Win would clinch home playoff date for Stamps
It’s an objective, to be sure, but it’s not something that has at all been in the forefront for the Calgary Stampeders.
A win against the Hamilton TigerCats on Friday night will ensure a home playoff date.
“I haven’t thought about it,’’ admitted quarterback Bo Levi Mitchell. “That’s actually the first time I heard it. I had no idea. It’s not really what we think about. You have to have the thought process of playoffs first, then win the division. For us, we’re playing a great team that we’ve always played close and we’ve had battles the last couple of years. That’s all we can think about right now.’’
“I’m pretty sure our fans will appreciate us clinching ... a home playoff,’’ smiled defensive end Charleston Hughes. “I know everybody on the team would like that, too, to have that home game. It’s always good to play in the comfort of your own atmosphere.’’
That scenario is one that head coach/ general manager John Hufnagel wasn’t about to dwell on this week.
“That’s always your first goal, going into your season, but not your ultimate goal,’’ he cautioned. “The magnitude of our last five games and what it can mean as far as the final standings is very important. That’s what the players are focusing on ... the last five games.’’
Because Montreal lost to Ottawa on Thursday night, the Stamps are the first CFL team to clinch a playoff spot. They can finish no worse than third in the west and can’t lose the cross- over spot to an eastern team following the Alouettes’ defeat.
The first of those last five games, at Tim Hortons Field on Friday, will be against their perennial Eastern rivals in the Ticats, 8- 4, whom the 10- 3 Stamps defeated 24- 23 in Week 1. Asked if he had been looking forward to this rematch, Mitchell nodded.
“Yes, obviously I didn’t play well in the first game against them. Yeah, we got the win and we had to come back at the end of the game. But you always want to play well against every team. When you have a bad game, it’s like a little revenge cycle for you; you need to come back and make sure you play well.’’
Even though the Ticats were for most of the season rated higher than Calgary by many experts, that doesn’t appear to have added any motivation.
“I don’t keep up with all that stuff, rankings and stuff,’’ Bishop shrugged. “We know the type of team they are. We’ve played them once already. They have a few changes on the depth chart, but we’re going to do what we do and be focused on what we have going on.
“Every game is going to be important.’’
Key in the personnel changes for Hamilton, of course, will be the insertion of quarterback Jeff Mathews for the injured Zach Collaros.
“From watching film, he’s a mobile quarterback,’’ concluded Hughes. “He’s real inexperienced ... but I can expect him to come in and give it his all.’’
“Our defence isn’t going to change because of one person,’’ added Bishop. “We’re still going to do what we do well, just get after the quarterback.’’
Notable lineup changes for Calgary will see Derek Dennis starting at left tackle, in place of the injured Garry Williams ( foot); veteran slotback Jabari Arthur makes his return with rookie Lemar Durant out ( hip flexor); and linebacker Deron Mayo moves into Juwan Simpson’s middle position, sharing those duties with Glenn Love and Maleki Harris.
Newcomer Brandon McDonald will occupy cornerback in the absence of Joe Burnett ( ankle).