PAIN IN THE FORECAST
Stampeder vows to make Riders pay the price
Calgary Stampeders safety Josh Bell issued his own statement prior to Saturday’s game against the visiting Saskatchewan Roughriders.
Bell was responding to an inquiry about the CFL contest being a statement game if the Roughriders (1-2) can pull off a rare regular-season victory at McMahon Stadium.
The Riders haven’t won a nonplayoff game in Calgary since Aug. 1, 2009. The Green and White is coming off a 37-20 win over the visiting Hamilton Tiger-Cats on July 8. The Stampeders (2-1) look to rebound from a 30-23 loss to host Montreal Alouettes on July 14.
“If they get a win in Calgary after we just lost a game, we’re going to have a lot of problems,’’ Bell said Friday at McMahon Stadium.
“If they are going to get a win, then they are going to walk out of here limping, bloody, battered and bruised. If they get a win, they are going to have to earn it. They will have to earn it by putting their bodies on the line because they’re going to feel it.’’
The chances of the Riders recording consecutive wins might be slim considering Calgary hasn’t lost back-to-back regular-season games since Week 2 and Week 3 of the 2012 season — a league-record streak of 91 games.
“I don’t really think the Riders are going to (get a win),’’ Bell stated. “I don’t think anyone in this locker-room thinks they will get one either.’’
The Riders realize a message could be sent across the league with a win over the Stampeders at McMahon Stadium, where Calgary has an 11-game unbeaten streak.
“It would be a great gain,’’ Riders offensive tackle Derek Dennis said. “It would be a huge confidence-booster and it would gain us a lot of respect in this league because Calgary is the gold standard. As much as people don’t want to give them credit, they are a phenomenal program and a phenomenal football team.’’
Especially against the Riders, who are 0-9-1 in Calgary since their last regular-season win at McMahon Stadium. However, Saskatchewan has performed in its two playoff visits to Calgary over that span, with wins over the Stampeders in the 2010 and 2013 West Division finals.
“I would say that Calgary is very consistent at home,’’ said Riders defensive back Jovon Johnson. “They win a lot at home because they do the little things right. They are a very disciplined football team. Even when they aren’t making plays, they are still moving the ball and they keep plugging away. When you have a team that doesn’t make many mistakes and does the little things right, it always makes it tough to play them.’’
The Riders are a different team that has had different personnel over the years. For example, Darian Durant was the Riders’ quarterback in Saskatchewan’s two losses to the Stampeders in 2016.
Stampeders head coach Dave Dickenson told a Calgary radio station that “I really believe their team was pretty good (in 2016) except for their quarterback play last year.’’
When asked to elaborate Friday, Dickenson said the improvement at quarterback occurred with Kevin Glenn handling the position.
“Kevin has been playing really well,’’ Dickenson said. “He has been running and using his legs and he’s one of the most accurate quarterbacks out there. Whether you like the other guy or whoever played last year, there is no doubt that their quarterback play is better.’’
Glenn heads into Saturday’s game needing 116 yards to become the seventh CFL quarterback to pass for 50,000 yards. In three regularseason games this season, he has completed 99 of 136 pass attempts for 1,055 yards with seven touchdowns and four interceptions.
“There is no doubt they have used Kevin’s play to look sharp offensively,’’ Dickenson said.
“Right now, Kevin is playing hot,’’ Stampeders quarterback Bo Levi Mitchell added. “He’s the kind of quarterback that when he’s on, he’s on. So you have to make sure that you get him off his rhythm a little bit, get your hands up and knock down balls. You have to make sure that you hit him and have some fun.’’