CALGARY STAMPEDERS

LAST YEAR: 13-5 - 1st IN WEST DIVISION - LOST TO SASKATCHEWAN IN WEST FINAL

Calgary entered 2010 as one of the favourites in the West Division. With Henry Burris leading the way on the field, the Stampeders were poised to make another run at the Grey Cup. Burris lived up to his part of the deal in the regular season, and was named the CFL’s Most Outstanding Player, but the Stamps once again disappointed in the playoffs, losing to the Roughriders in the West Division final for the second straight year.

KEY ADDITIONS

Geoff Tisdale, DB: The Stamps suffered a big loss in their secondary when Dwight Anderson left via free agency, but did well to replace him with Tisdale, a former Ticat. Hamilton had the worst passing defence in the league last year but Tisdale was a lone bright spot. The 25-year-old led the team in interceptions with four, and has recorded 11 through his three years in Hamilton.

Dave Dickenson, OC: More a promotion than an addition, the former Most Outstanding Player, who spent half his 10-year career with the Stamps, moves from quarterback coach to offensive coordinator in Calgary. 2011 will be Dickenson’s third year on the Stamps’ coaching staff and even though he called plays last year, he will now be fully in charge of Calgary’s first-ranked offense.

Other Notable Acquisitions: Reggie McNeal, QB/WR; Tim St. Pierre, LB; Larry Taylor, KR

KEY DEPARTURES

Ben Archibald, OT: After what was likely the best of his three solid seasons in Calgary, Archibald was let go in a salary dump by the Stampeders. The reigning Most Outstanding Lineman was quickly picked up by the Lions once free agency rolled around, leaving a big hole on the left side of Calgary’s offensive line.

Dwight Anderson/Brandon Browner, CB: The league’s top trash talker will be taking his mouth – and his game – to Montreal, while Browner will try his hand in the NFL with the Seattle Seahawks. The Stamps were second in the league in both pass defence and interceptions and a big part of that was Anderson and Browner, who were both named league all-stars.

Other Notable Departures: Tom Johnson, DL; Mike Labinjo, DL; Jesse Lumsden, RB; P.K. Sam, WR; Ryan Thelwell, WR

THE EXPERTS WEIGH IN

Chris Shultz's Team Overview: They are not rebuilding and they are not reloading. This offseason was about only refining an already very good Calgary Stampeders football team. The Stamps lost to the Roughriders in the West final again but that was then, this is now. And the present is looking good for the Stamps. More...

Matt Dunigan's Quarterback Analysis: Henry Burris is fresh off his Most Outstanding Player year in 2010. Rest assured, he won't be resting on his laurels and even if he did, offensive coordinator Dave Dickenson (former all-star QB) or head coach John Hufnagel (former all-star QB) will be on him like a bum on a bologna sandwich. More...

Duane Forde's Canadian Content: Jon Cornish led all regular running backs in yards per carry last season while guard Dimitri Tsoumpas continues to establish himself among the CFL’s elite blockers. Guard Steve Myddelton came on strong last season, proving himself as a solid CFL starter. On the other side of the ball, look for Corey Mace to become a force on the D-Line as he enters his first full CFL season. More...

DRAFT OVERVIEW

Perhaps more than any other team, the Stampeders drafted workout warriors that put up impressive showings at the CFL Evaluation Camp, but that doesn't mean they didn't get some great players on the field. Calgary traded up to the third-overall selection to take local product Anthony Parker. Parker showed off his physical gifts at the E-Camp but just as important was his on-field production, where he helped the University of Calgary to two Vanier Cup appearances. Fourth-round pick Brad Sinopoli, a Canadian QB, was also an intriguing selection.

Draft Results

2010 Team Statistics