Balancing act

Running finally fits in plans but is it too late for Stamps?

The forecast for tonight's game is calling for rain, a slight wind from the north and plenty of running. Word this week was that by game time, Calgary's p.o.p. (possibility of pass) would hover around 60% all night long, down from the 90% that has made this summer so miserable for the Stamps and their fans.

We know all this because Matt Dunigan tells us so.

In previous weeks, the Stamps head coach claims that while broadcasting to the world his club would continue to live and die by the pass, he quietly told offensive co-ordinator John Jenkins to call more running plays.

To no avail.

So, because the gold-topped Fabutan fanatic opted to ignore Dunigan's pleas to pocket the pass, he's been Fateried (as in, shown the door).

Thus, a new era in Stamps football starts tonight when Scott Regimbald, Scott Deibert and Victor Ike take turns carrying the ball -- reminding Calgary football fans the importance of keeping the opposition guessing.

Although Winnipeg's defensive unit is as horrid as the league has to offer, no Stamp is likely to surpass the 100-yard rushing mark.

The point is, by virtue of becoming the team's play-caller, Dunigan will finally be able to take some pressure off his rookie quarterback and his offensive line by using a technique as old a the game itself.

It's called balance.

Instead of being hung out to dry with an all-out passing attack the opposition countered with an all-out rush of their own, Jones and the Stamps may just have a fighting chance tonight.

Still, many wonder if the time to implement an offence with new terminology and a new philosophy is now, with Jones making his second pro start.

"This football team has been honing its skills to run the ball from Day 1 -- it just wasn't implemented into the game plan," Dunigan explained yesterday.

"You can connect the dots as to why that wasn't happening. I've paved the way so that can happen."

Involved in an animated discussion with Jenkins on the sideline late in last week's implosion in Ottawa, Dunigan continued to blame the dearly departed co-ordinator yesterday for his club's ailing offence.

Still, Dunigan is unable to admit he was wrong to hire Jenkins and allow him to shape the sort of one-dimensional offence that can only work if you have a stud quarterback.

"Call it a mistake, a lack of experience or what you will but he was the right guy," said Dunigan, who also refused to admit he was wrong early in the year to trade for 'quarterback of the future,' Romaro Miller, whom he cut during camp.

"I thought I would've had more opportunities to communicate better with John -- that didn't happen for a number of reasons I won't get into," Dunigan said.

Instead, he'll simply make Jenkins the fall guy in a season during which nothing has gone right.

Now they face the struggling Winnipeg Blue Bombers in a battle for the basement which could be the biggest game of the year for a club that will start losing the fans and their playoff hopes if they don't muster a win.

And the Stamps will have to do it without their leading receiver, the banged-up Albert Connell.

"We've had an emotional week here and we're a better team because of it," said Dunigan.

"We're running the ball more and looking for some balance offensively.

"Victor (Ike) has been here for eight weeks and we need to see what he can do.

"Guys definitely have a bounce in their steps. We've got to be careful, though, because that bounce was there before."

And all the while, the storm clouds continue to gather over McMahon Stadium.