GAME 14: STAMPS vs RIDERS

[OzSome]

Wow, busy night tonight. We have the Flames and the Oilers on Sportsnet and we also have the Stamps and Riders' game on TSN at 8pm.

Stampeders won 4 in a row so far and one more win guarantees them a playoff spot. I think Stamps can win this game.

Stampeders are missing 4 Canadian players with injuries tonight. DL Labinjo, R Teyo Johnson, S Wes Lysack and OL Jeff Pilon won't play tonight. Another Canadian R Ryan Thelwell is also questionable. The players who plugged in their spot did well last game and I hope it continues. Justin Phillips and Miguel Robede filled in really well for Labinjo. Import Keon Raymond and Canadian Markus Howell took care of Lysack's position, Derek Armstrong on Pilon's spot. I am sure they will put Summers and Cornish on Johnson's position and if Thelwell can't play, we might see Arthur some action again.

Joffrey Reynolds are only 9 yards short of taking over the rushing leader.

As for the Riders, the question is how long will Michael Bishop plays before Durant takes over. He's been struggling and the way Durant played last game, Riders coach Miller won't hesitate to make some changes right away.

Anyways game time at 8pm and it will televised on TSN.

GO STAMPS GO!!

[OzSome]

Good first possession for the Stamps unfortunately they could not take advantage of the red zone again. Sandro kicked the field goal and it's good.

Good first possessions by Saskatchewan also and Stamps defense were brutal. Riders' Hughes ran for a touchdown. 7-3 Saskatchewan with a little bit over 5 minutes left in the first quarter.

[OzSome]

lot of scoring on the first half. Calgary is ahead 21-20 after the half.

Scoring for the Stamps:
Sandro deAngelis field goal
Henry Burris TD run
Stamps scored a single when Charles dropped the ball on the end zone on the punt return
Burris to Ken-Yon Rambo TD after Saskatchewan turnover
Sandro deAngelis field goal
Total 21

Riders:
Bishop TD pass
Luca Congi field gaol
Bishop TD pass to Chris Getzlaf
Luca Congi field goal

Total 20

Both offense are clicking moreso on Saskatchewan. Bishop seems to have a lot of time on the pocket and the receivers seems to find an opening. Calgary defense needs to step up and put more pressure on Bishop.
On offense, Stamps sort of forgetting Joffrey Reynolds again. This is the chance for him to pull away on the rushing yardage but Cortez doesn't seem to call his number. When they run the ball, it was Cornish who had 19 yards run. We need more running and Burris has to take advantage of Saskatchewan no safety. I can see Copeland and Nik Lewis taken advantage of the opening soon.

[OzSome]

It is so frustrating watching this game tonight. Our defense really collapse. No pressures, bad tackling, bad coverage by DBs. Bishop had a lot of time trying to figure out who he will throw the ball to. He totally had a feast on the Stamps DBs.

Offense for the Stamps is very questionable. Yes Burris was having a good night passing but Saskatchewan made some adjustment and knew that Calgary practically abandon the run completely. I like Cortez but sometimes he tends to abandon or forget about Reynolds. The guy is one of the best RB in the CFL and had only 5-6 touch all night. Brutal.

Saskatchewan won the game 37-34 and they are now in three-way tie for the first place with Calgary and BC Lions.

[troutman]

SASK's defence won the game for them, scoring one TD and setting up another.

Refs missed a pass interference call when Rambo's arm was held. I think Durant was down before fumbling.

Good game - CGY really just needs to split these two games.

[jammies]

The Riders took advantage of the Stamps' mistakes, Stamps' couldn't do the same. And unlike Toronto, the Riders are good enough that sheer talent can't overcome that.

That one play where the corner went up for the interception, had it bounce off of his hands and right to the Rider receiver was a prime example - it should have been six for the Stamps, instead the Riders got a first down and kept their drive going. I wouldn't call it bad luck, though - making plays like that is what differentiates winning teams from losers. Now the Stamps have to show they can bounce back from a bad game and dominate the Riders at home.

[You Need a Thneed]

People's opinion on the onside kick? I though it looked like Browner touched it.

