Dinwiddie Excels - Stamps Coast
First game of the CFL week and Calgary visited Weinerpeg to battle the 0-4 Bombers marred with controversy. Ranging from scantily-clad ex-cheerleaders posted on the internet to last year's east-MVP noimnee being benched, Winnipeg really had no reason to cheer. The team started their backup QB Ryan Dinwiddie in place of Kevin Glenn, new O-linemen, and some new faces at the linebacker position. Really no reason to cheer or expect--well--anything. However, that wasn't the case at kickoff.
First Half:
Despite receiving the ball on opening kick-off Calgary managed only 2 first down for the first 20 minutes of football. The first possession on offence pretty much set the tone complete with a fumble. Lucky for Calgary they were capable of remaining in the game because of Winnipeg's kicker Serna's multiple misses. The run was mostly abandoned after the five minute mark....
Backup QB Dinwiddie was the story stretching the D and torching Bannister and, not as usual, cornerback Browner as well. On the run, there is upside to our defensive line that despite injuries, still manages to keep the run in check. One problem with that stat: Calgary is incapable of getting pressure on the QB which means huge plays downfield. All game Calgary gave up major yardage on big plays; their inability to stop the long stretch passes proved their downfall. Despite one or two great catches, I didn't see many forced drops--sticking to receivers in coverage isn't good enough--sometimes you have to make plays.
For Calgary, they managed to keep the game close but had a dismal first half that really puts a question mark on why a veteran team with a veteran coaching staff can't do anything early. For example, it seems the best game plan Calgary could come up with on offence was to throw short passes--exactly what a deflated Winnipeg team needed to increase their confidence. But, that was Calgary's gameplan for the first 20 minutes.
Second Half:
Back and forth the teams went trading field position and in true CFL fashion the game came downt to the last minute. Calgary almost looked as if they were going to win going up for the first game time in the game with a minute left. In the fourth, Nik Lewis made a circus catch and rumbled into the endzone, then Jermaine Copeland with a minute left found himself alone in the endzone for the lead.
All Winnipeg could do was score and miss field goals. However, they did score a TD, with 16 seconds left off three consecutive major gains off Dinwiddie throws. Calgary couldn't stop a thing on defence, maybe they were tired, more likely they were flat out beat.
No excuses here, Calgary dropped a manageable game because they couldn't be bothered to show consistency on offence in the first half. We should expect that the defence will struggle mightily against big plays every game, but to have a incomplete game as Winnipeg, you'd think they were the Flames.
