The Calgary Stampeders are looking for something — anything — to spark them late in what’s been a struggle of a CFL season.
Cue new players.
A bunch more, in fact — with four coming into the fold on the heels of the bye week and more expected Tuesday — in an effort to try to halt a six-game winless skid and climb back into the playoff chase.
“We’ve got a couple of extra spots on the practice roster,” said Stampeders GM/head coach Dave Dickenson. “We were talking to some guys, and we were able to convince them to pop up.
“They have made an impact with the energy at practice and the compete level,” Dickenson said. “I mean … it is what it is when you see another good football player right behind you. Some guys that have played in other professional leagues can obviously make everybody better.
“It wouldn’t shock me if some of these guys play.”
Perhaps as early as this Friday — during Week 18 of the regular schedule — when the Stampeders (4-9-1) travel to take on the host BC Lions at BC Place (8 p.m., TSN, QR Calgary).
Dickenson & Co. go into the must-win affair five points back of the Lions for the third and final playoff spot in the West Division.
Since losing to the Saskatchewan Roughriders (7-7-1) — by a 37-29 score — 11 days ago at McMahon Stadium, the Stamps have seen the top three teams in the West put some distance between them and the Edmonton Elks (5-10) in the post-season race.
The only bit of good news is the Stamps have played one fewer game than the rest of their division rivals.
But they only have four tilts left — including three away from home — to turn their season around and somehow make the playoffs for a 19th straight CFL season.
And a loss in this upcoming challenge would keep them from extending that phenomenal run.
“Last time we played and got together, it was a rough one,” said Dickenson, whose charges got into a heated verbal argument with one another post-game in the dressing room. “There was a lot of fight, and there was emotion.
“So guys were excited (this week) to come back together and work. We believe … we do. So we have faith that we can get the job done. We just want that opportunity to try and get it done.”
Perhaps new blood can help them pivot to the positive.
The Red and White have added four American players to their practice roster — receiver Jesiah Irish, linebacker Marquel Lee and defensive linemen Jett Bush and Brandon Matterson.
But the way to meaningful improvement has to start with the core of the club — those players tasked with the starting assignments and responsible for leading the team into battle.
“I definitely feel like this week we’ve picked it up coming into practice,” said Stamps first-year defender lineman Justin Sambu, who’s worked his way into an interior job-share along the defensive line. “When we came into meeting (Monday) morning, everybody was on a focused vibe.
“Then we came out (on the field) and everybody was being super adamant about getting certain techniques down — just trying to do stuff that we were doing differently from last week — so that we can come out on the field and give our best performance and get a win.”
At this point, the win is all that matters — or else it’s over for the Stamps in 2024 where Grey Cup hopes are concerned — although Dickenson knows the performance has to come via the process, first and foremost.
“I just want them to be focused and take a step forward,” said the head coach. “I want us to get back to what I would consider fundamental football.
“As an offence, you’ve got to own that ball and move forward. As a defence, we’ve just got to tackle as a group of 12 and have that grit. Special teams, same thing.
“We can’t accept up and down anymore,” added Dickenson. “We’ve just have to make sure that we’re up. That’s the only way we’re going to get into this thing, find our first win and, hopefully, get some momentum.”
Short yardage
WR Clark Barnes (knee) was limited in practice Monday, while four other fellow starters — OL Bryce Bell (calf), DL Josiah Coatney (knee), DB Branden Dozier (shoulder) and DB Kobe Williams (neck) — did not practise. DL Elliot Graham (hamstring) also missed the session … The Stampeders have released RB B.J. Emmons, who appeared in four games this season, carrying the ball 16 times for 44 yards. The American back also added five catches for 56 yards … The most notable of the new additions is linebacker Lee, who has played 45 NFL games with the Oakland/Las Vegas Raiders. “Marquel Lee’s probably the most veteran guy,” said Dickenson. “He’s had success in other leagues, as well. He has length.” The 28-year-old former standout of the NCAA’s Wake Forest Demon Deacons recorded 115 total tackles including 71 solo stops in parts of four seasons with the Raiders. Receiver/returner Irish, of the NCAA’s Oregon State Beavers — a guy the Stamps have “had their eye on” — and d-linemen Bush, of the NCAA’s Texas Longhorns, and Matterson, of the NCAA’s UTSA Roadrunners, have only camp experience in the NFL … For a one-month period every season, CFL teams are permitted to carry an additional five practice-roster players — 15 instead of the usual 10 — in addition to three spots for global players.