Injury woes an annual rite for Stamps’ offensive line
Former first-round pick’s retirement follows two injury-plagued seasons
Dave Dickenson is accustomed to hearing bad news about the health of his offensive line during the CFL season.
They play games. They get hurt. Rinse. Repeat.
“If you can keep the same five, you have the best chance,” the Calgary Stampeders head coach quipped Thursday about Bo Levi Mitchell’s injury-prone bodyguards. “We’ve been working on keeping the same 10. That seems to be our number.”
All joking aside, the Calgary Stampeders head coach is learning to cope with troublesome status updates on his hogs year-round.
The latest downer came two days before the CFL draft, when Karl Lavoie told the club he is retiring.
Lavoie, a first-round (ninth overall) draft selection in 2015, lost almost all of his rookie season due to a knee injury and then his entire sophomore season when a routine knee scope showed significant damage. The 25-year-old Laval product retires having suited up for a grand total of one regularseason game and one playoff game with the Stampeders.
“We were all a little surprised,” Dickenson said Thursday. “We like Karl. We wanted the best for Karl. We feel like he could have been a longtime CFL guy.
“I feel bad it came to this. But when he informed us it was time for him ... sometimes if you’re not all in and it’s not for you, it’s probably time to move on.”
And so the Stamps move on with Pierre Lavertu pencilled in at centre, Shane Bergman at left guard, Spencer Wilson at right guard and Dan Federkeil at right tackle.
In keeping with the injury theme, Bergman tweaked his knee last month in the gym and required a scope that could limit his participation in camp. Federkeil underwent surgery in December to repair a torn labrum. The 2006 Super Bowl champ is ready to go — albeit with some restrictions.
“Dan Federkeil, he should be at practice from Day 1,” general manager John Hufnagel said Thursday. “Again, we’ll have to limit the amount of his reps.”
Depending on Federkeil’s health — and that of Lavertu and Bergman — the Stamps have the ratio flexibility to start two imports on the offensive line.
Don’t be surprised if Hufnagel brings in five American offensive lineman to compete in training camp — especially considering Derek Dennis, the CFL’s most outstanding lineman in 2016, signed as a free agent this winter with the Saskatchewan Roughriders.
“Our roster is very fluid right now,” Dickenson said. “We went into the year last year at many times starting nine Canadians just because we felt they were the best players. We will do that again if that’s the case.
“Ultimately, our offensive line had some injuries where we’re still making sure they’re healthy. So we’ll have great competition on the American side of the offensive line.”
Quinn Smith, a Canadian, played on both sides of the ball in 2016. He is dealing with a leg issue and is not expected to play until late August or Labour Day.
Junior Turner, a Canadian starter at defensive tackle, underwent knee surgery in September. He too will be sidelined until perhaps Labour Day.
In Turner’s absence, look for international newcomer Bryan Hall, formerly of the Toronto Argonauts, and 2017 first-round draft pick Randy Colling to plug the hole in the middle.
“I’m a big believer that you just don’t go in and peg starters,” Dickenson said. “I think you make these guys earn it. And I think you’ll see the best competition, and you’ll see the right people will earn the jobs.”