Stamps secondary faces tall order in final
The Edmonton Eskimos, with their handful of talented receivers able to create mayhem all over the field, figure to present a formidable challenge for the Calgary Stampeders’ secondary.
But as preparations continued Friday for Sunday’s CFL West final at McMahon Stadium, the emphasis was not so much on what the Eskimos can do but more the Stamps’ ability to defend it.
“We always compete against ourselves, competing to be perfect,” said defensive backs’ coach Kahlil Carter. “It’s unattainable, but it’s high on our priority list. They (Eskimos) have quite a bit of skill and size and they have a great quarterback who’s playing lights out right now. So we’re going to play Stampeders football and that’s a measurement against ourselves.”
One of the many storylines figures to be whether guys like Brandon Zylstra, Adarius Bowman, Derel Walker et al will be able to have success against arguably the best defensive secondary in the league.
Zylstra led the league in receiving yards with 1,687, and poses a deep threat as does the experienced Bowman, back from injury to give the Eskimos another dynamic playmaker.
“Across the board, they’re just a well-rounded group and we have to come ready to play,” said Stampeders’ all-star corner Ciante Evans. “It’s going to be back and forth. We’re going to be ready to compete because we know what they bring to the table and I’m pretty sure they know what we bring to the table, so it’s going to be a battle all game.”
“They’re as good as anybody,’’ said defensive halfback Brandon Smith. “You have to give them some credit because they’ve done some good things this year. We’re not oblivious, but it’s not our focus. It’s knowing our assignments, playing physical, playing fast and being what we need to be and make them work for everything.”
And that game plan means working in tandem with the guys up front to hamper elusive quarterback Mike Reilly as much as possible and limit the long throws.
“He’s one of the premier quarterbacks in this league and when he’s on fire, their offence is on fire,” said Evans, who leads his team with five interceptions. “Just try our best to contain him and disrupt any timing.”
“We have to focus on not giving him easy throws,” said Smith. “We have to be in the receivers’ pockets and make him be pinpoint accurate. If we’re in the receivers’ hip pocket and there’s any glitch in his throws, then we have the opportunity to make the play.’’
Reilly made four deep throws covering 128 yards in the West semifinal win over Winnipeg last week, an area of focus for the secondary, Carter said.
“Our defensive philosophy is top down. We’re taking away deep balls,” he said. “The games that we’ve won convincingly we’ve limited the big plays, plays over 20 yards, and they’re known for big plays.’’
The Stamps realize there won’t be any excuses.
“This time of the year, the best teams play their best football in November and we haven’t played our best in October, but thank God for November,” said Carter. “We’re going to go out there and match them.”