1st Game: Argonauts vs STAMPEDERS

[OzSome]

First game of the season. Lots of changes for both teams especially the Stampeders losing some key players from last season. The Offensive Linemen got hit more than the other positions as they lost 3 All Star OLine in Dmitri Tsoumpas(to NFL), Jesse Newman and Jeff Pilon(retirement). The Stampeders also lost of their Linebackers from last season. Only Malik Jackson stays. Here's the Stampeders lineup.

QUARTERBACK: Henry Burris is still the #1 QB for the Stamps while Drew Tate who beat out Barrick Nealy in a backup position will stay as #2. Changes in #3 QB as Nealy retired and now being replaced by Cody Pickett, who played well against the Stamps last season while playing for Toronto.
IN: Cody Pickett (signed as free agent)
OUT: Barrick Nealy (retirement)

RUNNING BACK: Last season's leading rusher Joffrey Reynolds is still the starter while Job Cornish is the backup. Rob Cote will start as FB
OUT: Teyo Johnson and Demetris Summers

OLINE: Like I mentioned earlier, the Stamps lost 3 veteran all star linemen. Looks like the Stamps will start 2 American linemen this season with All Star Ben Archibald and rookie Edwin Harrison. Harrison will be game-time decision on Thursday due to injury. Rookie Steve Myddleton, Jon Gott, Godfrey Ellis, Tim O'Neill will fight for the other positions while Rob Lazeo stays as a centre and veteran Dan Comiskey will look upon to fill the gap.
IN: Dan Comiskey, Harrison, Myddleton. Not sure how the changes will affect Burris or Joffrey Reynolds. As you recall, ast season Newman and Tsoumpas were the reasons Reynolds gained a lot yardages.
OUT: Jesse Newman and Jeff Pilon(retirement) and Dmitri Tsoumpas(NFL Miami)

RECEIVERS: I believed this position will be the strength positions by the Stamps.Pretty much everyone in the receiving corps stays for this season with the exception of Non-import Brett Ralph and SB Jermaine Copeland. Jermaine Jackson seems like a different players in the exhibition games playing Cope's old position. Canadian receivers Arjei Franklin, Kruger, Kelly played well enough to earn the spot while Ryan Thelwell is still recuperating from his injuries. Imports Romby Bryant took Ken-Yon Rambo's spot and it doesn't look like he will give the position back to Rambo easily. I am sure Huf will make some adjustment when Rambo comes back. SB Nik Lewis will stay as a starter. Deon Murphy and Landan Talley will back them up.
OUT: Jermaine Copeland(traded to Argos), Brett Ralph (retirement)

DEFENSIVE LINEMEN: THis is the Stamps defense strength. Most of the DLinemen are back and they only lost Jim Davies(back problem) from last season. Charleston Hughes will play from the beginning of the season unlike last season where he came in the middle of the season. Slimmer and faster Mike Labinjo will also benefit from being healthy during the training camp. Miguel Robede made some changes on his training in the off-season and it looks like it is paying off. Also back from last season are Tearrius George, Devone Claybrooks, Tom Johnson and Justin Phillips.
OUT: Jim Davies(back problem)

LINEBACKING: They lost mostly all their starter from last season except for Malik Jackson. Jackson actually started as DLIne last year but was moved to Outside LB position and darn he did a heck of a job. Juwan Simpson who played as DL last season will be the starting Middle LB. He seems to be so comfortable playing MLB. He's got the position right now because of Robert McCune's injury but looks like McCune will have a tough time taking his spot back from Simpson. The rest of LBs are Keon Raymond who can also play as DB if needed. Marc Calixte, Karl McCartney will be the backup.
IN: Simpson(moved from another position), Robert McCune
OUT: MLB Tim Johnson(requested to be released), Dwayne Carpenter(released), Shannon James(released)

DEFENSIVE BACKS: Milton Collins started training camp as an LB but due to Huf's unhappiness with the halfback position, he moved Collins back as a DB. Rookie Taurean Allen and Eric Fraser earned spots because of their play in the pre-season and in the training camp. Brandon Smith is back but not 100%. Wes Lysack have the starting safety position right now but not for long because of Allen and FRaser's play.Brandon Browner and Dwight Anderson are back from last season.
IN: Eric Fraser and Taurean Allen
OUT: John Eubanks(released)

SPECIAL TEAM: First round pick Kicker Rob Maver beat out Warren Kean for kicking position. It might be a bit dificuly for Maver at first because everyone will start comparing him to Sandro. Punter Burke Dales is back and no competition this season. Rounding up the special team are PR and KR Landan Talley and Deon Murphy.
IN: Maver, Murphy, Talley
OUT: Sandro deAngelis(free agent sign Hamilton), Demetrius Summer(released) and Marcus Howell(retirement)

The Stamps are playing against the team who still unsure of their QB position. Lots of changes including coaching personnel Jim Barker. Lots of question in this team so I see a blowout for the Stamps. The only question is who amongst the starter for the Stamps will stay as a starter.

GO STAMPS GO!!

[Da_Chief]

Good write-up, quick question though and comment. Lazeo lost to O'Neil and thus will back him up. Is Harrison really a game-time decision? I thought his injury was bad and the Stamps decided to go 4 Canadians on the line.

[OzSome]

Originally Posted by Da_Chief

Good write-up, quick question though and comment. Lazeo lost to O'Neil and thus will back him up. Is Harrison really a game-time decision? I thought his injury was bad and the Stamps decided to go 4 Canadians on the line.

