Pass rush gets push with Law’s potential return
Presence of healthy DL gives Stamps ‘difference-maker’ on the defensive line
If Ja’Gared Davis and Cordarro Law are in competition for playing time in Sunday’s West Division Final against the Edmonton Eskimos, it’s just about the friendliest competition you’re ever likely to see.
Asked Thursday about his potential involvement in this weekend’s do-or-die game at McMahon Stadium, Law was pretty clear he feels he’ll be able to contribute but knows Davis and Charleston Hughes have the Stamps’ defensive end positions on lock.
“No, no, nobody can replace (Davis). JD’s a baller and he’s been a baller since he got here,” Law said. “I definitely feel prepared. I’m not saying I’m going to be the old me and just run out there and dominate, but I know in my heart and my mind that I can be productive.
“I can get guys help whenever they need, you know. I can play special teams. The D-line? Those guys, they’re established. I just want to be a help.”
Law missed the entire regular season with a leg injury, and in his absence Davis became one of the CFL’s most fearsome pass-rushers. As talented as Law is, it’s almost impossible to imagine he’ll be able to step in after so much time off and replicate Davis’ production on the defensive line.
Davis, though, definitely believes it’s possible.
It even sounded like he was lobbying for Law when he spoke Thursday.
“Me personally? I want him to play,” Davis said. “If he can play, at least half the snaps. He’s a difference-maker on the field, he’s like my older brother. I’ve learned so much from him, just being under his tutelage, so to get that opportunity to step out onto the field with him again, to get his insight, to see what he see … It’s going to be a dream come true again.”
It’s still not 100 per cent clear Law will be included in Sunday’s lineup, but if he’s ready to play, it’s hard to imagine him being left off the active roster.
He hasn’t played a competitive game since last year’s Grey Cup, but nobody around Calgary needs reminding of what he can do.
After racking up 14 sacks in 2013, Law went south for a stint with the NFL’s San Diego Chargers. He returned to Calgary last year and recorded three sacks and nine tackles in four regular season games, then picked up two more in the 2016 West Division Final.
If Law and Davis can form some sort of tandem against the Eskimos, it could be a long afternoon for Mike Reilly, especially with Hughes bringing pressure from the other side.
Davis seems set to play after recovering quickly from an ankle injury and will be available for the West Final, something that wasn’t guaranteed a week ago.
“He looks good out there,” Stamps head coach Dave Dickenson said. “I think he’s a guy that (heals) quicker than most. I don’t know if he just has it in his genes or what, but he had a serious injury.
“It does look like he’s progressing and is at least an option for me.”
That’s obviously good news for the Stamps, especially for a game where the battles between the offensive and defensive lines could be the defining factor determining who goes to the Grey Cup.
So forget about competition for playing time.
With Law and Davis both available, the Stamps have options. Big, fast, hard-hitting options. “To get (Law back) at this pivotal point in the season is going to be crucial,” Davis said. “The game’s always won and lost in the trenches on the offensive and defensive sides. I know us on the D-line, we take it personally.”