Calgary Stampeder Thread

[Argo]

Marquay Mc Daniel is aching for a do-over after last year's loss in the Grey Cup.

https://www.stampeders.com/2017/11/2...niels-do-over/

Right on... Do It Again.

[jerrym]

Marquay Mc Daniel is aching for a do-over after last year's loss in the Grey Cup.

https://www.stampeders.com/2017/11/2...niels-do-over/

Right on... Do It Again.

They got their do-over.

[jerrym]

Stampeder DEs Charleston Hughes and Ja'Gared Davis have different views on the Argos as the Grey Cup approaches. Trestman should post Hughes words for all to see, especially the Argo OL.

Charleston Hughes has sacked more quarterbacks than any other CFL player over the last two seasons. Maybe that’s why the outspoken Calgary Stampeder defensive end snorted when asked if Toronto Argonaut quarterback Ricky Ray was hard to catch. “Ricky Ray is not difficult to take down,” said Hughes, who led the league with 11 sacks and had 19 quarterback pressures during the regular season. “He’s one of the easier quarterbacks to sack. When he sees you coming he’s going to turtle.”
Ja’Gared Davis, Hughes’ bookend on the Stampeder front four, was a little more retrospective when talking about Ray. “He’s a savvy quarterback,” said Davis, who had nine sacks this year. “He’s a guy who has been in this league for a long time. He’s seen and dealt with every kind of pass rush and stunts. Pretty much everything you have to throw at him, he has seen. He has weathered the storm on every occasion.” ...
“With him (Wilder) and Rickie Ray, it’s like a two-head tiger,” said Davis. “It’s hard to just key on one guy because you know you got the other guy waiting to get his chance to get at our defence.” ...

Calgary (13-4-1) allowed 349 points this season and limited teams to 314.7 yards a game, both league lows. But, as the Stampeders learned in their upset 39-33 loss to the Ottawa REDBLACKS at last year’s Grey Cup, season statistics mean little in a one-game showdown. ...
“We were a punching bag last year when we first started the game,” said safety Joshua Bell. “We were kind of catching instead of attacking. We may be attacking a little too much this year.”

https://www.cfl.ca/2017/11/24/stamps...-argos-attack/

[jerrym]

As Nik Lewis wraps up his on-field career, after spending most of it with Calgary, he showed up at CFL Commissioner's media event to ask about player safety on a media pass. He is also exploring whether he has any career options as a coach.

The former Calgary Stampeders receiver, who changed his aliases annually, is in the nation’s capital with an eye on making his next career move.
Although he has one year left on his CFL contract with the Montreal Alouettes, the 35-year-old was injured and used sparingly this year as part of what many saw as his farewell tour of a league in which he recently became the all-time leading receiver. While his plan is to sit down to with whomever the Alouettes hire as their head coach to discuss his future, in all likelihood he’ll move on to the media, coaching or … heck … maybe even acting.
“I grew up wanting to be a coach, not play professional football — this football life has been extra,” said the colourful Texan. “All this has helped me become a better coach.”
As an accredited media member this week, hosting podcasts for 3DownNation, Lewis showed up Friday at the commissioner’s annual state of the league news conference where he pressed Randy Ambrosie on the health of players’ brains. “I’d do media — I’ve talked to TSN as I’ve always been interested in doing different things,” said Lewis, who defied odds to dominate as a 5-foot-10, 240-lb. receiver. “Anything to expand the portfolio and keep your options open is a good thing.”

http://calgarysun.com/sports/footbal...-second-career

[jerrym]

Dickenson's comments after the game reflect the deep pain in Calgary. Will it lead to significant personnel changes?

But, seriously. Two plays of 100 and 109 yards?
No one loses a game with two of those on the same night.
“Well, we did,” Dickenson said. “Just couldn’t finish the deal. It’s heartbreaking. It really is.”
Dickenson and president-GM John Hufnagel have built the CFL’s flagship in Calgary, annually the best team over 18 regular season games and a Western Final.
Then the big day comes, and they find a new way to lose every year.
“Very, very bitter,” Dickenson muttered. “Football is a tough game. Not fair. Whatever. It’s a loss. It’s gonna sting — again.” ...

