Calgary Stampeder Thread

[R.J]

Former #CFL all-star receiver Eric Rogers agrees to terms with #CalStampeders https://t.co/sDGzWXg49B #Calgary pic.twitter.com/A24eBx8eYN

— Justin Dunk (@JDunk12) June 6, 2018

Ugh, Stamps just got better gain.

[jerrym]

While Rogers was utterly dominating in his previous term with the Stampeders, which was reflected in his getting the largest NFL signing bonus since Cam Wake in 2008, he did tear his ACL in 49er TC and missed the entire 2016 and 2017 seasons. If he is anywhere near his old form, he will torment CFL DBs in every game he plays, but an ACL injury always raises questions about whether a player will return to perform as he did before.

[R.J]

It's Offishall - Eric Rogers returns to the Stampeders
https://www.stampeders.com/2018/06/0...ns-stampeders/

[jerrym]

Danny Austin looks at the Calgary backup QB picture following the Stampeders win over the Riders.

[Nick] Arbuckle had a tough assignment in Week 1 of pre-season, playing in the second half with primarily inexperienced players and starting most of his drives deep in the Stamps’ own territory.
He looked OK, but didn’t exactly convince anybody that Stamps fans should feel confident if he ends up being the team’s backup QB behind Bo Levi Mitchell.
On Friday, he looked much better. Arbuckle finished the game having completed 8-of-14 passes for 89 yards and a touchdown, but those numbers didn’t tell the full story. For the most part, the 24-year-old looked as comfortable as could be expected with the playbook and managed the pocket well.
“I thought he actually made plays that weren’t drawn up on a piece of paper,” said Stamps head coach Dave Dickenson. “He showed some savvy-ness, made some throws, worked the pocket.”

Ricky Stanzi completed 3-of-3 passes for 64 yards and a touchdown and arguably looked as good as he ever has in his year in a Stampeders uniform.

Larry Brihm didn’t get a tonne of time at QB for the Stamps on Friday, but he did put together a nice drive that ended in a touchdown. He completed 2-of-3 passes, and while he might need some time to get used to the Canadian game, he’s going to give the Stamps coaching staff a lot to think about as they prepare to make cuts. It’s not out of the question that he could end up on the practice roster.
“It’s possible, yeah,” Dickenson said. “I don’t know if we’re going to do it. We haven’t don it for a long, long time, but we’ll have to see.”

http://calgarysun.com/sports/footbal...aking-his-case

[R.J]

#Calstampeders release 18 - Calgary Stampeders @calstampeders https://t.co/NpY9elP7Af #CFL pic.twitter.com/SS8FMcKuB2

— CFL News (@CFL_News) June 10, 2018

I'd like to see the Argos bring in Dillon Guy; not a fan of our lack of OL depth, and maybe Himebauch can fix him. While I'm not surprised about Parker (overrated IMO); I'm sure someone will pick him up shortly.

[R.J]

Also, from Dickenson's press conference.
Nick Arbuckle is the Stamps' No. 2 quarterback.
Ricky Stanzi will be third stringer

— Danny Austin (@DannyAustin_9) June 11, 2018

I'm a bit surprised. Stanzi was with the team all last season - Arbuckle's a 24 year old rookie. Dickenson obviously sees something.

[jerrym]

I'm a bit surprised. Stanzi was with the team all last season - Arbuckle's a 24 year old rookie. Dickenson obviously sees something.

I'm not. Stanzi was terrible last year, going 4/8 for 53 yards with two interceptions and was beaten out by 23 year old Andrew Buckley.

[jerrym]

Two Nationals were somewhat surprising cuts: WR Anthony Parker and DL Randy Colling, the sixth overall pick last year. I'd love to see the Argos pick up Parker, who is only 28 and has had seasons of 360, 443, 654, and 482 yards the last four years.

Parker played in 108 games for the Stamps with 178 catches, 2,245 yards and 15 TD’s which included winning it all with the team in 2014.
It was the emergence of Julan Lynch and Richard Sindani from the 2017 draft class, alongside Juwan Brescacin and the impending return of Lemar Durant that made the seven-year veteran expendable. National depth at the position may be at it’s best in years for the Red and White.
With a very crowded receiving corps, which includes Internationals Kamar Jordan, Davaris Daniels, Reggie Bagelton, Marken Michel, and the returning Eric Rogers, there may only be room for a single national receiver. With the four nationals remaining, the Stampeders felt as though Parker was expendable.
Despite some consistency issues that drove Stamps fans mad over the years, it would be surprising if this jack of all trades doesn’t find a cheque elsewhere. Parker was referred to as the guy who had to know everything as he was the first guy to go in for an injured teammate over his time here able to play any position in the system when called upon.

