Riders at Stamps GDT Friday 8:30PM CT

[TecnoGenius]

That crackback should be 25 and a DQ if the hit is egregious and knocks a player out.  CGY had to play more than a half without their highest-paid FA star DB.  It's one thing if it's an obvious and "forceful" -- but not blow-up -- "rub" (still a penalty), but the hit we saw was beyond acceptable.

The penalty that got applied is basically useless:

1. Crackback blocks are basically always after yards are gained.
2. Because of that, SSK got to keep the 1st down.
3. They were pushed back 15Y, but...
4. They got to keep the 1st down
5. So it's 1st & 10, but 15Y back

My point is, they get the 1st down (instead of being X and 15-25), so are basically trading 15Y for taking out any star DB they want to.

If you're in the 1st H, why not coach your DBs to crackback as hard as they can every good DB.  You can eliminate opponent DBs for a mere cost of 15Y, which is nothing because you got that 1st down.

Another option would be to cancel out the yards gained (no 1st down), down is replayed, and back 15 from the original LoS.  At least the perp team will most likely have their drive stopped.

[Jesse]

On the bright side, SSK just barely BARELY beat the absolute worst team in the league.  And if DTG wasn't clinically missing his brain stem, they may have lost.

That means SSK is barely BARELY better than garbage... and with a RB giving them a free 200Y on the ground to boot!  Greenies will be ecstatic, but they know a real team would have laid a beating on CGY.

Also braindead was trying to pass on that 2PAT from only 1.5Y!  Put Stevens in there and run a sweep, Mills run-fake and Stevens up the gut.  Pick one at random to be the real play, get it in the EZ.

Me an a buddy were saying something similar early in the game. Maier looked sooo good last night...but it was against Sask... Not sure we can take any meaning from this game.

A couple of defences playing poorly makes for an exciting game.

[Blue In BC]

The contacting the kicker couldn't have happened at a worst time. Then throwing that pass on 3rd and 1 killed the chances of the Stamps.

There was still time left and all they needed was to get a 1st down. Huge coaching mistake and that may cost him his job or one of them.

[Blue In BC]

Has Armstead saved the Riders season?

No, but he did look very good.

[Throw Long Bannatyne]

No, but he did look very good.

Armstead has a strange running style, reminded me of James Wilder a bit.  Can see he's a bit unstable mentally, saw Ouellette trying to talk with him and Armstead basically ignored him. Riderfans tying their destiny to this guy are going to be disappointed with the outcome.

[dd]

I'll say, 200+ yds rushing. He has breathed new life into the Riders running game, and AJ's days are done in green, he's a sloth compared to Armstead

[The Zipp]

The contacting the kicker couldn't have happened at a worst time. Then throwing that pass on 3rd and 1 killed the chances of the Stamps.

There was still time left and all they needed was to get a 1st down. Huge coaching mistake and that may cost him his job or one of them.

Hufnagel or whoever is actually running the team has a decision make on DD..

[TecnoGenius]

There was still time left and all they needed was to get a 1st down. Huge coaching mistake and that may cost him his job or one of them.

Hufnagel or whoever is actually running the team has a decision make on DD..

Must suck to be a CGY fan knowing that Dickenson The Greater is basically set in stone as having a major role in the org.

DTG is now doing things regularly, and over many seasons, that would get other HCs fired.  DTL was run out of Regina-town for far less braindead calls than DTG is doing.

If it was a SSK HC making these decisions, the fanbase would be going ballistic, vibrating all over the call-in shows.  But because it's CGY, the HC gets a pass.  It's like whoever is calling the shots there is impervious to public opinion, and winning is optional.

If I'm them, I'm announcing DTG is now GM (or co-GM if Huff still has some input) and Killam is HC.  Huff is looking really old, I don't think he wants to be doing this forever.  Give DTG until they are officially eliminated, then pull the lever.

[TecnoGenius]

Armstead has a strange running style, reminded me of James Wilder a bit.  Can see he's a bit unstable mentally, saw Ouellette trying to talk with him and Armstead basically ignored him. Riderfans tying their destiny to this guy are going to be disappointed with the outcome.

Greenies are already annointing Armstead as The One and armchair-cutting Oullette.  They haven't been happy with him all season.  Huge $$ signing all for nothing.

And I agree with them.  Thor was never great.  He rode coattails and stole a huge contract from a dumb GM.  If they can muzzle and leash Armstead, he'll be much better.  OTT is disintegrating without him.  (Should Dyce have eaten his pride to get the wins?? Hmmm.)

Coming soon: Huge Thor merch blowout sale at Rider Store!  New hot item: rock-stipple painted foam rocks!

And Thor will be lucky to get 125k after he's cut.

[Waffler]

Reports of a locker room divide in Cgy.

https://3downnation.com/2024/09/22/opinion-heated-locker-room-exchange-exposes-divide-amongst-flawed-stampeders/

[Sir Blue and Gold]

Reports of a locker room divide in Cgy.

https://3downnation.com/2024/09/22/opinion-heated-locker-room-exchange-exposes-divide-amongst-flawed-stampeders/

They gotta clean house. It's time.

[J5V]

They gotta clean house. It's time.

Send Begelton our way, please.

[TecnoGenius]

Send Begelton our way, please.

Waffler's link is a good read.  I love what Begelton has to say, and it just reinforces how good he'd be here in WPG.  But it will never happen as we can never afford the mid-high priced vet here, especially if we have to enter a FA bidding war to get him.  Besides, CGY can never let him leave, and I don't think he wants to leave either.

But if CGY blows it all up and both Huff and Dickenson are gone next year, then you could see a new GM making a statement by ditching Begelton.

Aside: I wonder how WFC deals with the "entitled" generation when they bring in the young'n's.

[bunker]

My impression of Calgary is that so long as Huff was GM, or actively involved, they seemed to have an endless pipeline to entry level American talent that was very good, including good QB talent. I think Huff's contacts and scouting system also helped them find good canadian talent in the US like Singleton.

Over the last few years, the talent level has really dropped off. They also tied their fate to Maier, which looks like a mistake (although he might look better on a more talented team). Whether due to lack of money to pay for scouting or just that Dickenson just isn't a good GM, they have league worst talent IMO. I think Dickenson can coach, he took them to 3 straight cups and won one. But he may not be the best coach for a team that is struggling. He seems chronically angry and frustrated (even when he's winning), and it probably wears thin after a while on his players.

[TecnoGenius]

Over the last few years, the talent level has really dropped off. They also tied their fate to Maier, which looks like a mistake (although he might look better on a more talented team). Whether due to lack of money to pay for scouting or just that Dickenson just isn't a good GM, they have league worst talent IMO.

I wonder how much having the league-worst facilities is weighing on CGY's recruiting and retention.  If you're being offered equal money from CGY or SSK or WPG, what would you choose?  Building a brand new world-class stadium could be a great way to gain advantage without impacting the SMS.

As for scouting, yes CGY used to be the one who brought in the rookies everyone drooled over.  Lately the best scouting has been done by WPG and MTL.  MTL is now leading by a country mile in that department.  When's the last time CGY signed a rookie everyone coveted?