Jim Lang
CFL.ca
After surviving a wild double over-time shoot-out with the Lions, the Roughriders are one step away from the Grey Cup. One step away from a Grey Cup they have been thinking about since last November 29th.
But before the Riders can avenge last year’s bitter defeat, they will have to get through the best team in the CFL during the regular season, the Calgary Stampeders. The Stampeders have been quietly going about their business, preparing to complete what they feel is their destiny; a Grey Cup championship.
The Stamps are well coached, talented and they will have home field advantage. This is also a chance for the Stamps to get their revenge for what the Riders did to them in last year’s West Final. The Stamps beat the Riders twice during the regular season, but none of that will really matter if they are not able to beat them in the West Final.
Key Matchup 1 – Darian Durant versus Henry Burris. CFL fans are in for a real treat Sunday. Not only is this a great show-down between two classic Western teams, it is a great showdown between two of the best quarterbacks in the CFL. While both are tremendous quarterbacks, Burris has one slight edge over Durant, a Grey Cup ring.
Speaking to Stampeders Head Coach John Hufnagel, he said he was very impressed with how Durant survived a tough first half in the West Semi-Final to lead the Riders to victory. “This is a true credit to Darian Durant, BC had taken him out of his game and he came back out of the locker room in the second half and he became the Darian Durant that everyone respects and fears.”
There is something else in play in this game: Burris is 35 years old, Durant is 28. Burris is well aware that he can’t play forever and opportunities to win the Grey Cup don’t come around ever year, even in an eight team league. Last year in the West Final, Durant threw three touchdowns, meanwhile Burris tossed three interceptions. The Stamps are good, but few teams can win if their quarterback throws three interceptions. The bottom line is that Burris cannot turn the ball over like he did in last year’s West Final.
Key Matchup 2 – The Stamps secondary versus the Riders receivers. You hate to focus on just one player, but Weston Dressler had a huge game against the Lions. There’s a lot more to the Riders receivers than just Dressler, just ask anyone who has to cover Andy Fantuz and Chris Getzlaf. John Hufnagel has all the respect in the world for the Riders receivers. “The Riders receivers are very dangerous,” he said.
Now if there ever was a group of defensive backs that can match up to the Riders receivers, Calgary has it. Brandon Browner and Dwight Anderson were voted CFL All-Stars and they are more than capable of matching up with the Riders receivers and locking them down. But as Hufnagel pointed out, Durant is also a dangerous quarterback. So, for the Stamps secondary to be effective, they will need their defensive line to get some pressure on Durant and get him out of comfort zone. If Durant is forced into making some rushed throws, the Stamps secondary will be waiting to make him pay.
Key Matchup 3 – Lance Frazier and the Riders secondary versus the Stampeders receivers. Frazier had an excellent game against the Lions. But with all due respect to the Lions, their receivers are not in the same league as the Stamps. When Burris drops back to pass, he has three 1,000 yard receivers to chose from. Because the Stamps have so many good receivers in their offence, Frazier, James Patrick and the rest of the Riders secondary will have some very difficult choices to make in their coverage schemes. It goes without saying that if the Riders secondary are sloppy with their tackling, the Stamps receivers will burn them bad with their ability to pick up yards after the catch. The top three Riders receivers combined for 17 touchdowns. The Stamps top three of Nik Lewis, Romby Bryant and Ken-Yon Rambo combined for 32 this year. Keeping the Stamps out of the receivers out of the end zone will be a major challenge for the Riders secondary.
Intangibles – “13 men on the field” is a phrase that has haunted the Riders since last year’s Grey Cup. The only way to erase the bitter memories of the way that game ended is to get back to the Grey Cup and win. It is not very often in life that you get a chance at a do-over. The Riders are one win away from a chance to avenge last year’s bitter disappointment; needless to say motivation won’t be much of an issue. The Stamps big intangible is Joffrey Reynolds. For a team that has such a productive passing game like the Stamps, having a stud running back like Reynolds is a real luxury. Stopping the run was an issue for the Riders late in the season. As important as Henry Burris is to the Stamps success, Joffrey Reynolds will be equally important on Sunday.
Who wins – As a young man, my dad always warned me to never “poke the bear.” Any time you pick someone other than Saskatchewan to win a game, the Riders nation rises up against you. I like a lot about the Riders, I really do. However as good as the Riders are, they are not as good as the Stampeders. The Stamps have a better defence than the Riders and they hold a distinct advantage in special teams. While Ken Miller and the Riders are on a mission to avenge last year’s loss in the Grey Cup, they will be unable to fulfill their quest. The Calgary Stampeders will win the West Final and get the distinct pleasure of using the Eskimos locker room in the 98th Grey Cup.
