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Calgary Herald
22-07-2025
- Sport
- Calgary Herald
Looking at the Calgary Stampeders special start to the season
Article content Those pundits who foreshadowed doom and gloom over the first third of the 2025 Calgary Stampeders schedule are likely scratching their tall foreheads these days … Article content With good reason. Article content It wasn't supposed to play out this well for the Stampeders after two lousy ones amounting to just 11 wins in 36 games. Even the most optimistic fan of the Red and White couldn't have predicted such a sensational start to the year. Article content Article content Especially given what the early-season calendar looked like for a team in massive transition. Article content Article content Thinking back on what has been a 5-1 start to the Canadian Football League campaign under the circumstances, it truly has been phenomenal. Article content But don't tell that to the Stampeders, who remain tunnel-visioned in a commitment to steer clear from over-confidence. Article content 'No reason for us (to get over-confident),' said Stampeders GM/head coach Dave Dickenson. 'You'll get humbled quickly. The key is just don't read too much into when it's bad or when it's good. Article content 'You just try to understand why you're winning, what's helping you succeed and just try to put the foot on the gas just a little bit more each and every week. Article content 'I think our guys can do that.' Article content They'll run with that gameplan again this Thursday, when the 4-2 Montreal Alouettes — the Stamps' fourth straight foe with a winning record — visit McMahon Stadium (7 p.m., TSN, CHQR 770 AM/107.3 FM the Edge), knowing full well they can't rest on their laurels. Article content Article content 'We don't look too far forward, and unfortunately, you really only look back when you're done,' added Dickenson. 'I just think we've got to get better. I think our energy has been good — we've shown up to play every week. We have continually gotten better. Article content 'So that's something that as a team we've got to continue to do.' Article content Article content Let's look back at that, recognizing the adversity they've overcome. Article content • The Week 1 game brought the return of Stampeders legend Bo Levi Mitchell looking to avenge last year's first loss in another uniform at McMahon, with the Red and White themselves fresh off a significant overhaul of the roster in the off-season. Article content A surprisingly convincing win. Article content • The Week 2 affair took them away for their first road contest of the season — another tough first for a still-finding-itself crew — against the defending Grey Cup-champion Toronto Argonauts.
Calgary Herald
19-07-2025
- Sport
- Calgary Herald
5 Takeaways as Calgary Stampeders crush Winnipeg Blue Bombers again, become Grey Cup front-runners
Article content Article content Adams was asked in the lead-up to the game if he has any favourites. Article content Although the Stamps QB did move the ball around Friday, it seems like he's got quite the connection with a couple of receivers. Article content 'I don't get into favourite targets or anything like that,' Adams said. 'Yeah … I go where the read tells me to go with the ball.' Article content By halftime, he'd targeted five receivers, including twice each to Alford, Tevin Jones and Jalen Philpot and a whopping eight times to Dominique Rhymes. Article content Included in the first half was a 37-yard TD strike to Alford, for the receiver's third in two games, to put the visitors up 17-13. Article content Then came the big one to Alford on what was a brilliant — but lucky? — bomb for a 42-yard third-quarter major after scrambling and spinning and looking like he just heaved it downfield on a hope and a prayer. Article content Article content The question is whether the spin was a planned tip-off to the rookie receiver to jet downfield. Article content If it was in the playbook, it was executed to perfection. Article content Jones and Rhymes — the self-proclaimed 'Twins' — each led the Red and White with four receptions, while Alford hauled in a team-high 79 yards. Article content 4) GOT YOUR NUMBER! Article content They were equally bad Friday night in the rematch. Article content Collaros again tossed a pair, and so too did his understudy, fellow veteran pivot Chris Streveler. Article content Anthony Johnson got the start in place of Tyler Richardson at boundary-side corner and executed an interception of Collaros downfield to end the first quarter. Article content Then in the second frame, Jayden Grant thieved Collaros downfield. Article content To add injury to insult, Collaros was hurt on the Grant interception, as Stamps defensive lineman Clarence Hicks pressured the QB and caught him flush in the chest while in his throwing motion, knocking him out of the game. Article content Article content Winnipeg Sun columnist Paul Friesen described it as Collaros appearing 'to hit his head on the turf in a whiplash effect. He appeared stunned and remained in a sitting position for an extended period of time with two members of the team's medical staff at his sides.' Article content It's the second time in as many seasons the Stamps have sacked Collaros and K.O.'d him from a contest. Article content Article content Hicks turned the tide for good for the Stamps in Winnipeg. Article content And his defensive mates then followed in his footsteps, further proving the Red and White defence is the best in the league. Article content Hicks, a second-year Stamps d-lineman, had two big plays — the hard hurry and hit of Collaros — after stunting inside — that led to the Grant INT, and a sack not long after of Streveler. It was a track-down that could've K.O'd another Bombers quarterback from the affair.
