STAMPS’ SPECIAL-TEAMERS GET KICK OUT OF KEEPING THEIR FOES IN CHECK
Calgary’s crew will look to keep Bombers outgunned in the battle for field position
Wynton McManis has gotten up close and personal with most — if not all — of the CFL’s premier return men.
It’s just his way.
And his job.
His league-leading 25 specialteams tackles this year — one better than Chandler Fenner of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers — are proof of that.
“It feels good,” said the Calgary Stampeders linebacker with a grin. “Just going in and working hard and stuff like that, it feels good to, honestly, just be able to help the team. Because all those tackles help us in the end with field position.”
And with the post-season having now arrived, special teams carry an elevated significance.
The do-or-die drama of playoffs makes that so with teams more invested than in the regular season in owning field-position advantage.
“Yeah ... it’s not so much about chasing a number of tackles as it is about just helping get the field position for our team,” said the six-foot-one, 225-pound McManis. "Definitely, we take it a lot more personal in playoffs now. Each possession is a lot more important now. It’s really important for us to not let them get any cheap yards. So field position is a big part of it.
“Everything just means a lot more in the playoffs because it could be your last game. There is no next game. You have to go ahead and give it your all.”
That give-er attitude has been McManis’ modus operandi all season long.
And it has been a staple of special-teams co-ordinator Mark Kilam’s entire crew.
Just watch them in Sunday’s Western Final against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers at McMahon Stadium (2:30 p.m., TSN/770 CHQR).
Breakdowns are rare.
And too many could spell a premature end to their quest to capture the Grey Cup.
“We’ve had a good year,” said Stamps special-teams star Charlie Power. "When you have a coach like Kilam, he has us prepared every week, so we have a good game plan going in. It’s just up to us to execute as players.
“We have some dogs this year. Wynton led the league in specialteams tackles and that hasn’t happened in forever. We’ve got guys supporting him and filling the holes. We’ve been physical and we’ve been assignment sound. Each week, we’re trying to get better. Special teams can be kind of chaotic at times, but we’re focused on doing our jobs and our technique.”
On punts, where field position is the No. 1 thrust, it starts with the battery of long-snapper Pierre-Luc Caron and punter Rob Maver.
For many, that would be “allworld” Maver, who’s basically automatic on coffin-corner punts — those deadly kicks that pin foes inside their 10-yard line.
“With Maver back there, when we’re going in, you know he’s going to place it and pin them deep,” Power said. "Anywhere on the field, I’ll take Maver. He’s the best punter in the league. He puts us in good position — that’s why we’ve been so successful on punts.
“And he shows up in the playoffs. He has historically.”
Of course, each punt ends with the likes of McManis, Jameer Thurman (16 special-teams tackles), Power (12) and Riley Jones (12) hustling downfield to take down would-be returners.
Most importantly, the Stamps’ punt coverage team hasn’t allowed a touchdown this season.
In fact, the Red and White have allowed just one total kickoff or punt return for a major on the campaign — one that came on a kickoff.
Of course, they’re hoping to pick up in Sunday’s Western Final where they left off in the regular season — with near-perfect execution.
“Every play’s important,” Power said. “Football’s a fieldposition game. If we can win that field-position battle, which special teams is a big part of, then we have a good chance to win the game. If we can create a big play — get the turnover, strip the ball ... that’s going to set us up well.”
If it’s textbook coverage, then that means a whole lot more of McManis right in returners’ faces.
“It’s a combination of speed and knowledge of the game and technique,” said McManis, 24, when asked about the secret to his success. "I guess I just fit the scheme well here. I don’t know if it’s a size or position thing or just that I happen to fit the scheme.
“But it’s been big for me coming back from my (seasonending ACL) injury last year and things that I went through. Just to be able to fight back for my spot and fight for this team and put on the best show and put my best foot forward, it feels good just to help out my team. My teammates feel that and we all encourage each other and we all feed off that.
“Just making plays is contagious.”