Coach expects Calgary Stampeders to 'be sharp' in 2025 home debut
CFL club wants performance — and results — from Saturday's pre-season finale at McMahon
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The Calgary Stampeders take the field for one final audition Saturday looking to put more than just a performance they can proud of together.
They also want results.
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Where pre-season is forever about evaluating what you’ve got and never really about what the scoreboard says at the end of each game, the bottom line for this Canadian Football League contest certainly has some meaning for a club desperately trying to find and maintain an upward trend.
“We take it very seriously — take it very seriously,” confirmed Stampeders middle linebacker Marquel Lee, ahead of Saturday’s pre-season finale against the Edmonton Elks at McMahon Stadium (7:30 p.m., CHQR 107.3 FM/770 AM).
“It’s a game at the end of the day,” continued Lee. “But we don’t get many opportunities to come out and do our craft. So anytime we can come out and dominate and show our stuff and put together a win, we want to do that.
“And we want to get better. This is only our third or fourth week being together, so we’ve still got to build on the things that we need to build on going into the season and we want to use this as opportunity for a dress rehearsal and get those things together.
“But we also do want to win.”
With that, the Stampeders set up to go out and win Saturday with at least half of their expected season-starters in for the early part of exhibition contest.
Very few got the opportunity to play in last Monday’s pre-season victory — 26-16 — over the host BC Lions on Vancouver Island.
But there are some not quite ready for prime-time with injuries holding them back until the start of the regular schedule.
“I’ve probably got seven or eight, maybe even 10 guys that won’t play that could be starters,” said Stampeders GM/head coach Dave Dickenson, of his roster against the incoming Elks. “But … yeah … definitely, if you can play and you’re healthy, we want to give you that opportunity to go compete.
“Timing-wise for a lot of them, it will be their first pre-season game, because I left a good chunk of guys home last week,” continued Dickenson. “I’m not expecting perfection but expecting them to play fast and physical and be sharp. Just play with your eyes — don’t try to do too much, meaning take what the defence gives you.
“As a group, you’ve still got to run the ball and use your feet as a quarterback to extend plays. So those are the things we’re looking for.”
Of course, there’s a couple of positions where the starting man remains unsettled for the Red and White.
That brings on battles — especially at running back, along the offensive and defensive lines, at linebacker, in the secondary, with the punters and in the return game.
“You don’t know how many reps you’re going to get,” Dickenson said. “Take advantage the opportunities. Play aggressive — don’t play not to make a mistake. And put your best foot forward.
“The thing I’ve always thought about is if you take care of your business and it doesn’t work out for you, you feel a little better about yourself. What you don’t want, as a player is, ‘I’m not prepared. I’m not playing the way I should play,’ and that’s when you have regrets.
“Just take care of your business, be ready when your number’s called and give it everything you’ve got.”
Every CFL team must be down to their playing roster by May 31. That is comprised of 45 active players, 10 practice-roster types practice roster types and those shifted to injured reserve.
For the Stamps, that includes a decision likely to be made at quarterback behind starter Vernon Adams Jr., although it’ll be the franchise’s prized acquisition which gets the call to arms under centre for “about a half,” said Dickenson.
“I just want positive plays (Saturday),” said Adams, who’s looked strong in training camp for the Stampeders even though he admits to not being 100% comfortable with the new offence just yet. “You know … no turnovers and let’s score some touchdowns. So we get out there and do what we plan to do and let the other guys get in and do what they need to do.
“You’re trying not to peak too early but just excited for the opportunity for the guys, the team and this organization to get out here and put on a good show for the fans,” continued the top-shelf QB. “And that’s what we plan to do.”
Yes … given this is the season debut at McMahon, there’s that will — after the many personnel changes and mission statements during the off-season — to give the home-town crowd a team to get behind.
That fact may be as important as anything happening Saturday for the Stampeders.
“I think it’s about coming out and being in our home stadium and showing the Stampeders fanbase our brand of football — what we want to bring to the season,” added Lee. “Play-in and play-out, we want to show how we want to operate and our physicality and our togetherness.
“And we want to just show the crowd that there’s a new sheriff in town.”
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