CFL Preview: Dickenson finally gets shot in Calgary

The Calgary Stampeders enter the 2016 season with Dave Dickenson taking over for John Hufnagel on the sidelines and inheriting a team intent on making a Grey Cup run.

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Dickenson time Stamps fans, and CFL fans in general really, have been waiting for Dickenson’s shot running a team for seemingly forever now. After years of waiting for his turn behind Hufnagel, and rebuffing offers to interview elsewhere, Dickenson will finally be calling the shots in Calgary this year. The rookie head coach finds himself in a favourable situation, with a stacked roster and top QB that should challenge for the West Division title. The team isn’t without holes however…

Next man up The Stamps have developed some excellent receivers in recent years, but the NFL is now reaping some of Calgary’s hard work after Eric Rogers (San Francisco) and Jeff Fuller (Seattle) signed south of the border this off-season. That left the Stamps’ cupboard a little bare, with Marquay McDaniel the lone 1,000-yard man left on the roster. Calgary has to hope one (or more) of Joe West, Anthony Parker, and Bakari Grant makes the leap to No. 1 receiver.

Bo’s show now Bo Levi Mitchell has developed into one of the league’s top quarterbacks – maybe the top quarterback – over the past couple years backed by a very strong supporting cast. That will be tested this year with the aforementioned exodus of two of his top receivers to the NFL, and the retirement of running back Jon Cornish. Cornish retires a multiple league All-Star, former Most Outstanding Player, and perhaps best Canadian running back of all time. His exit means more of Calgary’s offensive workload – and expectations – will be placed on Mitchell’s shoulders, or perhaps more accurately, throwing arm.

Additions and Subtractions

+ WR Bakari Grant John Hufnagel rarely makes big free agent moves in the off-season, and this year was no different. But the team nabbed the former East Division All-Star, coming off a disappointing 2015 season in Hamilton; just 35 receptions for 492 yards in 10 games. Dave Dickenson likes Grant’s speed however, and he will get plenty of opportunity with Rodgers and Fuller gone.

- WR Eric Rodgers The CFL’s leading receiver a year ago was a much sought after commodity in the NFL during the off-season, eventually landing in San Francisco. 

Canadian Content

Over the offseason, the Stampeders lost three-time Most Outstanding Canadian Player Jon Cornish to retirement. Two other former Canadian starters, defensive tackle Corey Mace and guard Brander Craighead, also elected to hang up their cleats after both missed the entire 2015 season due to injuries. For most teams, this would be cause for serious concern. For the Stamps, having to replace quality Canadians means it’s just another offseason.

Consider that prior to last season, they lost the league’s Most Outstanding Offensive Lineman, centre Brett Jones; and leading up to the 2014 season, retirement claimed perennial all-star guard Dimitri Tsoumpas. Last season, the two playing in the positions vacated by Jones and Tsoumpas, centre Pierre Lavertu and guard Spencer Wilson, were both West Division All-Stars, with Wilson emerging as Calgary’s nominee for Top Lineman.

In terms of replacing this year’s retirees, the job was already done. Injuries dogged Craighead throughout his brief two-year career, so Shane Bergman, who replaced him at guard, has actually made 30 starts over the last two seasons. As for Mace, the void created by his absence last year was quite admirably filled by Junior Turner, who played well enough to become Calgary’s nominee for Most Outstanding Canadian. As for Cornish, it may seem impossible to replace the three-time CFL rushing champion but, in 2011 Most Outstanding Canadian Jerome Messam, who recorded his second career 1,000-yard season in 2015, the Stampeders have the best possible candidate to try.

Other Nationals expected to join Messam, Lavertu, Wilson, and Bergman in the starting offensive lineup are ratio changing tackle Dan Federkeil and receiver Anthony Parker. The longest serving Stampeder, fullback Rob Cote, will see his share of offensive snaps as well.

Brad Erdos and 2015 first-rounder Karl Lavoie supply depth on the O-Line.

In terms of homegrown receivers, the Stamps are well-stocked with sophomore Lemar Durant, 2016 second round pick Juwan Brescacin, and fourth-year CFLer Simon Charbonneau-Campeau, who missed much of last season with an injury.

With Canadians starting at running back and offensive tackle, the Stampeders have the flexibility to start just one National on defence, that being Turner, backed up by the versatile Quinn Smith, and Derek Wiggan. It’s possible that, down the road, this year’s sixth overall pick, linebacker Alex Singleton could develop into a starter but, for the time being, he’ll be asked to contribute heavily on special teams, along with the likes of fullback William Langlais, defensive end Ben D’Aguilar, and DBs Adam Thibault, Jeff Hecht, and Adam Berger.

All-Star kicker Rene Paredes (85.6% career accuracy) and punter Rob Maver (second in the CFL in 2015 with a 45.7 yard average) will again handle the kicking duties, albeit with a new snapper in rookie Pierre-Luc Caron.

Who to Watch:  A late-season acquisition from the Riders, Jerome Messam finished with over 1,000 rushing yards and 1500 yards from scrimmage. His 6.2 yards per carry average was tops among CFL RBs, but that hasn’t been enough for the Stamps to commit to making him a full-time starter. He may share backfield duties and carries, but knowing Messam, that will only add to the permanent ship on his rather large shoulders, to show that he is still an elite back in this league.

Impact Imports

Mitchell is one of the league’s top stars and most recognizable CFLers in the country. He’s coming off his best season statistically and has a number of honours under his belt already, highlighted by his Grey Cup MVP in 2014. He faces his toughest challenge to date this year, however, as the unquestioned top dog on the Stamps offence, and without the help he’s enjoyed the previous couple seasons.

The Stamps’ international assembly on defence is strong and didn’t suffer near the departures the offence did. Halfbacks Brandon Smith and Jamar Wall, and cornerbacks Fred Bennett and Brandon McDonald help form one of the league’s better secondaries.

And the defensive line still features Charleston Hughes, who is productive in his own right –10 sacks last year – but whose biggest contribution is making everybody he plays alongside– everybody – better. After Freddie Bishop landed an NFL audition this off-season, Frank Beltre figures to get first crack at the coveted defensive end spot opposite Hughes.

If there are any question marks on defence, they would be at linebacker. Having to replace Juwan Simpson and Keon Raymond, the Stamps signed Taylor Reed and Joe Burnett. Burnett has battled injuries the past two seasons but prior to that was an All-Star defensive back in Edmonton. If he can stay healthy and return to form at the nickel linebacker position, he’ll be the de facto sixth member of an already overwhelming secondary in Calgary.

Season Outlook

With the success of the Eskimos last season, the Stamps at times felt like an afterthought, but consider that they were actually tied with the Eskimos atop the West with a 14-4 mark. It was an impressive feat considering the amount of key injuries they had throughout the roster throughout the season. Offensive line was where they were hit the hardest then, and its happened again in this training camp, so the Stamps' depth will again be tested early in a fast improving West Division. Mitchell will be trying to build chemistry with a receiving crops that is without Rodgers and Fuller, and the line will need to keep him upright for that to happen.