Stamps struggles continue, Riders and Elks win

By Lethbridge Herald on August 23, 2023.

By Graham Kelly

Inside the CFL

  Calgary and Ottawa blew it; Edmonton and Saskatchewan  got it done. The Elks chalked up their first win of the season ending a thirteen game losing streak.. They have an opportunity to end their really embarrassing losing streak-22 losses at home-Sunday night against Ottawa. Meanwhile down the Q.E. II, things have gone from bad to worse.  The Calgary Stampeders 3- 7? Unthinkable.  They play in Toronto tomorrow, so 3-8 is likely.    

      With the 7-2 Winnipeg Blue Bombers in town, the Calgary Stampeders wanted to make a statement that they were much better than their 3-6 record indicated.  Although they lost 19-18 at McMahon Stadium they showed their defence is one of the best in the league and their special teams with return man Tommylee Lewis, punter Cody Grace  and kicker Rene Paredes who scored all of the Stampeders’ points by kicking 6 of 8 field-goals are superb. Unfortunately quarterback Jake Maier who hasn’t thrown a TD pass in four games, completed less than half his passes and threw his third Pick Six nullifying the efforts of his teammates who played their hearts out. As former Calgary coach and present TSN analyst Jim Barker said later, “You can’t win Grey Cups with a quarterback who plays like that”. 

    It was a battle of the back-ups with Dru Brown filling in for Zach Collaros and Maier who, making his 19th straight start is hardly a back-up, although he plays like one and not a particularly good one. After a sparkling performance against Edmonton, Brown looked very ordinary in Calgary. 

    It’s not all Jake’s fault.  The team had a bad case of dropsy, Luther Hakunavanhu dropping a pass while wide-open at the Bomber six. Tre Roberson couldn’t handle an easy interception.  The team has only six picks in 10 games.

    When your quarterback can’t complete half his passes, you have to win the ground game. For some reason, the Stamps have been unable to establish a running attack, despite the presence of Dedrick Mills and the return of the CFL’s leading rusher last year, Ka’Deem Carey. They had over 100 yards on the ground in each of their three wins. In hindsight they shouldn’t have released veteran left tackle Derek Dennis. 

    Said Dave Dickenson following the game, “We found another way to lose. Still, I’m really proud of the effort and commitment, I am. The negative is, the confidence isn’t there. Until you get the confidence, you don’t play with the same swagger…”

     After Saskatchewan beat B.C. 34-29, even though Lion quarterback Vernon Adams, Jr. played  a whale of a game, the other Dickenson, Craig, said, “We came out fired up, played hard and were really physical and set the tone early.  We had to hang on at the end but I was really proud of the men in that room.  They stayed  together the entire time and found a way to will themselves to a victory”

    His quarterback, Jake Dolegala, making his first start, threw three touchdown passes, completed18 of 29 for 239 yards. No interceptions. The Riders  are now on a bye week preparing for their annual home-and-home series with Winnipeg.

    I was asked awhile ago what the answer was for Edmonton’s woes.  I said they need the right person to come along in the front office and make the team a winner.  Wes Montgomery did it for Edmonton in the early fifties, Norm Kimball in the seventies.  Jim Hopson transformed the Roughriders in the 2000’s while Stan Schwartz did the same for the Stampeders before and after the turn of the century.  The late Bob Ackles saved the day in B.C., the late Ralph Sazio in Toronto and Kyle Walters and Wade Miller are the men who can take credit for the current Blue Bomber  dynasty.  It is great news that Rick LeLacheur will be the interim President and CEO of the Elks, roles he held successfully from 2001 to 2011 with Edmonton.  During his tenure the Eskimos appeared in three Grey Cups, winning two.  He has instant credibility in our capital city and the entire CFL.  Wouldn’t it be great if his new/old team can put an end to that awful losing streak this Sunday? (“I guess,” Calgary and Saskatchewan fans mumble.)

    Meanwhile, the Ti-Cats play the Lions while the surprising Alouettes fly to Winnipeg.