What did Dickenson say to his club, after another fine season that ends with the proverbial ham sandwich?
Not much. That’s what he said.
Not much.
“Too fresh, too hard,” he said. “Any words I say won’t resonate. They will not make anyone feel better. They’re just words.
“Words don’t win. Actions do.”

http://www.sportsnet.ca/football/cfl...lose-grey-cup/

[ArgoGabe22]

That's now two years in a row, someone somewhere in the world is getting Calgary Stampeder Grey Cup Champions hats and tees.

[jerrym]

Bo on his interception that sealed the Argos' win. While he defends himself his answer raises questions in that he says he recognized Matt Black moving towards approaching Marken Michel.

He explained the call aimed at taking advantage of a coverage mismatch favouring Stampeders receiver Marken Michel.
“We’ve run that play many times and scored with it,” said Mitchell, who had yet to turn the ball over the entire CFL playoffs before that throw. If you look at the film, ‘Quay (Marquay McDaniel) gets pushed down and you can’t throw the inside throw because it’s an even easier pick. Pre-snap, I saw Matt (Black) start to run that way so I knew it was a riskier throw, and as soon as I let it go, I knew I didn’t put enough on it. I just feel bad for the guys I didn’t make the throw.” ...
In hindsight, Mitchell admitted that taking a sack would have been a better outcome, but he was confident a throw into double-coverage still came with several positive outcomes possible. “It’s a smart decision play-call-wise, because typically taking those shots, you get an incompletion or pass interference or a catch — that’s what we were banking on,” said Mitchell, who threw for 373 yards in an otherwise brilliant outing. And if I put that ball farther out there, man, Marken has a chance to get it, and if they call pass interference, we’re on the one-yard line with three downs to go.”

http://calgarysun.com/sports/football/cfl/calgary-stampeders/stamps-qb-mitchell-speaks-about-grey-cup-game-ending-interception

[1971GreyCup]

Bo on his interception that sealed the Argos' win. While he defends himself his answer raises questions in that he says he recognized Matt Black moving towards approaching Marken Michel.



http://calgarysun.com/sports/football/cfl/calgary-stampeders/stamps-qb-mitchell-speaks-about-grey-cup-game-ending-interception

More evidence that the recent move CFL move to call just about any contact on a receiver has worked it's way into the offensive schemes. To paraphrase Bo, "we knew we had three scenarios out of four that worked in our favour. Completion, penalty call, incompletion vs. a pic." Given the soft penalty calls in the fourth quarter, it would have been an outrageous outcome if a penalty was called. Just ask Hamilton in 2013. I still think penalties are still an issue to be addressed. It's a given to both teams in a Stanley Cup Final, you could sever a limb in the third period/overtime without a call being made.

[Antwon]

More evidence that the recent move CFL move to call just about any contact on a receiver has worked it's way into the offensive schemes. To paraphrase Bo, "we knew we had three scenarios out of four that worked in our favour. Completion, penalty call, incompletion vs. a pic." Given the soft penalty calls in the fourth quarter, it would have been an outrageous outcome if a penalty was called. Just ask Hamilton in 2013. I still think penalties are still an issue to be addressed. It's a given to both teams in a Stanley Cup Final, you could sever a limb in the third period/overtime without a call being made.

It was reported early in the season that Calgary had designed plays at drawing PI calls. And I think that's exactly what they were hoping for there.

[Argo]

It was reported early in the season that Calgary had designed plays at drawing PI calls. And I think that's exactly what they were hoping for there.

Congrats to CFL Officiating for NOT ruining the Grey Cup. Seriously.

[AngeloV]

Bo on his interception that sealed the Argos' win. While he defends himself his answer raises questions in that he says he recognized Matt Black moving towards approaching Marken Michel.



http://calgarysun.com/sports/football/cfl/calgary-stampeders/stamps-qb-mitchell-speaks-about-grey-cup-game-ending-interception

I didn't for a moment believe it was a bad read. Fact is, had he thrown the ball deeper and over the outside shoulder, it likely would have been a TD. Not an easy throw in cold weather though.

[jerrym]

With Calgary's second consecutive loss in the GC, there is speculation that there will be greater changes than usual with the team.

There is the potential for a vastly different group.
Stamps general manager John Hufnagel will have his days full, starting immediately, as he looks at a list of over 20 free agents and the possibility of some significant retirements. Fullback Rob Cote and offensive lineman Dan Federkeil have both hinted at calling it quits, while a surprising revelation on Tuesday was veteran receiver Marquay McDaniel’s end-of-season comments. “It was a rough year for me personally,” said an emotional McDaniel, 33, who stopped for several minutes to compose himself. “My age does play a lot into it. You never know how many chances you’ll get." ...
McDaniel has been hampered with a knee injury this season. ...
Cote, who just finished up his 11th CFL season, says he had not made up his mind yet whether to hang up the pads. ...