And I'm assuming the TSN guys had no clue about the rulebook - re touching the ball on the onside kick.

[You Need a Thneed]

Originally Posted by troutman

Refs missed a pass interference call when Rambo's arm was held.

Allowing video replay on some penalties like that one is almost required. Obvious pass interference, no subjectivity at all. Subjectivity is why they don't allow pass interference calls to be reviewed, but that one wasn't subjective at all.

Would like to see how the game would have played out with that call being made.

[jammies]

Originally Posted by You Need a Thneed

People's opinion on the onside kick? I though it looked like Browner touched it.

He touched it, but he was pretty clearly out of bounds. He jumped way up and bent backwards to reach it, and when he came down he was a good few yards out. I don't know what the rule is for certain, but since the ref said, "The ball was touched by the Calgary player but it was not in the field of play", I'd assume he'd either have to touch it with his feet inbounds on the ground, or else come down inbounds after touching it, neither of which was the case.

I was more annoyed with the ball being punched out of bounds in the endzone and not returning to Calgary's possession. That's a pretty dumb rule, I'd say if you're punching it you are the last one to touch it until someone else makes contact or the ball goes out, in which case it should be your team's ball. Seems like a rather silly rule, it doesn't happen all that often so you'd think such an unusual and good play would be rewarded.

[OzSome]

Originally Posted by jammies

I was more annoyed with the ball being punched out of bounds in the endzone and not returning to Calgary's possession. That's a pretty dumb rule, I'd say if you're punching it you are the last one to touch it until someone else makes contact or the ball goes out, in which case it should be your team's ball. Seems like a rather silly rule, it doesn't happen all that often so you'd think such an unusual and good play would be rewarded.

Yeah I don't understand that rule either. I mean the rules says on the onside kick whoever touch the ball last gets the possession. How come the rule is not the same on that Sask interception where Thelwell punching the ball the rule was different. Clearly Thelwell was the last touch.

Stamps lost is a combination of turnovers and bad coaching decisions on both side of the field for the Stamps. I just don't understand the logic of Chris Jones coaching. Pressurring the QB with blitzes and stuff seems to work in the past few games were clearly abandoned. I don't think I ever seen any DB blitz or even a LB blitz against Bishop or Durant or maybe just a few times. And those few times, Bishop seems to get rattled and throw the ball over or short. Bishop have all kinds of time picking his receiver. Then when he gets in trouble his receivers bails him out and our DBs are nowhere in the site. Bannister again gets burned a few times. He is probably are worst DB or he is just get picked on a lot.

As for the offense, Cortez abandoned the running game again. We have the best RB in the league and only 3 times on the first half and I think 3 more in the 2nd half. Reynolds become a blocking back most of the time. Saskatchewan been doing safety blitz and Calgary did not take advantage of throwing long passes in the middle. Burris was good in the game but because their offense is predictable in this game, he made mistakes due to pressures. I like Cortez but he is back with his style from last season where the Stamps does most of their plays in throwing the ball and completely abandon the run.

Turnovers really killed them. Referees did not help either. Rule says that when a defensive player hold the receiver's one hand before he catch the ball is supposed to be a pass interference penalty. Don't tell me the refs did not see it because there are two referees on site. The first one I can probably say he missed it but the one closest to Stamps emd zone had a clear site as he was looking Rambo and Morgan(i guess). No call..

[octothorp]

Calgary's offense is most effective when they work some misdirection into it; the play last night where Burris faked the hand-off to Reynolds and then ran to the outside, lateraling to Cornish. Even though it looks fancy, it's fairly easy to execute, and the way that Saskatchewan was bringing the blitz and given how good Calgary's receivers are at down-field blocking, it should be a part of every drive. I still look back on the Dickenson drive in the labour-day game where he used little misdirection plays like that all the way down the field; it had nothing to do with Dickenson, there's no reason Burris can't work a bit more of that into the offense, as the Stamps are successful whenever they use it.

[Frequitude]

I'd like to know why Higgins called the timeout before the Rider's last field goal. He should have known that that timeout would be valuable in the final minute if they could get a quick TD. Was a timeout really going to give you a better shot a rare play like a blocked field goal?!

