Nov
Which defense will show up
Courtesy Regina Leader Post:
IT’S PRETTY SIMPLE: This game will likely be won by the defence that best controls the opposing quarterback. Saskatchewan’s Kerry Joseph and Calgary’s Henry Burris are the best running pivots in the CFL, according to the statistics, so they can’t be allowed to get free. Saskatchewan will rely on defensive ends Fred Perry and John Chick to contain Burris, while Calgary’s revamped defensive line needs to get pressure from ends Tearrius George and Keron Williams, who is playing with a broken hand.
REMEMBER THE PAST: These teams met in last year’s West semifinal, too. Calgary led 21-6, but the home-town Stampeders ultimately committed seven turnovers and lost 31-21.
BAD STATS/GOOD STATS: With its league-leading 54 turnovers, Calgary is last in the league with a giveaway/takeaway ratio of minus-20 and the Stampeders have been penalized a league-high 231 times for 1,978 yards. is the CFL’s most penalized team. The Stampeders also lead the CFL with 123 rushing yards per game.
GOOD STATS/BAD STATS: Sask-atchewan allows a league-low 88 rushing yards per game, is the league’s least penalized time (161) and scored a CFL-leading 54 touchdowns. While playing a team that passes for a league-high 302 yards per game, remember that the Roughriders had the second-worst passing defence; Saskatchewan surrendered 292 passing yards per game (Hamilton allowed 305).
SO, WHAT’S NEW: Each team is dealing with a major distraction. For the Roughriders, they are playing in their first home playoff game since 1988, which brings lots of expectations and excitement. For the Stampeders, there have been media reports that John Hufnagel is going to replace Tom Higgins at the end of this season, regardless of Calgary’s postseason fortunes.
ROLLING, ROLLING, ROLLING: The Stampeders have lost six of their last seven games. The Roughriders have won five of their last six.
WILD, WEST WIND: There’s nothing like a wind-blown game at Mosaic Stadium. It affects every facet of the contest, particularly the kicking games. The forecast calls for westerly winds of 35 km-h. In Saskatchewan’s last regular-season home game on Sunday, the wind was expected to be 25 km-h; it ended up gusting to 60 km-h.
