By Murray McCormick, Leader-PostNovember 16, 2009
REGINA — This one really is for all the marbles.
REGINA — This one really is for all the marbles.
The Saskatchewan Roughriders and Calgary Stampeders met on the final weekend of the CFL regular season with first place in the West Division on the line. That was huge but the losers also knew that they had a playoff berth wrapped up. So, that game wasn’t winner-take-all.
That’s the big difference between the game on Nov. 7 and Sunday’s West Division final. The winner advances to the Grey Cup game in Calgary on Nov. 29. The season is over for the loser.
Here’s how the West Division rivals match up heading into Sunday’s game:
Here’s how the West Division rivals match up heading into Sunday’s game:
Quarterbacks
Darian Durant has emerged as one of the CFL’s elite quarterbacks in his first full season as a starter. He completed 24 touchdown passes, two behind Montreal Alouettes quarterback Anthony Calvillo’s league-leading 26. Durant also led the CFL in interceptions with 21 but had nine picks in the second half of the season.
Calgary’s Henry Burris finished second in the CFL with 4,831 passing yards. He also threw for 22 touchdowns and was intercepted 16 times. The Riders had defensive success against Burris limiting him to three touchdown passes and two interceptions in three games. Pressure is a key to keeping Burris off balance and the Riders have done that this season. Advantage: Saskatchewan.
Running backs
The Riders’ running attack was anemic at best. Wes Cates continues to excel as a blocker and receiver out of the backfield but wasn’t his usual explosive self when it comes to hitting holes. That could be leftovers from off-season shoulder surgery that kept Cates out of the first two games of the season. Fullback Chris Szarka has emerged as a power scoring threat with six rushing touchdowns.
Calgary’s Joffrey Reynolds is among the league’s best running backs. He has enhanced that reputation against the Riders, who have had problems stopping the run. Reynolds rushed for more than 100 yards in each of the three regular season games and scored three touchdowns. Reynolds is also the West Division’s nominee for the most outstanding player award. Advantage: Calgary.
Receivers
The Riders are still feeling the loss of slotback Weston Dressler to a broken right leg. But Canadian receivers Rob Bagg, Chris Getzlaf and Andy Fantuz have stepped up to fill the void. Getzlaf led the Riders’ receivers with six touchdown catches. Bagg had five and Fantuz and Dressler finished with four each. Fantuz finished the season with 882 yards in receptions and would have surpassed 1,000 yards if he hadn’t missed five games with a torn left hamstring. There isn’t a lot of speed on the outside but the Riders managed to finish first in the West Division without that threat.
Calgary’s acquisition of receivers Romby Bryant and Arjei Franklin from the Winnipeg Blue Bombers on Sept. 20 paid off. Bryant and Franklin both scored touchdowns in Calgary’s 24-21 victory over the Edmonton Eskimos in the West Division semifinal. The emergence of Bryant and Franklin led to fewer touches for slotbacks Jeremaine Copeland and Nik Lewis. Copeland still led the Stampeders with 12 touchdown catches and Lewis had 1,013 receiving yards but scored only one touchdown. Advantage: Calgary.
Offensive line
Injuries forced a number of changes to the Riders’ offensive line through the first seven games of the season. The same five players — tackles Joel Bell and Gene Makowsky, guards Chris Best and Marc Parenteau and centre Jeremy O’Day — have started each of the last 11 games. That continuity has helped but the Riders still finished sixth in the league with 41 sacks allowed. The Riders were also fifth in net rushing with 1,973 yards
Left tackle Ben Archibald, right guard Dmitri Tsoumpas and right tackle Jeff Pilon started all 18 regular-season games for Calgary. Tim O’Neill has bounced between centre and guard as an injury replacement. Jesse Newman did return from a shoulder injury for the West Division semifinal at left guard but O’Neill’s versatility may be called on again with centre Rob Lazeo doubtful for the final. Despite the uncertainty, the
Stampeders still led the league in rushing (2,334 yards) and were third in sacks allowed with 34. Advantage:
Calgary.
Defensive line
Defensive ends Stevie Baggs (12), John Chick (11) and Luc Mullinder (two) combined for 25 of the Riders’ 39 totals sacks. Chick is a game-changer and teams game-plan how to stop the third-year defensive end. Inside, defensive tackles Keith Shologan and Marcus Adams provide some bulk.
