2008 CFL PLAYOFFS Thread [Archive] - CANADA BODYBUILDING

UkrainianGuy

28-10-2008, 03:28 AM

STAMPS REMAIN TOP TEAM IN CFL ON TSN RANKINGS

The Calgary Stampeders are once again the top team in the CFL on TSN Power Rankings.

The Stampeders defeated the Hamilton Tiger-Cats 28-17 on Friday behind a strong performance by Joffery Reynolds. The Calgary running back did it all against the Ticats rushing for 128 yards on 17 carries with one touchdown and also catching two passes for 13 yards and a touchdown.
The win secured first place in the West for the Stampeders and improved their record on the season to 12-5.

"It was a hard-fought race to accomplish first place and they did an excellent job of coming here to a place (Ivor Wynne Stadium) that really hasn't been kind to them as of late," said head coach John Hufnagel to the Canadian Press.

The BC Lions moved up one place to claim second spot in the rankings.
The Lions won a 55-32 slugfest with the Toronto Argonauts on Saturday night. Geroy Simon did his share, with seven catches for 105 yards and a touchdown but the real stars of the game were the Lions' defence.

Cam Wake helped the Lions take an early lead after recovering a Kerry Joseph fumble and taking it 45 yards for the touchdown.

The Lions and the Stampeders hook up in the final game of the regular season on Saturday in Calgary.

"We feel like it's going to be a preview to the West final," Simon told the Canadian Press. "We want to go out there and send a message that we are for real and those first two games they beat us, that was then, this is now."

Catch the action as part of a Saturday doubleheader on TSN and TSN HD. It all starts with the Tiger-Cats taking on the Blue Bombers in Winnipeg at 1:30pm et/10:30am pt.

The Alouettes took a small tumble down the standings as they lost to the Blue Bombers 24-23 in Montreal on Sunday. The Bombers remained in 6th on the rankings.

The Edmonton Eskimos also slipped one place to number 5 after their humbling 55-9 loss to the Saskatchewan Roughriders on Saturday. The Riders moved up one spot to number 4 due to the win.

The Tiger-Cats (7th) and Argonauts (8th) did not move in the rankings.

Fight to the Finish

October is here and the playoff races are heating up. See what lies ahead for each team in the running as the Road to the Grey Cup gets an early start.

East Division

The Alouettes have clinched first place and will host the East Final.
The Blue Bombers have wrapped up second place and will host the Eskimos in the East Semifinal.

West Division

The Stampeders have clinched first place and will host the West Final.
The battle for second place continues as the Lions and Roughriders look for home field advantage in the West semifinal. Heading into the final week of the regular season, the Lions hold the head-to-head tiebreaker.

The Eskimos will cross over to the East Division and play the Blue Bombers in the East Semifinal. And while finishing fourth and making the playoffs is a bonus, flying across the country to open the playoffs is not ideal as West Division teams are 0-4 when playing in the East Semifinal.

UkrainianGuy

28-10-2008, 03:30 AM

UkrainianGuy

28-10-2008, 03:32 AM

physique

28-10-2008, 08:12 PM

going to be stamps against montreal for the cup. with montreal finally winning and then anthony cavillo will probably retire

UkrainianGuy

28-10-2008, 08:58 PM

so ur saying the Bombers wont make it huh.. hmmm.. didnt they beat Montreal last week ?

:D

physique

28-10-2008, 10:43 PM

so ur saying the Bombers wont make it huh.. hmmm.. didnt they beat Montreal last week ?

:D

mark my words brother. edmonton is going to walk into winnipeg for their first round match up and totally expose winnipegs brutal defence.
then montreal will bomb edmonton, and move on to the finals./

dont get me wrong as a rider fan, i actually like glenn, stegal and i think bryant is gonna be your next wide receiver superstar in that city.

but there time isnt now

Houstonbc

28-10-2008, 11:11 PM

with saskatchewan getting a couple key receivers back last weekend and coming off a huge thrashing of the eskies if they get the qb's under control i could see them in the cup again.

UkrainianGuy

29-10-2008, 12:34 AM

well when the Bombers were the best they couldnt make it to the finals.. so i think this approach of being the underdog might play into Winnipeg's favor.. if you recall the only team ever with a losing record to win the Grey Cup was Winnipeg in 1988 vs British Columbia Lions 22-21 in Ottawa

:D

UkrainianGuy

29-10-2008, 02:22 AM

Houstonbc

29-10-2008, 07:04 PM

haha you arent a bombers fan are ya?

UkrainianGuy

29-10-2008, 08:28 PM

yeah yeah laugh it up, im BOMBER fan!

gordi

29-10-2008, 08:45 PM

It's hard to get used to seeing the Lions struggle a bit at the QB position. You get spoiled watching a master like Dave Dickenson for so long. If only they could remove Buck's brain and put it in "Various" Jackson's body...

If they win on Saturday, they will get to host a playoff game. I'm pretty psyched for that!

UkrainianGuy

04-11-2008, 02:25 AM

UkrainianGuy

04-11-2008, 02:32 AM

Edmonton Eskimos
(10-8)
at
Winnipeg Blue Bombers
(8-10)

Saturday, November 8 - 1pm et/10am pt on TSN,
TSN HD and TSN.ca

Season Series
Sep 26 Edmonton 23 at Winnipeg 30
Oct 4 Winnipeg 22 at Edmonton 36

Schultz Against The World: This game could go either way, but I was so impressed with the play of Ricky Ray last week against Montreal. I have never seen a quarterback that can stay as calm as he does no matter if he's up by 20 or behind by 20. In a playoff game it can be the difference between winning and losing. Looking at the last two games for the Bombers, I do not put much emphasis in their last game against Hamilton. The Ticats were just going through the motions, but the one-point win over Montreal when the Alouettes were at their best says a lot. Can Winnipeg establish Reid and Smith?

When the Blue Bombers have the ball

Passing Game: Kevin Glenn has not had his best year but the second half has been better than the first. He may have finished the season with over to 3,600 yards through the air, but it does not instill confidence when your touchdown total (20) equals your interception total (20).

Running Game: If you had said at the start of the season the Bombers would be playing this game without Charles Roberts, one would think their chances would be slim. But the tandem of Fred Reid and Joe Smith has played a big role in the Blue Bombers' limited success.

Receiving Game: In the receiving corps, the Bombers do not have any players among the leaders in yardage but they are one of only two teams to have three receivers in the 1,000-yard club (Romby Bryant, Terrence Edwards and Derick Armstrong). When you add in Arjei Franklin and future Hall of Famer Milt Stegall, you have the makings of a formidable air attack.

Offensive Line: Up front, the play of last year's Most Outstanding Lineman Dan Goodspeed has earned him another nomination this year.

Special Teams: Alouettes' cast-off Jason Armstead leads the league in punt returns, having brought back two for touchdowns this season. Kicker Alexis Serna has had an inconsistent year to say the least. If the game comes down to a field goal, there will be some nervous fans at Canad Inns Stadium.

Eskimos' Defence: The Eskimos have had difficulty stopping the run this season but the secondary has fared better. When the ball goes in the air, only three things can happen and two of them are bad. The Eskimos are proof of that, having allowed the fewest completed passes and picking off 20 opposition throws. The late-season return of veteran Fred Perry should help the pass rush that has managed 30 sacks.

Jock Climie says the Bombers win if... they get pressure on Ricky Ray. When the Roughriders manhandled the Eskimos in Week 18, it was largely due to their ability to disrupt Ray's timing and take away the time he needs to throw the deep ball. Having finished third in the league in sacks, the Bombers are capable of applying the needed pressure. Offensively, Winnipeg will need to get their ground game up and running if they are to be successful. The one-two punch of Smith and Reid must be firing on all cylinders. Not only will this eat up valuable time and allow the Bombers to sustain drives, but it will allow for Glenn to use play action which was once a Bomber trademark but has sadly dropped from their list of "things we do really well." Armstrong, Bryant, Edwards and Stegall may be the league's most dangerous receiving corps but if Glenn doesn't buy himself some time in the pocket using play action, it just won't matter.

