Latest news with #DaveDickenson
National Post
3 days ago
- Sport
- National Post
Players to watch as Calgary Stampeders kick off season and new era after roster overhaul
And so it begins. Article content The hopeful turnaround of the Calgary Stampeders following a few futile seasons kicks off Saturday against the visiting Hamilton Tiger-Cats at McMahon Stadium (5 p.m., TSN, CHQR 770 AM/107.3 FM the Edge, TSN). Article content Article content Are they headed for another down year, as ugly as their five-win playoff miss of 2024? Or is the Canadian Football League franchise now on the upturn? Article content Article content It's not like the Dave Dickenson & Co. sat on their hands and did nothing in the face of criticism offered over the last two campaigns. Article content They went out and made some noise, just as they promised they would in trying to U-turn their fortunes. Article content While the mission was to improve in all areas of the franchise — both on and off the field — it's the pigskin personnel that matters most to fans. Article content But the Stampeders didn't fall short on that, living up to their promise to be aggressive in the off-season. Article content The Red and White sent underachievers packing, made a monster trade and signed many sought-after free agents. Article content Good on them. Article content But stay tuned Saturday — and beyond — to see how it's turned out. Article content QB Vernon Adams Jr. Article content It's arguably the biggest signing by the Stamps in decades. The veteran CFL pivot is a top-three QB in the league and comes armed with a desire to win a Grey Cup. A championship has eluded him until this point. He's charismatic and talented and should bring excitement to the field as both a passer and runner. After all, they don't call him 'Big-Play V.A.' for nothing. So if nothing else, the offence should be fun once again, with no apologies for the vanilla flavour we've seen from QBs in recent years. Article content Article content WRs Dominique Rhymes and Tevin Jones Article content 'The Twins', as they bill themselves, are tall, rangy, talented pass-catchers, giving Adams two more dynamic targets to go with veterans Reggie Begelton, Jalen Philpot and Clark Barnes. It's quite the receiving corps actually, with Rhymes and Jones bringing as much bravado as three-time 1,000-yard-man Begelton. Rhymes is quite familiar with Adams, so that connection is strong — they hooked up for big passing gains with the BC Lions. And Jones, who has similar traits to Rhymes, should be familiar to Stamps fans, having run amok for 200-plus receiving yards on the Red and White last Labour Day.
CTV News
4 days ago
- Sport
- CTV News
Calgary Stampeders seek turnaround in 2025 with quarterback Vernon Adams Jr.
Calgary Stampeders quarterback Vernon Adams Jr., right, hands the ball off to Jeshrun Antwi during first half CFL preseason football action against the Edmonton Elks in Calgary, Saturday, May 24, 2025. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh) The 2025 CFL season will be a proving ground for the Calgary Stampeders. The Stampeders want to show themselves and their fans that the team has what it takes to get back into the playoffs after falling short of the post-season for the first time in 19 years. There will be unprovens in starting jobs for the Stampeders from the defensive backfield to the return game to punting to offensive short-yardage situations. Players have the chance to make a name for themselves and raise their CFL stock. 'We've got maybe a different type of athlete,' said head coach and general manager Dave Dickenson, who enters his third season in the dual roles. 'We do have more size. We've got to find playmakers. It does feel like the guys believe that we have the pieces in place. It's about going out winning games and if we can put it together on that field on that new turf, we'll be a happy group.' Calgary opens at home Saturday against the Hamilton Tiger-Cats and quarterback Bo Levi Mitchell, who won two Grey Cups and two CFL Most Outstanding Player awards as a Stampeder. Vernon Adams Jr. makes his Stampeder debut Saturday. Calgary acquired the 32-year-old quarterback in a trade with the B.C. Lions, a month after the Stampeders closed out their dismal 2024 campaign. 'He understands that he is on the pedestal and all eyes are on him,' Stampeders receiver Reggie Begelton said. 'But at the same time, we win or lose as a team. In that locker room, we have his back no matter what.' Adams led the CFL in passing yards in 2023 (4,769) and ranked second in touchdowns (31). He was in the MOP conversation in 2024 with B.C. before he was sidelined with injury in August. Jake Maier, who replaced Mitchell and is now with the Saskatchewan Roughriders, didn't have much success in Calgary with 11 wins over two seasons. But Calgary's defence was also the worst at stopping the rush and 537 points against was the second-worst in 2024. 'First thing for the offence, we've got to not turn the ball over as much,' Dickenson said. 'We had too many of those interceptions and costly ones, and for a multitude of reasons though, not necessarily just quarterback play. 