CFL vets Damon Webb, Derrick Moncrief dynamic in leading Calgary Stampeders' defence

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Leadership comes in many shapes and moments.

The Calgary Stampeders are finding out veteran defenders Damon Webb and Derrick Moncrief are checking plenty — if not all — of those boxes.

Being vocal in the room and on the football field? Check.

Making tackles and moving on the ball? Check.

Rising to the occasion with game-breaking plays? Check and double-check.

“We’re the leaders,” said defensive back Webb, who arrived on the Stampeders’ scene in the off-season as a coveted free agent. “We’ve got to bring our ‘A’ game every week and lead this group. So that’s what we’re doing.”

“Me and Webb …” added Moncrief, who also joined the Stamps’ secondary via free agency over the winter. “We said we had to make some big plays for our defence — and that’s what we’re doing.”

Indeed, the dynamic defensive pair has been doing just that heading into Week 6 of the 2025 Canadian Football League campaign.

That performance has helped the Stampeders put together a surprise start — at least to many — with a 3-1 record heading into Regina for Friday’s square-off against the 4-0 Saskatchewan Roughriders at Mosaic Stadium (7 p.m., TSN, CHQR 770 AM/107.3 FM the Edge).

“I wouldn’t say surprised,” Webb said. “Because we came into training camp and set a standard, and our standard, we won’t go below that. So everybody on the defence knows what it is and we come in to get better each and every week.”

Topping last week’s oh-so triumphant effort might be difficult.

Of course, the dynamic defence stuffed one of the CFL’s best moving units in the Winnipeg Blue Bombers to win the inaugural Stampede Bowl.

It amounted to a 37-16 statement game for the Stamps, with the defence as top shelf as it gets against superstar quarterback Zach Collaros, a two-time CFL Most Outstanding Player.

And it was Webb and Moncrief certainly leading the way — each with a pick-six. Webb’s was a 30-yard pilfer and return in the opening quarter to help the home side pile up 29 first-half points on four TDs. And Moncrief’s proved to be fourth-quarter insurance for the only Stamps major of the second half on an INT and runback for a whopping 70-yard score.

“Oh … man, me and Zach have had some battles along the years,” said Moncrief, who’s playing phenomenal as the Stamps’ strong-side linebacker. “Zach’s great. He’s phenomenal. You just got to give him different looks as much as you can … and hit him as much as you can. Just try to frustrate him and put him in second and long.”

On both interceptions, Webb and Moncrief stepped in front of Collaros’ passes, timing their pickoffs perfectly.

“Well … I watched Zach’s (post-game) interview, and he knows they’re good players,” said Stamps GM/head coach Dave Dickenson. “Because they’re veterans who are those type of guys that know where they’re supposed to be but don’t show you where they’re supposed to be.

“I know (they’re) doing the job, but (they’re) doing it to make it look different. That’s what those guys do. And I know Webb was close a few other times (to picking off QBs this year), so I’m happy to see him get that one going for us.

“It really did spark us.”

That’s exactly what both defensive backs were brought in to do.

“It’s just doing our job — playing fundamental football, playing sound and tackling well,” said Moncrief, about not only him and Webb but the entire Red and White defence, which has yet to allow an opposition touchdown in the first three quarters of any game this season. “But we credit our defensive line for putting pressure on them.”

“We’ve got playmakers on the field,” echoed Webb. “I’m a playmaker, ’Crief’s a longtime playmaker.

“So when that ball’s in the air, we’re going to get it.”

The through-the-roof proof is in defending against two hall-of-fame QBs already on the season.

Before the Stamps’ secondary shattered Collaros with the two pick-sixes, it gave legendary Bo Levi Mitchell fits while taking away two of his passes — that in Game 1 of the calendar — in a decisive win over the Hamilton Tiger-Cats.

“Credit to Barron Miles,” said Dickenson, of his defensive backs coach, who is new to the team this season. “But I played with Barron a few years ago, and I just thought he’s one of the smarter guys I’ve ever been around, and he really relates well to the players, even to the young guys. I think he honestly works extremely hard, he’s got them out early, he’s a guy that’s a tireless worker, and he’s got those guys playing and believing that they can play plays. And they’re making plays.”

“We’re building each and every week,” added Webb. “Every week, it’s a process. Every week, we’re still upping our communication and upping our trust level on how to play with each other. I love leading this group with Moncrief. We’ve got a bunch of great young guys. They come to work every day, and they come to get better.

“It’s been fun, man.”

Short yardage

WR Damien Alford, the No. 1 overall pick by the Stamps in the 2025 CFL Draft, draws his first start Friday night. The tall, speedy hands-man checks in for injured WR Clark Barnes (ankle) … DB Jaydon Grant is a game-time decision at the starting field-side halfback spot for the Stampeders … Also out for the Red and White due to injury are DB Ben Labrosse (hamstring) and RB Eno Benjamin … Also in for the Stamps are WR Kaylon Horton, WR Vyshonne Janusas and DB Kaylyn St-Cyr.

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