How goes Stampeders' mission to improve roster in CFL off-season?
Wednesday's extension of rush end 'Flo' Orimolade further pushing Calgary club in right direction
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Moves made so far in the Canadian Football League off-season prove the Calgary Stampeders are going with the … um … Flo.
That is the local franchise is walking the walk after talking the talk a few months back, making sure to be aggressive in trying to improve its roster ahead of the 2025 campaign.
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“Yeah … we need to change,” said Stampeders GM/head coach Dave Dickenson. “We need change in all areas of our organization. Change isn’t always necessarily going to improve you. It does create a little bit of buzz and excitement.
“But I think we’ve got to find ways to be better and get more Ws on the board.”
In particular, they brought in the quarterback they needed in Vernon Adams Jr.
Then, they re-signed a handful of key talents, who are among the best or look to have potential at their respective positions in kicker René Parades, offensive lineman Zack Williams and receivers Reggie Begelton and Jalen Philpot.
And in the past few days, the Stamps traded for — and then extended Wednesday — American pass-rusher Folarin Orimolade, who was lost by the team a few years back during free agency.
“He’s had a few injuries, but when he plays, he’s one of the best … if not the best,” said Dickenson, of the rush end nicknamed ‘Flo’. “Certainly it was big for us to bring him back.
“Flo’s built different than a lot of people,” Dickenson said. “Twitchy, strong, relentless motor, violent, super smart, great person … I just enjoy watching him play.”
Everybody can enjoy watching him play for the Stamps through at least 2026 after they extended has contract by one year.
Orimolade has come to terms with the team on a new pack just days after being re-acquired by the Stampeders in a trade.
“He wants to kind of be that guy and be the reason being we get back to those winning ways,” Dickenson said. “I mean … he’s got great leadership. He is a great person. He works extremely hard.
“He’s a guy, I think, that has to be a central voice in our room.”
The NCAA Dartmouth college product played 31 regular-season games over three seasons with the Red and White before signing with the Toronto Argonauts as a free agent in 2023. Orimolade was a member of the Stampeders’ Grey Cup-winning team in 2018 and contributed two special-teams tackles and a fumble recovery in the championship game.
Orimolade, just 5-foot-9 but a terrorizer of quarterbacks, added a second Grey Cup ring as a member of the Argos in 2024.
In 63 career regular-season games with the Stampeders and the Argonauts, Orimolade has registered 105 defensive tackles — including seven tackles for losses — 26 sacks, six forced fumbles, three fumble recoveries, 11 special-teams tackles, one knockdown and two interceptions including a pick-six. He was a division all-star in 2023.
But it’s about being all-stars this coming season — and beyond — to turn this thing around in Calgary.
Orimolade should boost the defensive line, for sure.
As should Adams and the continued evolution of both Philpot and Williams on the offensive side of the ball.
“Sometimes we get frustrated when we feel like we lose some of our young talent,” said Dickenson said. “There still is a hierarchy or structure on your team, so you’re not going to overpay a guy on potential over paying another veteran — you’re not going to push him over that.
“But with both Jalen and Zack, we drafted them, they’re good players, they’ve got more ceiling, they’re going to get better … It felt like that was imperative that we got both of those guys back, and we did.”
Dickenson also extended the contracts of another couple of free agents-to-be in o-lineman D’Antne Demery and long-snapper Aaron Crawford.
“The quarterback was something that we just wanted to change,” continued Dickenson. “And we feel like we did a good job there.
“We should have more change (coming), as well.”
Plus they’ll continue to make valuable decisions on those Stampeders set to become free agents — 23 in all — on Feb. 11:
STAMPS’ FREE AGENTS-TO-BE
- Awe, Micah | LB
- Bonner, Logan | QB
- Dozier, Branden | DB
- Grace, Cody^ | P
- Graham, Elliot* | DL
- Howsare, Julian | DL
- John, Rysen* | WR
- Konar, Adam* | LB
- Langlais, William* | RB
- Logan, Peyton | RB
- McEwen, Sean* | OL
- Michel, Marken | WR
- Middlemost, Tyson* | WR
- Mills, Dedrick | RB
- Roberson, Tre | DB
- Saxelid, Kyle* | OL
- Shiltz, Matt | QB
- Statz, Nick* | DB
- Stevens, Tommy | QB
- Teitz, Micah* | LB
- Thompson, Malcolm* | DB
- Williams, Darius | LB
- Williams, Kobe | DB
— *denotes national player
— ^denotes global player
And it’s not just improving the roster that is keeping the Stampeders busy this off-season.
Dickenson has reiterated he’s taking steps — along with his revamped coaching staff — to find fresh ideas moving forward.
“It’s just find a different fit, a different voice,” added Dickenson. “Let’s do things. Let’s find out what other people are doing that are successful in our league, as well as other areas. Let’s try to mimic that. Let’s try to build on that, be better at that and still keep the backbone of what we are as an organization.
“We’re a team that’s going to work hard. We treat everybody as one. We’re all together in this. We’re going to either sink or swim as a group.
“And let’s bring in quality people, which is really the backbone of what we are as the Calgary Stampeders.”
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