Calgary Herald
22-06-2025
- Climate
- Calgary Herald
5 Takeaways from Calgary Stampeders loss to visiting Ottawa Redblacks
Article content 4. MORE INJURIES? Article content That's not to say the defence didn't do its job for the Stamps. Article content Despite being a new unit throughout, the 'D' was solid enough again to put the team in position for a victory. Giving up just one TD — that on a Crum-to-Adeboboye connection for an eight-yard score for insurance in the fourth quarter — should've been enough to pull out two points and continue the win string. Article content And the Red and White defence did get the team on the board first again with a safety by lineman Jaylon Hutchings. Article content But on the heels of both Reggie Begelton (leg) and Marquel Lee (bicep) being placed on the six-game injured list — and Begelton having undergone successful surgery Saturday — comes news of more injuries from the contest, especially on defence. Article content Linebacker Jed Roberts, who has been solid, is among them. Article content Article content Article content Maybe, and teams — including the Stamps on this occasion — don't like to use it as an excuse when they lose. Article content But it was unfortunate to go ahead with a game in those conditions. Article content The weather did nothing for the CFL product, and it kept the fans away from the stadium, which only served to slow down the Stamps momentum with so many positive vibes — both on- and off-field — surrounding the franchise early on in 2025. Article content 'It was a tough-weather game, for sure,' admitted Dickenson. 'In the first half, it was so wet. We probably caught the ball better as far as we didn't have as many drops as them. But we definitely had some throws that the wind caught and spun right into the ground. It was hard to throw outside the hashes, because the wind just really took it.' Article content Adams himself wasn't about to blame the weather for his day — which was a hardy 17-of-32 for 218 yards — saying the wind made it tough just 'a little bit' going one way. Article content But it definitely did take the zing out of the passing game, which is a CFL staple. Article content 'The wind just really took the ball,' added Dickenson, himself — of course — a legendary QB in the league. 'If you threw it straight down the middle, you were probably better off. But that was maybe not where the receivers were open.'
Calgary Herald
18-06-2025
- Sport
- Calgary Herald
Stampeders new defence solid to start CFL season with Redblacks coming to Calgary
Article content 'We won,' said Dickenson, solemly. 'But it came at a cost.' Article content Article content Also added to the six-gamer is fellow Stamps veteran Aaron Crawford (knee), the team's long-snapper who battled through injury to finish out the victory in Toronto. Article content His absence means the Red and White have re-signed fellow Canadian long-snapper Jason MacGougan, who should suit up for Saturday's contest at McMahon. Article content Then there's veteran offensive lineman Bryce Bell (shoulder), who is likely to be a game-time decision again after shaking off that status last week to start before coming out of the contest, pushing rookie Chris Fortin into Bell's centre duties. Article content 'We're definitely going to be down some guys,' Dickenson said. 'We're going to see how it plays out. We're still getting information on everybody. Article content 'That does give us opportunity for other guys … and we're gonna have to adjust. It is next man up. But I think we've got some depth right now.' Article content Article content What's up with the Redblacks? Article content They dropped the season-opener on the road — 31-26 to the Saskatchewan Roughriders (2-0) — and then lost last Friday at home — 39-18 to the visiting Montreal Alouettes (2-0). Article content Starting QB Dru Brown's status for Saturday's game is up in the air after being limited in practice for the Redblacks due to a hip injury that caused him to miss Week 1. Article content If Brown can't go, it looks like QB Dustin Crum, who's also been taking first-team reps in practice this week, will be under centre for the Redblacks. Matt Shiltz, who was with the Stamps last year, is also in the quarterback mix after starting — and throwing three INTs — in last week's loss. Article content 'They're talented,' added Teitz, of the Redblacks. 'They've got really good receivers and good offensive linemen.'
Calgary Herald
16-06-2025
- Sport
- Calgary Herald
5 takeaways from Calgary Stampeders' first road win of the 2025 CFL season
Another game, another win for the Calgary Stampeders? Article content Yes … it happened for the Red and White, with a solid road decision — a 29-19 defeat of the defending Grey Cup champions Saturday afternoon. Article content Article content 'Good team win,' Stampeders GM/head coach Dave Dickenson told Stamps TV after the triumph over the host Argonauts (0-2). 'I thought it was important. Article content 'You know … just keep stacking good quality performances early in the year. Try to get your wins in early and see where it takes you.' Article content Article content If that road victory doesn't have anybody thinking the Stampeders (2-0) have at least halted the free-fall of the last few Canadian Football League campaigns, then perhaps nothing will leave an impression. Article content Article content It is a keeper, though, and one the Stamps can hang their hat on. Article content 'Great crowd, loud crowd … best crowd I've seen in Toronto in a long, long time,' said Dickenson, of the 17,902 fans on hand at BMO Field to take in the battle and the pre-game ceremony to honour the 2024 Grey Cup champ Argos. 'It was an environment you enjoy playing in, but the defence, I think, fed on that emotion and that intensity. And in the first half, both defences really did take it to the offences. Article content 'I think we just had a second half that had a little bit more rhythm.' Article content Article content 1. Cue the defence Article content Article content If the Week 1 win at home in a 38-26 result over the Hamilton Tiger-Cats was a credit to the offence, let's say this one was on the backs of the defence. Article content But just like the season-opener wasn't all due to Vernon Adams Jr. and the Stamps attack, this win wasn't all on the defenders. Article content Bob Slowik's crew, however, was full marks for the decision, especially early with the Red and White offence slow to start the contest. Article content Article content The defence allowed just four first-half points and just four more in the third quarter, stuffing the Argos assault behind former Stamps QB Nick Arbuckle time and again. It wasn't until the final frame when the home side finally found some stride, but the 11 points didn't compare to the 17 put up in the fourth quarter by the Stampeders.
