Saskatchewan Roughriders' Brent Hawkins (R) celebrates his touchdown with team mate Barrin Simpson during second half CFL play in Vancouver, British Columbia July 10, 2010. Hawkins picked up a fumble from BC Lions quarterback Travis Lulay and ran it in for the TD. REUTERS/Andy ClarkANDY CLARK/Reuters
A look at how the finalists' divisional opponents see them:
Doug Brown, Winnipeg Blue Bombers defensive tackle
On Montreal's offence: "First and foremost, they protect their best asset, the best player in the league [quarterback Anthony Calvillo] Very rarely do they set up in a five-man blocking scheme. There will always be a [running] back, a wing back, a tight end or a receiver helping out. … They're not going to go to six-receiver sets. They're fine with putting three or four guys in the pattern and relying on Anthony's accuracy, velocity and timing. They think they can beat you on the quality of their receivers, and the chemistry they have with their quarterback. … Now that it's playoff time, [tailback]Avon Cobourne is really getting involved. In a climate game where it's cold, if Montreal can get the ground game going, they'll be that much more effective. … Quick-timing and rhythm passes. They do a lot of that early in a game when they don't know what blitz packages you're going to throw at them."
Marwan Hage, Hamilton Tiger-Cats centre
On Montreal's defence: "You have to locate [linebacker]Chip Cox on the outside blitz. … Chip will blitz from the side where the running back is leaking out [into the pattern]and that's dangerous because offensive lines don't usually account for those linebackers. Normally, they go with the backs. Cox won't respect the back, and he'll blitz with so much speed, he'll get to the quarterback [before he can throw] … Up front, they'll keep coming at you until you stop them. They'll start with a two-man twist [by the defensive tackles] If you stop that, they'll come with a three-man twist [involving an end] You stop that, then all four [linemen]will twist. And if you block that, they'll come with a four-man twist and a blitz. You've got to be able to see it coming. … The key for Saskatchewan is to deliver the first blow. Because if Montreal plays their game, it's going to be difficult."
Korey Banks, B.C. Lions linebacker
On Saskatchewan's offence: "Their whole offence is created around getting in second-and-short situations, so they can force you into a lot of man coverage. Then they run a lot of rub routes and pick routes. … If Montreal plays as they traditionally do - in your face, bump-and-run, get after the quarterback - then it's like second-and-short on every down and Saskatchewan wins the Grey Cup. If Montreal plays that way, then the only way Saskatchewan doesn't win the Grey Cup is if they lose in a shootout, or if their receivers drop balls. … They're going to go after No. 17 [Alouettes halfback Billy Parker] you can bet that, but there won't be a [defensive back]who is safe out there if they play bump-and-run coverage. … Saskatchewan may not have the best quarterback in the game statistically, but they might have the best quarterback for this style of game, in the cold, because you need someone who can run."
Geroy Simon, B.C. Lions slotback
On Saskatchewan's defence: "They want to pressure the quarterback and a lot of times they'll bring more [blitzers]than you can block. It's a bit of a gimmicky defence, but they get to the quarterback fast enough that receivers don't get too far downfield. … They protect their [defensive backs]with pressure on the quarterback. They've got some experienced guys back there, but they're not the best man-coverage guys. … Their vulnerability is on the corners, the two young guys [Leron Mitchell and Nick Graham] They're not big-time tacklers. They'll get you down, but Montreal's big, strong receivers should be able to run through some of those tackles. … When [middle linebacker]Barrin [Simpson]is in the game, they feel they can stop the run a little better. They protect Barrin, and he flies around making tackles. When Barrin is not there, they have to play more honest, use more regular defensive linemen and linebackers, fewer [defensive]backs.