When the Eskimos have the ball

Passing Game: Ricky Ray is undoubtedly among the best passers in the league today and proved it again this year by leading the way in yardage with 5,661. He's the key to any post-season success for the Eskimos.

Running Game: Another year goes by with the Eskimos' severely lacking in a rushing attack. A.J. Harris emerged as the feature back early but Canadian Calvin McCarty seems to have supplanted him of late. Ironically, when the Eskimos outgain their opposition on the ground, they win.

Receiving Game: After years of struggling to find his niche, Canadian Kamau Peterson has found a connection with Ray. He joined the 1,000-yard club this season along with rookie speedster Kelly Campbell. The loss of Jason Tucker to a serious neck injury early in the season has been a tough one to overcome, both on and off the field.

Offensive Line: Run-blocking is not a strength of this group but the emphasis is on the passing game anyways. If they can keep Ray on his feet, they are doing their job.

Special Teams: Tristan Jackson has ignited the fans at Commonwealth Stadium on many occasions this season, returning two punts and one kick-off for touchdowns. Kicker Noel Prefonatine has been solid if not spectacular taking over for fan favourite Sean Fleming.

Blue Bombers' Defence: As much as the offence has struggled this season, the defence has provided few answers. Giving up close to 400 yards per game, the passing game is the weaker of the two aspects which has Ricky Ray licking his chops.

Jock Climie says the Eskimos win if... Ricky Ray can get into rhythm in the passing game. Rhythm for Ray means a steady dose of Peterson underneath, Campbell over the top and McCarty out of the backfield. The Esks short passing game is an effective substitute for the running game that went AWOL earlier in the season. Ray is so accurate that his swing passes, five-yard out patterns and six-yard hitches have kept them out of second-and-long all season. Defensively, Edmonton will need to play with passion and urgency. When playing on the road, it is critical that the defence fly around and maintain the energy level necessary to quiet the crowd and punish the opposition. Players like Barrenechea, Shabazz and Perry must play inspired football if the Eskimos are going to become the first-ever cross-over team to move on to the East Final.

UkrainianGuy

04-11-2008, 02:37 AM

British Columbia Lions
(11-7)
at
Saskatchewan Roughriders
(12-6)

Saturday, November 8 - 4:30pm et/1:30pm pt on TSN,
TSN HD and TSN.ca

Season Series
Jul 4 Saskatchewan 26 at B.C. 16
Sep 13 Saskatchewan 23 at B.C. 28
Sep 20 B.C. 27 at Saskatchewan 21

Schultz Against The World: The Roughriders have the definite advantage playing at home, as they have a unique energy level at Mosaic Stadium, and considering this is a playoff game, the energy level will be higher than ever before. With D.J. Flick and Andy Fantuz returning for Saskatchewan, it might open up more opportunity for Weston Dressler in the passing game. For the Lions to win, they have to force Riders' quarterback Michael Bishop to make some mistakes. This is very possible because the Lions not only have the best defensive line in the CFL, but one of the smartest defensive backs in the game in Barron Miles.

When the Roughriders have the ball
Passing Game: Take your pick. From Marcus Crandell to Darian Durant to Michael Bishop to Steven Jyles, it's been a game of musical chairs behind centre. It may be up to the quarterback to not lose the game and leave it up to the defence.

Running Game: Wes Cates burst out of the starting gate, averaging over 105 yards on the ground in the first six weeks, all wins for the Riders. But he was hobbled by a high ankle sprain late in the season and appeared to aggravate the injury in the season finale. If he's not healthy, the Roughriders will be in tough.

Receiving Game: In a receiving corps racked with injuries, rookie Weston Dressler is the only player in the top 25 in receiving yards. However in the last few weeks, Matt Dominguez has returned from his ACL injury, Andy Fantuz is back from a broken leg and D.J. Flick is back, too.

Offensive Line: Centre Gene Makowsky along with guards Marc Parenteau and Mike Abou-Mechrek form the Canadian anchor to a successful unit.

Special Teams: Much like the passing game, Dressler carries the load in the return game. In the kicking game, Luca Congi, much like his counterpart in B.C., is very accurate from shorter yardages but also managed to boot a 55-yarder late in the season.

Lions' Defence: While the offence has been the calling card of the Lions in recent years, the defence has stepped up this year. Led by shoo-in Most Outstanding Defensive Player Cameron Wake, the Lions lead the league in fewest yards allowed, interceptions and quarterback sacks.

Matt Dunigan says the Roughriders win if... they can ride the energy wave that is going to be provided by the best fans in the country/world, "The Rider Nation". Get momentum early and fan the flame. The Riders are getting healthy and that is scary because they continued to find ways to win despite an unprecedented rash of injuries. So facing adversity is not a problem for this team. Playing clean football and managing the game will be paramount for Bishop. But even with that said, Michael is a closer and will find ways to win if given the chance. For example, last week's victory. Give him the reigns and a longer leash. Playmakers are back on the field for Bishop to utilize and this should be a blast to watch!!! The defence has been the most physically dominant unit all season. As Marc Trestman once said "they play violent but clean football". This is a very accurate and fitting description for this talented defence. They will have to live up to that reputation and gang tackle Logan and limit Simon. Don't let these two beat you. Luca Congi has been money all year and will have to continue that trend and capitalize on his opportunities. This will be one heck of an entertaining football game and you can see it live on TSN, Yeah Baby!!!

When the Lions have the ball

Passing Game: Last season, Jarious Jackson appeared to be the future for the Lions. But after struggling early on this year, Buck Pierce stepped in and led the Leos to a resurgence down the stretch. Pierce is nursing some injuries so either one could get the start.

Running Game: Rookie Stefan Logan played well enough to replace perennial MOP candidate Joe Smith this season. Even the arrival of Charles Roberts, another perennial MOP candidate, did not affect Logan's status as the feature back in Vancouver. With Roberts out for the season with a torn achilles, the spotlight is on Logan.

Receiving Game: Another season, another 1,000 yards for Geroy Simon, the sixth straight time reaching that mark. Canadian Paris Jackson broke through the 1,000 yard barrier for the first time this year and last year's Outstanding Canadian Jason Clermont hoeps to return from an MCL injury.

Offensive Line: Outstanding offensive guard Rob Murphy has annoyed almost every defensive lineman in the league and even chalked up a fine for "clearly inappropriate" conduct. He's a force to be reckoned with.

Special Teams: Ian Smart set a new league record for kick-off return yards and he's not too shabby on punt returns, either. At 38, kicker Paul McCallum may not have the distance anymore but he connected on over 85% of his field goal attempts.

Roughriders' Defence: As per usual, the Roughriders have been stingy on defence. They are above average against the run and even better against the pass. On the downside, they don't create many turnovers or put a lot of pressure on the quarterback.

Matt Dungian says the Lions win if... they can weather the storm early, not only from the Riders themselves but the Rider Nation. The best way to ensure this is to score early, period. To control the line of scrimmage in this contest will be the deciding factor, whether you are talking defence or offence. The trenches will be physical and violent and whomever can win this battle, wins the game. Offensively, the quickness of Stefan Logan and his ability to create, running the football and catching the ball out of the backfield, will go a long way into sustaining drives and winning up front. A successful ground attack will free up playmakers like Geroy Simon and Paris Jackson. Both Pierce and Jackson have the capabilities to be explosive from behind the centre but must play clean football. Limit the turnovers or you will ignite Mosaic! Defensively, the Lions must stop the ground game of Saskatchewan and they have the talent to do so. Mix coverages up on the back end and force Bishop to hang on to the ball just a fraction of a second longer. This will allow pressure from Wake, Johnson, Hunt and Williams to take its toll, force poor decisions, and create turnovers. Ian Smart and Paul McCallum have been spectacular all season for the Lions special teams and this combo must produce once again. The good thing for the Lions is McCallum knows how to handle the windy conditions that can be a factor at Mosaic. It's ironic that the Lions have to beat the Riders and the Stamps to advance to this year's Grey Cup because it was those two teams they could not beat at the beginning of the season, Weeks 1 and 2 putting themselves in this unenviable position.

UkrainianGuy

10-11-2008, 12:45 AM

There will be a new Grey Cup champion crowned in Montreal later this month.

