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INDEPTH: 2006 CFL PREVIEW
Calgary Stampeders
CBC Sports Online | Last updated June 15, 2006
Henry Burris has been Mr. Consistency for the Stamps, and is coming off his best season in five years.
(Canadian Press file photo)
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2005 RECORD: 11-7, second
in the West. Lost to Edmonton, 33-26, in conference semifinal.
ARRIVALS: QB Danny McManus, WR Elijah Thurmon,
WR Scotty Anderson, WR Markus Howell, LB Cam Yeow, LB Walter Spencer,
DB Crance Clemons and DB J.R. Ruffin.
DEPARTURES: OL Jamie Crysdale, RB Tony Stallings,
WR Darnell McDonald, S Mike Juhasz, RB Scott Deibert, QB Jason Gesser
and DB Lawrence Deck
OFFENCE: After ranking third in CFL scoring with
529 points in 2005, management made a vaunted attack even more potent
by signing wide receivers Elijah Thurmon and former National Football
League deep threat Scotty Anderson.
Thurmon was Saskatchewan's leading pass-catcher last season and
joins fellow 1,000-yard men Nik Lewis (1,379) and Jeremaine Copeland
(1,211). Ken-Yon Rambo, Brett Ralph and non-import Markus Howell
round out an impressive receiving corps.
The 31-year-old Burris is coming off his most productive season
as quarterback since 2000, completing 60.9 per cent of his passes
for 4,290 yards and 23 touchdowns in 16 games.
Three starters return to the offensive line, while newcomer Tyler
Lynem is slated to play right tackle and Godfrey Ellis takes over
from the retired Jamie Crysdale at centre.
Running back Joffrey Reynolds returns after finishing second in
rushing to Winnipeg's Charles Roberts in 2005 with 247 carries for
1,437 yards - fifth in franchise history.
DEFENCE: Calgary's vaunted defenders were a big
reason the club won eight of its final nine games last year.
Led by returning linebackers Scott Coe, John Grace, Brian Clark
and George White, Calgary's pass rush posted 47 quarterback sacks,
tied with Edmonton for tops in the West.
White, who finished tied with Toronto's Kevin Eiben for the league
lead in tackles a year ago (116), could be sidelined for the first
four games while he recovers from a torn Achilles tendon. Hakim
Akbar or Cornelius Anthony will fill-in.
Defensive backs J.R. Ruffin and Cedrick Williams are two of 13
newcomers to the organization and they join an improved secondary.
They will start the season in place of the injured Jermaine Chatman
and 2004 all-star Joey Boese, who has been relegated to the reserve
list.
SPECIAL TEAMS: Management was so impressed with
place-kicker Sandro DeAngelis and punter Burke Dales in 2005 that
it did not invite anyone else to training camp.
DeAngelis finished second in CFL scoring with 179 points, while
his 76.9-per-cent field-goal success rate was tops in the league.
Dales, who has dropped nearly 30 pounds from last season, posted
a 44.3-yard punting average, good for fifth in the CFL.
Williams and Ruffin will split duties returning kickoffs and punts.
COACHING: Tom Higgins was named 2005's top coach
after guiding Calgary to its first winning campaign since 2000 in
his first year with the Stampeders.
He came aboard after leading the Edmonton Eskimos to a Grey Cup
victory in 2003, which also earned him coach of the year honours.
It was the third-straight season Edmonton topped the conference.
Higgins is 55-35-0-1 in the CFL and was rewarded with a multi-year
contract extension after 2005.
GAME BREAKER: HENRY BURRIS
The eight-year CFL veteran, who can beat you through the air and
on the ground, threw for 4,290 yards and averaged 6.3 yards per
carry with nine touchdowns in 16 games.
Burris was a model of consistency, throwing for more than 300 yards
seven times, including once over 400, in the regular season.
EXPERT OPINION: "With the addition of McManus,
Calgary is probably one of only two teams along with Montreal with
legitimate quarterback depth," said CFL on CBC analyst Greg
Frers.
"Henry [Burris] has had the tendency (in the past) to force
something that isn't there at a crucial time in the game, but he
has really matured. He's staying inside the offensive game plan.
It's no longer all about Henry, but about all 12 guys. McManus will
do a very good job of keeping Burris even-keeled.
"They will finish at the top of the (West) division, not only
because they are talented but they have depth."
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