Western Final-Getting Ready For The Stamps!!!

[Blitz]

The Western Final between our Leos and the Calgary Stampeders should be an exciting battle between two of the most talented teams in the CFL. Calgary finished first in the league and earned the opportunity for a bye from the Western Semi-Finals and to host the Western Final. Our Leos slipped to third place in 2008, after winning the Western Championship the past four seasons and earned the opportunity to play in the Western Final for the fifth year in a row with a big win over Regina.

Both teams saw major changes in their coaching staffs for 2008. John Hufnagel was hired as Calgary's new Head Coach and General Manager. Cortez remained as offensive coordinator and Pete Costanza was hired as Calgary's new receivers coach. Chris Jones was hired as the Stamps new Defensive Coordinator. Calgary's weakness in the past was on defence and Jones immediately changed the Stamps defence to a 4-3 allignment. New additions to our Leos coaching staff included the return of Jaques Chapdelaine, the promotion of Mike Benevedes to defensive coordinator, and the hiring of former Leos defensive nickel back Mark Washington as defensive backfield coach.

Our Leos lost all three games this season to the Stampeders. However, our Leos go into McMahon Stadium with momentum after an excellent defensive performance against the Roughriders, creating 6 turnovers and shutting down both Saskatchewan's rushing and passing attack. The host team for the Western Final has only won a berth into the Grey Cup 5 out of the last 12 times. Let's have a closer look.

OFFENCE

"In the end, it all comes down to Pierce. The Lions are good enough to beat the Stampeders at every position except quarterback. The Western final then comes down to one question: Is Buck Pierce good enough to beat the Stamps?" (Ed Willes, Vancouver Province)

The Vancouver Province review of the Ridres game stated that while last Saturday wasn't a vintage performance by Pierce in Regina, the Lions' starter is an efficient game-manager, plays within his abilities and usually doesn't beat himself". However, the question remains "Will that be enough to beat the Stamps?". Our win against Regina was dominated by our defence and Lowe Ullrich commented that Buck Owens could have won that game at quarterback. This game will be different. Buck won't lose the Western Final for us. However, to win it, we'll need Buck to go downfield more often, especially in the first half, when he didn't threw a pass longer than 8 yards in Regina. The positive is that Buck has now started his first playoff game for our Leos and should be confident going into Calgary.

Calgary's offence had the edge in most offensive categories this season. Calgary scored more points (568) than our Leos (496), averaged more offence (Calgary-412yds, B.C.-387 yds) and had more first downs (Calgary-417, B.C.-410). With league leading rusher Joffrey Reynolds running for tough yards Calgary averaged 134 yards per game while our Leos averaged 118 yds per game. However, Reynolds sat the last game of the season while Stefan Logan has run for 138 and 153 yards in his last two games.

There was little difference between both teams during the regular season in the passing game. Calgary averaged 293 yards passing per game while our Leos averaged 291 yards. Both squads have talented receivers. Rambo, Lewis, Copeland, Ralph, and Thelwell are a talented receiving unit made to look better as Henry Burris buys them time to get open. Our Leos counter with Simon, Jackson, Clermont, Grice-Mullen, and Wilson, the best receiving unit we've had together all season.

However, this will be a game that our Leos won't be able to count on causing Calgary to cough up as many turnovers as Regina did. Calgary threw the least number of interceptions (14) of any team in the league this season, gave up 30 quarterback sacks and lost 13 fumbles. Meanwhile our Leos were intercepted 19 times, gave up 33 quarterback sacks, and lost 15 fumbles. The turnover game will be much more difficult to win in Calgary.

Both Calgary and our Leos have excellent offensive lines. Calgary's offensive line is anchored by the CFL's best center in Rob Lazeo and he's supported by a solid cast in Tsoumpas, Armstrong, Hall, and Pilon. However, they will be facing the best defensive line in the league aganst our front defensive five, who can really get after a quarterback. Our Leos counter with Jiminez, Murphy, Rasouli, Reid, and Kelly Bates. The key for our offensive line will be to open holes against the best run stopping defence in the league and allow Stefan Logan to use his burst speed in the second layer.

Will Buck Pierce be willing to go downfield with Calgary playing us tight man to man? Can he get the football to them if they get behind Calgary's defenders as they did last game? Can our offensive line open holes to allow Stefan Logan to show his magic? These will be the challenges for our offence in the Western Final.

DEFENCE

Our Leos defense, often maligned during the regular season, showed their 'stuff' in the Western Semi-Final. Our defense plays it's best when it plays attack football, pressures the quarterback, and creates turnovers. Our defence created six turnvoers in Regina, didn't giive up a touchdown, and scored one themselves. It will take an even stronger performance to get after Henry Burris and control Calgary's offence.