Buck Pierce and Stefan Logan led the B.C. Lions to victory on Saturday, defeating the defending Grey Cup champion Saskatchewan Roughriders 33-12 in the West Semi-Final. The Lions now head to Calgary for a date with the Stampeders on Saturday.

Catch the action of the East and West Finals on TSN and TSN HD, on Saturday starting at Noon et/9am pt.

The Lions offence took some time to hit their stride but came through in the end. Pierce completed 23-of-31 passes for 221 yards and a touchdown, while Logan ran for 153 yards on 18 carries in the win.
"In the playoffs it is all about leadership and that starts at the quarterback position and Buck Pierce in that second half took control," said CFL on TSN's Glen Suitor.

"Buck Pierce has shown that he is the guy who can lead this football team and most importantly, he did not make the big mistake," added Suitor.
Pierce combined with fullback Lyle Green for the first touchdown of the game. The 14-yard TD came with just over two minutes to play in the first half.

Jarious Jackson got into the act hooking up with a wide open Geroy Simon in the third for a 31-yard touchdown. It was the only pass Jackson threw on the day.

The Lions' defence also stepped up as Ryan Phillips picked off a Michael Bishop pass and ran it back for a 54 yard touchdown.

That made the score 33-12 and ended Bishop's day and Darian Durant took over at quarterback for the Riders.

Bishop struggled in the West Semi-final completing only 14 of 27 passes for 172 yards, the Rider QB also rushed for 46 yards on six carries but he threw three interceptions and fumbled twice. Overall the Riders turned the ball over seven times in the game.

"Our defence has been getting turnovers all year," said Lions head coach Wally Buono after the game. "At the end of the day, pressure on the quarterback causes turnovers."

"It's all on me. I didn't play well and I'm not going to put the blame on anybody. If I play well, make those throws, instead of kicking those field goals, we get touchdowns," he told the Canadian Press after the loss.
The Riders head coach came to the defence of his starter after the game.
"Some of the things that occurred with Michael tonight, the bad things weren't all his fault," coach Ken Miller told the Canadian Press. "I felt like he gave us the best opportunity to win."

"If you watched Michael throughout the year, he's had a subpar first half and came back second half and just lit up the scoreboard. Me, just like coach, assumed that that was going to happen tonight," explained Durant to the Canadian Press.

Despite the offensive troubles, Riders' Weston Dressler had five receptions for 93 yards.

While Logan was almost unstoppable, his Riders counterpart Wes Cates did not have any success being held to only 23 yards on nine carries by the Lions' defence.

"It was a rough one," Cates told the Canadian Press. "It could have been better. It could have been a lot better, you know. That's how it goes.
"You can't always just expect things to happen, you've got to sometimes make things happen and we didn't make it happen today."

"We didn't do anything out of the ordinary," said Lions' Cameron Wake to the Canadian Press. "We didn't do anything extraordinary. We came in and we played the way the B.C. Lions play football."

Lions' Paul McCallum or Riders' Luca Congi were both busy. McCallum hit from 41, 19 and 16 yards while Congi had field goals of 46, 46, 19 and 19 yards.

Houstonbc

10-11-2008, 12:49 AM

what happened to your bombers ukguy?

better question is why the hell was michael bishop left in to lose the game for the riders?

UkrainianGuy

10-11-2008, 01:47 AM

i wasnt able to watch the game, i listened to it.. for 3 qtrs they only made 2 plays and scored a td on each. They couldnt solve EDM hitch pass, and let them eat all the time up on the clock. Infact i am sure the weather will be a major excuse.. but in the end the W is all that matters..

maybe next year for the Bombers

UkrainianGuy

10-11-2008, 01:48 AM

:wtf

UkrainianGuy

10-11-2008, 01:49 AM

Da Stamps...

UkrainianGuy

10-11-2008, 01:49 AM

Go Lions Go!!!

physique

10-11-2008, 10:08 PM

as i predicted. winnipeg lost to edmonton which shouldnt happen with edmontons defense. next week montreal will pick them apart!

and as for the rider, why they let bishop start is beyond me, like christ, he sucked. yes others dropped the ball too, but bishop was brutal!

all i can say is go stamps! i cant live in this province when Bc wins at anything. hell right now canuck fans are planning the stanley cup parade because of 3 shut outs in a row. like give me a break!

UkrainianGuy

11-11-2008, 11:21 PM

Edmonton Eskimos at Montreal Alouettes

Saturday, November 15 - 1pm et/10am pt on TSN and TSN HD

Season Series
Edmonton 4 at Montreal 40
Montreal 14 at Edmonton 37

When the Alouettes have the ball

Quarterback: Anthony Calvillo is the East Division's nominee for Most Outstanding Player. At 36, he has turned back time, passing for over 5,600 yards and 43 touchdowns.

Running Game: Avon Cobourne found his stride in late July, racking up six straight 100-yard games. He also collected over 600 yards in receiving out of the backfield. But he was hobbled by an ankle injury late in the season that caused him to miss some action.

Passing Game: Newcomer Jamel Richardson racked up the most yards for the Alouettes this season but Ben Cahoon was once again Calvillo's favourite target with 107 catches. Kerry Watkins gives the Alouettes a third receiver with over 1,000 yards, one of only teams to do so.

Offensive Line: Player award nominee Scott Flory, Bryan Chiu and Paul Lambert are part of a solid unit that has performed at a high level for a nubmer of years. And they're all Canadians, too!

Special Teams: Rookie Larry Taylor does his best to give Calvillo a short field to work with. Damon Duval is always among the leaders in scoring and this year was no different. And with a net average of 38 yards, his punting has been impressive as well.

Eskimos' Defence: The Eskimos have had difficulty stopping the run this season but the secondary has fared better. When the ball goes in the air, only three things can happen and two of them are bad. The Eskimos are proof of that, having allowed the fewest completed passes and picking off 20 opposition throws. The late-season return of veteran Fred Perry should help the pass rush that has managed 30 sacks.

When the Eskimos have the ball

Passing Game: Ricky Ray is undoubtedly among the best passers in the league today and proved it again this year by leading the way in yardage with 5,661. He's the key to any post-season success for the Eskimos.

Running Game: Another year goes by with the Eskimos' severely lacking in a rushing attack. A.J. Harris emerged as the feature back early but Canadian Calvin McCarty seems to have supplanted him of late. Ironically, when the Eskimos outgain their opposition on the ground, they win.

Receiving Game: After years of struggling to find his niche, Canadian Kamau Peterson has found a connection with Ray. He joined the 1,000-yard club this season along with rookie speedster Kelly Campbell. The loss of Jason Tucker to a serious neck injury early in the season has been a tough one to overcome, both on and off the field.

Offensive Line: Run-blocking is not a strength of this group but the emphasis is on the passing game anyways. If they can keep Ray on his feet, they are doing their job.

Special Teams: Tristan Jackson has ignited the fans at Commonwealth Stadium on many occasions this season, returning two punts and one kick-off for touchdowns. Kicker Noel Prefonatine has been solid if not spectacular taking over for fan favourite Sean Fleming.

Alouettes' Defence: The Alouettes have had a great deal of success stopping the run, giving up less than 100 yards per game. And statistics say the passing defence is weak with only the Hamilton Tiger-Cats giving up more yards but when you have a winning record and score over 600 points, teams tend to throw the ball against you when the game is already decided.

UkrainianGuy

11-11-2008, 11:24 PM

B.C. Lions at Calgary Stampeders

Saturday, November 15 - 4:30pm et/1:30pm pt on TSN and TSN HD

West Semi-Final - Lions vs. Roughriders

Season Series
B.C. 18 at Calgary 28
Calgary 36 at B.C. 19
B.C. 30 at Calgary 41

When the Stampeders have the ball

Passing Game: If not for Anthony Calvillo's outstanding season, Henry Burris would be the talk of the league among pivots. Passing for over 5,000 yards with 38 touchdowns and just 14 interceptions in the tough West Division is remarkable.

Running Game: Joffrey Reynolds reached the 1,200-yard for the fourth straight season. He was struggling down the stretch until he picked up 128 yards against Hamilton in Week 18 to help the Stampeders clinch first place.

