When the Calgary Stampeders and Hamilton Tiger-Cats step on the field Sunday at BC Place Stadium for the 102nd Grey Cup, both teams will have redemption on the mind.
The Ticats aim to avoid two consecutive Grey Cup losses after falling to the Saskatchewan Roughriders last season, plus many players on the Stampeders still lament the loss to the Toronto Argonauts in the historic 100th Grey Cup in 2012.
Hamilton has won eight of its last 10 games, while Calgary has gone 16-3 through the regular season and playoffs, so fans can expect a fine display of the beautiful, three-down game.
The Stampeders are listed as 7.5-point favourites for good reason, but no one should count the Ticats out.
Here’s a look at what to expect from each team.
Why the Ticats will win: They can stop Cornish
Hamilton has to stop Jon Cornish first and foremost, be it running the rock or catching it out of the backfield. Cornish cannot get loose for a chunk yardage gain against the Ticats defence or it could open up the floodgates. Up front on defence Eric Norwood needs to find his mid-season pass rushing form and get after Bo Levi Mitchell. The Tiger-Cats have to get pressure on the Calgary quarterback and not allow Mitchell to sit back and pick apart coverage like he did in the West Final. Over on the offensive side of the ball, Nic Grigsby must continue to produce at a high level on the ground. In his last two games, including the East Final, Grigsby has 186 yards and three touchdowns. Meanwhile, Hamilton will be looking for an efficient game out of quarterback Zach Collaros. If he doesn’t turn the ball over and can complete some vertical throws the Tiger-Cats will have a chance to win.
— Dunk
Why the Stampeders will win: They’ll limit the big play
The Ticats have a handful of players that can chew up decent yardage—for example look for Luke Tasker to have a monster game—but they aren’t heavily equipped with game-breakers at the receiver or running back position. Brandon Smith, Fred Bennett and Jamar Wall lead a secondary that should be able to force the Ticats to settle for underneath routes and they’ll limit YAC yards. One player the Stamps must pay special attention to is Brandon Banks, who had a remarkable 226 yards and two touchdowns on punt returns alone in the East Final. Stamps special teams co-ordinator Mark Kilam is well aware of was Banks is capable of and will game plan accordingly (read: kicking away from him at all costs). The Calgary offence is potent enough that Hamilton will likely need a lengthy touchdown or two to keep pace and that’s something the Stampeders won’t allow.
— Johnston
102nd Grey Cup: Who Has the Edge?
Biggest difference maker for the Ticats: Andy Fantuz
One player had a quiet day in the East Final, Andy Fantuz. Hamilton’s big Canadian receiver came back from a hamstring injury, but did not record a catch in last week’s win over Montreal. Perhaps it was a game where Fantuz got back up to game speed and is now fully ready for the Grey Cup. It seems as though the Western University product always rises to the occasion when the big silver trophy is on the line. In four career Grey Cup games Fantuz has led his team in receiving yards in each one. Back in 2007 he had 70 yards and one touchdown to win the Most Valuable Canadian award in Saskatchewan’s Grey Cup victory over Winnipeg. Then in 2009 he had 67 yards, managed 66 yards in 2010 and 76 yards in 2013, although all three were loses in the CFL’s championship game. With those numbers as previous evidence, expect Fantuz to emerge as a difference maker for the Ticats.
— Dunk
Biggest difference maker for the Stampeders: The O-line
Cornish and Mitchell are exceptional talents, but they won’t have any success if their wall of protection doesn’t show up. The good news is this unit always shows up. The CFL’s 2014 Most Outstanding Offensive Lineman, Brett Jones, leads the best offensive line in the league tasked with quieting Hamilton’s big boys Eric Norwood and Ted Laurent, so Cornish can do his thing. The Stampeders beat the Ticats twice this season and did so without Cornish, so even if the Ticats can somehow slow down the run game—very possible considering they only allowed 72.7 rushing yards per game during the season and completely shut down the Alouettes last week—it doesn’t mean they’re home free. This group picks up blitzes incredibly well, only allowing 26 sacks this season, so when linebackers Simoni Lawrence, Taylor Reed or any defensive backs blitz, the Stamps will be up to the challenge. Giving Mitchell time and space in the pocket will be more important than opening holes for Cornish Sunday.
— Johnston
102nd Grey Cup stocked with offensive weapons
Secret weapon for Ticats: Rookie linebacker Taylor Reed
Rookie linebacker Taylor Reed has provided an athletic anchor in the middle of the Ticats defence. No. 44 has been a major factor in helping Hamilton stuff the run so well in the back half of the campaign. And he’s been effective getting home to the quarterback when sent on blitzes, recording eight sacks in the regular season. Reed will play an integral role in the Tiger-Cats’ effort to slow down Cornish. He’s adept at finding the football, quick enough to get there and make a solid tackle on shifty runners. If Hamilton can successfully contain Cornish, Hamilton’s six-foot-three, 235-pound linebacker will be one of the main reasons they get that tough job done.
— Dunk
Secret weapon for Stampeders: Rookie receiver Eric Rogers
It’s remarkable what Eric Rogers has been able to do late in the season, especially when you consider he couldn’t even crack the expansion Ottawa Redblacks’ roster at the beginning of the year. In his last two games, the Cal Lutheran product has hauled in 137 receiving yards and four touchdowns. While the Stamps will rely heavily on Marquay McDaniel, Rogers has been an effective weapon for Mitchell to lean on and the Ticats will have to keep an eye on him because the 23-year-old can burn them.
— Johnston
