Disciplinary lapses concern Calgary’s coaching staff
This time last week, the Calgary Stampeders were one of the most disciplined teams in the CFL, averaging just 7.7 flags per game.
After being hit with 13 penalties for 126 yards in last Thursday’s road win over the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, head coach Dave Dickenson’s club sunk all the way to fourth in the league at an even 9.0.
That needs to be cleaned up Friday against the B.C. Lions at McMahon Stadium (8 p.m., TSN, News Talk 770).
“It’s been addressed,” Dickenson said. “It’s up to the players to listen. You can’t be selfish and you can’t do that stuff. That extracurricular stuff that goes on after the whistle or using the wrong language, that’s just not part of our team, we don’t do that. You either buy in or you’re not playing.”
One of the worst offenders in Week 5 was defensive tackle Micah Johnson, an emotional player with a history of extracurricular flags flying his way.
Early in the first quarter last week, Johnson was hit with a roughness call, and it was clear he got an earful from the coaching staff when he returned to the sideline.
Later in the game, he was assessed another 15-yarder for roughing the passer, while the man next to him, defensive tackle Demonte’ Bolden, was penalized for using some language the CFL has tried to eradicate from the game.
“Micah, question,” Stamps defensive co-ordinator DeVone Claybrooks yelled in the direction of the 28-year-old defensive tackle earlier this week when the topic came up. “‘Did Micah Johnson get a little talking-to?’ That’s his question.”
Johnson knew how to answer that one from his boss.
“Yes,” Johnson said in return. “From everybody so far.”
Johnson, who has missed the first two days of practice this week due to a minor leg injury, is hard to block in a physical sense.
Claybrooks wants to make sure he doesn’t get blocked mentally, which teams have learned they can do at times.
“Micah’s like a firecracker,” Claybrooks said. “Sometimes, we have to disengage the fuse. He gets caught up in the moment and things like that. He just can’t let guys take him out of his game because 95 per cent of them can’t block him, so they might as well get him out of it mentally and that’s what he has to understand and learn that’s how some teams will attack him. He’s just gotta be mentally tough to not retaliate.”
TACKLE DEPTH
When Derek Wiggan had to be carried off the TD Place turf three weeks ago in Ottawa, a return didn’t seem imminent.
But the Stamps’ second-year defensive tackle out of Queen’s University dodged a bullet and is almost ready to return from the ligaments he strained in his foot when it got caught in a pile of Redblacks.
“I thought it was pretty serious just the way the pile landed on my foot and how my foot was feeling at the time,” Wiggan said Tuesday, after a full practice session. “Thankfully, I’m able to be practising this week.”
With veteran Canadian Junior Turner returning last week and Wiggan’s reboot on the horizon, the Stamps are now only without Quinn Smith when it comes to their homegrown defensive tackles. Smith is eyeing the back-toback series with the Saskatchewan Roughriders on Aug. 4 at McMahon Stadium and Aug. 13 at Mosaic Stadium for his own return.
“I want to be back one of those games, in my mind 100 per cent, but it’s up to the trainers and coaches,” said Smith, who suffered a shoulder sprain on Canada Day against the Bombers. “If this was Week 16 or 17 and we were fighting for a playoff spot, I’m sure I’d be playing this week, but we’ve gotta play it safe.
“You don’t want to rush it and ding it up and then be hurt next week again.”
INJURY ROUNDUP
Starting RT Dan Federkeil has not practised this week, but Dickenson is confident his veteran will be ready for Friday.
“He’s a vet and he knows what he’s doing, so I definitely think he can play without necessarily having a ton of reps,” Dickenson said.
Elsewhere during Tuesday’s practice, second-year defensive back Ciante Evans, who has now recovered from a toe injury, split reps with veteran field-side cornerback Fred Bennett.