However, Calgary is facing the most dangerous defence in the league. Our Leos gave up the least amount of first downs in the CFL. We led the league in sacks (68) while Calgary only had 33 sacks, which should mean Buck will have time to throw on most occasions. Both teams pass defence was very close in ability during the regular season with our Leos and the Stamps both averaging giving up 277 passing yars per game. Both defenses were equal in giving up ground to opposing offences but our Leos pass defenders were better ball hawks with 29 intercetions to Calgary's total of 19.

So what separates these defenses? Calgary is much better against the run, our Leos are better at getting after the quarterback and turning the football over. Calgary's defense gave up less big plays during the season, the reason they led the league in giving up the least points (21.5) to our Leos 25.4. Calgary plays more man defence than our Leos who play a lot of zone. Calgary counts on their defensive backs playing tight coverage and daring teams to beat them deep. Our Leos defense is focused on getting pressure on the quarterback and allowing our defensive backs to make plays off that pressure. Once again, we'll need outstanding games from Wake, Hunt, Foley, Johnson, and Williams. Wake has created all kinds of headaches for Calgary's offensive line but Lazeo has owned Ty Williams, who needs to play his best game of the season in Calgary.

The keys to this game for our Leos defense are to do the same thing as we did against Saskatchewan 1) control the run 2) don't allow the quarterback buy time with his legs and 3) don't give up any big plays. Our offence, in order to beat Calgary has to be able to run against the best run defense in the league. However, Calgary is susceptible is the deep ball in man coverage. Press coverage allows those opportunites but it also means that we have to be able to hold the football a split second longer and be willing to go downfield.

SPECIAL TEAMS

Ian Smart led the league in punt return and kick return yardage and that gives us an edge. However, Calgary's Dales averaged 46.1 yards per punt to McCallum's 44.3 yards but McCallum is a better directional punter. In the field goal department both our Paul McCallum and Calgary's Deangelis are elite field goal kickers. Deangelis led the league with an 86% success rate while Paul McCallum was close behind with an 83% average. McCallum has proven himself in big games. Both teams are well coached and well disciplined in special teams.

WRAP

Calgary goes into this game as favorites, winning the West, beating our Leos all three times during the regular season, and having the edge in the majority of statistics. Still both teams are very close in talent and on any given Sunday both squads have the ability to win against each other. As usual a key factor in both games will be game planning and play calling. The closer the two teams the more important the coaching factor becomes.

From a players perspective there are two key areas. The first is whether Buck can take the next step in his journey as a starting quarterback and be able to counteract Henry Burris. The second will be whether our defense can make life tough enough for Calgary's offence and come up with a couple of key turnovers to give us a chance to win. However, to expect our defense to hold Calgary without a touchdown or create six turnovers is unrealistic. Calgary has a high powered offence. Our defence won us the game in Regina.

In order for us to get a Grey Cup berth, it will take more than Stefan Logan's running to get there. We'll also have to do it in the air. As Jason Clermont commented after the Western Semi Final: "We didn't help our defence very much...we could have scored a lot more points." Buck and our offence will have to do that this Sunday.

However, we have a great chance. Victory does not favor the home team. We have momentum and our Leos are a very excited team that is looking forward to the challenge, believing in themselves. It's going to be a game to look very forward to.

[TheLionKing]

The Stamps are already complaining that their defence is not getting any respect and that it's them against the world on Saturday.

[Lions4ever]

Isn't that post over the 50,000 character limit?

[Luke]

I think the quote from Ed Willes pretty much sums it up. Buck Pierce has to play the best game of the year for us to beat Calgary. I feel good going into the game because we've got some momentum after beating Saskatchewan at Taylor Field.

I hope our defense can come up with another effort like this past week. I think if we can pressure Burris, and make him release the ball before he's ready, then we have a chance to make some plays on defense. Otherwise, I think it might be a long day if he gets to sit back and pick apart our secondary. Stopping, or at least limiting Joffrey Reynolds will also be important.

[sj-roc]

Isn't that post over the 50,000 character limit?

Not even close. I counted 9,453 (including spaces).

[zark]

I agree that Buck has to throw more. . I've never believed that Geroy can't get open. We have some good weapons at our disposal and I've seen Geroy becoming very effective on short routs. Buck can't hold onto the ball for too long or their D will get to him.
Our D will take care of Burris

BC vs AC Grey Cup.

