WESTERN FINAL: Edmonton at Calgary

[jerrym]

i think it will be close. While Edmonton has been playing very well recently and Calgary has not, Calgary has had a bye week to regroup. I think it will be close but I give a slight edge to Edmonton as its six game losing streak was largely due to being a team decimated by injuries and they now have many of those players back, as well as the league's best QB.

[Argo]

Edmonton to win, for reasons given recently in another thread.

[AngeloV]

I find it hilarious how everyone is counting out Calgary. I am calling Calgary to burst the Eskimos little bubble.

[R.J]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Here&#39;s a look at the Stamps&#39; position chart for tomorrow&#39;s game against the <a href="https://twitter.com/EdmontonEsks?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@EdmontonEsks</a>! <a href="https://t.co/EbvKf3C12f">pic.twitter.com/EbvKf3C12f</a></p>&mdash; Calgary Stampeders (@calstampeders) <a href="https://twitter.com/calstampeders/status/931918354998104064?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 18, 2017</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Depth chart day! <br><br>Here is how the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Esks?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Esks</a> will line-up tomorrow for the West Final against the Calgary Stampeders!<br><br>📈👇 <a href="https://t.co/qdFSMHgBRH">pic.twitter.com/qdFSMHgBRH</a></p>&mdash; Edmonton Eskimos (@EdmontonEsks) <a href="https://twitter.com/EdmontonEsks/status/931915235451133952?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 18, 2017</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>


I'm picking Edmonton to Win.

[jerrym]

I find it hilarious how everyone is counting out Calgary. I am calling Calgary to burst the Eskimos little bubble.

As I said above, I am by no means counting Calgary out, I'm giving Edmonton a slight edge in what I expect to be a close game.

[OV Argo]

Stamps rookie Canadian Adeleke getting the start at OLB to replace the very good Richardson; he did play some there earlier in the season, as well as in the D-backfield (safety & corner i think), along with being sensational on punt returns in some opportunities, and played special teams covereage. Guy was a big steal in the draft - falling to late 3rd round - speedster showing he is quite versatile.

I'm kinda shocked to see Adeleke get to start at OLB in this big-game (he's kinda under-sized for even cover OLB maybe, but lots of CFL teams have got away with this); they could have handed the job to any import since they already have 7 NI starters otherwise. We'll see.

[jerrym]

An 8 yard rush by Gable and a 69 pass from Reilly to Walker has given the Eskimos a 14-0 lead less than nine minutes into the game. Calgary needs to respond soon before the score starts making a comeback very difficult.

[jerrym]

Calgary turned the game around in the second quarter and took the lead with Finch's speed giving them the lead with a 50 yard run with 22 seconds left in the first half. The Stampeders have shut down Gable after his early TD run. After Reilly went 6/7 in the first quarter, the Stampeders adjustments limited him to 3/9 in the second quarter, reversing the momentum of the game.

[jerrym]

Bizarre call by Maas with 1:56 to go on the Calgary 13 on a third and four to go for the FG, leaving them four points behind and needing to get the ball back after the kickoff and score a TD with so little time left.

[Argo57]

Bizarre call by Maas with 1:56 to go on the Calgary 13 on a third and four to go for the FG, leaving them four points behind and needing to get the ball back after the kickoff and score a TD with so little time left.

That is a major screw up by Maas, I’m sure Edmonton fans will be talking about that one for years to come.

[Argo]

Well, I thought that Edmonton would make it past Calgary at last, but no. Back to the drawing board, Eskies.

Vidal Hazelton led all receivers.

[AngeloV]

Although I feel the Argos chances would be better against Edmonton, I have to say there was never a doubt in my mind that Calgary would win. Edmonton's Offence has been great, but I figured Calgary had the edge on D and ST's by a large margin. I honestly didn't count on Maas making such a bone head decision, but when you think of how bad he is at controlling his emotions, it shouldn't really be a shock that he f'd up at a key time. It would have made more sense to punt on their previous 3rd down play as there was still 2:40 left at that point and they may have got the ball back near mid field with over a minute left.

[gilthethrill]

I for one am glad to see the end of Mike Reilly and especially CJ Gable. I think the Double Blue have a better chance of taking down Calgary than they would the Eskimos.

[AngeloV]

I for one am glad to see the end of Mike Reilly and especially CJ Gable. I think the Double Blue have a better chance of taking down Calgary than they would the Eskimos.

Respectfully disagree. Edmonton's D and specials suck IMO. I know it's a different season now, but Argos matched up much better against Edmonton.

[OV Argo]

I for one am glad to see the end of Mike Reilly and especially CJ Gable. I think the Double Blue have a better chance of taking down Calgary than they would the Eskimos.

Agreed - the Stumps offence has become a bit of a pop-gun joke; dropped passes all over the place last game too; and Messam & Finch are 2 good backs, but the Argos have a solid run defence (unlike the Esks).

The Stumps could win this one on the strength of their D and special teams (both return game and kicking game better than the Argos' IMO), but if Ricky Ray is given some decent protection, then i think he can do way more on offence than Bovine.

[gilthethrill]

Agreed - the Stumps offence has become a bit of a pop-gun joke; dropped passes all over the place last game too; and Messam & Finch are 2 good backs, but the Argos have a solid run defence (unlike the Esks).

The Stumps could win this one on the strength of their D and special teams (both return game and kicking game better than the Argos' IMO), but if Ricky Ray is given some decent protection, then i think he can do way more on offence than Bovine.

Argo D does not have to worry about Mitchell running like Reilly does. No disrespect to Messam, but Gable has always been a thorn in the Argos side.

[OV Argo]

Argo D does not have to worry about Mitchell running like Reilly does. No disrespect to Messam, but Gable has always been a thorn in the Argos side.


Yeah - Bovine has only run something like 4 times this season ? - that's fine if you have an all-around great offence, but IMO they don't, and a QB who is either afraid to run or not mobile enough is a hindrance to a CFL offence. Messam looked like he had a little something back yesterday, and Finch is a dangerous change of pace back, but they won't stick with a ground game if is stopped early; so it will be immobile Bovine, afraid to throw deep often, trying mostly short to medium passes to some receivers who just aren't that good or dangerous (the Stumps seem to come up with good young import receivers - Daniels, Jorden (dropped at least 3 right in his hands yesterday) & Michel (speed but drops problems too), as recent examples, and these guys often look good early in the season - with nice weather, field conditions and when they are new/fresh, and lots of receivers can look good when they get 8 to 12 passes a game thrown their way and against weak defences - but showing good hands, smarts and toughness in play-off weather & pressure is another matter. This Stumps offence is just not that good IMO, and I can see them scoring little against this veteran laden and talented Argo defence.

Protecting Ray against that strong Stumps pass-rush, so he can produce more points than the Stamps offence is another matter.

[doubleblue]

Respectfully disagree. Edmonton's D and specials suck IMO. I know it's a different season now, but Argos matched up much better against Edmonton.

I agree. I really thought Edmonton would win the western final.

[R.J]

I think either team would've been a good match up for the Argonauts. Edmonton has the offense and Calgary the defense, so it's a pick your poison situation I guess.

[AngeloV]

I agree. I really thought Edmonton would win the western final.

Argos were a late illegal contact call away from winning in Edmonton and sweeping the series. All this without Wilder, Ball, Lemon and Owusu-Ansah. I just think it would have been a good match-up for the Argos.