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Around the CFL: Burris feels Stamps must win Grey Cup to get respect

Fri 21st, November 2008

Montreal, QC (Sports Network) - Henry Burris wasn't a happy camper at the CFL's awards banquet Thursday night.

After both he and Calgary Stampeders kicker Sandro DeAngelis were snubbed for individual awards, a rather testy Burris greeted reporters at Casino de Montreal.

"Let's get this over with," Burris fumed. "We've got a dag-gum game to play, and if we're going to keep getting robbed like this..."

It seems Burris and the Stampeders figure the only way to earn respect in the CFL is to win the Grey Cup by downing the hometown Montreal Alouettes despite finishing the regular season with the league's best record at 13-5.

"I've always said this, so the media here, please listen to this...there's one thing you can never take away from a team, and that's a championship," Burris continued.

John Hufnagel, the former NFL assistant coach who's in his first year as Calgary's head coach and GM, certainly has the Stampeders positioned right to earn their first Grey Cup title since 2001, which incidentally came at Olympic Stadium.

Hufnagel is certainly familiar with Canadian football, He played 12 seasons as a CFL quarterback with Calgary, Saskatchewan and Winnipeg from 1976 to '87, then served as the Stampeders' offensive coordinator from 1990 to '96 before heading to the Arena Football League.

Then Hufnagel spent seven seasons as an assistant coach in the NFL with Cleveland, Indianapolis, Jacksonville, New England and the New York Giants before returning to Canada.

During Hufnagel's time in the NFL, he worked with the likes of Peyton and Eli Manning as well as New England superstar Tom Brady.

Burris has certainly flourished under Hufnagel, setting career highs this year in passing yards (5,094) and touchdowns (39). Burris was also the CFL's top rushing quarterback with 595 yards to earn his first nomination for the CFL's outstanding player award - won by Montreal's Anthony Calvillo.

Burris also has quite a supporting cast as Calgary's offense also includes the league's top rusher (Joffrey Reynolds, 1,310 yards) and receiver (Ken-Yon Rambo, 100 catches, 1,473 yards, eight touchdowns).

However, Rambo isn't Burris' only option on passing downs. Nik Lewis added 87 catches for 1,109 yards and 10 touchdowns while Jeremaine Copeland (52 catches, 764 yards, seven touchdowns) still remains a dangerous receiver despite sub-par stats - by his standards.

With all the offensive firepower, Calgary finished the season tied with Montreal for tops in average time of possession (32:09) and first in field goals (50) while finishing second in scoring (32 points per game), average yards per game (412), average gain per rush (6.4 yards), touchdowns (58), passing TDs (39) and yards allowed (356 per game).

Last year, Calgarys defense was the CFL's worst, but with the offseason hiring of Chris Jones from Montreal, the unit has transformed into the league's best.

The Stampeders were the toughest team to score against, allowing a league-low 21.5 points per game. They also gave up just 90 yards rushing per game, 24 touchdowns and 11 rushing touchdowns, all tops in the CFL.

Calgary's defense also finished second overall in takeways with 50 (19 interceptions, 19 fumbles and 12 on downs). As a team, the Stampeders were tied with B.C. with the top giveaway-takeaway ratio at plus-20.

Linebacker Shannon James was the defense's leader, posting a team-high 73 tackles. Safety Wes Lysack was the club's top pass defender with four interceptions, returning one for a touchdown.

DeAngelis had a solid season, leading the CFL in scoring with 217 points while connecting on 50-of-58 field goals. Punter Burke Dales finished fourth overall with 46.1-yard average.