The CFL’s top receiver knows he’s venturing into some tall trees in the CFL West Final.
Calgary Stampeder wide receiver Eric Rogers led the league with 1,448 yards on 87 receptions this season. Come Sunday, at Commonwealth Stadium, he will face an Edmonton Eskimo defence that allowed the league’s least passing yards (4,413) and gave up the fewest points (341).
“You have to focus on your preparation and do whatever it takes to score points,” Rogers said after practice this week as the defending Grey Cup champion Stampeders (14-4) prepared to face the Eskimos (14-4) for the 11th time in a division final.
“We haven’t been able to score too many points against them. Our defence is playing well. As long as we score some points, we will be fine. Turn a small catch into a big play and get into the end zone.”
Eskimo cornerback Patrick Watkins relishes the challenge of trying to shut down a Calgary offence that led the CFL with 452 points scored while giving up a league-low 33 sacks.
“They say to be the champ you have to beat the champs,” said Watkins. “This is a chance for us to see where we are at.
“We wouldn’t have it any other way. We know Calgary is a really good team. We know we are a really good team. They are standing in our way to the Grey Cup. We are not thinking about what they are going to do. We are thinking about what we need to do in this locker room.”
The winner advances to the Nov. 29 Grey Cup presented by Shaw in Winnipeg against either Ottawa or Hamilton.
Rogers had four catches for 71 yards and a pair of touchdowns in the Stampeders’ 35-9 throttling of the B.C. Lions in last week’s West semifinal. The six-foot-three, 210-pound native of Duarte, Calif., uses his size and speed to create space and time. His height allows him to reach over defenders and pull down passes.
During the season Rogers had had 10 touchdowns and 28 second-down conversions.
“He’s really athletic, really fast,” said Watkins, who is in his second season with the Eskimos after spending two years in Toronto. “He has really good hands. He’s one of those guys you always have to keep your eyes on because of his ability.
“Everything he does, he does full speed. He’s one of those guys that makes big plays for them. I will just try to keep him off guard, be physical with him and make him earn his keep.”
The Edmonton secondary has played like a vacuum cleaner. Watkins, along with cornerback John Ojo, halfback Aaron Grymes and safety Cauchy Muamba, have combined for 16 interceptions, three of which were returned for touchdowns. Ojo leads the group with five picks.
Rogers said playing against the Eskimos secondary is like running patterns in a forest.
“They are taller and longer than most,” he said. “They have a lot of size and length. You don’t see that a lot in any football team.
“Sometimes the jump balls are going to more contested than they normally are. Some of the windows are closed off. That’s why they do so well. They sit back in their zone and they are long and lanky and fast. There are not that many open areas. You have to find (the open areas) and be aggressive and run into those zones.”
Watkins said practicing during the week against Eskimo receivers like Adarius Bowman (second in the league with 1,304 yards from 93 catches), Derel Walker and Kenny Stafford makes the Edmonton defence better.
“We get the preparation we need throughout the week,” he said. “We have to take it like a game.
“The preparation for that alone usually takes us where we need to be when we face other receivers.”
Besides Rogers, the Stampeders have another 1,000-yard plus receiver in Marquay McDaniel plus the sure hands of Jeff Fuller and Joe West. The late season acquisition of running back Jerome Messam added another weapon to an already dangerous arsenal.
In last week’s win over B.C., Messam gained 147 of Calgary’s 271 yards. He rushed for 66 yards on 16 carries, and caught four passes for 81 yards. One of those catches turned into a bruising 61 yards where he ran over several Lion tacklers.
“We know he can bring a whole new dynamic to the offence,” said Watkins. “We have to stay on course as a defence and be exactly where we need to be at.”
Edmonton won two of three games against Calgary during the regular season. Considering the offensive firepower of both clubs, all three games were low scoring with Edmonton outscoring Calgary 49-43.
In those three games Rogers had 16 catches for 194 yards and one touchdown. Watkins had 14 tackles and one interception.
“Both defences are pretty good,” said Rogers. “Points are hard to come by.
“When we get those opportunities, we need to score touchdowns.”
Watkins doubts the Western Final will turn into a shootout.
“I would be shocked if it’s more than a two or three possession game,” he said. “Both teams are pretty much even in every aspect. We look exactly like them on paper. It’s going to come down to a lot of preparation (and) whoever is going to go out there and be a little more physical.”
The Eskimos are riding an eight-game win streak and are coming off three weeks rest. Calgary has won seven of its last eight games.
The Stampeders have won six of the 11 games they played against Edmonton in the West Final, including last year’s 19-15 victory.
“Last year we had an opportunity and didn’t take full advantage of it,” said Watkins. “This time around it’s a whole new attitude. We feel like we can go out there and get it done.”
The Stampeders’ win last week was sparked when Calgary’s Keon Raymond intercepted a Jonathon Jennings pass and returned it 38 yards for a touchdown. That started 23 straight Stampeder points.
Rogers believes the West Final could also hinge on one big play, and he’d love to be the player making it.
“It can be anyone,” he said.
“As long as I play fast and play aggressive I think I can make some plays to help the team win.”
