Dickenson wants better effort from Stamps
Tuesday marked the end of twoa-day sessions for Calgary Stampeders training camp, meaning the days are about to get shorter but the CFL season is approaching.
So it was concerning for head coach Dave Dickenson that the work of the players left a lot to be desired in the morning session.
“We call it a ‘group teach,’ just to try to lock in,” he said. “And guys weren’t there. It’s not that it hasn’t happened before. It’s disappointing. You try to take some running off their legs, but their brains don’t work.”
It was one of those off-days that periodically happens at this time of the year — the result of long days spent on the field, in the weight room and in meetings.
Dickenson said proof was the fact the coaching staff needed to run drills twice and saw mistakes being made, a result of not listening or paying attention.
The season’s kickoff is still a few weeks away when they host the Ottawa Redblacks in a rematch of the 2018 Grey Cup clash on June 15 (5 p.m. MT, TSN, News Talk 770). It’ll be their first meaningful game of 2019.
They need to clean up their acts somewhat quickly as the Saskatchewan Roughriders pay a visit to McMahon Stadium on Friday (7 p.m. MT, TSN, News Talk 770).
But whether it’s competition for positions or playing time, Dickenson said the coaching staff is always watching.
“There’s really no excuse — for me, every time you’re on the field, every time we’re in a meeting, we’re grading you,” he said. “We’re taking a look. We’re trying to evaluate what you’d be as a pro.
“We need to see some improvement.”
The No. 2 quarterback position on the Stampeders roster is Nick Arbuckle’s to lose.
The 25-year-old native of Camarillo, Calif., held the role last year for all 18 regular season games, the West final and Grey Cup, working short-yardage situations and filling in for starter Bo Levi Mitchell in the event of an injury.
But with Troy Cook and Montell Mozart coming into the mix and competing for the third-stringer’s job, internal competition has been created.
“I think he has done well,” Dickenson said. “Sometimes, I think he tries to do too much. But he’s a confident guy and knows our system. He works extremely hard. Sometimes, I think, too hard; he’s in the weight room as much as any guy on this team. As a quarterback, I certainly didn’t do that. He’s been a good leader. He knows his role. But he knows he’s in a fight.”