Colling was a first round pick in 2017 and struggled to find a spot here behind Derek Wiggan and Junior Turner. He was even auditioned on the offensive line when a rash of injuries at the position last year saw the 315-pounder cross to the other side. However, another former defensive lineman, Quinn Smith, has that spot locked up.

http://3downnation.com/2018/06/10/fa...ers-not-lucky/

[jerrym]

Here's more Calgary roster changes:

The following players are returning to their university teams:
• National offensive lineman David Brown (Western)
• National kicker Gabriel Ferraro (Guelph)
• National defensive back Dagogo Maxwell (UBC)
• National running back Boston Rowe (Calgary)
• National running back Atlee Simon (Regina)

The following players have been added to the practice roster:
• International receiver Markeith Ambles
• International quarterback Larry Brihm Jr.
• International defensive back Devin Butler
• International defensive back Gump Hayes
• International offensive lineman Nila Kasitati
• National receiver Michael Klukas
• National defensive back Royce Metchie
• International running back Romar Morris
• International linebacker Dwayne Norman
• International offensive lineman Justin Renfrow

The following players have been placed on the six-game injury list:
• National defensive lineman Michael Kashak
• International defensive lineman Brandon Peguese

https://www.stampeders.com/2018/06/1...oster-moves-5/

[argolio]

I'd pass on Parker. Our Canadian receivers still have upsides. As a 7-year vet, Parker doesn't anymore. Really thought he'd turn out to be a much more productive player.

He might be a better fit with the Riders or Ticats.

[ArgoRavi]

I'm not. Stanzi was terrible last year, going 4/8 for 53 yards with two interceptions and was beaten out by 23 year old Andrew Buckley.

Did Stanzi even play enough last year to be called "terrible"? I think he only played in the season finale against the Bombers and even Buckley looked bad in that one.

[jerrym]

Did Stanzi even play enough last year to be called "terrible"? I think he only played in the season finale against the Bombers and even Buckley looked bad in that one.

Stanzi also went 1/2 for 5 yards against Hamilton but more important he spent five years in the NFL but never being considered good enough to see any regular season game action. Despite having gone through training camps since NFL 2011, he only made the team as a #3 QB and will be 31 in September. Hardly an up and comer.

[jerrym]

I'd pass on Parker. Our Canadian receivers still have upsides. As a 7-year vet, Parker doesn't anymore. Really thought he'd turn out to be a much more productive player.

He might be a better fit with the Riders or Ticats.

In the last three years he is the only Canadian receiver besides Sinopoli to finish in the top five in yardage every year among Nationals (4th in 2015, 5th in 2016 and 3rd in 2017) and he is still only 28, so I do not see him as washed up. If I remember correctly the Argos picked up a much older 32 year old receiver that was cut last year who ended up second in the league in receiving. Parker is not SJ Green but I doubt he's a has-been either.

[jerrym]

Danny Austin look at the questions that remain about the Stampeders' roster at backup QB, RB, KR and DB.

Terry Williams had a great training camp and came up big in the Stamps’ second pre-season game against the Saskatchewan Roughriders. He emerged as the frontrunner to be the team’s starting running back and, when he ran a punt back for an 86-yard touchdown against the Riders, he might have pulled ahead as the leading candidate to replace Roy Finch on kick returns. “Terry’s a part of the return game but he’s also part of the running back position,” Dickenson said. “I do think you’ll see him back there, but I also think I’ll have to see how many carries he’s getting, is he gassed? “He impressed me. I think you guys saw he’s explosive. ...

It came down to either Nick Arbuckle or Ricky Stanzi for the Stamps’ backup quarterback job behind Bo Levi Mitchell, and Dickenson confirmed it would be the younger Arbuckle. “Nick will be our No. 2, we did keep all four, though,” Dickenson said, referring to the fact that QB Larry Brihm Jr. was kept on the practice squad. Arbuckle completed eight of 14 passes for 89 yards and a touchdown against the Riders, and at 24 still has time to develop. ...

With Ciante Evans requiring surgery for a broken pinky finger, the Stamps’ corner position is a little up in the air right now. That means that for the time being, the Stampeders are going to allow Patrick Levels, Troy Stoudermire and Tre Roberson to compete for playing time at the corner positions. “We’ve probably got three guys (and) two will be starting,” Dickenson said. “We’re going to let them compete a little bit, but we do think Tre has got into that mix, both at the field and boundary.”

http://calgarysun.com/sports/footbal...estions-linger

[jerrym]

Although Calgary lost league sacker Charleston Hughes, the DL will still be a key component of what was last year's best defence thanks to the return of International DL Cardarro Law, who missed the entire 2017 season due to injury, and the addition of National Ese Mrabure, as well as the maturing of another National DL, Derek Wigan, to an already formidable defensive line.

