In 2021, the Calgary Stampeders started their season with a 2-7 record.
Then, the coaching staff bunkered down during a bye week and got to work trying to figure out what needed to change.
The team came roaring back and won five of their final six games to book a place in the CFL playoffs.
With the Stamps now sitting at 4-6 through 10 games in 2024 and not playing until Labour Day — that’s 18 days between games — the hope has to be for something similar to happen now.
Here are a few things we think the Stamps need to do if they’re going to turn around their season and finish strong in the back half of the year:
- STOP THE DROUGHTS
This has been a constant theme in my coverage of the Stampeders, both this season and last year.
There are absolutely times when you can see why there’s belief that the team can go on a winning run, and also understand why there’s so much frustration that they can’t put the pieces together to make that happen.
Every team is going to have stretches in games where things just aren’t clicking. You make adjustments and try to come out of them as quickly as possible.
But for the Stampeders, they just seem to last longer than they should. It’s a big part of why the Stamps were second to last in the CFL in net offence prior to Thursday’s 31-29 loss to the Ottawa Redblacks. There are times when it feels like the ball just doesn’t move.
Think about the first half against the Toronto Argonauts a few weeks back. The Stamps were booed off the field at halftime, and then in the fourth quarter they started clicking and found a way to win, 27-23.
The second and third quarters against the Redblacks on Thursday were similar.
When things stop working, the offence seems to revert to short swing passes to the sideline — something that’s frustrated a lot of fans.
How do you fix the Stamps’ propensity for getting mired in long stretches where they can’t seem to move the ball? It’s a question a lot of people have been asking for a long time.
- STOP THE RUN
Heading into Thursday’s contest, the Stamps were allowing the second-most rushing yards per game (104.7) in the CFL.
After allowing the Redblacks to run for 147 yards, it’s likely that they’ll be bottom of the league in that category by the time this week’s action wraps up.
There’s been a lot to like from the defence, but it’s curious that things have gone as poorly as they have on the ground. They were second to last in rushing yards against last season, so it’s not like this is a new issue, but there’s talent on the defensive line and they’ve got two very good tacklers in Micah Awe and Cameron Judge at the linebacker position.
The team has done a decent enough job defending through the air, but as much as the CFL may be a passing league, you have to be able to stop your opponents on the ground, too.
- FEED REGGIE
The Stamps offence is at its best when Reggie Begelton is seeing a lot of the ball.
There are other nice pieces in the Stamps’ receiving core, despite the season-long absence of Malik Henry due to an Achilles tendon injury.
But Begelton can do amazing things when he has the ball in his hands. He’s leading the Stamps in receiving yards and was seventh in the CFL, with 569 yards, as of Friday afternoon.
But there are times where you’d like to see him targeted way more often — the first three quarters on Thursday would be a good example.
That’s 100% easier said than done, and it’s worth noting that Begelton is leading the team in targets, with 71, and catches, with 50, so it’s not like he isn’t a major part of their offence.
Opponents double-team Begelton and try to force quarterback Jake Maier to look elsewhere as much as possible. It’s not like you want your quarterback throwing into double-coverage.
But the more Begelton sees of the ball, the better.
- GET HEALTHY
The Stamps are probably doing a little better now than they were earlier in the year in terms of injuries, but there’s no getting around the fact that they’ve been missing some key pieces in recent games.
On the offensive line alone, Zach Williams is on the six-game injured list and Sean McEwen missed the game against the Redblacks. That hurts.
Obviously, they’re not going to get Henry back, but I really liked what I was seeing from Erik Brooks at receiver earlier in the year and there’s a few more guys on the six-game injured list who they’d love to have contributing.
And it’s not an injury, but if Dedrick Mills does return to the team, that would definitely be a boost.
This is all where having 18 days between games should help. There’s a good long stretch for guys to rest up.
Injuries have been far from the only problem this year, but getting healthy bodies back can only help.
- GET BETTER ON FIRST DOWNS
This is largely Maier’s point. When I asked him post-game Thursday where improvement was most needed, he pointed to first downs.
The Stamps feel like they’re pretty good in second-down situations when they picked up decent yardage the play earlier, and it’s always going to be easier for any team to move the sticks when they’re in that spot.
Maier knows better than I do what’s needed, so I just wanted to make sure to point that out.