ARGONAUTS.CA STAFF
The Calgary Stampeders were the ‘best in the West’ in 2010, but after falling to the Saskatchewan Roughriders in the West Final, the perennial contenders have their sights set on becoming Grey Cup champions in 2011.
Players To Watch:
QB Henry Burris
RB Joffrey Reynolds
SB Nik Lewis
WR Ken-Yon Rambo
WR Romby Bryant
OL Dimitri Tsoumpas
LB Juwan Simpson
DB Geoff Tisdale
K Rob Maver
Storylines:
– Can the Stamps’ secondary continue thier strong play in 2011 despite the departure of both thier corners (B. Browner, D. Anderson)?
The vaunted Stamps offence from a year ago returns without any significant changes. The unit led the league in all major offensive categories in 2010, including points scored (626), touchdowns (63), first downs (445) and highest total offence per game (431.6 yards). The offence is led by the CFL’s reigning Most Outstanding Player, QB Henry Burris, who threw for 4,945 yards, a league-high 38 touchdowns, and had a QB rating of 101.9.
Burris has many weapons at his disposal, evidenced by the fact that the Stamps had three 1,000-yard receivers in 2010 and all are returning to the team this season. SB Nik Lewis led the team with 82 catches for 1,262 yards, his seventh straight year with 1,000 yards or more. SB Ken Yon Rambo missed the first four games of the season due to injury, but still finished with 1,172 yards on 72 receptions. WR Romby Bryant was just five yards behind Rambo, ending the season with 1,167 yards on 77 catches.
Out of the backfield, the Stamps have the ever-consistent RB Joffrey Reynolds and last year he became the franchise’s all-time leading rusher with 8,726 yards.
The 2010 season marked the sixth consecutive year Reynolds has both rushed for over 1,000 yards, and been named as a CFL Western Division all-star.
The Stamps’ defence mirrored the success of the offence in 2010, leading the CFL in fewest TDs allowed (36), fewest first downs (316) and lowest total offence per game (336). However, the unit lost four starters (including all-stars CB Dwight Anderson and CB Brandon Browner) and two backups during the off-season, but have made adjustments in an effort to repeat last year’s success.
The team added DB Geoff Tisdale from Hamilton, and moved Keon Raymond from linebacker to defensive back to make up for the loss of the all-stars in the secondary. The Stamps are hoping from more of the same from their defensive leader and the West Division’s top defensive player, MLB Juwan Simpson.
The club’s special teams received a boost in the off-season when the team picked up 2009 Most Outstanding Special Teams Player Larry Taylor. The Stamps were one of two teams without a return touchdown in 2010.