Stamps eager for another fast start
If the Calgary Stampeders don’t jump out to a 24-0 lead on Sunday against the Saskatchewan Roughriders, it would be best if nobody panicked.
Yes, the Stamps had a 24-point lead in the first quarter against the Riders three weeks ago when they faced off at Mosaic Stadium. And sure, they probably wouldn’t complain if it happened again.
But they’re certainly not expecting it, and quarterback Bo Levi Mitchell believes it would be a mistake if he or his teammates were thinking that way.
“I don’t want us to get too low if we’re not putting up 20 points in the first quarter,” Mitchell said. “We’re trying to have those tempered expectations, to understand that (the Riders) have a great defence and they mixed some things up in the end and did a good job of it.”
This season, the Stampeders have jumped out to big early leads in every road game.
Against the Argonauts in Toronto in Week 2, the Stamps scored 10 points in the first quarter and another 10 in the second to carry a 20-1 lead into halftime.
In Week 5 against the Redblacks in Ottawa, the Stampeders were even better and carried a 20-0 lead into halftime.
Then, of course, the Stamps stormed out to their 24-0 first quarter lead against the Riders, although the home team in Regina did make things respectable by scoring 13 unanswered points in the second quarter.
“That’s a point of emphasis that you always want against any team,” Mitchell said. “Getting out to (a seven-point lead) or even 10 in the first quarter, when you’re hitting 14 in the first quarter you’re feeling pretty damn good about yourself because you’re potentially scoring 48 points in the game.
“To get out to a 24-0 start is more unheard of, and not something you expect to do, but the defence gave us great field position and we made great plays.”
It’s not exactly surprising that any football team would want to jump out to big early leads, but the Stampeders have shown they’re very good at doing so — especially on the road.
Even if replicating their nearperfect early performance against the Riders last month is unlikely, the Stamps will definitely be looking to come out swinging on Sunday.
“I think it’s important, you can’t really control what happens early in the game but it does give us an advantage because it takes the crowd out of it,” receiver DaVaris Daniels said.
“Any time we can make plays down the field we’re going to. We’re definitely going to take our shots and try to get the ground game going to open up some things.”
NO NEWS ON FINCH
The Stampeders remain in contact with kick returner Roy Finch, but until his legal issues are cleared up fans shouldn’t expect any breaking news regarding his return to Calgary.
Finch was arrested in April in Oklahoma and put his football career “on hold indefinitely ” shortly after. At the time, Finch said in a Stampeders news release that he hoped to return to Calgary in July if the opportunity was there.
That didn’t happen, and until his legal issues are cleared up he won’t be returning.
“We’ve contacted Roy, and Roy us,” said Stampeders head coach Dave Dickenson. “We feel like we may get some news in September, but we’re leaving it with the courts. We’re certainly in touch with him, but as of right now I wouldn’t expect anything earth-shattering until September at the earliest and we’ll let the courts kind of handle what they need to handle.”
LOOKING GOOD
It sure looks like Ciante Evans should be in the lineup this weekend against the Riders.
The Stampeders’ all-star corner missed Wednesday ’s practice after a collision with Troy Stoudermire the day before, but participated on Thursday.
Anyone wanting to slot him into their fantasy lineup should feel pretty confident about doing so.
“He’s sore, but I think he should be good to go,” Dickenson said. “I would expect Ciante to be playing on Sunday.”
The defensive backfield should also receive a boost from the return of Tunde Adeleke, who has been out since Week 2 with an injured ankle.