Pat Steinberg
CFL.ca
I was expecting to be bombarded with a ton of storylines coming out of the first week of the CFL playoffs, but the amount we have to cover following Sunday’s action has exceeded any expectations I would have had. Statements made, questions asked, and minds blown were all par for the course on Sunday.
History made
The highest scoring game in CFL playoff history was played in the East Division Semifinal, but it certainly had the Western media hanging on every snap in the Commonwealth Stadium press box prior to part two of the doubleheader.
I’m not going to say anything groundbreaking, but Hamilton’s win over Montreal showcased why this league has the passionate group of followers it does. The final ten minutes of the fourth quarter provided some compelling drama setting up for a crazy climax in overtime. If I wore a hat, it’d have been tipped numerous times.
The MMQB rarely pats itself on the back, because, well, rarely are we right. However, last week the gut feeling purveyed in this very column proved accurate, because it just set up like the perfect storm for an upset.
First, Hamilton has the ability to put everything together and rack up some impressive totals on the scoreboard. You could have asked Calgary or BC in the regular season, and now you can ask Montreal. But because the Tiger-Cats were so Jekyl and Hyde through 18 games of the season, you didn’t really know what they’d bring to the table on Sunday afternoon.
Second, the Als defence had been so decimated by injury that it was going to be tough for them to keep up if they hit a hot Hamilton attack. That’s exactly what happened, as Montreal could not get a stop when they needed one, especially in the second half, and especially when the game was tied.
Anthony Calvillo was at his very best on this day, so one stop defensively very well could have done it in the final stages. But time and time again, Kevin Glenn was able to use the middle of the field to hit solid gains while his capable receivers took full advantage of shoddy tackling, racking up the YAC totals.
However, full credit goes to Hamilton. Yeah, I know he missed his opportunity to win the game in regulation, but Justin “Money” Medlock did his thing once again. And let’s not forget he just narrowly missed his 53 yard attempt with time expiring! Medlock hit from 27, 40, and 49 yards and showed why some thought he might be a good choice for the East Division’s Most Outstanding Special Teams Player.
Kevin Glenn was solid and gave his team exactly what they needed in a game like this: very few mistakes. The veteran pivot was accurate and helped move the ball down the field, utilizing a great short game and ground attack along the way.
Avon Cobourne was at his best, reprising his role as one of the most dangerous dual threat tailbacks in the past decade. Oh, and he beat his former team.
“I don’t know if it was to beat this team, it’s about winning the Grey Cup,” said Cobourne. “It just happens that they were in our division and in our way. So be it. We’re one step closer to getting what we want. They’re a great team but their time is over. I respect them. But our team is better.”
End of an era?
I sure hope the answer to that question is no. Anthony Calvillo could hang them up and retire from his active playing career this week and he’d have nothing more to accomplish.
The guy has done everything, and has played at such an incredible level that we’ve been forced to compare Calvillo seasons to…well…Calvillo seasons. Some difficulties for his defending champion team this season will take absolutely nothing away from the incredible career Calvillo has already forged.
However, strictly from a selfish fan standpoint, I don’t want the guy to go anywhere. He’s going to talk things over with his wife prior to deciding on his future, and we’d all understand if the 19 year veteran moved on to the next stage of his life.
But we’re not talking about an aging quarterback holding on to past glory. We’re not talking about anything resembling that. Calvillo delivered another resounding performance against Hamilton, throwing for over 500 yards and three touchdowns, and underlining just how good he still is and that if he wants to, he ain’t slowing down.
For our sake, I hope he still wants to.
Itch scratched
It had been seven years since Commonwealth Stadium had hosted a postseason game, and being on the sidelines as the Eskimos faithful celebrated a 33-19 win over their provincial rival was pretty cool, as the 30 thousand plus in attendance were LOUD.
Edmonton won the season series against the Calgary Stampeders by sticking to a very simple, effective game plan and that same blueprint was executed very well on Sunday afternoon.
The Eskies used a conservative, spread out offensive plan to control the football and drive it down the field. While Ricky Ray’s yards totals weren’t overly high, he used his receivers and continually converted on second down to keep Calgary’s defensive group on the field.
There weren’t a ton of big plays, but there were also very few three-and-outs, meaning it was tough for Calgary to get in a groove, especially in the first half.
But it was the workmanlike defensive effort that won the day for the home side. Damaso Munoz delivered the biggest play of the game in the second quarter, running a Drew Tate fumble back 77 yards for a lead changing touchdown, a lead Edmonton would never relinquish.
But even without that huge play, Munoz, Rod Davis and the second tier of the Eskimos defence set the tone by doing what they do best: swarming to the football and limiting big plays and yards after contact.
The sack numbers weren’t overly high this season (although four on Sunday looked pretty good), but they didn’t need huge totals in that category because they were just too good once the ball was in play.
Interesting call
I didn’t really understand Calgary’s decision to give the ball to Henry Burris in the second half of Sunday’s West Division Semifinal.
I thought it was a mistake in the first place to make the change at starting quarterback, something I willingly ate crow on after Drew Tate’s first trio of CFL starts. I was straight up wrong, because Tate had done the job in a very impressive manner in games against the Riders, Als, and Bombers. Tate proved he was the guy, and earned the opportunity to make his first playoff start.
No one is denying Tate had his issues in the first 30 minutes on Sunday. His unforced error lead to Munoz’s game changing play, a turnover that came after an interception in the first quarter. The Stampeders were down 25-9 at the half and were having a lot of trouble gaining any forward momentum.
But just like the former Iowa Hawkeye earned his first CFL playoff start, I also believe Drew Tate earned an opportunity to work his way out of a 16 point hole. I get that head coaches play hunches, and that’s exactly what I think John Hufnagel did (because he admitted an injury played zero part in the decision following the game).
But the change to Tate had sparked things offensively for Calgary and making a switch as quickly as they did did two things in my eyes.
First, it throws a wrench into any groove the Stamps attack might have had coming off the last three games, regardless of their struggles in the first half. Henry Burris came in cold and it showed, and there are som
e very distinct differences between the way he plays and the way Tate does.
Yeah, teams have got to be ready to play with anyone under centre, but knowing what Drew Tate had already done for the red and white, I really felt he deserved his shot to lead his team back. He may not have been successful, but neither was Burris, and with the guy who is likely the quarterback of the future, why not sink or swim with him?
