Shut-Down Run Defence
The Calgary Stampeders like to run the ball.
The Stamps are second in the league, averaging over 105 yards rushing per game. In that stat category, they trail only the Blue Bombers, a team that often has two backs in the backfield, including a potential league MOP in Andrew Harris.
The Stamps boast the current league-leader in rushing yards on the season in Jerome Messam. A big part of Messam’s success comes from the sheer number of times Calgary Head Coach Dave Dickenson and rest of the Stamps’ coaching staff feed him the ball. Messam’s average production per carry is not overwhelming. In fact, his average of 5.0 yards per carry is pedestrian for a starting running back, trailing everyone but Kienan LeFrance, the starting running back in Saskatchewan’s last-place rushing offence. Messam trails Hamilton’s Alex Green by over two yards per carry, as Green owns an impressive 7.2 yards per carry average.
The Ticats held Messam to 11-yards rushing on the night. Terry Williams also chipped in at running back for the Stamps, but he was unable to do much better, putting up just 30-yards. Altogether, the Ticats only allowed a total of 42-yards rushing.
The Stamps seemed to respect the Ticats’ run defence as they rushed the ball uncharacteristically sparingly, handing Messam the pigskin just six times, and another three times to Williams.
On the other hand, the Ticats were able to muster 76 rushing yards, split between Green and Masoli. Green also potted to rushing touchdowns on the night.
Friday’s game was a continuation of the trend that has seen the Ticats’ run defence jump into second best in the league since Labour Day.
Lock-down secondary
The Ticats secondary had a strong performance from a number of key players. The unit limited last-year’s league MOP to just 279 yards passing and one touchdown, further spoiling his stat-line.
Richard Leonard continued to look comfortable at the halfback position after his transition from boundary corner two weeks ago.
Don Unamba came to TigerTown part-way through the season but quickly earned a place in the Ticats’ secondary. His physical style of play and blistering closing speed to the ball were an ideal fit for Coach Lolley’s hard, fast defence.
Unamba had his best night of the season on Friday. He had an interception, two defensive tackles, and returned a Courtney Stephen forced fumble for a good chunk of real estate.
Speaking of which, Ticats’ safety Courtney Stephen forced a fumble.
Belief that they can beat the best
The Calgary Stampeders scored a back-breaking touchdown with about five minutes remaining in the game. At that moment, the Tiger-Cats could have given in. They had just fallen behind the league’s number one ranked team and odds on Grey Cup favourite. Eight weeks ago, the game may have taken a different trajectory after that moment.
Instead Masoli calmly stepped behind centre and began to slowly, evenly, eat up yards and drive the field. The drive began with a clutch 13-yard connection to Banks who was pushed out of bounds by Calgary defensive back Chris Evans. That completion set into motion a 13-play, 90-yard drive that ended in a 1-yard Alex Green touchdown. There was a mixture of play calling throughout the drive, keeping Calgary unbalanced defensively. The best play of the drive was arguably Green’s clutch 19-yard run which moved the sticks and kept the offence moving.
Leading up to the game in media this week, Coach Jones repeatedly stated the significance of playing Calgary.
“If you want to be the best, you have to compete with the best,” he said.
That gutsy fourth quarter drive showed the Ticats weren’t afraid of the Stampeders.
The Ticats may not have come away with the win, but they certainly showed that they can compete with Calgary.
After the game, Coach Jones confirmed his belief, “The kids don’t have any quit in them.”