Receiving Game: Ken-Yon Rambo led the league in yardage, eclipsing the 1,000-yard mark for the first time in his career. Five-year veteran Nik Lewis has reached the milestone every season and this year, led the team in touchdowns. Jeremaine Copeland and Canadian Brett Ralph complete a fearsome foursome.

Offensive Line: Diaper dandies Jesse Newman and Dimitri Tsoumpas have surprised everyone with their ability to step in and have an impact. This unit allowed the second fewest quarterback sacks on the season.

Special Teams: Markus Howell is steady in the return game. Special Teams award nominee Sandro DeAngelis made good on 85% of his field goal attempts while Burke Dales led the league in net punting.

Lions Defence: While the offence has been the calling card of the Lions in recent years, the defence has stepped up this year. Led by shoo-in Most Outstanding Defensive Player Cameron Wake, the Lions lead the league in fewest yards allowed, interceptions and quarterback sacks.

Matt Dungian says the Lions win if:

They can tackle, not give up the big play and hang on to the football...Duh.

Limiting turnovers was critical on the road last week at Mosaic and even more so this week at McMahon.

If the Lions cough up the ball as much and early as Saskatchewan did last week, this game could be over quickly. Why, because the Stamps will make you pay!!! It's like giving extra outs in Baseball, it will get you beat. Buck Pierce must manage the game like he did last week and let the game come to him. He must distribute the football and keep the car on the road.

Pierce has to feed Stefan Logan the football....again, duh. Get Stefan at least 20 touches and watch the magic happen. Establish Logan and watch Geroy Simon and Co. come to life. Imagine yourself as a quarterback in any of these two offensive huddles at McMahon and you should have a huge smile on your face. Potential shoot out in Calgary. Kick back and enjoy the game exclusively on TSN.

Defensively, do what you do. Continue to get to the QB, (68 times so far this season) and let the athletic ability of the secondary flock to the ball. Cam Wake, Brent Johnson, Tyrone Williams, Aaron Hunt and Rick Foley should and will be a factor!!! Barron Miles will be huge in this ball game with his ability to roam the middle. He does it better than anyone in the league and will be crucial against Henry Burris and Co. limiting the dreaded "Big Play" that has hurt the Lions this season.

I love Otis Floyd's mindset and comment of hitting Calgary right dead in the mouth. This is so true, as I feel like that is the Lions strength, a strength that has been inconsistent up until last week. In short the Lions must out physical the Stamps.

Paul McCallum and Ian Smart have been tremendous up until this point and will play a huge factor in establishing excellent field position for the Lions offence.

When the Lions have the ball

Quarterback: Last season, Jarious Jackson appeared to be the future for the Lions. But after struggling early on this year, Buck Pierce stepped in and led the Leos to a resurgence down the stretch.

Running Game: Rookie Stefan Logan played well enough to replace perennial MOP candidate Joe Smith this season. Even the arrival of Charles Roberts, another perennial MOP candidate, did not affect Logan's status as the feature back in Vancouver. With Roberts out for the season with a torn achilles, the spotlight is on Logan.

Passing Game: Another season, another 1,000 yards for Geroy Simon, the sixth straight time reaching that mark. Canadian Paris Jackson broke through the 1,000 yard barrier for the first time this year and last year's Outstanding Canadian Jason Clermont is back from an MCL injury.

Offensive Line: Outstanding offensive guard Rob Murphy has annoyed almost every defensive lineman in the league and even chalked up a fine for "clearly inappropriate" conduct. He's a force to be reckoned with.

Special Teams: Ian Smart set a new league record for kick-off return yards and he's not too shabby on punt returns, either. At 38, kicker Paul McCallum may not have the distance anymore but he connected on over 85% of his field goal attempts.

Stampeders' Defence: The Stampeders rely on a total team concept on defence. No player had more than five sacks, for example, but five Stampeders had at least four QB drops. The scheme certainly worked, as no defence gave up fewer touchdowns or fewer points than Calgary's this season. Defensive back Wes Lysak topped the team with four interceptions while linebacker Shannon James was among the league leaders in tackles.

Matt Dunigan says the Stampeders win if:

The offence can take care of the football, period.

Turnovers have been the difference in the past and certainly proved to be true in the Semifinals.

Henry Burris has protected the football all season long and has played with poise and confidence. His off-season workout program, which added more size, speed, and strength to his game, has been apparent and the difference.

Henry's ability to create, elude, and knife a defence with speed and quickness coupled with Joffrey Reynolds league leading, hard-slashing running style will give the Lions D plenty to worry about on the ground. Establishing the ground attack will set up Calgary's play action prowess. CFL leading receiver Ken Yon Rambo and his teammates, Nik Lewis, Jermaine Copeland, Brett Ralph, Teyo Johnson, and Ryan Thelwell all possess explosive big play capabilities across the board and must produce "Big Plays." The play action will give this group just that half-a-second more to set up defenders and stretch the Lions defence vertically. The young offensive line of the Stamps has done an incredible job in 08', allowing the second fewest sacks in the league and will benefit from a balanced attack.

Defensively the Stamps must swarm and gang-tackle Stefan Logan. The return of a healthy Saleem Rasheed, and Juwann Simpson has added even more team speed to an already fast Calgary defence. The addition of Milton Collins on the back end has been a big boost and getting JoJuan Armour back will help deal with the Lions offensive weapons.

Chris Jones has challenged his defense all season with man-to-man coverage and now will be their biggest test to date. The secondary must blanket the talented Lions receiving corps. The Stamps blitz package on second down and long, (one free defender coming of each edge) must be timed up perfectly and not allow Buck Pierce to set his feet and deliver into that one-on-one coverage. Therein lies the key: force the Lions into second and long situations so you can dictate defensively.

UkrainianGuy

12-11-2008, 12:28 PM

UkrainianGuy

12-11-2008, 12:28 PM

gordi

13-11-2008, 02:59 AM

I don't think that the Stamps are going to be able to keep Cameron Wake off of Henry Burris, and I think that will make the difference in their game.

UkrainianGuy

16-11-2008, 11:08 AM

The CFL West Division Final was a tale of two halves as the Calgary Stampeders came from behind to knock off the B.C. Lions 22-18.
The Western Division Most Outstanding Player nominee Henry Burris was able to recover from a poor opening half to give the Stampeders their first shot at the Grey Cup since 2001.

Calgary will travel to Montreal to face the Alouettes for Lord Earl Grey's chalice Sunday, November 23rd in a game you can only see on TSN starting at 3pm et/noon pt. The game will also be available in TSNHD.
"I told our players to enjoy the moment and enjoy the night and understand what they accomplished because what they accomplished was something good," said Calgary coach John Hufnagel.

Burris, who entered the game with a 1-4 record in the playoffs, finished the game 17-for-27 for 236 yards, one touchdown pass and one interception. He also rushed for a touchdown. The win meant that the Stamps swept the season series going a perfect 4-0 against the Lions.
While Burris' play in the second half was the key to the comeback he credited the entire team for the victory.

"We did the little things and we put enough together to get the job done," Burris told TSN. "Our defence played a heck of a game and our special teams gave us great field position and we were able to do just enough to pull it out."

Calgary's defence dominated the play as the Lions were unable to find the end zone all afternoon. Kicker Paul McCallum was responsible for all of the Lions scoring as he was a perfect six-for-six on field goal attempts as BC's offence repeatedly stalled in crucial situations.

"Very disappointing," Lions quarterback Buck Pierce told TSN. "To control the ball the way that we did for most of the game and you don't score when it counts, it's going to come back and get you."
There was extra motivation for the Stamps defence after the CFL's All-Star team was announced. The Lions had five players named to the squad while only one Stampeder made the team, cornerback Brandon Browner.

"We wanted to take it upon ourselves to show that we were the number one defence," Stampeders defensive lineman Mike Labinjo told TSN.
With only 46 man-games of playoff experience on their roster, the Stampeders lack of post-season familiarity was exposed early on. Calgary's offence was held in check by the top rated Lions defence forcing two straight two-and-outs to start the game.

Pierce was having no such problems in the early going as he spread the ball around the field to his receivers while running back Stefan Logan softened up the Stampeders defence with his tough interior running picking up 94 yards on 13 carries in the half.

