket, and discipline to win next week.

[Traditional_Ale]

Originally Posted by octothorp

The TSN announcers kept harping on how Edmonton was close to making the big downfield plays, but I didn't see it that way; there was one overthrow that could have gone for six, but overall the Calgary secondary was in perfect position to make plays every time.

Agreed. The panel was terrible on that. It seemed like they were trying to much to put drama into the game where there wasn't any. The Stamps added enough with their normally high-percentage red-zone conversions going totally south and into the toilette. But we won, so I digress.

Cant wait for the green and sheyet!!!!

[corporatejay]

Dwight Anderson got lucky that his jawing didn't get him a flag or burned (since there was one play where he wasn't even paying attention to his assignment).

Can't settle for field goals against Sask or we'll lose.

Other than that, Stamps played great.