WHAT WE LEARNED THURSDAY
That’s more like it. Not because the Stampeders pounded the Blue Bombers for the second time in three weeks, but for the first time in that same time frame, the Stamps have a result that provides a bit of clarity. The 33-18 win Thursday was a mixed bag, b
INTERNAL COMPETITION IS STILL HEATED
At the same time they’re battling opponents, the Stampeders have a number of ongoing position battles that have yet to be settled through the first two months of the season.
Thanks to the off-season roster overhaul, as well as a significant amount of quality depth, two receiver spots and defensive end are still in flux.
Greg Wilson stepped in for injured veteran Joe West Thursday night, and produced four receptions for 37 yards on six targets.
While it’s likely not the impact the 25-year-old burner was hoping for, he’s likely going to get more run with West placed on the six-game injured list.
Inside at slotback, Bakari Grant came up with a huge catch on a Bo Levi Mitchell deep ball late in the game, providing excel- lent production for two straight weeks. But don’t forget about Kamar Jorden, because Dickenson hasn’t.
On the other side of the ball, edge-rusher Ja’Gared Davis fully capitalized on his opportunity with Frank Beltre sidelined, coming up with two sacks and providing problems for the Bombers offensive line all night long.
STILL SEARCHING FOR THAT 60- MINUTE GAME
This can be viewed in two different lights, depending whether you’re a glass-half-full or glass-half-empty type of person.
If you’re a negative Nancy, it’s concerning that the offence has a tendency to find itself in long droughts, allowing inferior teams to hang around, while the defence has been prone to lategame collapses.
On the bright side, the Stamps are 2-1-1 and looking like an upper-echelon team, despite not having played anything close to what they think is a complete game.
BAND IS BACK TOGETHER
The front five had their maestro back in Week 5, and Pierre Lavertu looked fresh.
Coming into the game, Dickenson wasn’t at all happy with the way his offence handled the artificial crowd noise they were pumping through McMahon Stadium all week, but that changed when the lights came on.
Having their starting centre back from a shoulder problem that had sidelined him since the first week of training camp clearly helped with the communication up front, and the Stamps were able to deal with an Investors Group Field crowd that was sparked when the Bombers turned to backup quarterback Matt Nichols.
They also didn’t give up a sack, keeping Mitchell clean through 41 pass attempts.
RENE PAREDES’ STRUGGLES WITH CONVERTS CONTINUE
Last year, it was Lions kicker Richie Leone struggling with the longer 32-yard extra points, missing a league-high 11 on the season.
Paredes is doing his best to surpass that mark with five misses already through just four games.
There’s really no easy explanation, either.
The ultra-consistent Paredes has been just the opposite this season, but the Concordia University product nailed both his field-goals Thursday, leaving him a respectable 10-of-14 on the season.
Converts, however, are an adventure, and you have to wonder if they’re in his head now.
THEY’VE FINALLY FOUND A KICK RETURNER
The Stamps have been searching for a reliable, consistent player in the return game for two seasons now, but 5-foot-7 Roy Finch is starting to look like the answer to their problems.
Too much emphasis is placed on the highlight-reel plays that end up in the end zone — not everyone can have a Brandon Banks.
Finch has shown burst, explosiveness, shiftiness and speed, but even more importantly, he’s taken care of the football and tried to produce positive yardage each and every time, rather than always looking for the home run.