The list of Stampeders free agents, as per most years, is lengthy, and there are several names that pop out: running back Jerome Messam, returner Roy Finch, defensive end Ja’Gared Davis, receiver DaVaris Daniels and a whole whack of secondary members, including Josh Bell, Ciante Evans, Brandon Smith and Tommie Campbell. ...

A handful are also bound to get NFL tryouts. “In fact, I received some requests this morning,” admitted Hufnagel. “Three, in fact, for players to have those type of workouts. I wish those players success, but if they don’t get signed, hopefully we’ll see them in red and white next year.” Evans is believed to be one of those, and another could possibly be Finch, the CFL special teams player of the year who was rather cryptic in his remarks.

The coaching staff, as well, is not immune to change, with defensive coordinator DeVone Claybrooks’ name having already come up. As for other teams calling for permission to speak with any of them, Hufnagel said that hadn’t occurred … yet.
The secondary could be hard hit, with a number of starters becoming prospective free agents. “I’m looking into a dark abyss … At 32 years old, I’m looking into darkness without any answers to all of my questions,” said the eloquent Bell.
The names on offence are also significant pieces. “If they offer me a contract, I’ll be here,” said Messam.

http://calgarysun.com/sports/football/cfl/calgary-stampeders/stampeders-off-season-could-see-a-lot-of-players-heading-in-other-directions

[jerrym]

The changes have already started. The Stampeders have decided to not bring back DB coach and former Argo DB Kahlil Carter when his contract runs out at the end of the year.

[jerrym]

GM Hufnagel discusses the role of continuity in Calgary's multi-year success.

Significantly, too, in the ongoing on-field success, for the most part Hufnagel has been able to re-sign those free-agents he and his coaching staff target.
“Continuity counts for a lot in continuing success,’’ he says. “We believe in that very strongly.
“It’s not only that we have consistently put a competitive product on the field, it’s that the players enjoy the environment here. They enjoy the organization, they enjoy the city, they enjoy the fans. And, yes, there’s a lot of winning to it also. There’s a chance to be knocking at the door, be in the tournament at the end of the year.
“All the reasons why they’re playing. So that does play a part.
“But it’s a business, too.
“I need to be close to market value or else players move on. Which has happened a few times over the last few years.”

https://www.stampeders.com/2017/11/3...gets-business/

[jerrym]

GM John Hufnagel has received NFL requests to workout three of the team's best players: Most Outstanding ST winner Roy Finch, 2016 Outstanding Rookie and LB Shaqulle Richardson.

[jerrym]

OL Dan Federkeil, FB Rob Cote, and WR Marquay McDaniel are considering whether to retire or not.

[jerrym]

As expected, the Stampeders regular season dominance is reflected in their placing the most players on the CFL All-Star team, six (Evans, Finch, Hughes, Johnson, Paredes and Singleton).

https://www.stampeders.com/2017/12/0...six-cfl-stars/

[jerrym]

HC Dave Dickenson has been named to the US College Hall of Fame. The article also discusses the signing of three players by Calgary:WR Reggie Begelton, OL Dillon Guy and DL Mike Rose.

And Monday, the University of Montana Grizzlies’ all-time leading passer learned he’ll be honoured as such. Dickenson joins the Class of 2018 as a member of the U.S. College Football Hall of Fame. ...

The Charles M. Russell high school star went on to become a standout during his four seasons (1992-95) at the University of Montana and remains the school’s team leader in yards passing and wins as a starter. In 1995, Dickenson was the winner of the Walter Payton Award as the top offensive player in the Football Championship Subdivison as he led Montana to an FCS national championship. Including playoffs, Dickenson threw for 5,676 yards and 51 touchdowns that season. During his collegiate career, Dickenson was a first-team all-Big Sky selection, a Big Sky offensive MVP and an Academic All-American on three occasions. He was a three-time team MVP, and his 11,080 career passing yards and 33 wins as a starter are both program bests at Montana.
He was inducted into the University of Montana’s Grizzly Sports Hall of Fame in 2002, and his No. 15 jersey is one of only two retired numbers at the school. Dickenson then went on to a distinguished CFL career that has included 14 years with the Stampeders as a player and coach.
Dickenson was the CFL’s Most Outstanding Player in 2000, is a four-time Grey Cup winner and was inducted into the Canadian Football Hall of Fame in 2015.
Dickenson will be officially inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame alongside nine other players and three coaches on Dec. 4 in New York. ...