...and it turns out that it would have been valuable (had Armour not taken that stupid penalty). We could have stopped them and had a good 30 seconds left on the clock.

[OzSome]

Originally Posted by octothorp

Calgary's offense is most effective when they work some misdirection into it; the play last night where Burris faked the hand-off to Reynolds and then ran to the outside, lateraling to Cornish. Even though it looks fancy, it's fairly easy to execute, and the way that Saskatchewan was bringing the blitz and given how good Calgary's receivers are at down-field blocking, it should be a part of every drive. I still look back on the Dickenson drive in the labour-day game where he used little misdirection plays like that all the way down the field; it had nothing to do with Dickenson, there's no reason Burris can't work a bit more of that into the offense, as the Stamps are successful whenever they use it.

I agree but mixing it up like running the ball, short passes and long passes also works for them. It is something that I did not see much against the Riders.

[troutman]

Originally Posted by OzSome

Yeah I don't understand that rule either. I mean the rules says on the onside kick whoever touch the ball last gets the possession. How come the rule is not the same on that Sask interception where Thelwell punching the ball the rule was different. Clearly Thelwell was the last touch.

Thelwell punched the ball, so I think the Sask player would have touched it last as it left his hands. This happens in basketball all the time.

[howard_the_duck]

I'll confess I never watched the game, but Reynolds only got 5 carries? Was he hurt? If not, that is unacceptable.

[OzSome]

Originally Posted by howard_the_duck

I'll confess I never watched the game, but Reynolds only got 5 carries? Was he hurt? If not, that is unacceptable.

Not even close to being hurt from what I've seen.

[howard_the_duck]

Originally Posted by OzSome

Not even close to being hurt from what I've seen.

Then I don't understand. Offensive coordinators have changed, yet the mentality hasn't. Burris is having an outstanding season, but the offense needs to revolve around a great running back, and that Joffrey Reynolds is. No excuse for only 5 touches for #21....especially when he averages over 5 a carry.

[EldrickOnIce]

Originally Posted by howard_the_duck

Then I don't understand. Offensive coordinators have changed, yet the mentality hasn't. Burris is having an outstanding season, but the offense needs to revolve around a great running back, and that Joffrey Reynolds is. No excuse for only 5 touches for #21....especially when he averages over 5 a carry.

But I don't think this 'mentality' has been the case for the bulk of the season. So, something has happened to change it.
But what that is.... I have no idea.

[howard_the_duck]

Originally Posted by EldrickOnIce

But I don't think this 'mentality' has been the case for the bulk of the season. So, something has happened to change it.
But what that is.... I have no idea.

A few weeks ago I remember watching a game on TSN where they showed a stat of touches by Reynolds last year per game vs. this year....and it was marginally higher this year, by about 1-2 touches if I recall correctly.

After hearing all offseason how Joffrey was going to get more touches....and then after 14 games for nothing to have changed? Frustrating.

[browna]

Not too concerned about the offense.
30+ points in what, 5 straight games?
Sure, I understand the need to have a mix of passing and running in theory (and the CFL running=necessary theory is a lot slacker than the NFL...just ask Joe Smith and Charles Roberts), but when you're putting up that many points, doesn't really matter how.

Plus, I am sure Renyolds wasn't just setting blocks in the backfield, and was a option for a pass out of the backfield a fair bit (didn't see the game).

Plus, as games get colder in Nov, Renyolds has yet to prove he's reliable...i've been at the last 3 Stamps playoff defeats at home...I think he fumbled 5 or 6 times in those first 2 games when it got nippy out, and was generally ineffective last year.

I'm more concerned about HB and how he's progressing/adapting/performing, as it will be him who sinks or swims this team down the stretch and into the playoffs.

From watching, and listening, he's more then gettting it done this year and answering all his critics. With some defensive help, Stamps could have 2 or 3 more wins than they do now.

It still comes down to how the games go in November, but clearly this is looking to be HB's most productive season, possibly ever, stats wise, and overall consistency wise, which is a good sign.