The Canadian Press
With the pressure on in their most important regular season game in years, the Calgary Stampeders answered the bell in an emphatic way. The Stamps crushed the BC Lions 26-9 to conclude the 2018 regular season and in doing so clinched the West Division for a third straight year. For myriad reasons, Saturday’s season finale was crucial for Calgary.
We mentioned it briefly last week, but I think Saturday’s win has the potential to give the Stampeders a huge mental boost heading into the playoffs. There were plenty of whispers surrounding Calgary during their three game skid suggesting this team may not be able to keep up with all the injuries they’ve suffered. Winning a huge game with so much on the line with that same depleted lineup will certainly help dispel some of that sentiment.
Remember, the Stamps just decisively beat a very good Lions team at BC Place and did so with the same group of players, minus Eric Rogers who was addition to the one-game injured list on Friday. Any internal frustration or uncertainty should have been snuffed out knowing how relative newcomers like Chris Matthews, Markeith Ambles, and Bakari Grant all stepped up in the receiving core.
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Bo Levi Mitchell helped the Stamps clinch their third straight West Division title (The Canadian Press)
Securing a first round playoff bye was almost as crucial for Calgary, because they need the extra week. From a health perspective, a little extra time should allow Rogers time to recover for a return in the Western Final. Additionally, there’s a chance the injured DaVaris Daniels could return for the team’s first playoff game, which would give them a massive boost in the big play department.
The bye also gives the Stampeders a huge extra week in building chemistry and familiarity. With so many new faces on offence, Calgary has struggled in that department over the last month, and understandably so. With two weeks off to prepare, I’m very curious to see how comfortable quarterback Bo Levi Mitchell is with guys like Matthews and Grant when they take on Saskatchewan or Winnipeg in a couple weeks.
The Stamps were adamant they did not want to back in to the 2018 post-season. That’s exactly what they would have done had they lost a fourth straight game on Saturday night. Instead, Calgary played its best game in weeks with the pressure on and a ton on the line. It showed me a lot about a group that hasn’t faced much regular season adversity in recent years.
Sideline stunner
I know 2018 was extremely disappointing for the Toronto Argonauts, but I was still shocked when they elected to fire Head Coach Marc Trestman on Saturday. The thing that shocked me the most was the decision was made by General Manager Jim Popp, at least in part. Knowing how far back Trestman and Popp go, and how much success they’ve had, that might might have been the most surprising part of all.
As partners, Trestman and Popp have won three Grey Cup titles and played in one other championship game, dating back to when their association began in 2008. In fact, this was the first year a Trestman-Popp team failed to qualify for the post-season; they were a perfect six for six.
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Personally, I would have given Trestman another year to right the ship. I’m not in that locker room and I don’t know the inner workings of the Argos, of course. Football savants like Trestman don’t come along very often, though, and I think his resume is strong enough to suggest he could help engineer a turnaround in 2019.
With all of the above in mind, Popp’s decision, along with team president Bill Manning, is even more of a shocker. Popp says Toronto’s forthcoming hire will likely come from elsewhere in the league, which is good knowing how many quality candidates are out there. Whoever it is, though, will have some big shoes to fill.
Sitting pretty
I got some flak when I didn’t include the Ottawa REDBLACKS in last week’s column, despite them clinching the East Division. In reality, though, I only have so many words each week, so no, I do not have an anti-Ottawa bias, I promise! BUT, as an act of contrition, I’ll give the REDBLACKS their due, because they really do deserve it.
Ottawa stepped up to the plate huge when it looked like they might be in trouble. Two straight wins against the Hamilton Tiger-Cats, and impressive ones at that, sent the REDBLACKS into the post-season in proper fashion. And, the way things look right now, Ottawa is a big time favourite to play for a Grey Cup for the third time in four years.
I’ve been most impressed with Trevor Harris, because he rose to the occasion in two of the most important regular season games he’s ever played. In back-to-back wins over Hamilton, Harris was outstanding, throwing four touchdown passes against no interceptions while averaging over 300 yards per game. That’s the type of Harris the REDBLACKS are going to need in what they hope is a pair of playoff games.
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It wasn’t just Harris, though; Ottawa got huge performances all over the map. Diontae Spencer looks like he’s in his best groove of the season entering the playoffs; he caught three touchdown passes against Hamilton and has four in his last three games overall. Seeing Greg Ellingson and Brad Sinopoli heavily involved in the receiving game in addition to Spencer gives the REDBLACKS a scary look heading into their bye.
Give a hat tip to Ottawa’s defensive efforts, too, specifically in their clinching game in Week 20. The REDBLACKS picked off Jeremiah Masoli twice, held Alex Green to just 76 yards and no touchdowns on the ground, and generally frustrated the Tiger-Cats all game long. Ottawa has had their inconsistencies on defence throughout 2018, but their 30-13 win over Hamilton showed what they’re capable of.
The REDBLACKS will host either Hamilton or BC in the Eastern Final in a couple weeks and, as it stands now, I like them in both potential matchups. I love the way Harris and his receivers played down the stretch, William Powell should be healthy at tailback, and this defence is capable of some really strong efforts. Let’s see if they can rise to the occasion again.
