Stampeders dominant on defence, but feel they still must improve
By most statistical metrics, the Calgary Stampeders’ defence is on a roll right now.
They’ve allowed only 34 points in their past three games, have allowed the least amount of points of any team in the CFL this season and are among the league leaders in sacks, forced fumbles and pass knock-downs. Life’s good, right? Well, that’s in the eye of the beholder and when you ask anyone associated with the Stamps defence how they’re doing and, to a man, they’ll focus on the areas where they need to improve.
“We can improve on just making plays,” said Stamps defensive lineman Charleston Hughes. “When it comes down to it, we dropped a lot of picks this year, we missed a lot of sacks and I think more of what we need to do is clean up on all those missed opportunities.”
To be clear, nobody should be expecting the Stamps to say anything different. What are they going to do? Tell the world that they’re satisfied with their performances in late-August, when there’s still half a season to play?
No, the Stamps are obviously going to spend their time focusing on areas where they can improve instead of resting on their laurels. They’ve got a game on Sunday against a Hamilton Tiger-Cats team that put up 53 points on the lowly Saskatchewan Roughriders last weekend, so their confidence-bubble could burst at any moment.
And with only four interceptions, the Stamps have the third-fewest picks in the CFL heading into Sunday’s game, so yes, they can still get a whole lot better.
“We’ve got to come down with some interceptions,” said Stampeders defensive co- ordinator DeVone Claybrooks. “We’ve got some hands on balls but we’re not picking them. We’ve got to finish our sacks. Just as a unit, we’re playing some things great and some things not so great, so you want to balance that out a little bit.”
It’s not as if the Stamps aren’t savouring their run of good form, though. Since a tight 44-41 victory over the B.C. Lions on July 29, the Stamps have held the Saskatchewan Roughriders to 15 and 10 points in consecutive games before asserting their West Division dominance in a 37-9 victory over the Lions last week.
They’re healthy and they’re clicking, which has meant that opposing quarterbacks have had little time to find receivers and that rival running backs have found little space to operate.
“Truthfully, it’s time,” said Stamps linebacker Deron Mayo. “At the beginning of the season guys are just trying to jell. Chemistry is a big part of the defence, just learning how to communicate. We’re starting to hit our stride but I think we’ve still got a lot to improve on and the coaches think the same, the players think the same, but we’re getting there.”
With Zach Collaros and the Hamilton Tiger-Cats rolling into McMahon Stadium on Sunday, the Stamps are facing a team with the potential to bring their run of defensive good news to an abrupt end. The same thing was said about the Lions last week, though, and the Stamps responded by sending a message to the rest of the CFL.
There are many reasons behind the team’s stinginess on defence, but Hughes was honest about the fact that they’ve been more fortunate than usual on the injury front. That’s led to familiarity both in practice and in games, and that’s translated into a defensive corps that’s largely operating as one.
There may be injuries in the future, there may not be. One way or another, don’t expect the Stampeders to suddenly start talking as if they’re satisfied with their performances.
“You shoot for the moon, you hit a star, right?” Claybrooks said. “It’s one of those unattainable goals where you try to shoot for perfection and try to play perfect every day, but I just want the guys to just know what they’re doing and fly around and have fun. Everything else will fall into place.”