Stamps’ Dennis up for top CFL lineman award
Left tackle played a major role on unit that allowed fewest sacks
Derek Dennis has his tuxedo all ready to go. It’s a big tux. Teammate Roy Finch could probably use it as a parachute if he has any post-Grey Cup skydiving planned.
“I had trouble finding a suit,” the Calgary Stampeders offensive lineman said of picking out his awards show attire. “It’s because my shoulders are so broad.
“I had to accessorize the best way I could.
“I think it’ll look nice. My mom’s coming into town, so she’ll be with me.”
Dennis, who is up for the CFL top offensive lineman award, is one of five Stamps who will be looking to take home some hardware from Thursday night’s awards banquet.
Quarterback Bo Levi Mitchell (Most Outstanding Player), running back Jerome Messam (top Canadian), wideout DaVaris Daniels (top rookie) and head coach Dave Dickenson are also up for leaguewide honours.
“Normally, I go to Big and Tall,” Dennis said. “But I always got to get it custom made.
“Normally, my jacket is a 54, but my legs and everything else are not as big as my shoulders.
“I don’t want to wear a suit that looks too baggy, but I don’t want to wear a suit that’s like super tight. I was trying on jackets and it felt like I was about to bust out the shoulders.”
Rather than risk a potential Incredible Hulk moment while on stage, the six-foot-three, 341-pound mountain of a man decided to go with what he knows.
“Luckily, I had an old suit from a couple of years ago,” Dennis said. “I had it custom cut.
“I got it all dry cleaned, so hopefully it’s looking nice.”
The 28-year-old is up against Ottawa Redblacks centre Jon (The Beard) Gott for the lineman award.
“I guess you have to look at the body of work,” Dennis said.
“With me playing left tackle, I probably go against the best edge rushers in the league every week.
“And I played a couple of games at guard, so that shows versatility, so it gives me a good chance to win.
“But Gott’s a good player. He’s been in this league for a long time and he’s been producing.”
Gott suited up for five seasons with the Red and White before he was shipped to Ottawa for the firstoverall pick in the 2014 CFL Draft.
Stamps GM John Hufnagel used that pick to select injured centre Pierre Lavertu.
“This is my first nomination, so it’ll be exciting,” said Gott, who will face his former Stamps teammates in Sunday’s Grey Cup (4 p.m., TSN/ News Talk 770).
How are voters expected to choose between a left tackle and a centre, two positions on the line that are quite different?
“(Voters) put a lot of weight (no pun intended, we’re sure) on left tackle,” Gott said. “We’ll see how it goes, but he’s playing well.
“He’s a good player and Calgary is lucky to have him.”
Gott refuses to think of himself as an underdog against Dennis, who allowed the fewest quarterback pressures in the league among starting left tackles.
There are responsibilities that a centre has that makes his job unique.
“With the amount of stuff that’s put on me game in and game out, I don’t think (I’m an underdog),” the six-foot-three, 297-pounder said.
“I’ve established myself in this league and if you know football, you understand what I have to do.”
The Stamps’ offensive line is regarded as the finest in the land.
They surrendered the fewest sacks.
They opened holes for the league’s leading rusher. And they have Gott’s respect. “They gave (up) the least sacks in the league (20) and I don’t think we were anywhere near that (50),” the 31-year-old said. “So they have the right game plan.
“We’ve been rotating guys all the time just like Calgary. They know what they’re doing in Calgary.”