Recovering Bishop keeping his head in game
There’s more to the men on the defensive line than the ability to mow down the opposition and get their hands on the quarterback, especially this season in Calgary, with musical chairs being played often.
“Absolutely, that’s why I say this game is 80 per cent mental, 20 per cent physical,” mused Freddie Bishop III, who has suited up at both end and tackle. “You always have to have your mind into it. Even when I was hurt, I had to have my mind into it. Keeping up with plays, keeping up with the shuffling, so that when I come in I have a better awareness of where I’m going to fit in and how I’m going to have to adjust my play.”
The versatile Bishop is bouncing back from an ankle injury which has bothered him and he will be counted heavily upon on Saturday night to help corral the wily Kevin Glenn at the B.C. Lions’ controls.
“The main thing with us is getting pressure on the quarterback, especially this week,” he agreed. “It’s kind of hard to sack him because he gets the ball out so fast, that threestep drop. So this week just focus on putting pressure on him. If we do that, the sacks will come.
“As long as we stay strong on the coverage up front, coaches have told us they’re going to let us get there. We’re going to put on the rush and let’s go eat!”
Mitchell takes time to recuperate
When Bo Levi Mitchell injured his knee and ankle a couple of weekends ago, he promised a speedy recovery. Since then, cooler heads probably suggested that rushing back into action isn’t the wisest decision for the quarterback.
“When I’m saying it, I want to make sure people know that I’m not taking a break,” Mitchell explained. “I’m not getting complacent and let people think that, oh, we have first place, or I know that we’re making playoffs or anything like that and I’m just try- ing to stay healthy until playoffs. I’m not trying to do that; I want to get back and make sure that as a team we keep pushing it. Keep pushing for that bye week, get better and build momentum for the playoffs.”
Mitchell, 24, has been at practice all week wearing a knee brace to protect those stretched ligaments which, along with the ankle sprain, kept him out of the last game and will have Drew Tate starting his second straight against B.C.
“The whole package feels good,” the third-year Stamp said.
“Getting the strength back and trying to push it a little bit, trying to do some quarterback drops. Put myself in strenuous situations and see how it’s going to feel. I’ve been throwing all week, still have a lot of zip on the ball.
“Talking to Drew as much as I can and help him with everything I see because he’s always done it for me,” he continued. “Making sure I’m an extra set of eyes. I know Drew pretty well. I know which way he’s going to be looking at plays and where he likes to go with the ball.”
Smith says neck is doing fine
Brandon Smith is over the neck stinger that kept him out of practice earlier this week, which is good news for the Stamps’ secondary.
“I’m just an old guy, wanted to take a day off,” joked the 30-year-old defensive back. “I don’t like practising or anything like that. I figured I’d sit around, watch the guys and let them get better.
“But, nah,” he added, “everything is good. Just precautionary measures.”
Important because Smith, the leading tackler on the team, is key to the Stamps’ order and should be kept busy on Saturday.
“They have a ton of weapons and they have Kevin behind centre, so Kevin’s always able to find the open guy like he did the last time they were here. We just have to limit those big plays and just go out and do what we do.”