The 106th Grey Cup was won by the Calgary special teams. The offences and defences for the Stampeders and the Redblacks were about equal but the Stampeder special teams made the big plays.
On media day I had spoken to Stampeder special teams coach Mark Kilam. He talked about the importance of special teams in the CFL because of the potential explosive plays.
During that conversation, he mentioned John Hufnagel letting him ride out adversity in his first season as special teams coach nine years ago. He said in his first two games Chad Owens and Marcus Thigpen returned kicks for touchdowns. He was forced to look at what he had been doing on returns. He adjusted his gunners and how they were fitting together at the point of attack.
On Sunday night the Terry Williams punt return touchdown to end the first half was the pivotal play of the game. On a treacherous icy field he found a seam through the Redblack cover team. Three Redblack players ended up in one lane leaving space for Williams.
Kilam said they had called a middle return on the play. He said that if Williams could make the first guy miss they knew they would have a chance at a crease and Williams hit it.
In the second half, backup Calgary linebacker Riley Jones made the key play of that half when he tackled Diontae Spencer on an Ottawa return and forced a fumble recovered by the Stampeders. On the play he was the last man to be able to stop Spencer from gaining the corner and heading for a touchdown.
Spencer said he was just trying to make a play. He said he had been slipping on a lot of pass routes. He had fallen down trying to get to a punt in the first half. He said he had not been able to put his foot in the ground and cut all game.
Spencer said the return had been called to go wide and he was trying to use his speed to get around the coverage. He knew Jones was the last defender with a shot at him. He wanted to put his foot down and cut back but knew it would not work. He tried to outrun Jones but could not get past him.
Stampeder linebacker Cory Greenwood, said there had been snow on the field and it was frozen. They were sliding on the frozen pebbles. During the game he said the field loosened on the outside but the logos and signs stayed slippery.
As he neared Jones said that he had no idea he was the last defender. He knew how fast Spencer is and just got wide. He equally knew the conditions would stop Spencer from cutting back so he went for Spencer’s outside shoulder as he closed on Spencer. He actually thought he had just tackled Spencer and did not know he had forced the fumble.
Kilam said they had talked about the bad footing before the game for punt coverage and knew there would be no shake by the kick returners. Returners would not be stopping and starting on that field. Knowing Spencer is a dangerous returner Jones took the wide angle Kilam wanted in coverage.
Kickers found it equally challenging. As with many players Stampeder place kicker, Rene Paredes, changed his footwear during the game. Unlike other players he changed only one shoe. He chose to only change the shoe on his plant leg.
Most players went to shoes that had more teeth to get a better grip on on the field.
For kickoffs Paredes had to change his runup taking shorter steps to maintain his footing.
He said he still had his standard range and was good to kick field goals from 50 to 52 yards.
It was a great night for the Stampeder special teams and their coach.
