Joffrey Reynolds led the CFL in 2009 with 1,504 rushing yards.
The 2008 Grey Cup champions were hoping for a chance to defend their CFL title on their home turf in 2009. But a 30-14 loss to Saskatchewan in the West semifinals ended any chance for Calgary to repeat.
Nonetheless the Stampeders finished the season in second place in the West with a 10-7-1 record which on many levels has to be considered a success.
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They come into the 2010 season with 3/1 football betting odds to win the Grey Cup. These are the same odds as the Roughriders and second to only Montreal, who is currently the favorite at 3/2. If Calgary can find a way to get by Saskatchewan, a team it lost to three times last season including the playoffs, the Stamps have as good a chance as anyone to make it to the Grey Cup this year.
The offense is led by QB Henry Burris. Last season he was ranked second in the league with 339 completions on 571 attempts for a total of 4,831 yards. He threw for 22 TD’s and was picked off 16 times. Burris ended the year with an efficiency rating of 88.0.
He is off to a bit of a shaky start this year, throwing six interceptions against five TD’s in his first three games.
The primary targets in the passing game are WR’s Romby Bryant and Nik Lewis. Last season Lewis had 70 receptions for 1,013 yards and Bryant had 47 receptions for 780 yards. A key loss from 2009 was Jemaine Copeland, who led the team in receiving with 1,235 yards; fifth best in the league.
While the Stampeders passing game finished third in the league in total yards, the running game led by Joffery Reynolds is the real strength of this team. Reynolds already has 258 yards on 48 carries his first three games of this season. Last season he led the league with 1,504 yards on 235 carries for an incredible 6.4 yards per carry average. When Reynolds is on his game, Calgary’s offense is at its best as it opens up opportunities for Burris to take some shots downfield.
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One area that was decimated with departured from 2009 was the offensive line. Gone are Dmitri Tsoumpas, Jeff Pilon, Jesse Newman and John Comisky. Time will only tell whether or not their replacements can hold things together over an 18-game schedule.
Defensive back Dwight Anderson leads a Calgary secondary that is one of the best in the league. The Stampeders ranked third in the league in total passing yards allowed (246.6) and second in lowest percent of passes completed (59.1). Overall the defense ranked third in total yards (347.1) and second in total points (23.8).
Gone from last year are LB’s Dwaine Carpenter and Tim Johnson, but Malik Jackson and Juwan Simpson have done a good job so far in their place.
Calgary still has some issues to resolve, especially on the offensive line, if it hopes to get back to the championship game. While the Stampeders should be a lock to make the playoffs, I cannot help but feel that the Roughriders will once again be standing in their way to get to the Grey Cup. At equal odds of 3/1 you still have to lean toward Saskatchewan to come out on top in the West this season.