Game Day: Stamps in Rider Nation Playoff Game

[JiriHrdina]

Well if the Stamps do indeed name Huff head coach in the next few weeks they deserve to lose this one.

I actually don't necessarily disagree with bringing him in (don't really know enough one way or the other) or for that matter with dismissing Higgins (his in game decision making is awful) but to have the info out there before a playoff game is disgraceful - both to the coach being fired, and to expect a team to not be effected by it.

I can't believe the Stamps actually were so close to winning this one given how poorly they played.

Regardless the Riders are going to get smacked around something sillly next week by the Lions.

[worth]

Originally Posted by Harbourmouth

At bare minimum, if Burris and Higgins are not removed I will not be renewing season tickets (I would like for Cortez and Barker to be gone to but i'll settle with dumb and dumber).

You are a joke IMO if you think Burris was what what went wrong today. And even if Burris was the only thing wrong with this team, who are you going to replace him with? Shoddy defence and a bad o-line are the two major problems this team has and it showed today. if you're getting rid of your season tickets because Burris is still teh QB next year then maybe you shouldn't be watching football. Yes he didn't have his best game, but the end result of this game was far from Burris' fault.

[Dion]

Originally Posted by JiriHrdina

I actually don't necessarily disagree with bringing him in (don't really know enough one way or the other) or for that matter with dismissing Higgins (his in game decision making is awful) but to have the info out there before a playoff game is disgraceful - both to the coach being fired, and to expect a team to not be effected by it.

.

If this is true, the shmuck that released this to the media had no class. Listening to Higgns comments on this you wonder if he knew already. Higgins IMO has handled that situation with class.

[flamesaresmokin]

Dissappointing game yet again from the stamps. They were lucky it was as close as it was at the end. That defence wouldn't offer much resistance to a cis team imo.(with the exception of 3-4 players). Better luck next year, but thats been the word for stamps fans for far to long now.

[flamesaresmokin]

Originally Posted by Harbourmouth

Time to clean house. Higgins/Cortez/Barker/Burris. Don't let the door hit you on the way out.

So who do you propose starts for the stamps next season then? Burris, like it or not is the only realistic option for the team and the loss isn't on him.

[troutman]

Originally Posted by Dion_Iggy_Kipper!!!

Yaaaa!!! The game shouldn't have been that close but who cares, we still won. Way to go Joseph, over 500 yards offence. Good job on the stamps for keeping it close with a few great plays, the 113 yard INT for a TD. But Burris just couldn't do it. Take this momentum into BC next week. Woooooo!!!!!

Momentum?

Sask nearly choked the game away, and probably would have if not for some brutal calls by the officials:

the spot of the ball on the CGY third down gamble was wrong

pass interference on Copeland not called

CGY didn't deserve to win either with all the dumb penalties. Two mediocre teams playing for the right to get smoked by BC.

[MelBridgeman]

Between the Flames last year and the Stamps this year and i am starting not to believe the ol..playoffs are a new season..crap.

They Kept it close thats all i was hoping for..

[OzSome]

On the positive side, the Stamps wasn't even supposed to win but they came close of winning the game. If it wasn't for the offside call on short kick.
The DLinemen looks improved but the LB sucks pooh except for the guy who replaced Coe. DB was kind of spotty but they did okay.

[JohnnyFlame]

The few times I bothered to tune in it looked like a atypical Stamps game. My Cowboys were on at the same time and there is no way I would watch the Stamps over them.

It's a side issue but the CFL really should be done at the latest by September. My interest level goes way, way down when the NFL starts up. To me the CFL is sitting out on a nice summer day/evening and having fun with your buddies along with watching a game. Fair weather fan -- I guess so but with the turnouts they often get for playoff games methinks there are a lot of fair weather CFL fans!!!

[rubecube]

The CBC should be embarassed by this game yesterday. Brutal football complimented by even worse commentating. I can't even count how many times a penalty call or situational play-calling was blatantly obvious and Walby and Lee guessed it wrong. They are the Cole and Neale of the CFL. My favorite was when Walby went "Well I'm not sure why they're leaving the offense on the field," when it was SECOND DOWN!

Glad to see the CFL is moving to TSN next year, although I'm almost done with the league entirely. Yesterday was just another example of the garbage football that seems all too common in the CFL these days. In the CFL it's not about who is the best but who sucks the least.

