Why have Calgary Stampeders been so solid on defence to start 2025 CFL season?
It seems silly to mention mystical mantras such as 'Hocus Pocus' or 'Abracadabra' to reason away the sudden coming together of the Calgary Stampeders' defence.
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That's hardly a word thrown around in football circles, where talent, hard work, repetition and long hours are tools of the trade.
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'No …' voted Stampeders defensive coordinator Bob Slowik, slowing shaking his head to underscore the laughable idea of sorcery being behind the success of his staunch charges so far in the 2025 Canadian Football League season.
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'I don't think there's anybody that's ever going to tell you they go on the field thinking and just go walk out there and things gonna happen magically.'
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It's an answer to be expected from a longtime student of the game.
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But then how does anyone explain the quick gelling of Slowik's defence, an all-new unit with 12 fresh starters in place compared to last fall?
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And … yes … the 'D' has certainly found chemistry in the blink of an eye of newt, fast becoming the best of the CFL with the Stampeders (5-1) next hosting the Montreal Alouettes (4-2) on Thursday at McMahon Stadium (7 p.m., TSN, CHQR 770 AM/107.3 FM the Edge).
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Success, as it has come for the Stamps, just doesn't happen this quickly for the defence.
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'No … and who knows why?' admitted Slowik. 'It's a little bit surprising because of the fact that there's so many new players to the defence. The thing most surprising is the fact that the chemistry within the unit itself is making for one of the best chemistries I've ever been around. That's what led to them gelling and being able to play together so quickly.'
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And play together oh-so magically.
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Indeed, the Red and White defence has allowed just 111 points on the season. That's a scant average of 18.5 over the six games of the schedule, of which four came against arguably the top offensive teams in the CFL.
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Stingy stuff.
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Nobody comes close to rivalling that season-long stat, with the next-toughest defence belonging to the Winnipeg Blue Bombers — you'll recall the Stampeders stomped them twice in three weeks — which has allowed 135 points against.
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To boot, compare the per-game points allowed by last year's Stampeders defence, which surrendered nearly 30 a contest.
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What a turnaround.
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'Credit to our players, first and foremost,' said Stampeders GM/head coach Dave Dickenson. 'I mean … they're playing hard, they're tackling well, they're making plays.
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Toronto Sun
24 minutes ago
- Toronto Sun
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Winnipeg Free Press
24 minutes ago
- Winnipeg Free Press
Canadian government will not appeal sexual assault acquittal of 5 hockey players, lawyer says
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Toronto Sun
2 hours ago
- Toronto Sun
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Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Don't have an account? Create Account Meanwhile, fellow Canadians Leylah Fernandez and Felix Auger-Aliassime received favourable first-round matchups in Thursday's draw for the final Grand Slam of the season. Mboko, who turns 19 on Tuesday, enters the hardcourt major tournament as the top-ranked Canadian, seeded 22nd in the women's draw. The Toronto teen is coming off her first WTA tournament victory at the 1000-level National Bank Open in Montreal. She posted wins over top seed Coco Gauff, world No. 10 Elena Rybakina and four-time Grand Slam winner Naomi Osaka. She will likely get another stiff test from Krejcikova. 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