ROCK CREEK ROUGHRIDERS AT STAMPEDERS PREVIEW
SASKATCHEWAN (9-7) at CALGARY (13-2)
7:30 pm, Friday, McMahon Stadium
TSN, 620 CKRM, ESPN3
RIDERS: Road 4-4, vs West 4-4
STAMPS: Home 6-1, vs West 6-1
RIDER OFFENSE: RUSH 3RD, PASS 9TH, OVERALL 6TH
Kerry Joseph makes his second straight start (213 yds, 2 TDs, 2 INTs) … RB Anthony Allen leads the team in rushing (849 yds, 5 TDs) but will sit this game and be replaced by Jerome Messam and Keith Toston … WR Rob Bagg is the team’s leading receiver (653 yds, 1 TD) … The Riders are 5th in points scored and 6th in sacks allowed.
STAMPS OFFENSE: RUSH 1ST, PASS 7TH, OVERALL 1ST
Bo-Levi Mitchell makes his first career start against Saskatchewan (2812 yds, 19 TDs, 7 INTs) … Leading rusher Jon Cornish (977 yds, 5 TDs) will sit this game … SB Marquay McDaniel is their leading receiver (627 yds, 4 TDs) … Calgary is #2 in points scored and #1 in fewest sacks allowed.
RIDER DEFENSE: RUSH 7TH, PASS 6TH, OVERALL 7TH
DE John Chick continues to lead the CFL in sacks (14) … DBs Mark Legree and Tristan Jackson lead the club in INTs (4) … LB Brian Peters leads the club in tackles (6) … The Riders are 6th in points allowed and #1 in sacks
STAMPS DEFENSE: RUSH 2ND, PASS 7TH, OVERALL 4TH
DE Shawn Lemon leads the club in sacks (9) … LB Keon Raymond and DB Jamar Wall lead the club in INTs (4) … DB Brandon Smith leads the club in tackles (65) … The Stamps are #2 in fewest points allowed and 4th in sacks.
RIDER SPEC TEAMS: K Chris Milo is 73% on field goals while P Josh Bartel is 4th in the CFL with an average of 44.5 yards … Tristan Jackson leads the club in KR yards while Weston Dressler leads in PR yards … Brian Peters is their ST tackles leader (18).
STAMPS SPEC TEAMS: K Rene Parades is 72.2% on field goals while P Rob Maver is 3rd in CFL punting with an average of 45.2 … Sederrik Cunningham leads in KR yards and Jock Sanders leads in PR yards … Their ST tackles leader is LB Karl McCartney (19).
INTANGIBLES: Calgary is a CFL-best +14 in the turnover ratio while the Riders are 2nd at +7 … The Stampeders are the CFL’s least penalized team while the Roughriders are 4th … Calgary is favoured by 10.5-points … The forecast calls for sunshine, a high of 10 degrees Celsius (50 above Fahrenheit and a west wind at 30 km/h … The referee is Andre Proulx.
RP
Roughriders in a romp
Toston is going to be unstoppable set up by Kerry making plays with legs and arm. Breakout game for riders
Much has been made of KJ's age. But keep in mind he is not all that old for a QB giving his physical condition.
George Banda played until he was 48 years old in the much tougher era in the NFL.
Warren Moon and Steve DeBerg played until the age of 44.
Doug Flutie played until age 43 and Earl Morrell retired at 42.
It not about age, but talent and determination. KJ has that and should get better as he gets to know his receivers.
My gut says this will get ugly fast, but here's hoping.
Don't count the Stamps out, they will make it competitive and it won't be an easy win for the Riders.
John from Saskatchewan
Game doesn't matter
Hmm still way early but don't lookin soft. Can't blame time of possession this time now. I hate these short weeks. Can't change your look with two days practice they know what's commin.. get in a groove kj!
Go Riders!
Byob