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INDEPTH: 2005 CFL PREVIEW
Calgary Stampeders
CBC Sports Online | Last updated June 21, 2005
Will Henry Burris lead the Stampeders out of the division basement?
(CP File Photo)
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2004 RECORD: 4-14-0, fifth in West
Division (didn't make playoffs)
ARRIVALS: WR Jeremaine Copeland, QB Henry Burris, OL Alexandre
Gauthier, DB Anthony Malbrough, DE Rahim Abdullah, DL Randy Chevrier
DEPARTURES: QB Marcus Crandell, WR Wane McGarity, WR Albert
Connell, RB Randy Bowles, DB William Fields, DB Omar Evans, DE Antwone
Young, DB Terrence Moore
OFFENCE: The team's weakest link in 2004 was bolstered during
the off-season, highlighted by the free-agent signings of Burris
and Copeland.
Burris, 29, completed 322 of 544 passes (59.2 per cent) for 4,267
yards and 23 touchdowns after taking over from injured starter Nealon
Greene in Saskatchewan.
He proved he could be a No. 1 pivot in the CFL, connecting on 72
per cent of his passes for 416 yards and three touchdowns in the
Roughriders' 27-25 loss to British Columbia in the Western final.
Former NFLer Jason Gesser beat out former Ottawa Renegades pivot
Darnell Kennedy for the backup job.
Copeland, a six-foot-two-inch wide receiver, will be Calgary's go-to
receiver. He totalled 191 catches for 2,911 yards and 24 TDs in
his last two seasons in Montreal.
Wide receiver Nik Lewis led the Stampeders in receptions (72), receiving
yards (1,045) and TDs (eight) a year ago. Canadian Mike Juhasz and former Ohio State standout Ken-Yon Rambo round
out a talent receiving corps.
Running back Joffrey Reynolds returns after an impressive five-game
stint last season. He joined the Stampeders after being released
by the NFL's New York Giants and amassed 497 yards on 90 carries
(5.5-yard average).
All-star centre Jamie Crysdale and tackle Alexandre Gauthier, who
spent the last three seasons with the Ottawa Renegades, anchor a
solid offensive line.
DEFENCE: All-star linebacker John Grace re-signed in February
after leading a Stampeders defence that finished second to Montreal
in fewest total yards allowed last season with 6,095.
Runner-up to Alouettes rush end Anwar Stewart as the CFL's 2004
outstanding defensive player, Grace was named the league's defensive
player of the week four times and twice took home defensive player
of the month honours.
He finished fifth on the Stampeders in defensive tackles (53) and
first in quarterback sacks (seven).
Scott Coe, Brian Clark and George White are the other starting linebackers
who allowed the opposition an average of 4.8 yards per rush, second
in the CFL.
A secondary that finished tied for second in interceptions (24)
received a boost with the addition of free-agent Anthony Malbrough,
a former Stampeder who is entering his fourth year in the CFL.
Defensive back Joey Boese, 25, is the only starting member of the secondary back from 2004.
He finished second in the CFL with 92 defensive tackles and was
named to the West all-star team for the first time.
Ben Kelly and Jermaine Chatman are the new corners, while Don McGee
will play safety.
Calgary ranked fourth in the league with 44 sacks. First-year Stampeder
Rahim Abdullah joins veterans Demetrious Maxie and Sheldon Napastuk
to give Calgary a formidable front three.
SPECIAL TEAMS: A pair of CFL rookies – Nebraska placekicker Sandro DeAngelis and Canadian punter Burke Dales – take over from import Clinton Greathouse, who held both jobs last season.
As a senior, DeAngelis connected on 3-of-5 field goal attempts within 39 yards for the Mavericks.
Dales, an all-Canadian with Montreal's Concordia University, has had previous tryouts with the Montreal Alouettes and Pittsburgh Steelers (2002) of the NFL.
Lewis is the primary punt and kickoff return man.
GAME BREAKER: JEREMAINE COPELAND
He finished sixth in CFL receiving yardage last season (1,154) and
tied for third in touchdown receptions with 10.
One of four Montreal Alouettes to top the 1,000-yard mark a year
ago, Copeland recorded five 100-yard games.
The 2004 East Division all-star arrives with plenty of playoff experience,
having played in three East finals and two Grey Cups.
EXPERT OPINION: "This is the second coming of Henry Burris,"
said CFL on CBC analyst Greg Frers. "He fell under huge
criticism from Roy Shivers, Saskatchewan's general manager, for
making bad decisions with the football. If you look at the statistics
he had over the course of the season, they've been very average.
"The reason why Saskatchewan got better was the arrival of Kenton
Keith and they started to run the ball. "
"I'm not convinced the Stampeders' offence is going to be so much
better than it was last year. I think Copeland and Lewis are good,
but who do they have after that?"
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