STAMPEDERS HAVE HUGE HOLE TO FILL ON O-LINE
Team auditioning for starting spot with Dennis sidelined for remainder of season
You don't just replace a player like Derek Dennis.
When Dennis cracked his fibula in Saturday's win over the B.C. Lions, the Calgary Stampeders lost a veteran leader in the locker-room and one of the CFL'S top offensive linemen.
The Stamps may preach a next man up philosophy, but losing a player of Dennis's calibre for the rest of the season is a tough blow.
Now it's up to Josh Coker or Hugh Thornton to step up and try to fill the massive hole at left tackle that's been created in Dennis's absence.
“We're looking at both Coker and Hugh, so those guys will rep it out and we'll see where we stand at the end of the week,” said Stamps offensive co-ordinator and O-line coach Pat Delmonaco. “They're a little bit different. Hugh's a little bit more experienced and has more snaps under his belt in the NFL. Coker's got one game against Winnipeg. Both of them are going to bring a tenacious attitude and both of them are going to work their butts off.”
The Stamps are treating this week as something of an open competition for the starting left tackle spot, with Canadian Bryce Bell in the mix as well.
In Thornton, they've got a guy with 37 games of NFL experience who did pretty well for himself in two games this summer against the Lions and Toronto Argonauts, who the Stamps will be facing off with again Saturday.
Coker, meanwhile, spent an extended stretch on the Stampeders practice roster last year. He's been in the system for a while, despite playing only one game so far, against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.
“He played the one game and I thought he held his own. He can play guard and tackle, which helps us, he's athletic. He's got some things we want to work on, certain techniques and all that business,” said Stamps head coach Dave Dickenson. “Hugh is more been there, done that, but ultimately can play guard-tackle, as well, he's got two games experience and then Bryce has played tackle in previous games, started last year.
“We want competition but we do want to settle in on someone and hopefully that guy does a great job against a great front.”
Whomever wins the job will be stepping into an offensive line that has been the best in the CFL this season. They've allowed only 12 sacks, the fewest in the league and less than half the amount allowed by the Lions, who have allowed the second fewest in the CFL, with 25.
They're also creating holes that have seen the Stamps run the ball for more yards than any other team in the league.
So it's an opportunity to join an elite unit. A big opportunity, even if Dennis will be sorely missed.
“When it comes to Derek, that's a great man, a great father, a great player,” Coker said. “He means a lot to our team, our offensive line, our group. He means a lot to me . ... I think it's important to be able to pay respect to him, play hard for him and keep supporting him. As long as we play fast and do our job, I think we'll be OK.
“Our O -line, we talk every day and we enjoy each other and we're with each other through the good and the bad.”
KEEP AN EYE OUT
The Stampeders signed three players to their practice roster Tuesday and are expecting to likely bring in two more pretty soon.
The moves will likely fly under the radar and it's entirely possible defensive back Rashaan Gaulden, receiver Changa Hodge and defensive lineman Jalil Lecky won't end up playing at all this season.
But they're worth keeping an eye on anyway, as Dickenson reminded the media after Wednesday's closed practice.
“We've found some guys through the years on this expanded roster and it gives them the little step or information to maybe play this year but take it to the next level,” Dickenson said. “We've found Kamar (Jorden), we found Eric Rogers, we found Javien Elliott. We've found guys in this situation that have helped us.”