Mark Stephen
CFL.ca
As the Canadian Football League’s 2011 season opens, different teams are at different stages of development. Some teams are anticipating improvement, some are building their programs, and some believe they are improved and are built to succeed.
The Calgary Stampeders belong in the last category, as the team is well aware anything less than a trip to the Grey Cup will be seen as a step backwards.
There are five prime reasons for optimism:
Quarterback Henry Burris, running back Joffrey Reynolds and receivers Ken Yon Rambo, Nik Lewis and Romby Bryant are all coming off productive seasons and are also entering the prime of their careers.
Simply put, the Stamps believe this is going to be a big year for their star players.
But they won’t be doing it all alone. There are other offensive weapons on Calgary’s roster that can provide ample support along the way.
In terms of rushing the ball, though Reynold’s stats may have dipped in 2010, fellow running back Jon Cornish’s numbers soared. The pair gives the Stampeders a very successful one-two combination in the backfield.
That combo of talent helped the Stampeders produce 626 points and 63 offensive touchdowns last season. Under now full-time offensive cocoordinator Dave Dickenson, the Stamps will be expected to light up the scoreboard once again.
However, as the Stampeders enter the 2011 season, there are issues about who will be blocking for their top talent.
Holdover Dmitri Tsoumpas will miss at least the first game with a groin strain while the team is also looking for a new leader following the departure of Ben Archibald to the B. C. Lions.
The Stamps will start the season with two import tackles, Stanley Bryant and Gerald Cadogan, who have a combined one year of experience in the CFL.
The Stamps will also debut the promising, but untested, J’Micheal Deane in their opener. He will play at Tsoumpas’ right guard position for the interim.
There is also a turnover defensively for Calgary. The team spent training camp searching for a pair of starting corners to replace Dwight Anderson and Brandon Browner who both left via free agency.
Out of the mix emerged free agent signing Geoff Tisdale and newcomer Greg Fassitt. Fassitt had previous experience with the New Orleans Saints during their Super Bowl season. That pair will work with returnees Brandon Smith, Keon Raymond, Milt Collins and Eric Fraser in the secondary.
Of course, replacing two top-tier corners will not be easy. Besides the impressive stats of Anderson and Browner, their shutdown ability gave the Stamps some other options on defence.
Calgary’s offence received plenty of deserved accolades for their efforts last season, but the defensive prowess should not be overlooked, as they allowed a league-low 36 touchdowns and were second in interceptions and sacks. Much of that front seven group is back for 2011.
The Stamps also believe an area they can substantially upgrade, is the return game.
Last season, opposing punt and kickoff returners racked up 1,078 more yards than Stampeder returners. That’s an average of 60 yards per game.
Opposing punt returners also took three kicks to the end zone, while the Stampeders haven’t had a punt return touchdown in three seasons. Larry Taylor has been recruited to address that imbalance.
The kicking game is in good hands with veteran punter Burke Dales and league scoring champion Rob Maver.
In short, the bar is set very high for the Stamps.
To suggest this is the last gasp for the current group of Stampeders is a bit of a stretch. However, the number of chances this group will have all together is dwindling.
Another challenge will be to find a way to defeat Saskatchewan in the playoffs.
The last four times the Stampeders were eliminated in the post season (06,07, 09,10), came at the hands of the Roughriders.
The exception over the last several years was the Grey Cup season of 2008. The Stamps will have four regular season meetings to size up Saskatchewan.
In a tough, competitive Western division, the Stamps combination of experience and motivation may be enough to carry them to the top.
