Week 6: STAMPEDERS at BC Lions

[OzSome]

It was a very interesting game against the Blue Bombers last week. It seems that the Stamps are dominating the game yet the score doesn’t show it. In fact, the Stamps almost lost the game. This Saturday they are playing a Western rival BC Lions is struggling a little bit with 1-4 record. BC Lions gave the Edmonton Eskimos their first win last week so I got the feeling that they will be so mad at themselves and will be so pumped up to play the Stamps. Sometimes a struggling team just needs to play a better team in order to wake up. I hope it is not the case for this game.

QUARTERBACK: Henry Burris seems to be getting better especially with his communications with the receivers. I thought he had a good game against the Bombers and pretty much took most of the possession time in the game.

RUNNING BACK: Reynolds and Cornish was not a factor last game vs the Bombers. It seems like Bombers always have success against Joffrey Reynolds. I think Reynolds will break out against the Lions on Saturday.

OFFENSIVE LINE: The OLine seems to be doing their job especially in the first half of the game. Second half were a little bit different though. There are times they dominate the line and other times the DLine from the other team runs them over. With Dmitri Tsoumpas back with the Stamps practicing, I see him going back to the lineup against the Lions slowly. Hufnagel mentioned this week that he might use Tsoumpas on Tackle instead of his usual position as an Offensive Guard. It just means that Steve Myddleton’s job is safe for now.

RECEIVERS: What can you say about NIk Lewis night against the Bombers? He was awesome all night. He gained 64 yards on one play that led to Ken-Yon Rambo’s first TD of the season. He pretty much ran over his man Ike Charlton all night. Maybe that is the biggest reason why Charlotin were released this week.
First game by Ken-Yon Rambo was a success. He scored his first TD and a few catches. The only bad thing about Rambo’s first game was losing his tempers a few times. I guess you can’t blame him especially on the first tackle where Ian Logan looks like he horse-collared Rambo.
Romby Bryant is starting to have a better communications with Burris. Against the Bombers, I don’t think he dropped an easy catch at all. Deon Murphy is also becoming a threat on offense as well as the return.

DEFENSIVE LINEMEN: Tom Johnson been playing very well lately. Too bad he still hasn’t record his first sack this season yet but he’s been a force early this season. With Johnson playing well, it looks Tearrius George might have a problem getting his job back. Mike Labinjo hasn’t been noticeable so far this season but remember he always have a huge game against the BC Lions. Charleston Hughes might not play vs the BC Lions due to injury and according to the report former Riders DLine Mike Stadnyk will play in his place.


LINEBACKING: I like the way the Linebacking crew is improving. MLB Juwan Simpson is getting better and better every game. Malik Jackson is still a bit quiet but quiet in a good way. He is doing his job well and rarely miss his assignment. Keon Raymond is showing how versatile he is with his play. I noticed not a lot of RB getting some passes from the QB in the past few games.


DEFENSIVE BACKS: Most of the night against the Bombers, the DB played so well. Yes I understand they got burned a few times with long passes by Jyles to his receivers but most of the time they seemed to play well with the coverage. They didn’t really give Steven Jyles a lot of options most of the game. There is one instance that they got burned because of the mixed-up on who is responsible for whom. I am sure BC Lions will put Geroy Simon against Milton Collins on Saturday and stay away from Brandon Browner. Or they might try to go after the rookie Brandon Isaac. Isaac seems to be responding well so far but this might be a difficult task for him.

SPECIAL TEAM: Deon Murphy is becoming to be a good overall football player. He is such a good returner both on kickoff and especially on punt return something we were lacking the last few years. Murphy’s return is the reason why the Stamps field position rarely starts so deep of the field.
Our coverage team started off slowly but is getting stronger every game they play. Punter Burke Dales doesn’t go for the distance much this season but his placement is much improved. Most of the time, opposition’s returner doesn’t even get a chance to return the ball for more yardage.
Kicker Rob Maver is the top percentage field goal in the CFL so far. He is definitely making us Stamps fans that guy Sandro.


THE OPPOSITION: Wally Buono’s BC Lions are struggling so far this season with 1 and 4 record. Their starting QB Casey Printer is out for a few more games and even rumoured to be out of the season. Their backup QB Jarious Jackson still hasn’t recovered from his injury from last season. They are playing their 3rd string QB Travis Lulay right now who at times plays like a veteran QB but there are times plays like a rookie. BC definitely missed some of the toughness in OLine in Rob Murphy (tough and cheapshot artist). RB Jamal Robertson is a good replacement Martell. Geroy Simon has been quiet so far and hopefully Nik Lewis twitter comments don’t wake him up. BC defense played so well in their first game against the Eskimos but their play just declined after. Their offense plays went south as well and this is the reason why Offensive Coordinator Jacques Chapdelaine’s job is trouble right now according to some of the BC media.
This is the first game of the season between the Calgary Stampeders and the BC Lions. Are we going to see a fired-up opponents or the brutal BC team? I am hoping for the latter.

GO STAMPS GO!!