Unfortunately for the Leos, their offence repeatedly stalled as McCallum split the uprights three times to give B.C. a 9-0 lead.

"Football is a game of opportunities," Lions coach Wally Buono told reporters following the loss. "And when you look at it, we squandered them away."

The Stamps finally hit the scoreboard in the second quarter with a safety as McCallum chose to run through his own end zone as opposed to punting from deep inside his own half.

The defensive struggle continued as B.C. drove the ball 67 yards, killing over five minutes off the clock before McCallum finished off the drive with a 32-yard field goal to increase the Lions lead to 10.

The Stampeders offence finally appeared to find a rhythm late in the quarter as Calgary picked up one of only four first downs of the half before Burris connected with Ken-Yon Rambo in the end zone for a 22-yard strike. That touchdown pulled Calgary within three as the teams headed to their respective locker rooms for the half-time break.
With only 89 yards worth of offence in the first half, Burris put it upon himself to turn the Stamps fortunes around. However he was unable to muster any yardage on Calgary's opening drive of the second half as Burke Dales was forced to punt once again.

The Lions held their collective breath on the ensuing drive as Logan took a big hit from Browner and remained down on the field.

Although Logan made it to the sidelines under his own power his absence was felt on the very next play as Jarious Jackson, subbed in for Buck Pierce, fumbled on a quarterback sneak to give the Stampeders the ball at their own six yard line. It was a play that Buono felt was a defining moment in the game.

"There were a lot of things that we did well and there were a lot of things that we didn't do well," Buono stated. "The big thing is when you are on the one yard line you've got to put it in. You can't fumble the ball at critical times. Those things always come back to haunt you."
With seemingly all the momentum heading in the Stampeders direction, Burris was picked off by Lions defensive back Korey Banks who took it all the way to the Stampeders one-yard line.

Instead of folding, Calgary's defence held strong as Labinjo, who was a monster all-day, stonewalled Ian Smart twice from the one-yard line to limit the Lions to another McCallum field goal. It was a play that turned out to be pivotal in the game's outcome.

"Our coaches told us 'no matter what happens just hold them to three points,'" Labinjo told TSN. "We knew that if we came up with a big stop there our offence could come back and win this game."

With the momentum back on their side, Burris led the Stamps down the field once again, however he was unable to find the end zone this time. A 42-yard field goal by Sandro DeAngelis pulled Calgary to within three.
The Stampeders defence turned up the intensity as Labinjo beat a pair of linemen to sack Pierce for the second time on the afternoon.

The defensive stand appeared to spark the Calgary offence. With his confidence growing Burris drove the Stamps downfield, however the Lions defence came up strong stopping the drive. DeAngelis was called upon once again and he tied things up with a 27-yard field goal.

Burris' second half resurgence continued as he connected with Jermaine Copeland and Teyo Johnson on back-to-back plays for big gains through the air. Burris then called his own number to bang it in from one-yard out to give the Stampeders their first lead of the game.

While everything appeared to be headed in Calgary's direction, the Lions responded immediately as Pierce connected with Geroy Simon for a 65-yard pickup to put B.C. in Stampeders territory. The Leo's were unable to build on that and McCallum kicked his sixth field goal of the afternoon.
The teams exchanged possessions as the three-minute warning came and went. Pierce was handed the ball at his own seven yard line with 1:38 left on the clock. He went deep with his first pass attempt as Ryan-Grice Mullen came up with a miraculous reception, tearing the ball away from Browner for a huge gain.

Feeling that luck was on his side, Pierce aired it out on the very next play, however Browner made up for the previous play by coming up with an enormous interception that should have killed off the Lions season.
A pair of kneel downs and an incompletion meant that Pierce would be given the ball back with a chance to win it with one-second on the clock. His Hail Mary attempt was batted down in the end zone and Calgary could finally punch their ticket to Montreal for a date with the Alouettes.
"It's going to be the best against the best," Labinjo told TSN. "We're really fired up and looking forward to it."

UkrainianGuy

16-11-2008, 03:01 PM

Larry Taylor set a CFL record with two punt returns for touchdowns as the Montreal Alouettes rolled to a 36-26 victory over the Edmonton Eskimos in the Wendy's CFL on TSN East Final at Olympic Stadium.

The Alouettes will host the Calgary Stampeders in the Grey Cup, which will also be played at Olympic Stadium in Montreal next Sunday.

''Our team has tremendous backbone,'' Als head coach Marc Trestman told TSN following the game. ''We took Edmonton's best shots today and withstood the test. I'm just proud to be on this field and be part of it all today.''

Taylor scored his first touchdown late in the first half to give the Alouettes their first lead of the game. He took Noel Prefontaine's punt and darted up the field for a 64-yard major.

''It's a great feeling in the eastern championship game to make it happen,'' said Taylor. ''Hats off to my teammates for springing me on both returns.''
Taylor's second score came early in the fourth quarter and sealed the win. He started on his won 13-yard line and found himself in the end zone 97 yards away.

''Larry Taylor, playing on special teams, didn't catch a pass all year and yet was the difference maker here today, CFL on TSN's Duane Forde said. ''His two huge punt return touchdowns made the difference and turned the tide.''

Anthony Calvillo completed 20 of 32 passes for 295 yards with one touchdown while Jamel Richardson led the way with 91 yards on six catches and one touchdown. Avon Cobourne rushed for another major.
''It's an emotional day, Calvillo told TSN. ''We've been working so hard all year long and this is what we envisioned. But our vision's not over yet.''
Ricky Ray threw for 339 yards and one touchdown in a losing effort with Outstanding Canadian nominee Kamau Peterson his favourite target, catching nine balls for 127 yards. Kelly Campbell scored the only offensive touchdown for the Eskimos.

The Eskimos jumped out to an early lead when back-up defensive end Justin Cooper blocked Damon Duval's punt deep in Montreal's end and recovered the loose ball in the end zone.

Duval came back on the next series when he put the cap on a long drive with a 27-yard field goal. But on the first play of the second quarter, Noel Prefontaine made good on a 45-yard field goal attempt to restore the Eskimos' lead.

Then, Peterson came up big, hauling in two key passes from Ray, allowing Prefontaine to extend the Edmonton advantage with a 22-yard field goal.
Late in the second frame, Calvillo connected with Richardson on a 7-yard touchdown pass to close the gap to 13-12. Richardson led the league in touchdowns during the regular season with 16 majors.

After a two-and-out from the Eskimos, Larry Taylor returned a punt 64 yards for a touchdown to give the Alouettes a huge boost heading to the locker-room. And the crowd started to become a factor.

Early in the second half, the Eskimos lost defensive back Jason Goss with an ankle injury and that would turn out to be costly.

Special teams standout Tristan Jackson replaced Goss in the backfield and was promptly penalized for pass interference in the end zone trying to cover slotback Ben Cahoon. That allowed Cobourne to redeem himself with a 1-yard plunge to cap off another time-consuming drive. Momentum was clearly on the side of the Alouettes.

One play earlier, third-string quarterback Adrian McPherson appeared to score but officials determined that an inadvertent whistle had blown the play dead before the ball was snapped.

Early in the fourth quarter, Taylor put an end to any thoughts of an Eskimos comeback when he returned his second punt for a touchdown. He took the ball deep in his own end and didn't stop until he reached the Edmonton end zone.

On their next possession, the Eskimos began their comeback attempt when Ricky Ray hooked up with speedster Kelly Campbell on a 55-yard touchdown pass.

But when the Eskimos gave up the ball on downs on the next drive, it appeared to be all over for the visitors from Alberta.

''The Alouettes got to Ricky Ray all day and he really wasn't able to get the throws he wanted,'' Forde said.

Jackson gave the Eskimos a spark when he returned a punt 78 yards for a touchdown with less than a minute to go in regulation. Despite recovering the onside kick, it wasn't enough as the Eskimos went down to defeat.
''I'm not sure if it was them or us,'' said Eskimos receiver Kamau Peterson. ''I just felt we didn't capitalize on the spaces they were giving us and, as a result, we had way too many two-and-outs.

''But hats off to them. They sustained drives and we didn't.''