/rant

[Bench Warmer]

My thoughts from the game...obviously, cheering against the team many of you were but whatever...

Atmosphere was great - it always is at Taylor Field but this game was cranked up a notch. Weather was great. Never thought I'd go to a football game at Mosaic Stadium in November and say I overdressed. The wind here yesterday during the day was absolutely brutal - gusts up 80 km/hr - but it died down nicely as the game went on.

Contrary to what some may think here, Riders deserved to win this game. They left alot of points on the board and besides a couple big plays generated by the Stamps, they played a real solid game while missing some key guys to injury. That said, give the Stamps a tonne of credit for hanging in there after a rough start.

I know some want to hang Burris out to dry but he played a good game. Nobody on offense for the Stamps played better than he did (Rambo played good too). Baffling like it has been for much of the season, but Reynolds seemed to be left out of most of the offensive game plan for the Stamps. That said, the Riders front 7 are very strong and did an excellent job against the run. I thought the Stamps D played really well especially when the Riders were in the red zone. Alot of 'bend don't break' drives resulting in Rider FG's which gave the Stamps a chance in the end. Won't talk about the reffing - I thought they were some brutal calls against the Riders - obviously some of you would disagree.

And what to say about the coaching for the Stamps? I thought Higgins (who is a super classy guy) and crew did a great job preparing for the game yesterday amidst all the distractions the Stamps had this week - almost like the local Calgary media was willing the Stamps to fail. But this Stamps team underperformed terribly this year IMO. I had them pegged to take a run at BC for first. They have alot of talent on offense but something happened where Creehan totally lost his D at some point (this year, last year?). The D needs a bit of an overhaul IMO. The front 7 isn't nearly the force it was 2 years ago and the secondary can be very suspect - although Browner is very good. It'll be interesting to see what the offseason brings.

I thought the winner of this game will win next week in BC. Austin will have the Riders prepared and hopefully Cates and Stancil get back into the lineup.

[BCReefer]

Originally Posted by browna

Yeah, I also said that the player looked to be onside too...it looked worse because the player tiptoed along the line akwardly.

If Calgary thought it was wrong why didn't they challenge it? Or can you only challenge dropped passes etc?

[Super-Rye]

Originally Posted by BCReefer

If Calgary thought it was wrong why didn't they challenge it? Or can you only challenge dropped passes etc?

You can't challenge a penalty if I'm not mistaken.

[Dion_Iggy_Kipper!!!]

Originally Posted by troutman

Momentum?

Sask nearly choked the game away, and probably would have if not for some brutal calls by the officials:

the spot of the ball on the CGY third down gamble was wrong

pass interference on Copeland not called

CGY didn't deserve to win either with all the dumb penalties. Two mediocre teams playing for the right to get smoked by BC.

Ya, nearly, we didn't though. The score was closer than it should've been, but the better team still won the game.

The spot of the ball was right on the third down gamble.

Ya, they also missed a penalty on Copeland when he practically tackled the rider defender when he realized he wasn't going to catch the ball.

Just to let you know, all the refs aren't out to get you, all this stuff evens out.

As for the mediocre comment, how can you say that a team with a 12-6 record is mediocre (well 13-6 if you count the west-semi win, or 12-6 with a 1-0 playoff record if you want to be picky). See you in BC, oh wait, I won't.

[JiriHrdina]

Originally Posted by Dion_Iggy_Kipper!!!

Just to let you know, all the refs aren't out to get you, all this stuff evens out.

It's not about the refs out to get the Stamps - its about the ongoing poor officiating the plagues the league game in game out - year in year out.

[worth]

I actually thought both games were officiated pretty well.