The Stampeders’ defensive line has improved since the bye week when a number of new faces were added. Tackles Jim Davis and DeVone Claybrooks have solidified the middle. Defensive ends Charleston Hughes and Tearrius George can bring pressure but they aren’t at the level of Chick and Baggs. Advantage: Saskatchewan.
Linebackers
Sean Lucas, Rey Williams and Tad Kornegay provide a formidable trio of linebackers. Lucas and Kornegay are hybrids who excel at playing the run and covering receivers. Williams is a run-stopper and can cover from sideline to sideline. Lucas who led the Riders in tackles with 81 and along with Kornegay, who had 71 tackles, were named a West Division all-star.
Shannon James, Calgary’s outside linebacker, is similar to Kornegay in that he’s asked to cover receivers. Rookie Malik Jackson started the season as a defensive end then was moved to linebacker. He still led the Stampeders with 65 defensive tackles. Middle linebacker Tim Johnson plays against the run and Dwaine Carpenter takes over in passing situations. Advantage: Saskatchewan.
Secondary
Saskatchewan’s Omarr Morgan was tested on the corner but emerged with four interceptions and returned a fumble 108 yards for a touchdown against the Eskimos. Morgan also shut down Bryant in the Riders’ 30-14 win on Nov. 7 that clinched first place in the West Division. Defensive halfbacks Lance Frazier and Eddie Davis are solid. Frazier led the Riders with five interceptions. Davis is expected to start after undergoing arthroscopic surgery on his left knee and missing the final two games of the regular season.
Donovan Alexander has handled the wide-side cornerback position but didn’t record an interception. Safety James Patrick doesn’t deliver the huge hits but he can cover just about any receiver.
Calgary’s cornerbacks — Brandon Browner and Dwight Anderson — are among the best in the league. Their contributions were recognized when they were named West Division all-stars. Each player recorded three interceptions and returned one each for touchdowns. Safety Milt Collins is a converted receiver but can cover and deliver devastating hits. Advantage: Calgary.
Calgary’s cornerbacks — Brandon Browner and Dwight Anderson — are among the best in the league. Their contributions were recognized when they were named West Division all-stars. Each player recorded three interceptions and returned one each for touchdowns. Safety Milt Collins is a converted receiver but can cover and deliver devastating hits. Advantage: Calgary.
Special teams
The addition of returner Jason Armstead provided a spark that was felt throughout the Roughriders’ roster. Armstead didn’t break any returns for a touchdown but the Riders’ field position was vastly improved with his punt and kick returns.
Luca Congi was fifth among the league’s placekickers with 151 points He connected on 33 of 43 field goal attempts. Congi’s 33 successful field goals were seventh among the league’s plackickers.
Punter Jamie Boreham is expected to be sidelined with a neck injury. Congi handled the punting and kickoff duties but gave way to rookie Louie Sakoda, who has a stronger leg.
Punter Jamie Boreham is expected to be sidelined with a neck injury. Congi handled the punting and kickoff duties but gave way to rookie Louie Sakoda, who has a stronger leg.
Calgary’s duo of placekicker Sandro DeAngelis and punter Burke Dales are effective and good. DeAngelis connected on 42 of 49 field-goal attempts. He was also second to Montreal’s Damon Duval with a 60.7 yard average on kickoffs. Dales was first among all punters with an average of 46.0 yards and second in net punting with an average of 36.2 yards.
Demetris Summers and Marcus Howell have shared the return duties for Calgary since Titus Ryan was part of the trade package for Bryant and Franklin. Summers, who had a 99-yard kickoff return in the West Division semifinal, is a threat to return one. Advantage: Calgary.
Coaching
Ken Miller and John Hufnagel are both in their second seasons as head coaches. They have each led their teams to first-place finishes in the West Division but Hufnagel holds the edge with a victory in the 2008 Grey Cup game. In 2009, the Riders are 2-0-1 against the Stampeders and have outscored them 98-81 en route to finishing first in the West for the first time since 1976. That performance earned Saskatchewan home-field advantage in the playoffs. Advantage: Saskatchewan.
Intangibles
The Riders started 1-2 at home in 2009 but returned to form by winning five of their remaining six games. The 13th man is a factor and can disrupt offences with its noise. The Riders also feed off the passion of the fans and love playing in front of a sold-out home crowd. The Stampders are bidding to become the first Grey Cup champions to defend their title since the Toronto Argonauts in 1996 and 1997. Calgary is also winless this season against the Riders. Going undefeated against any team is a daunting task but the Stampeders beat the B.C. Lions four times in 2008 en route to winning the Grey Cup. Advantage: Saskatchewan.
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