Pair sent packing to make room for depth on O- line
The Calgary Stampeders made a pair of roster moves prior to Monday’s late- afternoon practice, releasing receiver/ returner Sederrick Cunningham and defensive end Shomari Williams.
“As you’re aware, we have some problems with our roster and at ( Cunningham’s and Williams’s) positions we have some depth,’’ explained head coach John Hufnagel. “I’ve gotta get some people in here that can add depth to the positions that were decimated.’’
Read: Offensive line. Both Dan Federkeil and Edwin Harrison suffered long- term leg injuries during Week 2, then Karl Lavoie hurt his left knee Saturday night versus Winnipeg.
Lavoie was in need of crutches on Monday watching the workout.
“He’s having a scope in the very near future,’’ said Hufnagel.
“He’ll be out for an extensive amount of time. I think it’s three months that the healing process takes.’’
The sparkling play of Tim Brown on the return team would seem to have factored heavily into the Cunningham decision.
“We know what type of returner Tim Brown is,’’ the coach said. “But no, it’s nothing Sederrick did or didn’t do. Nothing that someone else did or didn’t to. It was just the domino effect.’’
Making a re- appearance on the practice field after a day off was receiver Nathan Slaughter, while another, more familiar pass- catcher, national ( read: non- import) Jabari Arthur is set to return to the fold after being lopped on cut- down day.
“Jabari,’’ said Hufnagel, “will be on the horizon very soon. We didn’t get anyone injured last week as far as our two national receivers, so Jabari is using his time to get back in as good as shape as he can before he hits the field.’’
NO DOUBT
Rene Paredes wasn’t secondguessing himself.
After missing a 39- yard field goal attempt and one of those extended convert attempts in the first half, the fifth- year Stampeders kicker, who had been suffering from a sore groin, stepped up with 2: 14 left and hit a decisive three- pointer to provide the winning points Saturday.
“Maybe,’’ said Paredes, “a little lack of confidence in the first half, but I told myself at halftime ‘ It doesn’t hurt at all. Go back to your regular routine.’
“I kicked a couple at halftime and everything felt fine, so I guess there was a change of mindset. When I went out to kick that last one, I felt good, I felt strong.
“Sometimes you’re going to have to fight through some negativity, but the most important thing is that coach ( Mark) Kilam and coach Huff know what I can do. As long as they have trust in me, that’s all that matters.’’
The 32- yard converts have proven somewhat less than automatic.
“I’m a little surprised ( at the misses),’’ admitted Paredes. “All training camp I didn’t miss one, and I kicked 20 or 25. Then I miss a couple during the season. No excuses. I didn’t practice for two weeks, so my focus this week is to get my rhythm back the next two days in practice and do my job like I always do.’’
NEXT MAN UP
Given the incredible run of injuries along the offensive front wall, the presence, and performance, of Gary Williams was much welcome.
After Saturday’s victory over the Blue Bombers, both coach John Hufnagel and running back Jon Cornish, who registered his first 100- yard game of the season, praised the 6- foot- 3, 315- pounder manning the left tackle position.
Williams isn’t exactly a newbie in the job, having dressed for 41 games and started 21 for the NFL Carolina Panthers.
“It’s a different game, but it really didn’t feel that much different,’’ he said of his first start of the season and second in the CFL. “You have the same type of athletes, everybody’s good.
“As I went along I felt more comfortable, in my sets, in my run blocking. I’ve got to learn off what I did wrong and improve on what I did right. I’ve seen a team lose three centres before. What happened ( here) is crazy, but when you’re called, you step up.’’