Calgary Stampeders quarterback Bo Levi Mitchell looks on during first half CFL football action against the B.C. Lions, in Vancouver, Saturday, Nov. 2, 2019. The road to a fourth straight Grey Cup title game will be a little longer than usual for Mitchell and the Stampeders. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
After Saskatchewan lost in Calgary Oct. 11, to finish first, the Stampeders had to, as coach Craig Dickenson put it, “stub” their toe while his team ran the table against B.C. and Edmonton.
That’s exactly what happened.
Calgary split their games with Winnipeg and eked out a win on the West Coast to host the West semifinal this Sunday against those same Blue Bombers.
It’s playoff time, so you can throw past records and present form charts out the window. With a little bit of luck, all six contenders can make it to the big game in Calgary Nov. 24.
First the Eastern semifinal between the crossover Eskimos and host Montreal. The Alouettes have been one of the great stories of 2019. They were picked to finish last. They fired their GM and coach at the end of the pre-season. Rookie mentor Khari Jones rallied his troops and won 10 games, ending a four-year playoff drought. They were led to victory by quarterback Vernon Adams, Jr. who started four games the last three years.
The Eskimos were 6-3 on Aug. 16. Their record the rest of the way is 2-7. They rank second in net offence but seventh in points, meaning trouble in the red zone, surprising given talented receivers like Greg Ellingson, Ricky Collins, Jr. and DaVaris Daniels with running back C.J. Gable. The lines made the most sacks and gave up the fewest. Their secondary is weak but Adams is not a great passer. Montreal plays smash mouth football and they get under opponent’s skin. This will magnify Edmonton’s biggest flaw: their undisciplined play, league leaders in penalties.
The Esks are the more talented team with the more talented quarterback in Trevor Harris but they have too many undisciplined, selfish players as well as an emotional, undisciplined coach. If Harris is hot and they keep their noses clean, Edmonton can move on to Hamilton. Big ifs. Als by seven.
The Winnipeg Blue Bombers began the season with a pat hand of veterans and two good quarterbacks. They won eight of their first nine games but lost four of their last six, finishing third. On the other hand, the defending champion Stampeders lost 11 players who started the 2018 Grey Cup game. The second game of the season, the CFL’s Most Outstanding Player quarterback Bo Levi Mitchell went down and missed eight games. At one point, all their starting receivers were hurt. They had four solid running backs, three were injured. Their middle linebacker Cory Greenwood was having a career year before missing a third of the campaign. Despite free agent defections and a relentless string of injuries, Calgary finished two points from the top.
Blue Bomber strengths include the angry running back, Andrew Harris and the team’s nominee for outstanding player and outstanding defensive player Willie Jefferson. But Calgary has handled both with ease. Despite heavy reliance on receivers Reggie Begelton and Eric Rogers, the Stamps led the West in passing, the Bombers were last. The opposite was true in rushing. To win Sunday, Calgary must find its running game. They also need more from their secondary receivers like Hergy Mayala and Josh Huff. The Bomber pass defence was the worst in the west.
Red River residents are hailing recently acquired quarterback Zach Collaros as a saviour. He was concussed out of his first start as a Rider, not returning until Oct. 25 to beat Calgary. He makes the Bombers better through the air but they have no receivers in the top 20. Chris Streveler is a bigger threat on the ground. That might be important given the forecast for Sunday is a high of -2C and snow. Collaros used to be good. Is that still the case?
Bo Levi Mitchell is good. His quick release nullifies the pass rush. Over the last three games, he has had 15 passes dropped. Hang on boys.
The Stamps’ Achilles’ hoof is special teams coverage. They’ve given up five kick return touchdowns. Calgary has the better punter in Rob Maver. Rene Paredes kicked poorly when they lost to Winnipeg on the 25th. He’ll be deadly on Sunday.
Because of all the changes, Calgary has been slightly out of kilter this year. That will change Sunday. Stampeders by three.
Graham Kelly has covered the CFL for the Medicine Hat News for 47 years. Feedback for this column can be emailed to sports@medicinehatnews.com.