For the first time, the Grey Cup will be seen live on TSN and TSN HD next Sunday with the pre-game show getting underway at 3pm et/Noon pt.

UkrainianGuy

17-11-2008, 12:02 PM

UkrainianGuy

17-11-2008, 12:02 PM

UkrainianGuy

17-11-2008, 01:15 PM

CALGARY - In his rookie season, JoJuan Armour experienced what it was like to compete for the 2004 Grey Cup when his B.C. Lions lost 27-19 to the Toronto Argonauts in Ottawa.

Now in his fifth CFL campaign, Armour will have another shot at winning the Grey Cup as a member of the Calgary Stampeders next Sunday against the Montreal Alouettes at Olympic Stadium (Pre-game starts at 3pm et/Noon pt on TSN and TSN HD).
"The experience was amazing," said the Calgary linebacker of playing in the Grey Cup. "I'm glad this time I have a bigger role on the team. I feel like I can contribute a little more."

The biggest thing Armour can relate to his teammates is about how horrible he felt after the Lions lost.

"When you lose, all the good things that you accomplished in that season are forgot about," said Armour, who's a big part of the defence that shut down the B.C. Lions during Calgary's 22-18 win in the West Division final on Saturday afternoon. "Here, we've done some great things, we've done some outstanding things. You want it to be worth something, you want it to count for something. That's the biggest thing I can draw on that experience."

In his first two CFL seasons, quarterback Henry Burris was the third-string quarterback for the Stampeders, who won the Grey Cup in 1998 by beating the Hamilton 26-24 in Winnipeg before losing to the Tiger-Cats 32-21 the following year in Vancouver.

"I was able to see what it took for a Jeff Garcia to win a Grey Cup and I saw what it took for a Danny McManus to beat us in '99 to win a Grey Cup," said Burris, who will now guide the Stampeder offence for the first time in the CFL's marquee game. "I was able to see those things and kind of give myself an idea of what it was like, so that's going to help me out in my preparation."

Receiver Jeremaine Copeland will be returning to Montreal where he played for four seasons and helped the Als beat the Edmonton Eskimos 25-16 to hoist the Grey Cup at Commonwealth Stadium in 2002.

"I had a chance to get two back-to-back," said Copeland, whose Montreal squad lost 34-22 the next year in Regina. "We didn't go out and execute the way we were supposed to."

Copeland and other veterans spoke out in a team meeting on Sunday about what it will take for the Stamps to go into a hostile territory in Montreal to beat the Alouettes in front of their home crowd.

"I really think that's the plus that we've got is that guys really know what's out in front of them," Copeland said. "We're going to take that one more step because if we don't win this game, everything that we've done so far is just going to disappear."

Defensive tackle Randy Chevrier, who lost to Copeland's Alouettes in 2002 as a member of the Esks before helping Edmonton rebound to win the Cup the next season, said the Stamps have to prepare themselves to maintain their focus amidst all the hoopla in Montreal.

"Whether you have the crowd in your favour or not, you've still got to go out and perform," Chevrier said. "The challenge here is to be mature in a hurry with this team that we have and draw on the experience of guys like myself and guys who've been there.

"We worked so hard to get to where we are at this point that I don't think anybody would be satisfied with a loss in Montreal."

In his ninth season with the Stamps, offensive lineman Jeff Pilon will make his first trip back to the Grey Cup since helping Calgary beat the Winnipeg Blue Bombers 27-19 at Olympic Stadium in 2001.

"That's a long time ago," said Pilon, who's seen countless teammates come and go during that span. "It's been a real journey. At times it can test your love for the game, at times it can test your thoughts of what the heck am I doing, why am I putting my body through this?

"In the end, you're doing it for your teammates, you're doing it for the guys you're playing with and you're doing it for the love of playing football, the love of competing, the love of going out there and testing yourself ... testing what you can do, how far you can push your body and what you can accomplish."

During the win over B.C., Calgary coach and general manager John Hufnagel wore the 1992 Grey Cup ring he won when he was an offensive co-ordinator with the Stamps and he's planning to wear it all week leading up to the game against Montreal.

"Players who have been involved in Grey Cups stood up and talked to the team about what to be expecting and their past experiences," Hufnagel said. "You can always derive information from those types of things. You want to try and obtain as much information from all sources and probably the best source is experiences from the players that are in that locker room."

UkrainianGuy

18-11-2008, 11:20 PM

GREY CUP

Calgary Stampeders vs Montreal Alouettes

Sunday, November 23 - 6pm et/3pm pt
on TSN and TSN HD

Season Series
Calgary 23 at Montreal 19
Montreal 30 at Calgary 41

When the Alouettes have the ball

Quarterback: Anthony Calvillo is the East Division's nominee for Most Outstanding Player. At 36, he has turned back time, passing for over 5,600 yards and 43 touchdowns.

Running Game: Avon Cobourne found his stride in late July, racking up six straight 100-yard games. He also collected over 600 yards in receiving out of the backfield. He was hobbled by an ankle injury late in the season that caused him to miss some action but he was a factor in the East Final.

Passing Game: Newcomer Jamel Richardson racked up the most yards for the Alouettes this season and was a force in the East Final. Veteran Ben Cahoon was once again Calvillo's favourite target with 107 catches and Kerry Watkins gives the Alouettes a third receiver with over 1,000 yards, one of only teams to do so.

Offensive Line: Award nominee Scott Flory, Bryan Chiu and Paul Lambert are part of a solid unit that has performed at a high level for a nubmer of years. And they're all Canadians, too!

Special Teams: Rookie Larry Taylor was a difference-maker in the East Final with a record two punt returns for touchdowns. Damon Duval is always among the leaders in scoring and this year was no different. And with a net average of 38 yards, his punting has been impressive as well.

Stampeders' Defence: The Stampeders rely on a total team concept on defence. No player had more than five sacks, for example, but five Stampeders had at least four QB drops. The scheme certainly worked, as no defence gave up fewer touchdowns or fewer points than Calgary's this season. Lineman Mike Labinjo was outstanding in the West Final. Defensive back Wes Lysak topped the team with four interceptions

Jock Climie says the Alouettes win if: The Als will win if their receivers can beat man coverage and get open in time for Calvillo to go 1, 2, 3... throw. Timing and rhythm is what Montreal's passing game is all about.

Defensively, Montreal's linebackers must contain Joffrey Reynolds as well as help out with pass defence. If Hill, Ferri and Hunt fly around and wreak havoc the Als defence can get the ball back in Calvillo's hands and make life very difficult for the Stamps.

When the Stampeders have the ball

Passing Game: If not for Anthony Calvillo's outstanding season, Henry Burris would be the talk of the league among pivots. Passing for over 5,000 yards with 38 touchdowns as well as leading all quarterbacks in rushing with close to 600 yards is remarkable. In the West Final, he spread the wealth, using eight different receivers .

Running Game: Joffrey Reynolds reached the 1,200-yard for the fourth straight season. He was struggling down the stretch until he picked up 128 yards against Hamilton in Week 18 to help the Stampeders clinch first place.

Receiving Game: Ken-Yon Rambo led the league in yardage, eclipsing the 1,000-yard mark for the first time in his career. Five-year veteran Nik Lewis has reached the milestone every season and this year, led the team in touchdowns. Jeremaine Copeland and Canadian Brett Ralph complete a fearsome foursome.

Offensive Line: Diaper dandies Jesse Newman and Dimitri Tsoumpas have surprised everyone with their ability to step in and have an impact. This unit allowed the second fewest quarterback sacks on the season and stood up to the outstanding defensive line of the Lions in the West Final.

Special Teams: Markus Howell is steady in the return game. Special Teams award nominee Sandro DeAngelis made good on 85% of his field goal attempts while Burke Dales led the league in net punting.

Alouettes' Defence: The Alouettes have had a great deal of success stopping the run, giving up less than 100 yards per game. In the East Final, they gave up a measly three yards on the ground to the Eskimos. And statistics say the passing defence is weak with only the Hamilton Tiger-Cats giving up more yards in the regular season but when you have a winning record and score over 600 points, teams tend to throw the ball against you when the game is already decided.

