Dedrick Mills is a big believer in momentum.
He can feel it out on the field.
When he puts his head down and smashes his way through an opposing tackler, he can feel the momentum carrying him downfield.
And when he gets a couple solid carries in and is picking up big yardage on nearly every run, the Calgary Stampeders running back can definitely feel the momentum of a game shifting, too.
And last weekend against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, he absolutely felt like his game had a little momentum to it.
“Most definitely, once I get started and I get going, looking at the way the offensive line is blocking for me and knowing that every play is going to be like that, the momentum came and the momentum kept going,” Mills said. “Just don’t stop until the end of the game.”
Mills had his best game of the season against the Bombers, running the ball 15 times for 131 yards. That’s an astounding 8.7 yards-per-carry, and his play was a big part of the reason why the Stamps were able to put up 23 first-half points.
They weren’t perfect and turnovers remain an issue for the offence, but the Stampeders moved the ball the best they have all season.
“Last game, a couple turnovers hurt us, three of them, but we played one of our best games,” said Stamps GM/head coach Dave Dickenson. “We ran well, protected well and looked explosive. If you can get those three things together, you’re going to have a good day. Just have to learn to, we call it ‘own the ball.’ “
Mills was a big part of that offensive success against the Bombers, and the Stamps need more of the same moving forward.
He sat out the previous week against the Montreal Alouettes, and the Stampeders definitely missed him.
Currently, he’s sitting fourth in the CFL in rushing yards this season, with 315.
But it’s worth noting that he’s played only four games so far this year. All three of the players who have run for more yards have also played in more games.
Nobody is averaging more yards-per-game than the 78.75 yards that Mills is managing.
There’s an argument to be made that he’s been the best running back in the league so far this year.
And it does seem like he’s getting better week-by-week, which could mean there are exciting times ahead.
“I felt like I was at my best that game (against the Bombers),” Mills said. “I had a week off to prepare myself and get my body right, so I felt great. Whatever the coach called for me to do, I was ready and there to do it.”
Sunday’s game against the B.C. Lions will present a real test, though.
While the Bombers are allowing the most rushing yards-per-game in the entire CFL this season, the Lions defence is considerably better at stopping the run.
They’re allowing 83.7 yards-per-game on the ground, which is the third-lowest total in the league – although it’s worth nothing that there’s a big gap between the Lions and the league-leading Saskatchewan Roughriders, who are allowing only 47.4 yards-per-game.
The reality for the Stampeders is that if they’re going to have any hope of beating the high-flying Lions, they’re going to need to put up points.
And as we saw last weekend, the best version of the Stampeders offence is the version that has Mills getting the football in his hands over and over again.