Almost as soon as the clock struck zero and the Calgary Stampeders began celebrating their Saturday evening win over the Edmonton Eskimos, it was hard not to look a couple days ahead on the schedule.
On Thursday, after all, the Stamps are in Winnipeg to take on the Blue Bombers.
Beat the suddenly-slumping Bombers and the Stampeders will find themselves with sole possession of first place in the CFL’s West Division.
That would be a remarkable place to be for a Stampeders team that many expected would need time to integrate new pieces into the lineup and find its feet this season.
With all that being said, the Stampeders didn’t necessarily look like world-beaters on Saturday night, at least on the offensive side of the ball.
“We’re not pretty right now, but sometimes we’re effective and know how to win,” said Stampeders head coach Dave Dickenson. “There’s a lot we can improve on, but if you can win when you’re not playing that well, that’s a good thing for our team.”
With every win, the Stampeders create a little breathing room for themselves in what looks like it’s going to be a brutal fight-to-the-finish in the West Division.
The focus is still on improving, not where the Stampeders sit in the standings, but we’re finding out that maybe it’s possible to build and grow while keeping pace with the best in the West at the same time.
Here’s 10 observations from last night’s game:
1. SCARY TERRY
Terry Williams had been waiting for a window to open so he could burst downfield for a touchdown.
On Saturday, he got his chance and he took advantage in a big way.
Williams had a 103-yard kickoff return touchdown, as well as along punt return touchdown that was called back because of a penalty.
The TD was an appropriate reward for a guy who has quietly been doing great work all season. It’s the touchdowns that generate headlines, but Williams has been doing just about everything other than getting in the endzone this year.
Williams did have a second-half fumble, as well, so he wasn’t perfect, but on a night where special teams was arguably the difference between the Stampeders winning and losing, Willams stood out.
2. LAYING DOWN THE LAW
Cordarro Law appeared to get injured late in the game and we’ll get an update on his status on Monday afternoon when the Stampeders hold a rundown at McMahon Stadium.
It would be a shame if he had to miss time, because Law was absolutely terrific against the Eskimos.
The defensive end had two defensive tackles and a sack and now has the second-most sacks in the CFL, with six, behind the Saskatchewan Roughriders’ Charleston Hughes.
Dickenson described Law as the Stamps’ leader, and his veteran savvy and relentless pursuit of quarterbacks and running backs has helped a defensive line that was ravaged by injuries put together a string of very solid performances.
3. RISING UP
All week, there was talk about how the Eskimos defensive line might have their way with the Stampeders o-line.
That didn’t happen.
A pieced-together offensive line that was without starting left-guard Shane Bergman rose to the occasion.
Yes, the Eskimos got three sacks, but none of them could really be blamed on the o-line.
Saturday’s game might have been the toughest assignment the Stamps’ o-line will have all year, and they passed the test.
4. ODD
It’s a little odd that Eric Rogers didn’t see more of the ball against the Eskimos.
From the pressbox, at least, it seemed like he was doing a good job of getting open, but he only saw three pass attempts come his way.
When he did get the ball in his hands, he made the most of his opportunities — including on a 25-yard touchdown where he had to shake off a DB before dashing into the endzone.
When Bo Levi Mitchell returns to the lineup, likely on Aug. 17 against the Montreal Alouettes, you’d expect Rogers to see a lot more of the ball.
He’s simply too valuable a weapon to be the fourth-most targeted Stampeders receiver.
5. ADJUSTMENTS
The Stampeders defence completely shut-out the Eskimos in the first half.
After halftime, though, it was a little bit different, as Edmonton QB Trevor Harris seemed to find his groove and help the Eskimos to 18 points.
Harris found Ricky Collins for an 83-yard TD strike, taking advantage of what appeared to be a corner-blitz that didn’t quite work out for the Stampeders, and then found Collins again for a 26-yard strike into the endzone early in the fourth quarter.
“Looks like they found something on us,” Dickenson said. “Have to make sure we adjust next time we play them in the second half.”
6. ANOTHER BIG ONE
Saturday’s game marked the first time all season that the Stampeders didn’t come down with an interception in a game.
Nobody should misinterpret that to mean the defensive backs didn’t have a strong game.
The Eskimos are a strong and dynamic enough offence that they’re going to move the ball at some point or another, and the DBs mostly did a good job of limiting the damage.
Jamar Wall’s effort on the final play of the game needs to be shouted out, as well, as he did phenomenal work knocking down a pass from Harris to Eskimos receiver Kevin Ellliott that would have changed the whole night.
7. NO TROUBLE IN PAREDES
Rene Paredes was playing in his 150th CFL game on Saturday night, and the Stampeders kicker made sure that wasn’t the only reason it was a memorable evening.
He connected on four-of-five field goal attempts, with his only miss coming on a difficult 54-yarder.
With Eskimos kicker Sean Whyte being considerably more inconsistent, the Stampeders could fully appreciate the importance of Paredes’ reliability.
8. TAKING OFF
Reggie Begelton has quietly been putting together a terrific season.
He led the Stamps in receiving yards against the Eskimos, with 62, and now has the sixth-most receiving yards in the CFL, with 461.
It sort of feels like he’s just getting going, too, but he came up with some big catches in big moments on Saturday night for the Stampeders.
9. BACK AT IT
This has been written about a lot already, but it would be journalistic malpractice not to mention Romar Morris.
Less than nine months after tearing his Achilles tendon, the running back returned to the field for the Stampeders on Saturday night.
They needed him, too, and while the rushing numbers won’t blow anyone away, his ability to catch the ball and blast-off downfield makes him incredibly dangerous.
The guy put in the work to get back, and the Stampeders are grateful to him have in the mix.
10. HUGE
It really can’t be overstated how important Saturday’s win may end up being for the Stampeders.
The fight for playoff positioning in the West is going to go all season-long, but the Stamps are matched up two more times with the Eskimos in the next month.
Taking two-of-three against their provincial rivals would be a nice boost to the Stamps’ chances of hosting a home game in the playoffs, and Saturday was a good start.
Copyright Postmedia Network Inc., 2019