Matt Dunigan says the Stampeders win if: For the Calgary Stampeders to be successful against the Montreal Alouettes in Sunday's Grey Cup, Henry Burris has to continue to be a good caretaker of the football and make the "big play."

Only one interception last week and big time throws to Ken Yon Rambo, Jeremaine Copeland, Brett Ralph and Nik Lewis. On top of making incredibly accurate and strong-arm throws, he was toting the rock and gutting the defense with timely runs. He will need to do more of the same in the "Big O."

Reynolds will have to be a bigger factor and will have to improve on just 43 yards rushing. With the strong play of Demitris Summers, anticipate more of a rotation at running back to create production on the ground. Sustaining possession of the ball limits Anthony Calvillo and the number of chances the Alouettes will have. Control the line of scrimmage, win the time of possession battle, and keep it away from A.C.

Summers and Markus Howell last week (particularly Summers) kept the offense on a short field and created scoring opportunities. If they can have similar success, that will go a long way in bringing the Cup back to Calgary.

You couple their play and returns with Sandro DeAngelis and Burke Dales's abilities and the Special Teams are humming at the right time. They must keep it going. Don't think for a second that Special Teams coach Craig Dickenson is not staying up at night devising ways to stop Larry Taylor on his return game. The Stamps must have better coverage than Edmonton had on teams against Montreal.

Defensively, the Stamps stood on their heads and won the West Final by not allowing the Lions to score majors. To do the same against Calvillo and Co. would be a minor miracle, but they must gang tackle and cover like they did last week against the Lions. The intensity was evident in the West Final and they must play with the same confidence and quickness against the Alouettes in the Grey Cup.

Mike Labinjo, Charleston Hughes, Shannon James, Milton Collins, Brandon Browner and the rest of the defence must force the issue and not allow Calivillo to get comfortable and throw on rhythm. Chris Jones, Defensive Coordinator for the Stamps, must mix up fronts, stunts and coverages throughout the game, otherwise A.C. will settle in like we saw last week and start to slice and dice.

And the last thing I will say is this: Stay off the streets! There is plenty of time to party during the off-season when the Cup is yours. This week, leave the partying to the CFL fans, the best football fans in the world...

UkrainianGuy

20-11-2008, 06:53 PM

UkrainianGuy

21-11-2008, 04:04 PM

The Canadian Football League appears ready to handle to the challenges of tougher economic times across the country and around the world.

That was one of the key messages conveyed by Mark Cohon on Friday as part of the CFL commissioner's annual state of the union news conference in Montreal.

"We are not immune to the economic downturn in this country and around the world, but we feel we are well positioned when compared to other leagues," he told reporters. "We have good ties to the community and are affordable. We are aggressive with our fan base and those companies that are aggressive during down times are more successful."

Part of the league's aggressive approach with fans will be marketing an inexpensive, home-grown entertainment option that has attracted more than two million fans through the turnstiles for a seventh year in a row.

The commissioner's question and answer session also brought up the annual laundry list of league concerns, including the possibility of expansion and the National Football League's presence in Toronto.

A 'Blue Ribbon' team of Jeff Hunt, John Ruddy, Roger Greenberg and William Shenkman are already working diligently to bring a CFL team back to Ottawa amid reports that the nation's capital will host the Grey Cup in 2014. "We're hopeful that 2011 will be a time when we can get a franchise back in Ottawa," said Cohon.

The commissioner addressed questions regarding new exposure into markets like Quebec City, Moncton and Halifax, with the possibility of neutral site regular season games in one of those cities provided that a suitable stadium is available. The city of Moncton already has a track and field stadium in the works which could potentially host a game in the near future.

"I do believe there are opportunities to expand our reach into those markets," said Cohon. "That (facility) has the ability to expand up to 20,000 (seats), so we are looking at an opportunity in 2010."

With the Toronto Argonauts out of the postseason and the Buffalo Bills set to play their first regular season at the Rogers Centre on Dec. 6, Cohon chose not to discuss the presence of the NFL on the CFL's biggest weekend.

"One season does not make a league," he said. "Three quarters of a million people watched the Labour day Classic, with more than a quarter of that number from the GTA."

Other points from the commissioner's address included:

- A continuation of the CFL's Retro program, including the possibility of opening next season on Canada Day.

- Creating a league command centre for officiating so all decisions can be made from Toronto.

- New in-game standards to protecting quarterbacks. At season's end the CFL will meet with club GMs and coaches and discuss how this can be further improved.

- A drug-testing policy - which already has a first draft - that, with the support of the CFL Players' Association, will be part of the new collective bargaining agreement in 2010.

- Talking to the CIS about co-ordinating efforts with the two title games being played in the same city.

- The league will decide shortly what the cap will be in 2009 but doubts it will increase from its present level of $4.2 million.

UkrainianGuy

23-11-2008, 09:09 AM

STAMPEDERS READY FOR HOSTILE MONTREAL CROWD

11/23/2008 - MONTREAL - It's been a busy week of Grey Cup preparation for the Calgary Stampeders, a team that not only faces a formidable foe in the Montreal Alouettes, but another mighty opponent: the hostile Big O crowd.

More than 63,000 tickets have already been sold for Sunday's CFL title game at the Olympic Stadium, a closed-roof behemoth renowned for holding a thunderous roar.

At practice this week, the Stampeders tried acclimatizing players to the expected game conditions by blasting taped crowd racket through the building's sound system.

"I told them exactly how loud it was going to be," Stamps defensive co-ordinator Chris Jones said Saturday, after running the team through a light workout.

"We brought in the noise this week and it helped us - it let us see that we're not going to be able to hear, so everything's got to be visual."

Jones, the Alouettes' defensive co-ordinator from 2003 to 2007, doesn't expect the volume to come down, regardless of which team has the ball.

"I don't remember them (the fans) ever quieting down in years past. From the time all the people get in here, it's loud until it's over."

Stamps safety Wes Lysack said the coaches have cranked up the volume on phoney crowd noise at practice a few times this year, but no building carries sound quite like Olympic Stadium.

"I've been popping more Tylenol than I have in my entire life," Lysack said of the past week.

The Alouettes, who won the East Division title with an 11-7 record, aim to become the first team since the '94 B.C. Lions to win the Grey Cup on home soil.

The Stampeders, meanwhile, had the CFL's best regular-season record at 13-5 and won both tilts against Montreal.

Event organizers hope the match-up will break the CFL's attendance record of 68,318, set during the 1977 Grey Cup at Olympic Stadium between Montreal and the Edmonton Eskimos.

The deafening din of football fanatics usually creates more headaches for offensive units, sometimes causing players to miss snap counts and substitution calls.

But Calgary quarterback Henry Burris said Saturday that his squad is ready to face the Als' hometown faithful.

Burris said the Stamps hope to take the Montreal fans out of the game early, before the noise rattles the cement slabs of the stadium.

"We're prepared, that's what we've been working on all week," Burris said.

Lysack hopes the hometown fans inadvertently stir up trouble for Alouettes pivot Anthony Calvillo and his team's powerful offence.

"They've got a pretty good offence, and if they can struggle with the noise, then that's good by me," he said.

"I don't anticipate that they will. They're pros and this is the Grey Cup."

But the expected masses have indeed raised concerns with the home side.

The Alouettes, who play regular-season games at the 20,000-seat, outdoor Percival Molson Stadium, have also been practising to recorded crowd clamour and perfecting on silent snap counts.

Head coach Marc Trestman even had a message for the city's vocal sports fans.

"We want to be as quiet as we can when A.C. (Calvillo) is on the field, and when Burris is on the field ... we will shout loudly," Trestman said Saturday.

But Als' veteran centre Bryan Chiu said as long as it's a little louder when Calgary has the ball - bring on the noise.

"This is a very loud stadium when it's packed, and for a Grey Cup in your own hometown, I will probably see the ground shake tomorrow."

UkrainianGuy

23-11-2008, 01:17 PM

96TH GREY CUP KICKS OFF TODAY
ON TSN

It's the single biggest day in Canadian sports as the 96th Grey Cup championship kicks off later today in Montreal with the Alouettes facing the Calgary Stampeders on TSN.