[OzSome]

GAME UPDATE:

INJURIES:

CALGARY: LB Trsiatn Black(foot), SB PK Sam(knee), DL Justin Phillips(hamstring), DL Charleston Hughes(hamstring) and DB Brandon Smith(groin)

BC: DT Aaron Hunt(pectoral) and DT Jon Hameister-Reis(ankle)

ROSTER MOVES:

CALGARY: IN: OL Jon Gott, RG Dmitri Tsoupmas, LB Mike Cornell, QB Daryll Clark.
OUT: OL Godfrey Ellis(released), QB Cody Pickett(released), DL Justin Phillips(injury), DL Charleston Hughes(injury), DB Ray Cheatham.

BC: IN: CN Dante Marsh, OL Sherko Haji-Resouli,RT Dane Rondolph.
OUT: DL Aaron Hunt(injury), DL Jon Hameister-Reis(injury) and LB Mike Johnson.

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The struggling BC Lions 1-4 record lost 7 games in a row against the Stampeders since Hufnagel started coaching the Stamps. With Dmitri Tsoumpas back with the Stampeders, most or everyone thinks Steve Myddleton will lose his starting job pretty soon. I might have to disagree. I really think the Stamps coaching are so high on Myddleton that they might move him or Tsoumpas on a tackle and start both of them. The player I think that might lose the job will be RT Edwin Harrison. #1 because right now the Stamps are using 2 imports on OLine and one of them has to give, unfortunately the other import OL is the All Star Ben Archibald.
Looks like the media is starting to give Wally Buono some heat. Some are starting to questioning his coaching. If BC Lions lose this game, what is the possibility of Buono losing his head coaching position or both position. Wally's been in this situation before and I still think he will turn this team around.

With Travis Lulay as a QB, I really think the Stamps DLine and LB will be pressuring him a lot. They have to be careful though because he can run as well but not as good as Durant, Printers, Burris and other QB. BC Lions will force the Stamps to put rookie Brandon Isaac against Geroy Simon a lot.

I thought in the last 2 games, BUrris is started running for gains some more and you can definitely noticed the difference in his confidence. In the first 3 games, he looks tentative in running and he tends to force the throw as much. With Rambo back, Burris doesn't have to rely on Bryant too much. Bryant struggled a bit in the first few games and there are times him and Burris are not on the same page but his confidence is back and he's been playing well lately. I am hoping Nik Lewis will have another banner game against BC Lions.

Well, the game starts at 8pm Calgary time at BC Empire Stadium. The game will be televised on TSN.

GO STAMPS GO!!!

[Beerfest]

Rambo!
Touchdown Stamps

[Roast Beef]

Good start to the game so far.

[Roast Beef]

Dumb pass interference penalty leads to BC touchdown. Lame.

[Erick Estrada]

Brutal 1st quarter. Defense on the field for the whole quarter and fortunate that they got that lucky touchdown to Rambo.

[Beerfest]

Are we scared to challenge the middle of the field? Are we scared to challenge deep? Its already worked, try it again.

Im tired of seeing all these sideline out pass plays.

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by Beerfest

Are we scared to challenge the middle of the field? Are we scared to challenge deep? Its already worked, try it again.

Im tired of seeing all these sideline out pass plays.

Offense is just having another one of those starts where they don't look on the same page.

[Beerfest]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

Offense is just having another one of those starts where they don't look on the same page.

I like to see Burris roll out of the pocket once in a while, not sure if he's done that yet this game.

Theres a nice run play by Burris.

[Beerfest]

Solid drive there, a touchdown would of been nice, but we tie the game up with a field goal.

10-10.

[arloiginla]

C'mon Erick what you say is true but do you ever post when things are going well?

Nice drive down the field for a 3-er. I think the defense has actually been worse than the O. After the first couple drives they gave up yardage in chunks.

Need to step it up now.

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by Beerfest

I like to see Burris roll out of the pocket once in a while, not sure if he's done that yet this game.

Theres a nice run play by Burris.

Good drive there mixing things up. I have a feeling the Lions are going to go deep alot like the Bombers last week. Already paid off on the pass interference play which could have been an interception if Anderson just turned around instead of interfering with the receiver.

[dash_pinched]

Anybody think Sanchez should have been flagged for objectionable conduct?!? That was right in Reynolds face.

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by arloiginla

C'mon Erick what you say is true but do you ever post when things are going well?

Of course I do hence the last post.

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by dash_pinched

Anybody think Sanchez should have been flagged for objectionable conduct?!? That was right in Reynolds face.

Yeah there could be a few of those penalties by the end of the night.

[arloiginla]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

Good drive there mixing things up. I have a feeling the Lions are going to go deep alot like the Bombers last week. Already paid off on the pass interference play which could have been an interception if Anderson just turned around instead of interfering with the receiver.

You called it, they tried going long to Simon just now.

The problem with the D right now is a lack of pressure on Lulay. It's not hard to pick out open receivers when the defense only rushes three.

[dash_pinched]

Wow, nice to see Cornish running well...Great fake.

[Erick Estrada]

Can't believe how fast this half has gone. Seems like the Stamps haven't had the ball very much.

[OzSome]

Originally Posted by dash_pinched

Anybody think Sanchez should have been flagged for objectionable conduct?!? That was right in Reynolds face.

Sanchez is an idiot. Never like him even when he was playing for the Stamps. He is the most overrated secondary in the league.

I can't wait seeing him getting burn by Stamps' receiver tonight.

[dash_pinched]

Please Henry, be okay...