'Defensively, we've got to stop the run. Then special teams, to me, just effort and execution. The execution maybe needs to be better.' The latter department falls to Dickenson's older brother Craig, who was Saskatchewan's head coach for four years. He takes over for Mark Kilam, who, after 15 years as Calgary's special teams co-ordinator, is Edmonton's head coach. Bob Slowik was promoted from linebackers coach to defensive co-ordinator after Brent Monson was hired by Hamilton. Pat DelMonaco starts his sixth season as offensive co-ordinator. But seven new position coaches on Calgary's staff represent a seismic shift for a football club known for coaching continuity and retaining position coaches for multiple years. But finishing last in the CFL prompted the shake-up of a franchise accustomed to playing high-stakes games in November. 'We've had to put it behind us. It's easier because there's really not a lot of guys here from that team,' Dickenson said. 'We don't even really talk about it. We understand history is history and it's certainly something that'll always be there for the guys that were (here) in 2024, but it's certainly a big-time different team. 'We're just a young team and also an inexperienced team, so every day, you have to make it count. What I mean by that is every practice, every meeting really has to count.' Begelton, who signed a contract extension that would make him a Stampeder for a ninth season in 2026, feels the Stampeders are ready for a turnaround in 2025. 'Energy, vibes, you can't deny something when you feel it,' Begelton said. 'There's belief here. 'We know what it takes. We've got a lot of veterans on this team that have been here and been on winning teams, and they know what it takes.' 2024 record: 5-12-1, fifth, West Division Did you know?: New quarterbacks coach Dakota Prukup played for Oregon the year after Vernon Adams Jr. did. Key additions: QB Vernon Adams Jr.; REC Dominique Rhymes; REC Tevin Jones; RB Jeshrun Antwi; DL Folarin Orimolade; LB Gary Johnson Jr.; LB Derrick Moncrief; DB Damon Webb. Key losses: QB Jake Maier (Saskatchewan); QB Tommy Stevens; OL Sean McEwan (Saskatchewan); Punter Cody Grace (Edmonton); LB Micah Awe (B.C.); LB Cam Judge (Toronto); DL Mike Rose (Saskatchewan). Players to watch: Dominique Rhymes has chemistry with Adams Jr. from the season and a half they were teammates with the B.C. Lions. This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 6, 2025. Donna Spencer, The Canadian Press
Winnipeg Free Press
4 days ago
- Sport
- Winnipeg Free Press
Calgary Stampeders seek turnaround in 2025 with quarterback Vernon Adams Jr.
CALGARY – The 2025 CFL season will be a proving ground for the Calgary Stampeders. The Stampeders want to show themselves and their fans that the team has what it takes to get back into the playoffs after falling short of the post-season for the first time in 19 years. There will be unprovens in starting jobs for the Stampeders from the defensive backfield to the return game to punting to offensive short-yardage situations. Players have the chance to make a name for themselves and raise their CFL stock. 'We've got maybe a different type of athlete,' said head coach and general manager Dave Dickenson, who enters his third season in the dual roles. 'We do have more size. We've got to find playmakers. It does feel like the guys believe that we have the pieces in place. It's about going out winning games and if we can put it together on that field on that new turf, we'll be a happy group.' Calgary opens at home Saturday against the Hamilton Tiger-Cats and quarterback Bo Levi Mitchell, who won two Grey Cups and two CFL Most Outstanding Player awards as a Stampeder. Vernon Adams Jr. makes his Stampeder debut Saturday. Calgary acquired the 32-year-old quarterback in a trade with the B.C. Lions, a month after the Stampeders closed out their dismal 2024 campaign. 'He understands that he is on the pedestal and all eyes are on him,' Stampeders receiver Reggie Begelton said. 'But at the same time, we win or lose as a team. In that locker room, we have his back no matter what.' Adams led the CFL in passing yards in 2023 (4,769) and ranked second in touchdowns (31). He was in the MOP conversation in 2024 with B.C. before he was sidelined with injury in August. Jake Maier, who replaced Mitchell and is now with the Saskatchewan Roughriders, didn't have much success in Calgary with 11 wins over two seasons. But Calgary's defence was also the worst at stopping the rush and 537 points against was the second-worst in 2024. 'First thing for the offence, we've got to not turn the ball over as much,' Dickenson said. 'We had too many of those interceptions and costly ones, and for a multitude of reasons though, not necessarily just quarterback play. 'Defensively, we've got to stop the run. Then special teams, to me, just effort and execution. The execution maybe needs to be better.' The latter department falls to Dickenson's older brother Craig, who was Saskatchewan's head coach for four years. He takes over for Mark Kilam, who, after 15 years as Calgary's special teams co-ordinator, is Edmonton's head coach. Bob Slowik was promoted from linebackers coach to defensive co-ordinator after Brent Monson was hired by Hamilton. Pat DelMonaco starts his sixth season as offensive co-ordinator. But seven new position coaches on Calgary's staff represent a seismic shift for a football club known for coaching continuity and retaining position coaches for multiple years. But finishing last in the CFL prompted the shake-up of a franchise accustomed to playing high-stakes games in November. 