Week 2: Calgary Stampeders (0-1) at Ottawa Redblacks (0-1)

Capital_Dave · June 12, 2023, 10:36pm

Your pick to win:

Calgary Stampeders
Ottawa Redblacks

0 voters

CFL.ca Power Rankings:

6. Calgary Stampeders (0-1)

Last week: 4

Last game: 25-15 loss to BC
Next game: At Ottawa, Thurs. June 15

Worth noting: A disappointing start to the season for Jake Maier and the Stamps, as they were stifled much of the night against the Lions in just about all facets of the game. A trip to Ottawa, where the REDBLACKS have struggled at home and are already banged up, could be just the tonic for Dave Dickenson’s team.

9. Ottawa REDBLACKS (0-1)

Last week: 7

Last game: 19-12 loss to Montreal
Next game: Vs. Calgary, Thurs. June 15

Worth noting: An injury-riddled team didn’t muster much of an offensive showing against the Als. As backup QB Nick Arbuckle told reporters after his three-interception showing, they need more touchdowns and less field goals going forward. This week: an opportunity to put the team’s home losing streak to bed

3DN Power Rankings:

6) Calgary Stampeders (5)

It wasn’t a good start to the post-Bo era in Calgary and their position in our rankings reflects that. Calgary fell one spot following an uninspired performance against the Lions in which the offence look sluggish, the defence failed to generate a pass-rush, and their normally reliable special teams were below average. Could Calgary’s long tenure as one of the league’s best teams finally be coming to an end?

9) Ottawa Redblacks (7)

Bob Dyce’s tenure as the club’s permanent head coach started off as badly as one could have possibly imagined. Ottawa failed to find the end zone, relying on the right foot of Lewis Ward to keep them in the game, while calls for Nick Arbuckle to be replaced by Tyrie Adams seem to be growing louder by the day. How long will it be before Ottawa gets out of the basement?

Watch on CFL+

Capital_Dave · June 12, 2023, 11:35pm

While it should be noted backup quarterback Tyrie Adams took some first-team reps during Monday’s practice, the team believes Arbuckle is the best option to win this next football game.

I liked what I saw from Tyrie Adams in the pre-season. I’m curious to see what he can do in the real thing. If Arbuckle falters again, I wonder how quickly Dyce will give Adams a shot.

GridironGirl · June 13, 2023, 2:38am

OMG this one is so hard to pick. both teams looked equally bad in week one.

Capital_Dave · June 13, 2023, 10:46pm

This will hurt Calgary’s chances, though they do have good depth at RB.

Capital_Dave · June 13, 2023, 10:48pm

And not to be outdone, the Redblacks will also be without their starting RB:

rider01.1 · June 14, 2023, 12:21am

Not gonna count out Calgary yet. They have always put good stuff on the field.
If one goes by the past , recent and long term you gotta go with them being better than their showing last week against a very good BC team… Until they show us different

GridironGirl · June 14, 2023, 2:48am

if Masoli was playing i’d go with REDBLACKS. but Arbuckle is just awful and shouldn’t even be on the field.

Jon · June 14, 2023, 2:53am

It would appear that one of the early season lessons is don’t count on QB’s that Calgary gave up on.

GridironGirl · June 14, 2023, 2:55am

Michael O’Connor might even get a call soon lol

rider01.1 · June 14, 2023, 2:56am

If Cowtown gices up on a rookie QB… The writing is on the wall… Arbuckle has done nothing but prove that how many times now.

Jon · June 14, 2023, 3:00am

I wasn’t only referring to rookie QB’s they gave up on.

mikem · June 14, 2023, 11:12am

They have to pull him early if he can’t move the ball. Adams looked good in the pre-season, he can scramble and run.
If Arbuckle stays in, it’s going to be another game with the defense setting up the offense for FGs.
Likely the worst game of the week and another low scoring game mostly FGs

rider01.1 · June 14, 2023, 1:03pm

They turfed Henry before his time was up and got burned in the Cup game by him. It was the only time I cheered for Henry when he was not a rider .

Capital_Dave · June 14, 2023, 10:07pm

Mills looked pretty good last year. Ottawa had better be ready.

Mills vs Mauldin will be fun to watch.

Capital_Dave · June 14, 2023, 10:12pm

And Tuggle in for Ottawa.

Capital_Dave · June 14, 2023, 11:04pm

2-23 at home since 2019!

FyoIMLpXgAYwXSS

Capital_Dave · June 15, 2023, 5:48am

I like donuts OK. I really like fried chicken. But I think I’d pass on combining the two in one bite.

https://twitter.com/tdplace_Levy/status/1669029659978211336?s=20

Capital_Dave · June 15, 2023, 10:14pm

https://twitter.com/CFL/status/1669377239748599812?s=20

From the folks at PFF:

CALGARY STAMPEDERS VS. OTTAWA REDBLACKS

Both teams will be looking to bounce back from disappointing season-opening losses. But Calgary will be without star running back Ka’deem Carey, which means they’ll be relying on quarterback Jake Maier more than ever.

Maier will need to push the ball downfield more than he did in Week 1, where his average depth of target was just 8.0 yards. That simply won’t do against this Redblacks defense.

On the other side of the ball, Ottawa will need a bounceback game from signal-caller Nick Arbuckle, who produced four turnover-worthy throws and the lowest passer rating of all CFL quarterbacks in Week 1.

Calgary’s secondary struggled at times last week against the BC Lions offense but will have a good opportunity to look better against a weaker receiving corps and quarterback.

MATCHUP TO WATCH: LT D’ANTNE DEMERY, CALGARY VS. EDGE LORENZO MAULDIN IV, OTTAWA

This could really be all of Ottawa’s defensive line vs. Calgary’s offensive line.

Last week, Calgary allowed 12 total pressures, the second-most in the league. Demery was the lone bright spot on the line, as he allowed just one hurry across 40 pass-block snaps.

Meanwhile, Mauldin notched a sack, a hit and three hurries in a game where Ottawa recorded six sacks and 15 total pressures. He’ll line up outside of Demery often in this game and could wreak havoc on Calgary’s passing game if Demery can’t contain him.

PLAYER TO WATCH: RB DEDRICK MILLS, CALGARY

No CFL team relies on the run game as much as the Stampeders. Their 135.3 yards per game led the league last year, and it wasn’t even close.

Much of that was because of All-Star running back Ka’deem Carey, who’s now out injured. Mills has been stamped in as his replacement, and while he’s not Carey, he could prove effective as a replacement. Last year, Mills forced a missed tackle every 2.6 attempts, which led the league.

If he can step up and put the Stamps in good second-down positions, it will really help their passing attack, which struggles when having to go beyond the short game.

Esky · June 15, 2023, 10:52pm

Who ever loses, don’t give up, Elks will be easy pickins

Esky · June 15, 2023, 10:59pm

Stamps are diminishing and declining . Redblacks will keep it close, not free falling.