CFL WEST FINAL: STAMPS vs Green Riders

[OzSome]

Hello from Vegas!! I will be back in time to watch the game at home tomorrow and I couldn't wait.

After defeating the Edmonton Eskimos, the Stamps moved on to play the Riders at Mosaic or they still call Taylor Field for the rights to represent the Western Division in the Grey Cup game here in Calgary. The 2 teams met 3 times in the regular season with Calgary's record 0-2-1. Not a good regular season for them vs the Riders but this is the new season for both of team. It is a do-or-die game.

OFFENSE: Western Division MOP Joffrey Reynolds has been outstanding against the Riders this season. He had 356 yards rushing and 3 TD. He also played well against the Eskimos in the CFL West Semi-Final rushing for over 100 yards and the Stamps got him involved a lot.
Jeremaine Copeland record vs the Riders this season 16 catches and 211 yards while Lewis caught 17 passes for 204 yards. Romby Bryant did not have an impressive stats against the Riders in his 2 games. He caught 3 passes for 50 yards. He had a good game against the Eskimos last week though catching 4 times for 63 yards and 1 TD.

DEFENSE: Our defense surrendered an average of 32.6 points in 3 games vs the Riders. Saskatchewan averaged 122 rushing yards and 338 passing yards. Calgary defense collected 5 QB sacks but could only managed 2 turnovers in 3 games vs the Riders. Calgary corners Dwight Anderson and Brandon Browner are usually good vs the Riders but they seems to be having problem covering the SB lead by Andy Fantuz, Chris Getzlaf and the injured Dressler. Something has to change..

SPECIAL TEAMS: Calgary's cover team and the punt returners have been the suspect for the Stamps this season. The usually tough cover team have been brutal giving up a lot of yardage. Last season, the cover team were led by Browner and Cornish. Browner usually was the first player to stop the returner but the coaching staff changed it for some reason. The last time Markus Howell had a good game was against the Riders in 2006 playoff game. That was when he returned 93 yards for a TD. Now the only way the Stamps can get a good field position is if the other team kick from their deep zone, shank the ball or there is a penalty. We are going to be lucky to see Howell return for over 10 yards. Kick Returner Summers had a better luck and usually change the momentum for the Stamps. Trouble is he tends to drop the ball but trying too much.

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This is the first playoff start for QB Darian Durant but he did he was the backup for Kerry Joseph when they won the Grey Cup in 2007. His main weapon has been SB Andy Fantuz and Chris Getzlaf. Stamps defense needs to pressure Durant and maybe he makes mistakes in his first playoff start. Someone please cover Fantuz and Getzlaf and don't let them catch the ball especially early in the game. Burris needs to run more and also get Reynolds involved the whole game. This is the time the OL needs to step up more. They have been good but need to be better.

More updates before game time.

GO STAMPS GO!!!

[FoxMulder91]

For the record
If the Stampeders win, I get to choose a sig and/or avatar for I_H8_CRAWFORD
If the Riders win, he gets to choose a sig and/or avatar for me.

[I_H8_Crawford]

Stamps are going to get killed, they love making a garbage QB like Duran Duran look like the 2nd coming of Warren Moon.

They couldn't beat the Riders at all this year, twice in their own home, and Burris is going to choke with the noise and the fans taunting him all game.

Also watch Getzlaf have another big game, Stamps just don't bother covering him.

[Jesse834]

I hope Tad ends up covering fat ass Nike Lewis tomorrow. The trash talking Tad is doing between them is funny on twitter.

[flip]

I'm so excited. I wish I could have gone to Regina to see the game.

Once again I'm not particularly confident again. Calgary is a formidable opponent and if Burris and Reynolds are on the Riders D will have to come up big to keep the game close.

[arloiginla]

I honestly think it is the Stamps' turn to win. They have shown this season that they don't play particularly well until they absolutely MUST win a game but whenever the chips are down they have come through, even when it has looked ugly.

They didn't need to win last time in Regina though it wuold have been nice. It was only 2 weeks ago and to beat the same team twice in 3 weeks, as well as four out of five times in a season, is a tough challenge.

Also factor in that the pressure is solely on Saskatchewan hosting their first West Final, and the fact that the WDF has been notoriously tough to win by the home team in the past 15 years, and I think the Stamps will come through.

They will take a 17-0 lead early on and take the crowd out of it. The Riders will however battle back and make a game of it, but the offense will come through when needed in the 2nd half to stay in front.

Calgary Stampeders 30
Saskatchewan Roughriders 19

[Nuje]

I effing hate the Riders. I was born in Winnipeg, and I live in Calgary. There is really no better reason to hate them. I hardly even follow the CFL, but I want the Stamps to not only win, but embarass the crap out of them. I want Mosaic to clear out with a bunch of dorks wearing green, in a somber mood. Wondering how they could have possibly lost, especially with a quarterback who's never played a big game in his life. I'll be in midnapore for the game, and if the Stamps win, I will immediately drive to Rips just in case that Riders guy (is it Kylie Topping?) from the Fan is there......