'We've had to put it behind us. It's easier because there's really not a lot of guys here from that team,' Dickenson said. 'We don't even really talk about it. We understand history is history and it's certainly something that'll always be there for the guys that were (here) in 2024, but it's certainly a big-time different team. 'We're just a young team and also an inexperienced team, so every day, you have to make it count. What I mean by that is every practice, every meeting really has to count.' Begelton, who signed a contract extension that would make him a Stampeder for a ninth season in 2026, feels the Stampeders are ready for a turnaround in 2025. 'Energy, vibes, you can't deny something when you feel it,' Begelton said. 'There's belief here. 'We know what it takes. We've got a lot of veterans on this team that have been here and been on winning teams, and they know what it takes.' 2024 record: 5-12-1, fifth, West Division Winnipeg Jets Game Days On Winnipeg Jets game days, hockey writers Mike McIntyre and Ken Wiebe send news, notes and quotes from the morning skate, as well as injury updates and lineup decisions. Arrives a few hours prior to puck drop. Did you know?: New quarterbacks coach Dakota Prukup played for Oregon the year after Vernon Adams Jr. did. Key additions: QB Vernon Adams Jr.; REC Dominique Rhymes; REC Tevin Jones; RB Jeshrun Antwi; DL Folarin Orimolade; LB Gary Johnson Jr.; LB Derrick Moncrief; DB Damon Webb. Key losses: QB Jake Maier (Saskatchewan); QB Tommy Stevens; OL Sean McEwan (Saskatchewan); Punter Cody Grace (Edmonton); LB Micah Awe (B.C.); LB Cam Judge (Toronto); DL Mike Rose (Saskatchewan). Players to watch: Dominique Rhymes has chemistry with Adams Jr. from the season and a half they were teammates with the B.C. Lions. This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 6, 2025.
National Post
02-06-2025
- Business
- National Post
Defensive backs at Calgary Stampeders camp: Secondary a 'work in progress'
Article content Dave Dickenson calls his secondary 'a work in progress.' Article content Article content Whether that morphs into a football masterpiece on the back-end of the Calgary Stampeders defence has yet to be determined. Article content But the boss has brought a new crew of defensive backs, including a few artists, to help transform what was a sub-par unit last year into what he hopes is a better bunch in the 2025 Canadian Football League campaign — and beyond. Article content Article content 'I think it's going to be a work in progress, meaning I don't know who the starters are,' admitted Dickenson of piecing together his secondary during Stamps camp, which has now come to a close with the season-opener slated for Saturday against the visiting Hamilton Tiger-Cats at McMahon Stadium (5 p.m., TSN, CHQR 770 AM/107.3 FM the Edge). Article content 'But let's just say our free agents haven't disappointed at all,' continued Dickenson. 'And so I really think they've been fit in seamlessly as hard workers, character guys, leadership guys …' Article content At the heart of that statement are a couple of prized off-season acquisitions in Damon Webb and Derrick Moncrief, both decorated CFL veterans. Article content Webb is a 2024 CFL all-star defensive back, while Moncrief was a league all-star at the same position in 2019. Article content With the Stamps, both are projected leaders for the season ahead with different duties at hand from when they earned those all-star accolades — with Webb now at safety, and Moncrief sneaking up to play strong-side linebacker. Article content
Global News
25-05-2025
- Sport
- Global News
Stampeders outplay Elks 31-4, in preseason matchup
The Calgary Stampeders built up a 21-1 lead at halftime and then coasted to a 31-4 preseason win over the visiting Edmonton Elks, on Saturday night. 'We did play a lot of our starters and they played well,' Stampeders head coach Dave Dickenson said after the win. 'And, you know, Edmonton's first game — so I kind of felt like our starters needed to do that. We did take a lot of penalties. Some of them were just dumb penalties that I consider kind of selfish penalties. You know, over-aggression. So, we need to clean that up.' Get breaking National news For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen. Sign up for breaking National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy Stampeders' quarterback Phillip Walker Junior threw for 138 yards and one touchdown as the hosts jumped out to a 15-1 first-quarter lead and never looked back. Logan Bonner scored two touchdowns on the ground, while receiver Daylen Baldwin had one touchdown reception. Veteran kicker Rene Paredes went 3-for-3 in field goal attempts, including one from 52 yards. Story continues below advertisement Vincent Blanchard had a 40-yard field goal for the Elks. 'You know I think maybe it was a little big for a couple guys at the start,' Elks head coach Mark Kilam said after the loss. 'I think it will be a wakeup call for the level of preparation, the level of physicality that we need to have. But there was a little bit of life late in that game. There will definitely be some positives to build on, but lots of teach tape from that one.' The CFL regular season kicks off June 5.
