Which sting y defensive unit will blink first?
In the latest instalment of the CFL version of the Battle of Alberta, who will blink first: the Eskimos’ aggressive, ballhawking defence, or the airtight defensive unit of the Calgary Stampeders?
Or — which is highly likely — neither one?
Consider: The 4-0 Eskimos have given up just 58 points this season, or 14.5 a game, on average. The stingy, 3-0 Stampeders have given up all of 30 points, 10 points per outing.
The Eskimos give up an average of 81.2 yards rushing per game. Impressive, until you note the Stampeders hold opponents to 71 yards rushing a game. And so it goes. The Eskimos have recorded 18 quarterback sacks to 10 for Calgary. And Edmonton, with 15 take-aways, including a CFL-leading nine interceptions, have a giveaway/ take-away ratio of plus 10, a gaudy early season number.
The Stampeders, with six take-aways, including two interceptions, and just two giveaways), sit at plusfour. These are two teams that aren’t likely to beat themselves.
So, might this game come down to the team whose defence performs better?
“Not necessarily,” said Eskimos rush end Almondo Sewell, the CFL sack leader, with five.
“We just want to go out there and prove who the better team is, that’s our main goal.
“Either our offence is going to be on, or our defence is going to be on, or maybe we all have to feed off each other.”
In a nine-team league with so much cross-pollination among teams rosters and coaching staffs, the Eskimos are led by head coach and defensive co-ordinator Chris Jones, who worked from 2008-11 for the Stampeders.
Calgary’s defence is led by longtime CFL defensive guru Rich Stubler, who has had three coaching stints with the Eskimos, won a Grey Cup here in ’93 as defensive coordinator, and most recently ran that unit in 2011.
Secrets? Here and there, perhaps, but regardless of some old fashioned cloakand-dagger measures in Edmonton, with that closed practice on Tuesday, it’s hard to believe either team will spring a surprise on the other Thursday night.
It’s more likely the game will hinge on old-fashioned execution and playmaking.
“Year-in, year-out, the defensive schemes they have are good, and they’ve got coach Stubler over there,” said Eskimos slotback Adarius Bowman, who has scored four of the Eskimos eight touchdowns this season. “I’m pretty familiar with him, and I know his No. 1 thing is about matching up, putting his guys in the best position.”
Bowman, for one, knows Stubler’s match coverage well, which is some comfort.
“I feel very prepared,” Bowman said.
“With the info our coaches have given us and the plays we’re going in with and, also, I’ve been around Stubler and I’ve seen him (run defences) in this league, so I’ve got a concept of what he could possibly run.
“The thing about Stubler is he’s a mastermind when it comes to defences, so you’ve always got to be ready for something different.”
Bowman reckons this could be a chess match sort of caper, particularly for the respective defensive co-ordinators.
“These are two teams that … we’ve kind of all been around each other, very familiar with what they’re going to do,” Bowman said. “Coach Jones gave us a lot of tips about them and I’m pretty sure they’re doing the same thing about coach Jones.
“So, I definitely think it’s just going to end up to being just a battle — guys who make the least mistakes and can play the most physical.”
For Eskimos slotback Fred Stamps, who has rebounded from that hellacious shot he took in Edmonton’s victory in Winnipeg, believes it’s time for Edmonton’s offence to elevate its game.
“We have to get the ball rolling early on offence,” Stamps said. “We can’t rely on our defence to make plays or anything like that.
“We have to get going early, and those guys (Eskimos defence) are going to make plays, that’s what they do.
“That’s what we have to do, just be consistent on offence.”
That will mean getting the running game moving early, not just in the second half or fourth quarter, which is when tailback John White has piled up most of his 191 yards on the ground.
You would hope it also means relying less on the running of quarterback Mike Reilly, who actually leads the Eskimos with 199 yards rushing, and finding ways to get the ball to Stamps, who has caught just 10 passes so far this season, compared to 23 for Bowman, for example.
“We just have to be more consistent,” Stamps said. “It’s a new offence, and it’s not an offence that you can just learn right off the bat.
“If (you) remember when (ex-Eskimos QB) Ricky Ray first went to Toronto, he struggled a little bit with their (new) offence. It’s a new system for us and we’re getting the hang of it.
“We just have to be more consistent and execute.”
They’ll have to do that against either the No. 1 or No. 2 defence in the CFL, depending on your point of view, in the cauldron of a sort-of pre-Labour Day classic, a game Stamps hopes will be a preview of coming attractions, and not just for Calgary.
“I’m ready, man,” Stamps said. “It’s a big game, especially with two undefeated teams.
“A game like this can really set you up in the future. That’s the main thing that you’re looking for. Not to jump the gun or look past anybody else, but it’s against Calgary, a Western (Division) opponent, top of the league.
“If we win (Thursday night) who knows what it could do for us in the future.”