Stamps/Esks.

[monkeyman]

Ugh, this game is so frustrating. Bad penalties, bad turnovers, bad officiating. anyone else see that face mask at the start of the game. on the replay, it looked like the ref was staring right at it and didn't call anything. I don't think the esks have been called once this game.

[octothorp]

Yeah, two refs standing right over the facemask; no idea how it was missed. I really like how the offense is working here in the second half... continuing to run the ball even though Reynolds is getting stopped. It's keeping Edmonton honest and opening a lot of passing plays over the middle.

[Bobblehead]

Yeah, I have no idea how the officials missed that facemask, but other than that it has been pretty good.

I think Burris has played really well. One pick, and if Coupland had tried on the play then maybe the defender behind him (who made a great catch) wouldn't have gotten it. Other than that, Burris has managed the game really well, hit the open receivers, and played within the system.

2 fumbles on returns by Howell were killers, he is having a game he would prefer to forget

Browner had an absolutely boneheaded penalty (and now, as I type this, makes a super strip from behind!!!), and a few other Stamps had a couple fiery penalties, but the Esks aren't really doing anything.

It isn't over by a long shot, but the Stamps really seem to be the better team on both sides of the ball so far.

[JD]

Wow, fantastic 2nd half. At the beginning I was thinking it was a scene from so many previous games: bad turnovers, bad penalties, bad showing in a big game.

Instead they wrote a new script and reeled the game in and took control. Nicely done, Stamps!

Nice to see Thelwell finally come alive. What a game for him. I guess being comfortable in one's role can pay off. Cutting Boerigter was the right thing to do, even though he may haunt us sometime down the road.

What a huge strip by Browner too. That was as good as a touchdown.

I was at the game, and I get a chuckle out of a streaker as much as the next guy, but how many were there? Like four different occasions? Ridiculous guys, only the first one is funny. But I have to say, I almost enjoy watching the cops take those drunkards down as much as I do watching Brian Clark close a gap up the middle.

[OzSome]

Frustrating 1st half and bad start for the Stamps today. I was getting ticked off and ready to turn the TV off. Luckily they came back with a bang on the second half. 1st half: two fumbles by Howell which cost us 10 points. I was getting scared there everytime Howell gets the ball on punt return. One interception throw by Burris which cost us another 7 points. Although on that play, i could not blame Burris nor Copeland on the interception. It was simply a lucky break for the Esks. I thought Eskimos are getting lucky breaks and I had feelings that it might not be the game I wanted to watch. I mean, Fleming the field goal. It was going wide then in the last second it hit the the corner of the crossbar. How freaking lucky was that. Then before the end of the 1st half, Fleimng missed the field goal completely but had another chance because of a bonehad penalty by Browner. That penalty was so stupid
Give the offense and the defense a lot of credit for coming back and shutting down the Eskimos in the second half. That offense we just seen is the one we are anticipating in the off-season. Burris smart plays and good decision making was the difference. Burris have lots of options there. He can throw to the right on Lewis or Rambo, throw to the left on Thelwell or Copeland. He can thow short passes to Reynolds or Thelwell, run the ball by himself or with Reynolds. By the way, awesome block by Hank on Reynolds' awesome run. The offense is clicking on all cylinders.
Defense on the other hand was 90% better in the second half. The D-Line did their job pressurring the QB. Of course the LB such Cornelius Anthony was a big help. The DBs was not bad and I thought they had one bad play in the second half but with Browner's speed and smart thinking, that bad play turned out to be a good one for them.
Anyways, if we take away the first half these are the Stamps we are waiting for. I like the offense confidence. Defense is improving every game. They are still a long wa but they are closing the gap. Special teams which used to be our strength is the weakness right now. I am still not sold on Howell as a returner. Maybe with JR Ruffin back sooon, that will change.

[OzSome]

Originally Posted by JD

I was at the game, and I get a chuckle out of a streaker as much as the next guy, but how many were there? Like four different occasions? Ridiculous guys, only the first one is funny. But I have to say, I almost enjoy watching the cops take those drunkards down as much as I do watching Brian Clark close a gap up the middle.

Two of those Calgary's finest used to play for the Stamps. DLineman Will Johnson and LB Roger Reinson. I am not sure if the two of them are involved in chasing those idiot streakers though.