“I say that we’re the engine of the ship,” remarked fourth-year defensive lineman Derek Wiggan.
“If we’re on our game, if we’re doing our job, we may not get the glory all the time, but that allows other guys to get their jobs done. We always have to bring our A-game when we play somebody. We’ve always got to make sure we’re running to the ball, we’re playing with our keys, playing with good eyes, playing with good hands, just working.” ...


The 6-foot-1, 295-lb. defender has been practicing and playing as a starter for the team during the pre-season as Micah Johnson is working his way back from an injury.
That experience has helped the National lineman once again prove that he can be a steady contributor when the Stamps call on him. ...


Along with Johnson, Junior Turner, and Ese Mrabure, the Stampeders are set at the defensive tackle position.
Mix in some incredible edge rushers in James Vaughters, Cordarro Law, and Ja’Gared Davis, and you’ve got yourself a potent line-up.
Having all of that talent on the ends, Wiggan knows that he just need to keep working hard and help those around him wreak havoc on opposing QBs.

https://www.stampeders.com/2018/06/1...ing-as-a-unit/

[jerrym]

In the following video HC Dave Dickenson talks about how changing the ratio among receivers played a role in cutting Anthony Parker, why a WR with 2 TDs (Nick Truesdell) and a DB (Julian Wilson) with 2 INT in the preseason were released, using Terry Williams as both a RB and KR, and an update on whether those returning from injury are likely to play this week.

https://www.stampeders.com/2018/06/1...nson-06-11-18/

[jerrym]

Alex Singleton has been named a team captain in just his third season by vote of his teammates, showing the respect they have for him. The other team captains are Jamar Wall who has been named a captain for the first time in his seventh season, Bo Levi Mitchell who is in his seventh season and Rene Paredes, now in his eighth season.

[jerrym]

Dave Dickenson plans on using a dual RB system.

The two running backs will be splitting time at the position.
“We have it listed that way because Terry’s our primary returner, but I would expect that position to ride the hot hand and let both of those guys (carry the ball) … they both need action to get better,” Dickenson said at a Friday morning media availability at McMahon Stadium. “They’re too raw, too young … and they both need action.” ...

Running back was debatably the most closely-watched position battle during training camp, as the Stamps brought in four Americans to fight for the job that was vacated when Jerome Messam was allowed to explore free agency and sign with the Saskatchewan Roughriders.
Both Williams and Jackson came into training camp and put together strong pre-seasons.
Williams led all Stamps running backs with 47 yards on five carries in the team’s first pre-season game against the B.C. Lions, while Jackson’s 18 yards on six carries was the most by a Stamps running back in Game 2 against the Saskatchewan Roughriders. But Williams also separated himself from the pack at kick returner, and his new responsibilities at that position mean the Stampeders coaching staff needs to make sure not to overload him.

“With Terry returning, and who knows how long the first turn goes, anyways, we’ll just let him get into the game (through kick returns) and let Don get into the game by taking the first series,” Dickenson said. “Other than that, it will just be a split.”
Whether the Stampeders want to go the whole season with the duo splitting time or not is anyone’s guess, their decision to play with Williams and Jackson as a tandem shouldn’t be seen as the coaching staff having a lack of faith in either guy.

http://calgarysun.com/sports/football/cfl/calgary-stampeders/stamps-roll-with-williams-jackson-running-back-duo

[jerrym]

While Don Jackson rushed 12/87 and a 7.2 average, Terry Williams was 7/33 and a 4.7 average, raising the question how long Dickenson will continue using a RB duo or if he will eventually make Williams primarily a KR who acts in relief for Jackson.

[jerrym]

RB Don Jackson, who had a 44 yard TD run and a two point conversion along with 87 yards rushing overall has made a favourable impression on his RB coach, Mark Mueller.

“It’s been a good first impression and he continues to build on that impression every day,” said running backs coach Marc Mueller. “It was a very special play, and he also did well in plays earlier in the quarter. He made some guys miss to get positive runs, and that’s a big deal. We saw the same guy we saw during camp – he’s a tough runner, a smart guy, runs with great ball leverage, he can make plays with his feet, and also in the backfield blocking and catching.”

For Mueller, Jackson is already meeting expectations.
“Anyone we bring in we expect them to be what the starting running back for the Stampeders has been since Hufnagel came back in 2008,” Mueller explained. "It’s a guy that can carry the ball, make plays when given the opportunity, block, and be the back that we envision. Don was that.”

https://www.stampeders.com/2018/06/18/action-jackson/