2008 CFL PLAYOFFS Thread

**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.

**UkrainianGuy** · 23-11-2008, 10:58 PM

**UkrainianGuy** · 27-11-2008, 03:52 PM

Thread: 2008 CFL PLAYOFFS Thread

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