Five must-see matchups in the battle of Alberta

The Calgary Stampeders clash with the Edmonton Eskimos in a battle of Alberta on Labour Day in what is surely a must-watch game.

CFL.ca’s Marshall Ferguson takes a look at five matchups in that contest that you can’t miss.

1. BO LEVI MITCHELL VS MIKE REILLY

Let’s get this out of the way immediately. This is the marquee matchup on Labour Day.

These two have bounced back and forth in the CFL quarterback power rankings all season long while leading their teams to a combined record of 12-5. What makes this matchup so great is that Bo Levi Mitchell and Mike Reilly bring very different approaches to the Canadian game.

Mitchell wants to spread you out and attack you with quick throws to every edge of the field. His fast processing speed and quick release make him the perfect modern day CFL quarterback as evidenced by his historic winning percentage since beating out Kevin Glenn and Drew Tate for the starting job in 2014.

What Bo Levi brings in quick game tactical skills and mental approach his counterpart in green and gold brings in his daring nature and wild man playmaking. Mike Reilly is the ultimate gamer. He is one of the few postal service slogan worthy quarterbacks in the Canadian Football League. Neither injury nor turnovers nor fierce pass rush nor pressure packed moments keeps this quarterback from the swift completion of his assigned goals.

Reilly is among the best at taking shots down the field and perhaps most importantly he is willing to adhere to the risk-reward policy by which he plays the game. He happily takes the good with the bad and trust regardless of the outcome he will happily fire the next bullet in his gun of a right arm as if it’s his last.

These two are difficult to assess head to head based on their offences differing styles, but in a game of this magnitude it is commonly the cool handed reliable pro who methodically works the ball downfield aided by a solid ground game who gets the job done.

ADVANTAGE: Bo Levi Mitchell

2. DEVONE CLAYBROOKS VS JASON MAAS

Jason Maas hopes his team comes out on top when they take on the Stampeders on Monday (CFL.ca)

All the conversation in Edmonton this offseason was about Jason Maas teaming up with Mike Reilly. It was common knowledge that Maas would ask Reilly to be more patient and careful with the football.

The initial reception to this new approach was genuine excitement. In theory, Maas seemed to be the perfect producer and director for the showtime ready Reilly. In practice nothing could be truer. Maas’ refreshed approach to Reilly and the offence has Edmonton near or at several long standing CFL benchmarks at the midpoint of the season with nowhere to go but up.

Much like Chris Jones’ departure creating an immediate opportunity for Jason Maas in Edmonton, Rich Stubler’s shift to double blue made the room required for four year defensive line coach DeVone Claybrooks to take the reigns of the might Stampeders defence.

An easy in house pick for new Head Coach Dave Dickenson, Claybrooks has sculpted the stallions on the Stamps defence into one of the most complete and dynamic units in the entire CFL. Calgary leads the CFL with a league low 20.6 points per game allowed while holding opponents to a league low 65% completion percentage.

While the offence vs. defence battle of Mike Benevides vs Dave Dickenson is intriguing in its own right, I believe Maas vs. Claybrooks could be the hidden undercard gem in the heavyweight Labour Day title fight.

Maas has seen it all, Claybrooks has seen most of it. Maas wants to make a statement, Claybrooks does too. The difference here is Maas will let the game come to him due to his patient offensive nature while Claybrooks has shown a tendency to press and blitz recklessly at times to send a message. If Maas can predict and plan for this aggression from the Stampeders defence I foresee a couple of Eskimos deep shots over the middle for touchdowns in the first half.

ADVANTAGE: Jason Maas

3. ADARIUS BOWMAN VS. BRANDON SMITH

Adarius Bowman is second in the CFL in receiving yards with 956 yards so far on the season (CFL.ca)

Bowman is a monster.

Smith is a pitbull.

Game on. By now we should all be well squinted with the man, myth and developing legend that is Adarius Bowman. He is top five in the CFL in targets (89) while hauling in five touchdowns and 63 catches including seven of thirty yards or more.

Bowman is as dynamic and unstoppable a skilled position playmaker as there is in the CFL this decade. He is an established veteran who has done the Labour Day dance enough to understand the moment. While he has faded mid-game at times this season I believe the adrenaline of Labour Day should be more than enough to keep him locked in for the full sixty minutes.

Brandon Smith is no stranger to Labour Day himself. The nine year pro from Sacramento State (Yes, Ricky Ray’s alma mater) gives up a lot of size to Adarius Bowman in this boundary side matchup, but who doesn’t against Bowman’s massive frame and length.

The difference with ‘Smitty’ as his Stampeders teammates affectionately refer to him is his hand placement and physicality. He has the knowledge and ‘old man strength’ to work Adarius Bowman towards the sideline and into tighter windows than younger, less experienced defensive backs.

Smith did a great job shutting down Chad Owens of the Tiger-Cats last week but when matched with the bigger, stronger Terrence Toliver he seemed to get lost in space running with the gazelle wearing number eighty for Hamilton.

Adarius Bowman is a gazelle with flubber on his feet and a jet pack strapped to his name plate.

ADVANTAGE: Adarius Bowman

4. CHARLESTON HUGHES VS. ESKIMOS OFFENSIVE TACKLES

Charleston Hughes is tied for second in the league in sacks with seven (Johany Jutras/CFL.ca)

This one is short and sweet. Charleston Hughes is the sack master. He gets to your quarterback and he tells you abut it over and over again. While many other defensive ends with high career sack totals have questionable motors at times, Hughes is relentless and will record at least two sacks Monday.

ADVANTAGE: Charleston Hughes

5. JEROME MESSAM VS. J.C. SHERRIT

Jerome Messam is second in the league in rushing yards (542) and first in rushing touchdowns (5) (CFL.ca)

The classic unstoppable force versus immovable object debate looks like it will decide this Labour Day tour de force.

Messam ranks among the leagues best in yards per carry (5.3), rush attempts (103) and touchdowns (5) while remaining one of the most physically daunting players in a CFL backfield. His power run style is complemented weekly by Dave Dickenson’s allowance to run the ball.

J.C. Sherrit is a perennial superstar at middle linebacker. His versatility has been on full display this season with 34 tackles, three interceptions and three forced fumbles. While he gives up size to Jerome Messam for their moment of impact between the tackles there seems to be no player Sherrit will shy away from contact with.

The x-factor for me in this matchup is Messam’s ability to catch the ball out of the backfield. While Sherrit is an excellent cover man for a middle linebacker what makes me side with Messam’s overall impact on the game over Sherrit’s is his ability to turn a two yard shakedown throw into a solid six yard gain on first down just by leaning forward.

Sherrit is as good as they get, but I have to go with the big body back from Calgary when surrounded by a solid offensive line, a creative quarterback and a dynamic receiving corps.

ADVANTAGE: Jerome Messam