Stampeders GM/head coach clearly feeling stress with group in jeopardy of lacking CFL playoffs for first time in twenty years
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Dave Dickenson is clearly feeling the warmth.
A lot in order that he dropped an uncharacteristic f-bomb when requested Wednesday if he’s frightened about his job amid requires a change at his place from followers and pundits alike.
“Actually, what would you like me to say to that?” mentioned the Stampeders affable GM/head coach. “I’m (bleeping) right here to work — I don’t actually give a rattling. I’m right here to work.
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“Speculate all you need, however I’m right here to work.”
Certainly, the hypothesis is on the market within the soccer world with success having been exhausting to return by for the Stampeders in the previous few CFL seasons.
The fast method to make that every one go away, after all, could be stitching collectively a string of wins, starting with Friday night time’s essential contest for the Stampeders (4-9-1) versus the host BC Lions (7-8) in Vancouver (8 p.m., TSN, QR Calgary).
Turning the group’s present six-game winless skid on its ear and punching a ticket to the playoffs for a nineteenth straight season ought to at the very least beat again the nay-sayers.
“No … we don’t take into consideration that stuff,” mentioned Stamps quarterback Jake Maier, when requested if he and his teammates are involved about their head coach’s future. “We take into consideration preparing for the sport every week. The surface hypothesis on that stuff is extra for you (within the media) to speak about.
“I imply … we perceive the enterprise we’re in — we have to win video games. However that’s yearly and each week. So, no, I’d say that doesn’t cross our thoughts as a group in any respect.”
Rightly so what’s on the minds of Maier & Co. is getting their first victory in seven tilts.
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The Stamps head into what’s a must-win affair — for probably the most half — 5 factors behind the Lions for the third and remaining playoff spot within the West Division.
A Lions win would make sure the Lions end forward of the Stamps within the remaining standings. However the Purple and White would nonetheless personal a chance to catch the Saskatchewan Roughriders (7-7-1) for a playoff berth — though that might die with a Riders win Saturday — and even the East Division’s third spot — that quirky post-season crossover slot — presently occupied by the idle Toronto Argonauts (8-7).
“Sure … we really feel the urgency,” Maier mentioned. “No … we must always not really feel any burdens by way of ‘Oh, man, if we don’t do that, then what’s going to occur.’ That’s an excessive amount of exterior noise. You simply need to execute if you’re enjoying in these video games.”
Sadly, execution as a group has been exhausting to return by — and so they comprehend it.
Dickenson has been particularly vocal about needing to search out that quick throughout this freefall.
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“We all know the urgency needs to be there,” Dickenson mentioned. “I’d be disillusioned if we didn’t come out and play aggressive, bodily soccer. But it surely’s actually extra in regards to the performs that must be made.
“We’ve to play with poise — we are able to’t take dumb penalties. We’ve obtained to guard the soccer and likewise go get the ball.
“It’s the identical issues we’ve been saying,” continued the beleaguered head coach. “We simply haven’t been in a position to constantly in three phases ever put these three collectively as a group. To be able to win, two of the three have to essentially stand up. And hopefully all three do this, which creates momentum and takes us the place we wish to go.
“We’ve been competing exhausting all 12 months — I’m not questioning our compete stage in any respect. We’ve been working exhausting. It’s simply we haven’t obtained the outcomes we wish. Effort’s not sufficient in professional sports activities.
“Let’s see the outcomes. We’ve obtained numerous questions surrounding our group. We have to reply them on Friday.”
And over the next remaining three weeks of the season.
Or it might imply vital modifications afoot for the Stampeders shifting ahead.
“No,” mentioned Stamps edge-rusher James Vaughters, when requested in regards to the job safety of his coach. “I don’t wish to speak about that.”
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“We perceive after we signed up for this enterprise that profitable and shedding determines the result of your job safety and the way lengthy you get to be on this enterprise — you recognize that entering into,” added Maier. “So something that’s going to hinder that and sluggish you down, you’ve obtained to maintain that noise and preserve these ideas out of your thoughts or else you’re not going to carry out effectively.
“I feel the extra that you just construct it up and that you just begin excited about the issues which are exterior of your management, the slower you play and the extra timid you play and the extra nervous you play, and I simply don’t suppose you possibly can suppose like that or stay like that.”
Brief yardage
Stampeders WR Reggie Begelton heads into this week’s recreation 79 receiving yards shy of a second consecutive 1,000-yard season and the third of his profession. Begelton established a career-high of 1,444 receiving yards in 2019 and rolled up 1,119 yards a 12 months in the past … The Stamps signed one other three gamers to the follow roster within the final two days, including American defensive again Clifford Chattman and American receiver Mike Harley Jr. on Wednesday after inking American defensive again Keaton Ellis on Tuesday. The 27-year-old Chattman, at 6-foot-5, 210-lb., spent 4 weeks on the Stamps follow roster in 2023 and attended the group’s 2024 coaching camp after enjoying three pre-season video games for the NFL’s Atlanta Falcons. In two pre-season video games for the Purple and White, the previous standout of the NCAA’s UTSA Roadrunners recorded three defensive tackles and a knockdown. Harley signed with the NFL’s Cleveland Browns as an undrafted free agent in 2022, attended their coaching camp and was on their follow squad. In 2024, the 5-foot-11, 180-lb. former star of the NCAA’s Miami Hurricanes signed with United Soccer League’s DC Defenders and later attended coaching camp with groups on each side of the border — first with the CFL’s Ottawa Redblacks after which with the NFL’s Miami Dolphins. The 23-year-old Ellis, at 5-foot-11, 190-lb., signed as an undrafted free agent with the NFL’s Tennessee Titans and attended the group’s coaching camp after which he performed in three pre-season video games, recording six tackles … One in all this week’s earlier signees, American receiver Jesiah Irish has been positioned on the suspended listing by the group.
On X: @ToddSaelhof
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