The action gets underway with the pre-game show at 3pm et/Noon pt and the opening kickoff at 6pm et/3pm pt. The game is also available on TSN HD.

There is no doubt the Alouettes will hold a significant home field advantage by playing in front of more than 63,000 fans at the Olympic Stadium. The home supporters should make it very uncomfortable for the Stampeders, however something may have been lost in translation at the coaches press conferences on Saturday.

"Pas un mot (not a word) when Henry (Burris) is on the field," Als coach Marc Trestman said before being corrected by a member of his staff.

"Don't do that," Trestman corrected himself while laughing it off. "Pas un mot when A.C (Anthony Calvillo) is on the field. We want to be as quiet as we can when A.C. is on the field."

Although the Als rookie head coach was embarrassed by his inability to express his thoughts in French, he could be excused for having his mind on more important matters, namely the biggest game he has ever coached in his life.

While the game features the top team in the East Division playing at home facing the top team in a stacked West Division, some individual matchups will be under close scrutiny; none moreso than the opposing quarterbacks.

Calvillo and Burris are the cream of the crop in the CFL this season. They finished one and two in the league in terms of touchdown passes and quarterback rating with Calvillo edging Burris in both categories and carrying a slight advantage in terms of yards passing as well.

On Thursday, Calvillo confirmed his superiority in receiving 27 of 46 first place votes to beat Burris for the CFL's Most Outstanding Player award. Burris will likely attempt to prove that he, along with the rest of his team, have been overlooked.

Despite the best record in the league, no Stampeder won an individual award this season. In addition, only six Stampeders made the year-end All-Star squad while no fewer than 14 Alouettes were honoured.

"For us, we feel slighted and that's kind of the thing we've dealt with all year. We've had to prove things to ourselves and a lot of people," Burris stated following Thursday's awards ceremony.

If anyone can claim disrespect, it is the Stampeders defensive corps. Although no team gave up fewer points per game, allowed fewer touchdowns nor stopped the run as well as Calgary, Brandon Browner was the solitary Stampeder to be named a defensive All-Star.
The Stampeders point to the far superior level of competition they encountered as they were forced to face three division rivals that sported winning records while the Alouettes were able to beat up on the sad sacks of the East Division.

"I guess if we'd have played Toronto two more times we might have had 80 more points. Hank might have thrown for six or seven more touchdowns, oh well," said Stampeders' receiver Nik Lewis.

Montreal holds a distinct advantage in terms of experience as the team's core has been together a lot longer than the Stampeders. Four players remain from the Alouettes last Grey Cup title in 2002 and even more from the teams that lost back-to-back championship games in 2005 and 2006.

Trestman hopes that experience will help the team not necessarily on the field as much as dealing with the pageantry that surrounds the big game.

"Having been through this before, our players have to realize that before the game, it's going to be a little bit longer once the introductions are over," Trestman said. "That they don't try to go get the game, they let the game come to them. Half-time will be the same."

History is not on the Als' side however as only three host teams have ever captured the Grey Cup, the last being in 1994 when the B.C. Lions held off the Baltimore Stallions at B.C. Place Stadium in Vancouver.

In addition, the Stampeders beat the Als both times the teams faced each other this season; a 23-19 Stamps victory in Week 3 in Montreal followed by a 41-30 win in Week 12 in Calgary.

"We'll face whatever adversity is thrown at us," Stampeders coach John Hufnagel stated. "Knowing that we have been able to face it and conquer it will help us in the fourth quarter."

Neither team is going into the game 100% healthy. Stampeders' cornerback Brandon Browner remains a game-time decision after he injured his ankle on the final play of the West Final by knocking down a Buck Pierce pass attempt. In addition, defensive lineman Mike Labinjo, who was a monster for the Stamps against the Eskimos is fighting off an illness and did not practice Friday. Hufnagel did not seem too worried about potentially being without one of his top defenders.

"A good night's rest, get some food in him," Hufnagel stated. "He should be good to go (Sunday)."

Meanwhile the Alouettes have injury concerns of their own. Receiver Kerry Watkins practiced without pads Friday after reportedly suffering a rib injury on Wednesday in practice.

While any number of factors could determine the outcome, the key will likely come down to which quarterback can control the clock and manage the game and the pressure that comes with it.

Questions remain in terms of both pivot's abilities to win the big game. Burris picked up only his second career CFL playoff victory last week against Edmonton, but struggled mightily in the first half.

Meanwhile, Calvillo has passed for nearly 58,700 yards along with 328 touchdowns in his career while being twice named the league's Outstanding Player, he still must shake the feeling that he still has something to prove as he sports a 1-4 record in Grey Cup games.

"When people bring up my career, especially at this time of the year, they talk about the record. I can't control the past, only the future. And now, it's here again," Calvillo told the Montreal Gazette.

To say my career is so-so because I'm 1-4, I disagree. But that's my opinion," Calvillo said, shrugging. "At least now I have another opportunity to change that opinion."

The possibility also exists that win or lose, this could be Calvillo's final game as the 36-year-old is scheduled to become a free-agent at the end of the season. Thus far, Calvillo has refused to discuss his future with the team amid speculation that he could retire.

"I'm never going to get this chance again in my career," Calvillo said earlier in the week. "And I'm sure there are a lot of older guys who aren't going to get this chance. We know, based on the history, that it isn't easy, it doesn't happen too often. But man, would it be special. That's what we want to do is bring this Cup home."

And all will be revealed today.

UkrainianGuy

23-11-2008, 09:21 PM

BURRIS, DEANGELIS LEAD STAMPEDERS TO VICTORY AT GREY CUP

Henry Burris may not have a Most Outstanding Player award but he has a Grey Cup ring.

Sandro DeAngelis kicked five field goals as the Stampeders rallied from a 13-10 halftime deficit and rolled to a 22-14 victory over the Montreal Alouettes in the Grey Cup.

Burris threw for 328 yards with one touchdown and one interception and led all rushers with 70 yards on the ground. DeAngelis connected from 44, 12, 21, 30 and 50 yards out.

Brett Ralph had the only touchdown for the Stampeders, hauling in a 20-yard pass from Burris late in the first half.

For the Alouettes, Avon Cobourne scored their only touchdown, a 16-yard run in the second quarter. Damon Duval was responsible for the rest of teh scoring with field goals of 14 and 19 yards as well as a punt single.
Anthony Calvillo, who edged out Burris in voting for Most Outstanding Player, threw for 352 yards but had no touchdowns and two interceptions.
Jamel Richardson led all receivers with 123 yards while Ben Cahoon had 95 yards through the air.

The game got off to a slow start with one field goal representing all the scoring in the first quarter. Damon Duval opened the scoring with a chip shot from 14 yards out. The drive was highlighted by a 55-yard completion from Anthony Calvillo to Jamel Richardson.

DeAngelis answered back in the second quarter with a 44-yard field goal to put the Stampeders back on even terms.

The Alouettes responded the first touchdown of the game, a 16-yard scamper by Avon Cobourne. The drive started with an interception by Reggie Hunt, giving the Alouettes the ball near midfield. The Alouettes drove the ball deep into Calgary territory before Cobourne found the end zone from 16 yards out.

Then, special teams standout Larry Taylor gave the Alouettes great field position again with a 42-yard punt return. Duval stepped up and made good on a 19-yard atempt to extend the Alouettes' lead.

Late in the first half, Burris found receiver Brett Ralph in the corner of the end zone for a 20-yard touchdown to close the gap and give the Stampeders some momentum heading to the locker-room.

In the third quarter, DeAngelis put the Calgary Stampeders back on even terms before Damon Duval added a single to regain the lead for the Alouettes.

Henry Burris put together a 75-yard drive, including runs of 14 and 29 yards for first downs, leading to the short kick from DeAngelis.

On the first play of the fourth quarter, Calvillo was intercecpted by Dwight Anderson as momentum started to swing in favour of the Stampeders. That led to another field goal by DeAngelis to give the Stampeders a five-point advantage.

Midway through the frame, the Alouettes were threatening to regain the lead before an errant Calvillo pass was intercepted by Shannon James, quieting the 66,308 fans at Olympic Stadium.

DeAngelis then connected from 50 yards out to extend the Stampeders lead to eight points.