[Blitz]

I think the quote from Ed Willes pretty much sums it up. Buck Pierce has to play the best game of the year for us to beat Calgary. I feel good going into the game because we've got some momentum after beating Saskatchewan at Taylor Field.

I hope our defense can come up with another effort like this past week. I think if we can pressure Burris, and make him release the ball before he's ready, then we have a chance to make some plays on defense. Otherwise, I think it might be a long day if he gets to sit back and pick apart our secondary. Stopping, or at least limiting Joffrey Reynolds will also be important.

I think Calgary will game plan to either roll Burris away from Wake's side or try to put Wake on an island with play action using the option of handing off to Reynolds or rolling Burris out. Calgary will also go with a tight end on Wake's side as they did last game.

If you're Calgary you gotta be thinking of ways to avoid the pressure of our defensive line on offence. On defense they gotta be thinking of playing extra tight on our underneath stuff, after watching the Riders game.

[Blitz]

"Don't know how much it showed on the small screen, but the Lions indeed trotted out a new defensive package against the Riders Saturday and it definitely was well worth watching. B.C. effectively had a 3-4 set in the game briefly using, as advertised on these pages a few days ago, rookie linebacker Terna Nande.The newcomer had a nose for the ball, and was partly a reason why Wes Cates of the Riders, who clearly wasn't his old self, never got started. Nande could well be part of the mix next season."
(Lowell Ullrich)

We'll likely see the 3-4 set even more against Calgary, especially early, when Calgary tries to establish Joffrey Reynolds to take some pressure off our defensive rush.

[SammyGreene]

The Stamps have a lot of misdirection in their offence and the Lions must be discipline.

It also amazes me how few big hits Burris takes. I much rather see the Lion DBs challenge their receivers more and take away those quick hitters — something Burris thrives on with his strong arm and typically negates the pass rush of oponents. It will force the Stamps into more longer developing plays and make the front 4 pressure more effective.

If we get beat up top for a 60 or 70 yard touchdown then so be it. I find those far less painful than watching Burris complete 6 or 7 passes in a row in front of our DBs because they are taking advantage of soft coverage.

[zark]

I hate it when it's 2nd and 10 or 2nd and 8 , and Buck throws to a receiver shy of the 1st down mark. Gotta go for first down.

[Tighthead]

I would like to see some 3-4 with one ILB spying Burris, and one blitzing on passing downs. Calgary is going to try to burn us with the QB draw.

I also love a blitz out of the 3-4 where the ILB and OLB from the same side rush the QB. There isn't much 3-4 in the league so it can really throw the o-line off as it permits so much creativity.

[Blitz]

I would like to see some 3-4 with one ILB spying Burris, and one blitzing on passing downs. Calgary is going to try to burn us with the QB draw.

I also love a blitz out of the 3-4 where the ILB and OLB from the same side rush the QB. There isn't much 3-4 in the league so it can really throw the o-line off as it permits so much creativity.

Ritchie was a huge fan of the 3-4 defense and the ability to blitz out of that formation from different positions in creating problems for the offensive line. Using both a 4-3 and a 3-4 has some advantages. We've lost to Calgary all three times this season and we have to change the recipe a little if we want to defeat the Stamps.

Chris Jones, as the Stamps new defensive coordinator, has taken a defence that was last against the run and turned it into the league's best run defence. However, Calgary, which mostly plays man pass defence, can be beaten in the air. The Stamps like to use a blitz package with one free defender coming of each edge. Block that effectively, and you can have find open receivers downfield. We had them open last game against Calgary but missed them. This time we need to burn them!!!!

[zark]

Sounds great but Buck has to see more than Logan in the backfield. Geroy, Paris et al cant go running back and forth the whole game if Buck doesn't throw to them. Well,they could...but it probably very tiring.

Throw the ball Buck

[TheLionKing]

I hate it when it's 2nd and 10 or 2nd and 8 , and Buck throws to a receiver shy of the 1st down mark. Gotta go for first down.

The receivers need to understand that they have to turn upfield like Jason Clermont instead of cutting back to try to deke out the defensive back. Paris Jackson does this all the friggin time.

[Blitz]

I hate it when it's 2nd and 10 or 2nd and 8 , and Buck throws to a receiver shy of the 1st down mark. Gotta go for first down.

The receivers need to understand that they have to turn upfield like Jason Clermont instead of cutting back to try to deke out the defensive back. Paris Jackson does this all the friggin time.

Lately, we've been throwing short passes and hoping that the receivers can make plays. However, that's asking a lot out of your receivers to do that constantly. Paris has enjoyed a great season but his area of needed improvement is in the area of YAK yards..I agree. However, it's harder to do that on the outside than at slotback, where he played so well.