[JD]

Ha, I didn't know that was Will Johnson. He's usually in my section, actually, but I did see him in the middle of a couple skirmishes, but never chasing guys. Only intimidating them once in custody. heh

[cSpooge]

Originally Posted by octothorp

Yeah, two refs standing right over the facemask; no idea how it was missed. I really like how the offense is working here in the second half... continuing to run the ball even though Reynolds is getting stopped. It's keeping Edmonton honest and opening a lot of passing plays over the middle.

to me it looked like he was grabbing the chinstrap (could be my error) and I'd give him props for grabbing there because it isn't a penalty.

[browna]

Complete ownage of the Eskimos. If not for those two special teams fumbles, an embarrasement.
Where are the "Anyone by Burris" crowd? Another highly efficient game, a 6th straight 300+ yd passing game.
Finally Thelwell with a breakout game...although you wonder why they kept that new DB for the Esks in after getting burned over and over.

Any word whether Hugh Campbell is going to find an arbitrator to overturn this result too?

[Flames in 07]

Originally Posted by browna

Complete ownage of the Eskimos. If not for those two special teams fumbles, an embarrasement.
Where are the "Anyone by Burris" crowd? Another highly efficient game, a 6th straight 300+ yd passing game.
Finally Thelwell with a breakout game...although you wonder why they kept that new DB for the Esks in after getting burned over and over.

Any word whether Hugh Campbell is going to find an arbitrator to overturn this result too?

A rare low mistake count game to be sure. He always gets yards, but it is usually combined with picks and fumbles.

They have sure simplified the reads for him, that's for sure, and most teams recognize that #3 is actually an eligable number, so the 150 free yards given to us won't always be there.

[Frequitude]

I still stand by my assessment of Burris and will even if we win the Grey Cup.

He can run, he can throw it on a rope, he's got pretty good accuracy.....he's just not that smart or a quick thinker.

[JBR]

In my opinion, they should have paint-ball snipers perched in the towers that support the speaker. When an unauthorized person runs on the field... it's open season.

Once they are caught, lock them in a cage that sits under the scoreboard area for all to see (lock them in as they were on the field.. if they are naked, they remain naked.) No one is let go from the cage until every last person leaves McMahon. They are then taken downtown for booking.

Increase the fine to $2500 and give the security guards more freedom to pummel the streaker as they attempt to capture them.

Just a few random thoughts.

[Frequitude]

Is it just me or does Edmonton always run that over-the-middle pass for 5-10 yards against us, over and over and over? And we always give it to them...anyone else notice this?

[troutman]

Originally Posted by Frequitude

Is it just me or does Edmonton always run that over-the-middle pass for 5-10 yards against us, over and over and over? And we always give it to them...anyone else notice this?

That is the only play in the EDM playbook - the 7 yard pass. That is also why Ray's completion rate is so high - he rarely tosses the ball more than 5 yards.

[Frequitude]

Originally Posted by troutman

That is the only play in the EDM playbook - the 7 yard pass. That is also why Ray's completion rate is so high - he rarely tosses the ball more than 5 yards.

I guess it helps that he's so damn tall. It's not going to work everytime though, and is hardly a gameplan that leads to success in the long run. It's just frustrating to watch the Esks march the field with the same damn play.

Did they even try to go long on us once? Perhaps that one play where Browner popped it out of the receivers hands as he broke clear for the endzone...

[Bench Warmer]

Originally Posted by Frequitude

Is it just me or does Edmonton always run that over-the-middle pass for 5-10 yards against us, over and over and over? And we always give it to them...anyone else notice this?

Yep - crossing patterns all day long. You'd think everybody would've figured that out by now but every game they get a couple that go for big yards. That's the bread and butter play they've done with Ray over and over for years. They set them with the long bomb thrown in every now and then and then attack the LBs with crossing patterns with their WRs. It's frustrating to watch cuz the defenses should figure it out quicker than they normally do.

[OzSome]

Originally Posted by troutman

That is the only play in the EDM playbook - the 7 yard pass. That is also why Ray's completion rate is so high - he rarely tosses the ball more than 5 yards.

Yep, I always thought Jacques Chapdelaine as an offensive coordinator is overrated. The guy does not have a great imagination. The real reason BC Lions won last season was because of Wally Buono and their awesome receivers and QBs. It was not because of Chapdelaine's coaching. I was actually happy when the Eskimos signed him. I never like him when he was with the Stamps and will never like the guy. I don't care if he is Canadian, Albertan or whatever.