Too much?

[The Ditch]

Well I really hope the Stamps win. My wife and the other outriders got on a bus at midnight last night to Regina and are there now, cheering at the game then hopping on the bus back to Calgary. It'll be a really tough game but with these one game playoffs anything can happen, go stamps!

[Jesse834]

I have goosebumps badly.

[moon]

If Calgary loses this game to the garbage Riders everyone on the team should be fired.

Should be an easy win that the Stamps make much harder for themselves like they have all season long.

[I_H8_Crawford]

Well they are playing to face Montreal, wow what a blowout - I honestly thought BC was going to give them a run for their money, haha.

[malcolmk14]

Some crazy dude offered me $6k for my four grey cup tickets if the riders win... So go riders

[zamler]

B.C. is shooting themselves in the foot big time, dropped balls, missed tackles, interceptions and fumbles. 31-10 and not even half time yet.

Looks like the Stamps will be hoping to face Montreal for the Cup.

[I_H8_Crawford]

Haha Mtl can easily put up 60+ today, BC wasn't ready at all.

It looks like a game of Madden on rookie difficulty - just throw deep and there will always be an open guy, lol.

[I_H8_Crawford]

Has anyone on Shaw lost their TSN feed completely? HD and SD....

[kirant]

Man, the BC/Als game is a gong show.

[I_H8_Crawford]

Originally Posted by kirant

Man, the BC/Als game is a gong show.

Just a precursor for what Sask is going to do to Calgary

[kirant]

Originally Posted by I_H8_Crawford

Just a precursor for what Sask is going to do to Calgary

I'd love to think so, but I see Burris bringing his A Game today.

[OzSome]

ROSTER UPDATES:

CALGARY FB Teyo Johnson and DL Tom Johnson are in. LB Mike Botteril and OL Rob Lazeo are out.
Injuries: DL Derek Armstrong(arm), Alain Kashama(ankle), LB Tristan Black(leg), Lemarcus Rowell(knee), Marc Calixte(knee), DB JR Ruffin(knee), Brandon Smith(knee), FB Teyo Johnson(ankle), WR Ken-Yon Rambo(knee), Ryan Thelwell(achilles) and OL Rob Lazeo(leg).

SASK - DB Eddie Davis, R David McKoy and LS Kevin Scott are in. DB Tamon George, R Johnny Quinn and DL Michael Stdnyk are out.
Injuries: LB Carlos Armour(leg), P Jamie Boreham(neck), R Weston Dressler(leg), OL Bobby Harris(knee), OL Belton Johnson(quadriceps). DB Leron Mitchell(groin), DL Jonathan St. Pierre(knee), DL Kevin Scott(leg), OL Wayne Smith(achilees tendon) and R Johnny Quinn(knee).

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NOTABLE: The Herald is predicting a matchup between few players and they thought there is going to be a battle between R Romby Bryant vs DG Omarr Morgan, RB Joffrey Reynolds vs LB Renauld Williams, LB Shannon James vs SB Andy Fantuz and OL Ben Archibald vs DL John Chick and Stevie Baggs.
This is going to be the 16th post-season games between the Stamps and the Riders with Calgary holding a slight lead 8-7 edge all time. Last time they played in the West Final was 1971. Wow, that was a long time ago.

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This is it!!! I feel that Calgary if they play smart will take this game. The last few games they played Saskatchewan, they made a lot of stupid mistakes/penalties. The last time they played, I don't think the Riders played any better except that first quarter. The score was deceiving with the last TD by the Riders were because of the penalties of the Stamps and also a stupid offside call by the referee on the onside kick. I feel the game today will be a lot better to watch.
Stamps needs to rattle Darian Durant inexperience in the playoff. Keep pressuring him and make him run around backwards. It is time for Mike Labinjo to show who's the big guy in this game. He has to play the same way he played against BC Lions in the Western Final last season. Dominate, Dominate!!! The Stamps defenders will have to play better defense against SB Andy Fantuz and Chris Getzlaf. No more giving them some room to catch the ball and hit them. It seems to work in the middle of the game but for some reason those two catches the ball well in the first quarter and the last quarter. The OLine need to give Henry Burris some time to throw the ball and at the same time give as much room for Reynolds to run the ball. With C Rob Lazeo out for today, we will have to rely on Tim O'Neill who I think played well during the time Lazeo was out.

GO STAMPS GO!!!

Game time at 2:30pm Mosaic Stadium

[kirant]

The Stamps, if they play their best, will win over the Riders. No doubt in my mind.

I pray that Burris chokes.