By Mike Hardiman
Stampeders.com

The Pregame

The Stampeders are back to work after getting the bye in Week 7 and remain at home to face the Ottawa Redblacks.

Ottawa (4-2, tied for first in the East) is fresh off a 26-23 thrilling win at home over Montreal and now has a modest two-game winning streak. Calgary (4-2, second in the West) beat the Alouettes back in Week 6 by a 25-22 score at McMahon.

The two teams met in Ottawa in Week 5, with the Redblacks squeaking out a 29-26 overtime win over Calgary but the Stamps own a 1-0 record at home against this Ottawa team, routing the RedBlacks 38-17 last year, Ottawa’s first season back in the CFL.

This is Calgary’s fifth home game of 2015 — the first time since 1967 that the Stamps have played five of their first seven games at McMahon — and Calgary is a perfect 4-0 thus far at home.

The Stampeders are 3-2 against the East and after this week, have only two games remaining (both on the road) against Eastern teams. Ottawa is 1-1 on the road and is 2-2 when playing Western teams. 

The Kickoff

When/Where: Saturday, Aug. 15 at 8 p.m. MDT at McMahon Stadium in Calgary
Television: TSN, ESPN2
Radio: Newstalk 770, SiriusXM Channel 167
Internet: www.newstalk770.com

The Stampeders

The Stamps haven’t been able to put together a winning streak of more than two games so far this year but they do have a four-game winning streak at home.

Calgary runs the ball much better at McMahon than away from it, averaging 102.7 yards along the ground at home compared to only 50 rushing yards on the road.

Calgary has cleaned up its act in two important categories of late, turning the ball over six times in the last four games compared to eight times in the first two games and allowing as many sacks (seven) in the past four games as they did in the first two. Calgary is plus-3 in the turnover differential at home (plus-7 in the past three home games) but is minus-6 in the two road losses. Calgary was minus-3 and rushed for a season-low 32 yards in the Week 5 loss in Ottawa.

The Stamps are keeping just about all their games close so far in 2015 — five of the six games have been decided by five points or fewer and the four home wins have been by a combined 10 points.

QB Bo Levi Mitchell has three 300-yard passing games in his past four starts and has six TD passes and only one interception over that span. RB Matt Walter and RB Tory Harrison combined for 87 rushing yards in the Stamps’ first game without Jon Cornish and will look to improve on that total against a RedBlacks defence that ranks fifth in rushing yards allowed.

SB Eric Rogers has touchdowns in four straight games and in five of the six he has played in this year. 

Two areas for Calgary’s defence to focus on are turnovers and red-zone production. Ottawa had seven turnovers in their two losses compared to just six in their four wins. Calgary will need to stop the RedBlacks in the red zone as Ottawa has eight TDs in 13 red zone appearances in their four wins but went just one for five in the red zone in the two losses.

LB Deron Mayo leads the defence with 29 tackles (seventh in the league), while DE Charleston Hughes is tied for the league-lead in sacks with six. 

Who to watch:

Marquay McDaniel – SB, #16
2015 stats – 29 receptions, 378 receiving yards, 13.0 yard average, 2 TDs – leads team in receptions
Last Game – 7 receptions, 126receiving yards, 18.0 yard average, 2 TDs – led team in receiving; CFL Week 6 Top Performer vs Montreal
2015 vs Ottawa – 6 receptions, 60 receiving yards. 10.0 yard average, 0 TDs – Week 5 at Ottawa

Tory Harrison – RB, #34
2015 stats – 8 carries, 47 rushing, 5.9 yard average, 0 TDs
Last Game – 8 carries, 47 rushing yards, 5.9 yard average, 0 TDs – Week 6 vs Montreal
2015 vs Ottawa – did not play

Eric Rogers – SB, #80
2015 stats – 27 receptions, 463 receiving yards, 17.1 yard average, 5 TDs – leads team in receiving yards, leads CFL in receiving TDs
Last Game – 4 receptions, 63receiving yards, 15.8 yard average, 1 TD – Week 6 vs Montreal
2015 vs Ottawa – 6 receptions, 124 receiving yards. 20.7 yard average, 1 TD – led team in receiving yards; Week 5 at Ottawa

Fred Bennett – CB, #8
2015 stats – 10 tackles, 1 pass knockdown, 1 forced fumble
Last Game – 2 tackles, 1 pass knockdown, 1 forced fumble
2015 vs Ottawa – 5 tackles – Week 5 at Ottawa

Jamar Wall – HB, #29
2015 stats – 26 tackles, 1 special teams tackle, 1 tackle for loss, 1 INT, 1 pass knockdowns, 1 fumble return – second on team in tackles
Last Game – 7 tackles, 1 fumble return – Week 6 vs Montreal
2015 vs Ottawa – 2 tackles, 1 pass knockdown – Week 5 at Ottawa

The RedBlacks                                                 

The Redblacks are in uncharted waters, sitting tied for top spot in the East with four wins including their first two-game winning streak as a franchise.

QB Henry Burris (#1) is at the top of his game right now with more than 600 yards passing, five TD passes and no interceptions during the streak. Ottawa does not run the ball much (eighth in CFL rushing) but did rush for 102 yards in last week’s win over Montreal, led by RB Chevon Walker’s 84 rushing yards.

Burris’ rebuilt receiving corps is living up to the pre-season promise — WR Greg Ellingson (#82) led the team with eight grabs for 110 yards last week while SB Brad Sinopoli (#88) is tied for third in the CFL in second-down catches. WR Chris Williams (#80) has the CFL’s longest touchdown reception in 2015, an 84-yarder against the Stamps in Week 5.

Ottawa’s defence is solid, breaking into the top three in several defensive categories. Their young secondary, featuring DB Brandon MacDonald (#22), Brandyn Thompson (#25) and veteran Jovon Johnson (#2) is second in the league in passing yards allowed.

The RedBlacks are third in sacks (five in their last two games) and are led by nationals DT Keith Shologan (#74) and Zack Evans (#92). National LB Antoine Pruneau (#6) is playing well in a linebacking crew that is led by MLB Damaso Munoz (#45).

Ottawa’s kicking game is in flux as K Chris Milo (#30) was brought in to shore up the field-goal kicking and may have to punt as well this week.

Henry Burris – QB, #1
2015 stats – 227 attempts, 155 completions, 68.3% completion rate, 1,695 passing yards, 9 TDs, 4  INTs,  92.3 QB rating – third in CFL passing
Last Game – 44 attempts, 32 completions, 72.7% completion rate, 323 passing yards, 2 TDs, 0 INTs, 108.4 QB rating – Week 7 vs Montreal
2015 vs Calgary – 43 attempts, 28 completions, 65.1% completion rate, 389 passing yards, 3 TDs, 0 INTs, 117.3 QB rating  – Week 5 at Ottawa

Keith Shologan – DT, #74
2015 stats – 12 tackles, 1 tackle for loss, 4 sacks, 1 pass knockdown, 1 fumble return – tied for team in sacks
Last Game – 5 tackles, 3 sacks – Week 7 vs Montreal; CFL Top Performer
2015 vs Calgary – 1 tackle, 1 fumble return – Week 5 at Ottawa      

Stats

Week 8 in the CFL

Thursday, Aug. 13, 5:30 p.m. – Edmonton 15 at Montreal 12
Friday, Aug. 14, 6 p.m. – Toronto 27 at Winnipeg 20
Saturday, Aug. 15, 5 p.m. – BC (3-3) at Hamilton (4-2)

Bye – Saskatchewan