I am not sure Lazeo lost to O'Neill on the centre position. I assumed Lazeo will be the starter and O'Neill will back him up and other OLine position. As for Harrison, his injury is not that severe as they thought. I don't think he will play though as the Herald mentioned OG Steve Myddleton will start in OLine. It looks like we will have Comiskey, Myddleton, Lazeo, import Archibald and the other one might be Ellis.

[valo403]

Is there seriously a guy named Tearrius George? Brilliant!!

[octothorp]

I've got a bad feeling about this season. I hope I'm wrong. That O-line scares me, and if there's one part of the team that the stampeders system needs to be operating on all cylinders, it's the o-line.

[The Ditch]

Originally Posted by octothorp

I've got a bad feeling about this season. I hope I'm wrong. That O-line scares me, and if there's one part of the team that the stampeders system needs to be operating on all cylinders, it's the o-line.

Agreed. O-line is so important in football, it helps both O and D. Though I think they will win this game tonight, I'll be cheering them on, go Stamps!

[Jesse834]

Originally Posted by octothorp

I've got a bad feeling about this season. I hope I'm wrong. That O-line scares me, and if there's one part of the team that the stampeders system needs to be operating on all cylinders, it's the o-line.

On the TSN CFL Preview Show last night Milt Stegall predicted Calgary to miss the playoffs this year.

[Flickered Flame]

Originally Posted by Jesse834

On the TSN CFL Preview Show last night Milt Stegall predicted Calgary to miss the playoffs this year.

Fairly general consensus coming from the media types around Canada. Most of them are really fixed on how many players the Stamps lost over the offseason and training camp. I think they will be right in the thick of things in the West. In fact, all 4 teams will make the playoffs because the 4th place team will cross over imo.

[OzSome]

GAME UPDATE:

INJURIES:
Calgary: R Ryan Thelwell(ankle), R Ken-Yon Rambo(knee), R PK Sam(hamstring) and LB Robert McCune(back) will not play tonight.
Toronto: DL Adriano Belli(suspended), R Carl Berman(hamstring), DB Matt Black(hamstring) and Deetay Heard(hamstring), DB Alphonso Hodge(hamstring), R Reggie McNeal(groin), DB Willie Middlebrooks(quad), R Spencer Watt(hamstring).

NOTABLE: Henry Burris next TD pass will be his 200th in his career. The Argos are in a midst of an 8 game regular season losing streak.
Former Stamps R Jermaine Copeland has been named an offensive captain for the Argos.

According t the Herald, the starting lineup for ths Stampeders today are the follwing:
OFFENSE:
QUARTERBACK: Henry Burris
RUNNING BACKS: RB Joffrey Reynolds and FB Rob Cote
RECEIVERS: Slotbacks: Nik Lewis and Jermaine Jackson, WR Romby Bryant and Arjei Franklin
OFFENSIVE LINE: LT Ben Archibald, LG Dan Comiskey, C Tim O'Neill, RG Steve Myddleton and RT Edwin Harrison

DEFENSE:
DEFENSIVE LINE: DE Charleston Hughes, DE Mike Labinjo,DT Tom Johnson, DT Devon Claybrooks
LINEBACKERS: MLB Juwan Simpson, OLB Malik Jackson OLB Keon Raymond.
DEFENSIVE BACKS: CB Brandon Browner, HB Milton Collins, HB Brandon Smith and CB Dwight Anderson

Of course that might change on game time.

GAME TIME: 8pm McMahon Stadium
TV: TSN (subject to blackout)
RADIO: QR77

I am so excited for this new season.

GO STAMPS GO!!

[TRIX]

What school did Ralph end up going to? that crushed me he retired

[emti]

im also a bit worried this season
no copeland, no ralph, no deangilous is rambo still hurt do u guys no?

[worth]

Rambo will not play this game. I really don't put any hope on him doing anything special when he comes back. It always seems like players who recover from these massive injuries never come back the same.

[worth]

Originally Posted by TRIX

What school did Ralph end up going to? that crushed me he retired

University of Lethbridge

http://www.calgarysun.com/sports/foo.../14203756.html

[Mayer]

Anybody know if there is anything going on that people should be early to the game for?

[worth]

"Arrive early to participate in all the pre-game activities in the festival zone and the first 15, 000 fans will get a mini Canada Flag."

I have no idea what the "Festival Zone" is, but that;s what it said in the email sent to me.

Oh, here you go:

Come check out the Festival Zone, on the east side of the stadium prior to each Stampeders home game to find out what some great companies have to offer.
Make sure to arrive early to take part in all the activities in the Festival Zone before the game.


http://www.stampeders.com/game_day/subpage_1/

[flames_1987]

Well a Stamps win might put a better spin on Calgary sports in fans mind tonight.

Go Stamps

[LockedOut]

A dud of a game so far.

[flames_1987]

I love all the talk about how superior the NFL is and how 3rd string and 2nd string players would run circles around the CFL. A lot of NFL players have now come to the CFL and had little or no success. No doubt the talent in the NFL is unmatched, but the Canadian game is hardly a cake walk. Cleo Lemon will be just another example

[Beerfest]

We started out 0-2 last year, losses against Montreal and Toronto.
Hopefully we improve on that record this year to start the year.

10-6 Calgary in the 2nd quarter, 1:25 left or so.

[troutman]

Rod Black really wants you to know that Copeland now plays for the Argos.