Jim Lang
CFL.ca
MONTREAL AT CALGARY (FRIDAY AT 9:00 PM ET)
Not only is this the game of the week in the CFL, it is a game between two teams going in opposite directions. The Als will come into McMahon Stadium riding a three game winning streak and secure in the knowledge that they have all but wrapped up another first place finish in the East.
The Stamps, meanwhile, are in need of a serious spark. Calgary has lost two straight and all of a sudden the Riders are only two points behind in them in the race for first place in the West. Adding to the gravity of this game for the Stamps is the fact they will have to play this same Alouettes team next week in the CFL’s version of “Death Valley”, Molson Stadium.
As much as I like Henry Burris, Anthony Calvillo brings an intangible to the Als’ offence that no other quarterback in the league can lay claim to. Everyone in that Alouettes huddle knows that if AC is healthy and there is some time left on the clock then they have a shot to win the game.
John Hufnagel is obsessed with attention to detail and you can be sure that he’s drilled into the heads of the Stamps all week of playing a full 60 minutes against the Als. While it seems like an obvious request from his coach to his players, not all teams play a full 60 minutes. That is the big challenge this week for Hufnagel, to make sure the Stamps play hard to every whistle until the clock reads: 00 at the end of the game.
The other concern for Hufnagel is which Henry Burris will show up. Will it be the Burris that had a quarterback rating of 140 in his superb performance against the Eskimos back in August or the one that had a QB rating of 27 last week against BC? Week in and week out, Als Coach Marc Trestman knows what to expect to from Calvillo.
I am really looking forward to seeing how the game within the game unfolds between Mike Labinjo and the Stamps front seven going up against Scott Flory and the Als big offensive line. Somehow the Stamps front seven need to get pressure on Calvillo in such a way that he isn’t able to get the ball off to studs like Jamel Richardson and Ben Cahoon before he is hit. And as we all know, that is a lot easier said than it is done.
I am also looking forward to seeing how Als linebacker Chip Cox handles Stamps running back Joffrey Reynolds.
The weather won’t be a factor as Environment Canada is calling for a picture perfect night for football.
SASKATCHEWAN AT TORONTO (SATURDAY AT 3:00 PM ET)
There is no way possible the Argos could play worse than they did against the Eskimos at Touchdown Atlantic. Or is there?
With thousands of ex-Saskatchewan residents in attendance wearing watermelons on their collective heads, the Riders will feel right at home when they run on to the field at Rogers Centre. Now Ken Miller is a good hearted fellow, but he’s also a fiery competitor. Miller and the Riders know they are facing an Argos team with fragile confidence. Miller and the Riders will also know, depending on the outcome of Friday’s game in Calgary, whether or not they have a shot at moving into a tie for first place in the West.
The Argos have lost three of their last four games and because Cleo Lemon suffered a concussion last week the team will be forced to give Dalton Bell the start at quarterback. Expect the Riders defence to bring the heat and see if young Mr. Bell can withstand the pressure without turning the ball over against his former team.
WINNIPEG AT B.C. (SATURDAY AT 10:00 PM ET)
This has been quite an educating and trying rookie season for Bombers head coach Paul LaPolice. Well Saturday the student, LaPolice, will face the task master, Wally Buono at picturesque Empire Field.
Making this game even more challenging for both teams is the fact it is the beginning of a home-and-home series. At the risk of sounding like I am piling on LaPolice, I should also point out that the Bombers haven’t won a road game yet this season.
LaPolice’s biggest challenge is getting his players to forget about last week’s devastating collapse against the Als. Of course, from the some of the emails I have received the last few days, Bombers fans feel the refs had as much to do with that loss as Anthony Calvillo. But I am not going to go there. Despite their loss last week, Steven Jyles still managed to throw four touchdowns against the Als defence and should carry his confidence into this weekend.
I find it intriguing that Travis Lulay is slated to get the start at quarterback for the Lions. I love Wally, but he sure has a gift for getting his quarterbacks upset.
Korey Banks and the Lions defence are coming off of a game where they held the Stamps to 10 points. Banks and the Lions would dearly love to repeat that kind of performance against the Bombers.
HAMILTON AT EDMONTON (SUNDAY AT 4:30 PM ET)
The Eskimos are like the ‘Black Knight” in Monty Python’s Holy Grail. A 3-9 record, ‘tis just a flesh wound. The Eskies rose from the near dead last week in Moncton and came up with an emphatic win over the Argos. The only way for Edmonton to prevent their win over the Argos to be totally wasted is to repeat that kind of performance this week against the Ticats.
It was impressive to see how aggressive and opportunistic the Eskimos defence played against the Argos. What was equally impressive was the way the Eskies ran the ball. All that running took a lot of pressure off of Ricky Ray and made him more effective.
Assuming Kevin Glenn and the Ticats don’t give the ball away so freely like they did last week against the Riders, they should be fine. Then again, it has been some time since Kevin Glenn went a whole game without throwing an interception. Like way back… on July 22nd.
