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The Big Question: Are the Roughriders better than the Stampeders?
The Big Question: Are the Roughriders better than the Stampeders?

National Post

time07-07-2025

  • Sport
  • National Post

The Big Question: Are the Roughriders better than the Stampeders?

Perhaps it's somewhat surprising, but a first-place showdown is coming Friday when the Calgary Stampeders visit the Saskatchewan Roughriders. Article content The winner will sit atop the CFL West standings. The Big Question this week: Are the Roughriders better than the Stampeders? Article content Coming off a 37-18 victory over the visiting B.C. Lions and a subsequent bye week, the Roughriders are undefeated in four games. Article content Calgary surprisingly rolled over the favoured Winnipeg Blue Bombers 37-16 on Thursday, giving each team a 3-1 record with the Stampeders earning a tiebreaking advantage for second place in the West. Winnipeg was the pre-season favourite to repeat as the divisional champ for the sixth straight season, but damn the predictions because the Roughriders and Stampeders have moved ahead of the Blue Bombers. Article content The Roughriders average 33.7 points per game, tied with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats as the top-scoring squads, while Calgary surrenders a league-low 20.3 points per game. That may be the offensive/defensive showdown to watch for. Article content In a league where players frequently bounce from team to team, Calgary has six ex-Roughriders and a couple former coaches on its squad while Saskatchewan has nine ex-Stampeders to go along with five coaches, including head coach Corey Mace and offensive co-ordinator Marc Mueller. Article content Among the players recently moving from Calgary to Saskatchewan are middle linebacker Jameer Thurman, defensive tackles Micah Johnson and Mike Rose, backup quarterback Jake Maier and short-yardage quarterback Tommy Stevens. The latter three arrived this year, leaving a non-play qualifier for a Saskatchewan squad that advanced to last year's West final. Article content Article content Motivation. Preparation. Expectation. Article content Article content The Roughriders have the edge in all three categories. Comparing their performances against common opponents this season, Saskatchewan and Calgary have each defeated Hamilton and the Toronto Argonauts. Saskatchewan also beat the Ottawa Redblacks, who dumped the hometown Stampeders 20-12 on June 21. Article content The outcome of CFL games typically relies on the quarterbacks. Calgary's mercurial starter, Vernon Adams Jr., is coming off a solid performance, completing 13 of 18 passes for 222 yards with two touchdowns and no interceptions. Saskatchewan's Trevor Harris was leading the CFL in passing until being forced to miss the last game because he couldn't pass concussion protocol. Maier stepped in and was a serviceable 13-for-23 for 170 yards with one TD and no picks. Article content Saskatchewan defeated B.C. because Riders running back A.J. Ouellette had 23 carries for 139 yards and one touchdown while cornerback Tevaughn Campbell returned an interception 89 yards for a game-turning major. Performances like that and a decent showing from Harris, who is expected to play, will answer the question. Article content

Tommy Stevens feels at home in Roughriders' quarterback room
Tommy Stevens feels at home in Roughriders' quarterback room

National Post

time02-06-2025

  • General
  • National Post

Tommy Stevens feels at home in Roughriders' quarterback room

Despite being on a new team this year, quarterback Tommy Stevens is already comfortable in his surroundings. Article content Article content After signing with the Roughriders during free agency this off-season, the short-yardage specialist joined a club that already featured fellow quarterback and former Calgary Stampeders teammate Jake Maier — who was acquired by the Riders earlier in the off-season — along with offensive coordinator Marc Mueller, who was Calgary's quarterbacks coach for Stevens' first three seasons. Article content Article content In fact, reuniting with Mueller — who is in his second year as Saskatchewan's play caller — was one of the reasons Stevens chose the Roughriders in free agency. Playing in front of Saskatchewan's fan base as a member of the home team was another. Article content 'I'd be lying to you if I told you I wasn't fired up that this was going to be a possibility,' Stevens said as the Roughriders prepare for Thursday's season opener (7 p.m., TSN) against the Ottawa Redblacks at Mosaic Stadium. 'Glad it all worked out. Really happy to be here. I mean, this place is incredible. I think it's nicer every time I'm in here. Article content 'I'm glad I won't be a visitor in here. I'm glad this will be home.' Article content In his three years with the Stampeders, the 28-year-old Stevens developed into one of the CFL's elite short-yardage specialists. Last year, he rushed the ball 60 times for 237 yards — a four-yard average — with 10 rushing touchdowns, which was tied for the league lead. Article content Along with Maier, Stevens joins a quarterback in Saskatchewan room that also features veteran starter Trevor Harris and second-year pivot Jack Coan, who played college football at Notre Dame before coming to Saskatchewan in 2024. Article content 'Obviously me and Jake have been pretty close for, I guess this will be going on the fourth season we've been together,' said Stevens. 'But coming in with the new guys with Trev and Jack, they've been great. Article content Article content 'I think that's super important. And especially in our room — only one guy can play, right. So being able to have that kind of relationship, being able to bounce ideas off of each other. Article content 'Obviously, Trevor's been around for a while, and Jack's played some big-time football too, so just being able to hear their perspective on things, how they go about their process, how they read certain plays, what they think that we should do on whatever it may be, it's been helpful.'

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