[OzSome]

I was not too overly upset that the Stamps lost the game because everyone did not give them a chance to win at all in this game. Yes I was not happy that they lost because I have to wait again til next year because I see them play again.
Burris was not the problem yesterday. I have to admit yes he was a bit rusty in the first half but give the Riders defense some credit as well. For defense it is easier to play better when your team is in a lead. Stamps did not have any luck at all in the first half.
I thought Burris did okay. Aside from the INT and the fumble, he did well yesterday. Receivers was not bad and they seem to be moving the ball. Yes they were some dropped pass and botched play by both the QB and the receivers. RB Joffrey Reynolds was not a factor at all. It seems that Higgins and the coaching staff lost faith in the guy. OLinemen was average at best. For a veteran-laden Oline, I expect a little bit more but that's how it goes. On defense, the only positive thing I can see was the DLinemen. Considering all but one or two linemen are rookies, they did good. They managed to rush and pressure Joseph all day. The Linebackers on the other hand was getting killed out there. Joseph killed them with running the ball and passing the ball to the slotback. DBs also got killed there. Williams got burned on the first play and DJ Flick seems to be manhandling them all day. They did scored one TD though on an interceptions. Special team was average especially the punt and kick return. I said it too many times before this season that I think Marcus Howell is not the answer. The guy is pretty consistent with 10 yards or less run everytime he touches the ball. That won't be do enough. Stamps should definitely get someone who knows how to get into the hole. Punt Return... now I know why Duncan O'Mahoney does not have a punting job until the Stamps came calling. Yes, he is not bad in positioning but 19 yards punt on at least two occassions was pathetic. Sandro, what else can you say about Sandro Automatic. No problem with this guy.
As for the game itself, yes I was dissapointed in how they lost the game.... OFFSIDE PENALTY on the onside kick. Sandro did a great time kicking the ball and Thelwell getting to the ball. If it wasn't for an offside, this thread will be more exciting as the Stamps could have win it.
For the Stamps to improve next season, Higgins should definitely go. He lost the respect of a lot of players and some fans. His coaching decisions was brutal at times and he was alkso brutal in handling some of the veteran players all season. He embarrassed Brian Clark for not dressing him in the playoff. Clark was one of the heart and soul of defense. He also embarrassed him for telling the media Clark's job is on the line during the pre-season only to change his mind when Macciocca of Edmonton expressed an interest in acquiring Clark if he gets cut. Higgins also mentioned Copeland might not be in the picture before the season start. In the middle of the season after firing Creehan, he sat the best Linebacker Stamps have (Cornelius Anthony) ahead of Trey Young. I though Trey Young was doing well as a safety so why changed? Then all season, the coaching staff sort of forgotten one of the best running back in the CFL and was also a non-factor yesterday. Darn we missed Wally Buono.
I have to say Stamps better do a good job recruiting players for next season. Question mark positions are LINEBACKERS, RETURN SPECIALIST, and hopefully Keron Williams, Terence Patrick, Freeman and the rest of the Dlinemen improves. We also need a smart defensive coordinator. Burke was not the answer at all.

[Flames in 07]

Originally Posted by Dion_Iggy_Kipper!!!

Ya, nearly, we didn't though. The score was closer than it should've been, but the better team still won the game.

The spot of the ball was right on the third down gamble.

Ya, they also missed a penalty on Copeland when he practically tackled the rider defender when he realized he wasn't going to catch the ball.

Just to let you know, all the refs aren't out to get you, all this stuff evens out.

As for the mediocre comment, how can you say that a team with a 12-6 record is mediocre (well 13-6 if you count the west-semi win, or 12-6 with a 1-0 playoff record if you want to be picky). See you in BC, oh wait, I won't.

Not sure anyone thinks they are out to get Cgy, just that they are incompatent in general ... and it won't even out this year will it?

Having said that I think their worst call was not giving a first down to Cgy on the Burris scramble on the drive after the blocked punt. It was clearly a 1st down, on 2nd and short, Cgy pulled a 'calgary' and wrecked the drive. It seemed to me that the offside call was correct on the onside kick.

[troutman]

Originally Posted by Dion_Iggy_Kipper!!!

As for the mediocre comment, how can you say that a team with a 12-6 record is mediocre (well 13-6 if you count the west-semi win, or 12-6 with a 1-0 playoff record if you want to be picky). See you in BC, oh wait, I won't.

Well, if you struggle to beat a 7-10-1 team (going through internal chaos) at home, you are a mediocre team. See you in Toronto? Oh wait, I won't. Sask can go back to missing the playoffs next year, and the for the next 10 years. That is their destiny.

[calf]

Originally Posted by Super-Rye

You can't challenge a penalty if I'm not mistaken.

it was also in the final 3 minutes, so even if you could challenge it, it would have to come from "the booth"