3 days ago
Defensive linemen in Calgary Stampeders camp: 'Game-wreckers' wanted
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'And then on the edges, you've got to be a full-time player … but you've got to be able to stop the run and then get after the quarterback.'
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With 18 d-line hopefuls still in camp Wednesday, Dickenson and his staff have plenty of talent — and options — on hand.
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Beyond Orimolade on the edge, returnee Clarence Hicks has been a standout during camp. As have fellow Americans Cedric Wilcots II and Shaun Peterson Jr., who earned two QB sacks in last Saturday's 31-4 pre-season victory over the visiting Edmonton Elks at McMahon.
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Of the big American fellas inside, returnee Josiah Coatney, fourth-year CFLer Miles Brown and Jaylon Hutchings — who signed with the Stamps last October — are all turning heads.
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Then there's the Canadians in the mix — returnees Kail Dava, Kelon Thomas, Ryan Leder, Justin Sambu and Anthony Federico, 2024 draft-picks George Idoko and Jason Janvier-Messier and 2025 draftee — and Calgarian — Max von Muehldorfer.
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'I think we have a lot of talent,' added Orimolade. 'I think there's a lot of guys that are still like budding, but I think number one, I think we're going to defend the run really well, and that's going to put us in a lot of opportunities to give guys behind the sticks. It makes it easier for d-line to get to the quarterback.'
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The ending
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So far, it stacks up as Orimolade, Brown, Hutchings and Hicks from edge to edge.
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But with so many talents in the mix and Dickenson declaring jobs up for grabs, that could change overnight.
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Plus Canadians starting on the d-line amounts to being ratio-breakers.
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No matter, though … just as long as whoever's got those gigs are game-wreckers.
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'It's a hungrier group,' added Orimolade, when asked about the difference between the Stamps before he left and this year's edition. 'When you've had bad seasons, no one wants that taste in their mouth. They wanted the season to be over just because of all the losing, and it starts to weigh on you mentally.
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'But now it's like everyone has the drive to be better this year. That's a big change. That was kind of missing. You get kind of complacent, and now you have the rejuvenation. It's good.'
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Short yardage
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The Stampeders have released American WR Ishmael Hyman, who appeared in five regular-season games for the Red and White in 2024 and made 18 catches for 220 yards and one touchdown … The Stamps signed global K Jordan Noyes, a native of Gravesend, England, who recently concluded his NCAA career with the Colorado State Rams. In two seasons with the Rams, he converted 29-of-39 field-goal attempts and added 62 converts for a total of 149 points. He also averaged 64.6 yards on 16 kickoffs. In a 2024 game at Nevada, Noyes connected on a 60-yard field goal. Noyes started his NCAA career with 30 games over three seasons with the Utah Utes. He was 8-of-12 on field goals for the Utes, a perfect 45-for-45 on converts and accounted for 79 points. He averaged 61.9 yards on 145 kickoffs … The Stamps placed rookie American FB Ryan Jones on the retired list after he underwent surgery for a broken leg suffered during the Red and White pre-season victory over the host BC Lions on Vancouver Island on Victoria Day … Stamps training camp continues Thursday at McMahon (9:15 a.m.).
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