ARE STAMPS CFL’S BEST TEAM?
CALGARY (CP) – The Calgary Stampeders take pride in their culture of “plug-and-play”. When injury forces a player from the lineup, the replacement is expected to excel and help the team win.
The Stampeders look to go 5-0 to start a season for the first time since 1995 when the B.C. Lions (2-3) come to town Friday.
And with Calgary’s star running back Jon Cornish and backup tailback Matt Walter out with concussion symptoms, it appears former CFL rookie of the year Martell Mallett will play in his first football game since 2009.
The 28-year-old from Pine Bluff, Ark., rushed for 1,240 yards for the Lions in 2009, including a 136-yard performance in a game against the Stampeders, to earn that rookie award.
Mallett then headed to the NFL where he got looks on practice rosters in Philadelphia, Cleveland and New York, but no games.
The six-foot, 208-pound running back returned to Canada in 2012 with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats. A torn Achilles tendon suffered in training camp wiped out the season and the Tiger-Cats released him prior to training camp the following year.
Signed as a free agent in January, Mallett came off Calgary’s practise roster this week for some first-team reps.
The Stampeders picked up running back Hugh Charles as insurance Monday following his release from the Saskatchewan Roughriders. Mallett has been with the Stampeders since training camp and is more familiar with Calgary’s offensive schemes.
“I look at it as a blessing,” Mallett said Tuesday. “It’s been a while since I played football. I’ve been here, learning the playbook, learning the system and it just came down to my time to go. That’s why I’m here, for depth.”
Cornish, the CFL’s most valuable player last season and rushing leader the past two, went on the six-game injured list last week still suffering the effects of getting knocked out in the season opener.
In his absence, regular returner Jock Sanders led Calgary in rushing yards with 86 on 16 carries in last Thursday’s 26-22 win over Edmonton. Walters left that game in the first quarter.
The Stampeders went 14-4 in 2013 with a three-man rotation at starting quarterback and receivers constantly in and out of the lineup.
“That’s been in our biggest thing the last couple of years. Guys plug in and play,” defensive back Keon Raymond said. “We’ve probably been one of the most injury-prone teams over the last couple years I’ve been here, but we haven’t missed a beat.
One of Calgary’s three starting quarterbacks last season returns to McMahon Stadium on Friday in a Lions uniform. Kevin Glenn went 10-3 for the Stampeders before he was taken in the expansion draft by the Ottawa Redblacks and subsequently traded to the Lions.
Charles has taken reps and worked with the return team in two practices since his arrival in Calgary. He’s been cut this season by both the Roughriders and the Edmonton Eskimos, for whom he’s played a combined 55 career games.
The Eskimos released him from training camp. The 28-year-old from Tulsa, Okla., compiled 86 yards on 13 carries in his one game July 12 for Saskatchewan, but a fumble that led to a Lions field goal likely cost him his job there.
“That was the majority of it. I was there to prove a point and I just didn’t get it done,” Charles said. “They put me in that spot for a reason and I didn’t come through and they pulled the plug.
“It’s nice to be wanted. It’s been a roller-coaster this year and a trying year for sure. We all go through it as a pro athlete and in this business. I’m old enough to not take anything personal and to know the deal and the situation when things go down.
“My whole career has been about proving and myself. It’s nothing new.”
It’s plug and play because management and coaches have stayed relatively stable.
No different than the model of the Steelers who have had 3 coaches in the past 45 years.
Too many dysfunctional teams treat their management and coaches like they are the bottom man on the roster
That's a silly question to ask, Are the Stamps the CFL's best? Let this be the only post to answer that, no other posters needed. Y E S
hahahah and how did the suppossed # 1 team do last yr? Its way too early to crown anyone. We all know the Stumps choke when it matters.
The Stamps should be 2-2. 'Nuff said.
The question is who is the best. Presently Calgary is by their record. Last year is ancient history.
What is the issue?
Exactly. Let them be #1 in the regular season, let them win a bunch of individual awards and let them stumble in the playoffs when it matters most.
The stamps still don't have a qb. That will kill then against a team like saskatchewan
The riders still don't have a qb. That will kill then against a team like calgary
DD's ring finger disagrees with you.
JC's/Huf ring finger disagrees with you.
CFL player fact; DD has fat sausage fingers.
adorned with fresh gc hardware. any cgy qb's have that? cfl fast fact: nope.
Durant is an all star! Suck it calgary!
When was Durant a all-star? He's not all-star caliber 2014.
haters be hatin'
They can't plug and play all positions. Their D Tackles failed miserably last November.
Stuck in the past are you. Heres a secret just for you, it's now July/August 2014. Keep it to yourself, okay?
Riders still don't have a qb eh? It's not like Darian forgot how to throw the football after dominating down the stretch last year. Maybe look at the receiving corps bub. Lots of new guys who aren't open or are in wrong spot.
Stamps "best at what" ?????
The 2014 season would be a wonderful one if a) the Stamps go 18 – 0, and then b) Durant and the Riders dispose of them in the western final!
@Big Time
Sorry to burst your bubble Bubba, but Riders stuck in west division basement for 2014 season.
There really is no best team right now. Stamps best record but still looked weak in last two wins. This is still like an ex season. Seems teams all have a gap … the 'next guy up' from last year is now starting in Ottawa. Can't remove that many (7th best Cdn etc) players from teams and not have an impact. But will correct over time.