Battle of Alberta - Part 3: Stamps vs Eskimos

[OzSome]

Short week for both the Stamps and the Eskimos. The third game of the season between the two teams and I am sure the game will be a lot closer than the Labour Day game.
Stamps dominated in all facets of the game. Offense started slow but picked it up right away. Defense shut down Arkee Whitlock and he wasn't even a factor all game. The Eskimos basically relied more on Ricky Ray's throwing arm because their running game were not existence. Special Teams: Tristan Jackson, one of the most explosive returner in the CFL were grounded and the Stamps cover team didn't even let him do his thing. Burke Dales, even though were hurting did a heck of job punting the ball away from Jackson or Whitlock.

Eskimos made some changes this week firing their offensive coordinator Rick Worman and releasing DL Kitswana Jones. The Stampeders meanwhile are adding two key defensive players in DL Charleston Hughes and DL Tearrius George. The Stamps then released LB Matt Grootegoed. Not a big loss there.

OFFENSE: Henry Burris had another slow start but picked up the pace right away. Burris ended up connecting 19 passes from 27 tries with 285 yards. One mistake he made was getting intercepted once.Burris threw a 21 yard TD pass to Jermaine Copeland.
Another good game for Joffrey Reynolds. He rushed for 116 yards, scored a TD run and caught 3 passes for 58 yards. Reynolds was a force all night. Backup RB Jon Cornish ran for a TD as well. He ended up rushing for 54 yards all game.
R Ryan Thelwell caught 6 passes for 74 yards and R Jeremiane Copeland caught 5 passes for 99 yards. Both players had a huge game. The most memorable catch of the game was Jeremaine Copeland's one handed TD catch. He was fighting off Kelly Malveaux and I believed Malveaux were holding his one hand at the time. Nik Lewis and Jermaine Jackson both caught for 27 yards.

What can we say about the Offensive Linemen. They really stepped up last game. They gave Burris lots of time in the pocket and gave Reynolds lots of running room. OLine like Tsoumpas and Newman never stopped blocking for Reynolds, Cornish and Burris all game. It was the best overall game for the OLine this season so far.

DEFENSE: MLB Tim Johnson were awesome all game going after the RB, QB and even against the receivers. DL Jim Davies in his first game as a Stamp had a decent game and so as the rest of the DLines. Ricky Ray went after DB Keon Raymond all night and Raymond responded to the challenge. LB Malik Jackson is a great addition to the LB crew. I like Dwayne Carpenter but with him and James on the field at the same time, the other team have their ways running the ball. Carpenter is very consistent player though.

The difference between the 1st game and 2nd game were the tackling. I don't remember seeing any missed tackles by the defensive player all game.

We are still not sure if Charleston Hughes will play tomorrow night but chances are he might not be. That would be cool to see Mr. Hughes continuing his awesome defense from last season.

SPECIAL TEAM: The whole Special Teamers played well. Marc Calixte had a humungous game. I am surprised he didn't get the Special Team Player of the Week but that's expected as the league only pick the returners or kickers most of the time. P Burke Dales also had a great game angling the ball away from the explosive returner in Jackson. Jackson were so frustrated all game that he was trying too hard and almost gave the ball to the Stamps after he fumbled the ball. Luckily for him another Eskimo players recovered the ball.

Calgary is 7-12 in the 19 rematch games played since ’89 (3-2 since 2005) and is currently on a two-game winning streak in the rematch, winning 38-33 in 2008 and 20-17 in ’07. The Stamps (5-4) and Eskimos (5-4) find themselves in a three-way tie for first place in the CFL’s West Division along with the Roughriders.


MORE UPDATES TO COME BEFORE GAME TIME.

GO STAMPS GO!!!

[OzSome]

ROSTER MOVES:

CALGARY: R Jackie Chambers and DL Charleston Hughes are in. LB Matt Grootegoed(released) and RB Demetrius SUmmers are out.
INJURIES: DLDerek Armstrong(arm) and Rob Lazeo(knee), R Jabari Arthur(foot), Ken-Yon Rambo(knee), DB Brandon Browner(knee), Brandon Smith(knee), JR Ruffin(knee), LB Tristan Black(ankle), LeMarcus Rowell(knee), DL Mike Labinjo(leg).

EDMONTON: K/P Derek Schiavone and DL Shaun Richardson are in. DL/LB KItwana Jones(released) and RB Calvin McCarthy are out.
INJURIES: DB Willie Amos(leg), Scott Gordon(leg), Lamar Herron(leg), DL Adam Braidwood(knee), OL Garrick Jones(shoulder), Greg Wojt(knee), RB Jesse Lumsden(shoulder) and RB Calvin McCarthy(hamstring).

Game Time: 7:30pm TSN

[Flickered Flame]

Hughes is on the 46 man roster but according to Huff is unlikely to play tonight.

[JohnnyFlame]

Logic tells me that the Stamps should win. Experience tells me that them losing would be no surprise whatsoever. But I'm still thinking that although the score will be closer the Stamps are the better team and will win.

[OzSome]

I don't think Hughes will play as well but the Herald put him as a additional. I thought he won't play until the next game.

I still think if the Stamps play the way they supposed to, there is no reason how the Eskimos can beat them even at Commonwealth Stadium.

[calgaryrocks]

yea i don't think huf wants to change much, they need to play like last week. should be interesting to see if the esks have some new plays with the new coordinator. they will be fired up at least, after being embarrased. i hope they get a good crowd of over 40K up in the chuck to watch the Stamps win again

[I wanna be like Miikka]

Stamps need this one, then get on a roll and win the division!

[LockedOut]

Hopefully this thread doesn't get derailed. Go Stamps. NO OT for Tor/Ham. Damn looks like OT. Stamps/Esks game better be on TSN2 to start.

[rubecube]

Absolutely brutal, TSN. Way to show the start of the HAM/TOR game on TSN2 instead of the Calgary game.

[LockedOut]

What's the point of having TSN2 if TSN isn't going to use it properly. Who cares about stuff that happened 3 hours ago.

[GirlySports]

That's really brutal.

Luckily CFL can only go 2 OTs...not like college where I've seen 7!

[LockedOut]

7-0 for Esks.

[rubecube]

CFL gets made to look bush league again by one of its broadcasters. I called TSN and left a voicemail to complain.

[calgaryrocks]

wow, i think toronto just won. hamilton barely missed a looong field goal, toronto ran it out. darn. and eskies are winning, brutal

[chockfullofgoodness]

Is anyone's TSN (basic cable) frozen on the Hamilton QB being helped off the field right now?

[rubecube]

Man, Montreal sure has some major congestion problems. Having to stop games to let those semis drive through the stadium must get really annoying.

[rubecube]

Nice pass into triple coverage, Burris.

[zamler]

Damn, Edmonton fumble but looks like they got it back.

[rubecube]

Originally Posted by zamler

Damn, Edmonton fumble but looks like they got it back.

Terrible call by the ref. The Edmonton player never had possession of it.

[zamler]

I don't get the Stamps second down play calling sometimes. Just get the 1st down, not these low % plays.