Friday night is football night for Alberta, the Eskimos will have done battle with the Argos by the time the Riders and Stamps take to the field at McMahon Stadium tonight, so the Stamps will be more than aware just how important the two points up for grabs could be.
The result of last weeks loss to the Argos, has put the Stamps in peril of losing out on a home playoff date, watching the rival Eskimos and the streaking BC Lions stake out the top of the CFL West for the battle for the western title.
That mis-step last week also has caused more than a bit of turmoil in the Stampeders camp, coach John Hufnagel has shifted Henry Burris to back up status, handing the starting assignment to Drew Tate, who makes his first CFL start against the Riders tonight.
We're still not sure that this isn't some kind of message delivery session for Hufnagel, eager to get his once starting QB's attention heading into the playoff race, the idea that the Stamps have decided to rework their offence over the last three weeks of the season would seem to be a little drastic and perhaps even a little bit dangerous.
How the Stamps respond to all the drama of the week remains to be seen, but we can't help but think that the competition had a little bit to do with the Hufnagel decision, no offence to the Riders but their quality of play this year makes them the perfect team to try and send a message through.
Tate may find that he has just enough success to put the Riders away, but not enough to knock Burris out of the starter's role for future weeks, then again the frustration that Hufnagel has had with his quarterback and his team for that matter has been well documented.
Friday night's game may just provide the punctuation mark on some of his oft repeated refrains of the last few months.
While the Stamps are playing for their season now, Saskatchewan is just playing out the season.
Ken Miller getting a little weary it seems of all the attention of late, the early days of his return which were hailed as a good day by some for Rider football have long since faded, instead now the same problems that Greg Marshall had to endure have once again popped up and like Marshal, there seems that there has been little that Miller has been able to do to change those problems.
It's too late for the Riders this year, the Stamps however still have a bit of time to work out their troubles, how they react to the week of change leading up to today's game could provide us with an idea as to how the rest of their season is going to go.
Game Time 7:30 pm MT (6:30 PT, 9:30 ET) McMahon Stadium TSN
Pre Game
Calgary Herald-- Stamps are in "prove it" territory today
Calgary Sun-- New Stamps QB set to start against Roughriders
Regina Leader Post-- Roughriders and Stampeders' views differ regarding quarterbacks
Globe and Mail-- Time running out for Stampeders to pick up the pieces
Canada.com-- Stamps confidence shaken by losses
Quick Snaps Calgary Stampeders
Quick Snaps Saskatchewan Roughriders
Saskatchewan 13 at Calgary 25
Attendance-- 29,698
Post Game
Calgary Sun-- Stamps well above passing grade
Calgary Herald-- Tate guide Stamps to win over Roughriders
Regina Leader Post-- Darian Durant survives scare as Riders lost 24-13 to Stampeders
Globe and Mail-- Drew Tate spurs Stamps past Riders
National Post-- Tate wins first start, Stampeders down Roughriders
No comments:
Post a Comment