3 Keys to Victory Game Day

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 31/07/2010 (5540 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

1. TURN SMILIN’ HANK INTO CRYIN’ HANK

No matter how much yardage running back Joffrey Reynolds churns out along the ground or how well the Stampeders defence or special teams play, Calgary goes as QB Henry (Smilin’ Hank) Burris goes. When he’s on, he can pick apart a defence with his arm and legs — he led all CFL pivots with 552 yards rushing and 11 TDs a year ago. He’s especially effective at running the “Zone Sally” play, where he rolls out and either pitches the ball to Reynolds, cuts inside himself or pulls up and throws.

“Henry does that well. They got back to it last weekend and it’s something we’ve got to watch out for,” said Bombers linebacker Ike Charlton. “Henry likes the big play. He wants the big play. He loves the big play and strives for it. That way, he can smile and get the crowd on his side. We’ve got to eliminate that. We’ve got to make him check down and be methodical and try to get him drive the length of the field.”

2. PLAY THE POINT GUARD, MR. JYLES

It’s a simple mantra spit out by every QB in every league — get the ball into the playmakers’ hands and try not to force things. Steven Jyles said the exact same thing Friday to reporters huddled around him as he wrapped up final preparations for his second straight start. And there is proof in black and white: Bombers receiver Terence Jeffers-Harris leads all CFL receivers in YAC (yards after catch) with 207, Terrence Edwards (144) is second and Adarius Bowman seventh (120). In other words, Jyles doesn’t have to look to his deep routes to hit the home-run ball, as his pass-catchers are able to create after they get the pigskin. Couple that with Fred Reid’s production — 6.3 yards per carry — and the Bombers can trot out more weapons than the U.S. army.

3. MORE JOVO, MORE SPECIAL-TEAMS MAGIC

Interesting fact to munch on today: Bombers cornerback/kick returner Jovon Johnson, arguably the CFL’s best athlete, had three TDs last year — one on an interception he took back, two on kick returns — and in those three games the Blue and Gold were 3-0. No coincidence, then, that in last week’s game against Edmonton, Johnson returned another kick for a score and the Bombers chalked up another “W.” Simply put, Johnson is dynamite when he gets his mitts on the ball. And while we’ve long been a proponent of cutting back his workload in the return game to protect his health and preserve him as the team’s best defensive back, there’s little doubt he is a difference-maker and a threat whenever he touches the ball. Overall, the Bombers’ special teams have improved dramatically since the first two weeks, but still need to have Alexis Serna’s field-goal percentage jump — he’s just 10 of 16 this year and will now handle the punting chores as well.

“Ø Renaud out; Serna to handle punting chores for Bombers “Ø Stamps’ Rambo to suit up for first time in a year