The Stampeders have signed international receiver Reggie Begelton, national offensive linemen Dillon Guy and international defensive lineman Mike Rose.
All three players were with the Stampeders in 2017 and finished the season on the practice roster.
Begelton played nine games for the Stamps and had 22 catches for 304 yards and one touchdown as well as two special-teams tackles. The NCAA Lamar Cardinals product had NFL tryouts with the Atlanta Falcons and Oakland Raiders before signing with the Red & White.
Guy was acquired in an Aug. 31 trade with the CFL’s Saskatchewan Roughriders and spent the remainder of the season on the practice roster. The NCAA Buffalo Bulls alum was a fourth-round draft pick of the B.C. Lions in 2016.
Rose played one game for the Stamps in 2017 and registered two defensive tackles. He attended training camp with the NFL’s New York Giants in 2016 after playing four seasons with the NCAA’s North Carolina State Wolfpack.

http://calgarysun.com/sports/footbal...l-hall-of-fame

[jerrym]

The Stamps have no plans to extend Bo Levi Mitchell until the next off-season.

The Calgary Stampeders are obviously interested in locking up Bo Levi Mitchell long term, but it doesn’t sound like they’ll be trying to extend his contract anytime soon. Mitchell signed a four-year contract in early-2015 and has emerged as one of the league’s most consistently valuable players in the time since. He’s a big part of the Stamps future plans, but president/GM John Hufnagel explained at the CFL’s annual GM meetings in Banff that the team wouldn’t be trying to re-up his contract until next off-season. “I think we’ll wait,” Hufnagel said. “No. 1, because 2019 is a (collective bargaining agreement) year. We really don’t know what the salary cap is and that really makes it difficult to sign players, especially a high-profile, highly-paid player like Bo.”
To be clear, Hufnagel’s decision to wait until next year to negotiate with Mitchell should not – by any means – be taken as a sign that the Stamps don’t have confidence in their QB long term. Mitchell is definitely a part of the team’s plans, but the looming salary cap negotiations will no doubt play a big part in determining how much they can offer their franchise player. As for whether Mitchell will re-sign, Hufnagel sounds confident.
In an ESPN.com article last year, Mitchell admitted he wanted to explore his NFL options if he was given the opportunity, but he’s given no indication that he’s actively pursuing that road in the time since.

http://calgarysun.com/sports/footbal...th-qb-mitchell

[jerrym]

Stampeder president and GM John Hufnagel still sees Kamar Jorden as an important piece of the Calgary offence despite his infamous fumble in the Grey Cup that turned the game around.

You can count John Hufnagel among the people who were impressed with the way Kamar Jorden handled himself after the Grey Cup disaster.
Jorden’s late fumble in the closing minutes of November’s championship game against the Toronto Argonauts may have cost the Calgary Stampeders the game, and it’s going to live long in the memories of Canadian football fans. It was an enormously costly mistake, to be sure, but Jorden owned it.
In what must have been an incredibly painful moment for the receiver — both personally and professionally — Jorden stood in front of the media and took responsibility for his mistake, even acknowledging that teammate Marquay McDaniel was right for blaming his carelessness for the loss.
“Kamar probably couldn’t have handled it any better,” Hufnagel said Wednesday in Banff, where CFL general managers were having their annual meetings. “It was disappointing, but he has to get over it. His teammates have gotten over it, and now he has to get over it.”

The Stampeders re-signed Jorden in December, and with DaVaris Daniels testing out his NFL options, Jorden is sure to have a big role to play in the team’s success next season.
When he was healthy in 2017, Jorden was one of the league’s most dynamic receivers, and the Stampeders will be counting on him doing even more in 2018.
For Hufnagel, that’s what counts, as he said he didn’t even speak with Jorden about the Grey Cup fumble when he signed the new contract. “I really expect him to come out next year and have an even better year for us,” Hufnagel said.

http://calgarysun.com/sports/footbal...pes-for-jorden