Around the CFL: New-look Stampeders making strides after rare playoff miss

It's too early to say if the Calgary Stampeders are back on the right track, but there is a feeling of optimism around the team.

With a new quarterback (Vernon Adams Jr.) and a revamped coaching staff under head coach/GM Dave Dickenson, the Stamps are off to a 2-0 start after two sour seasons.

"Just keep stacking good quality performances early in the year," Dickenson told reporters after a win in Toronto over the reigning Grey Cup champion Argonauts last week. "Try to get your wins in early and see where it takes you."

The Stampeders overcame the loss of several key players in Toronto, including star receiver Reggie Begelton, who is now on the six-game injured list after suffering a broken leg in the first quarter. The team also lost centre Bryce Bell (shoulder) and impressive linebacker Marquel Lee (bicep).

Despite the health blows, the Stampeders scored 17 points in the fourth quarter to pull away for a 29-19 triumph.

That kind of late surge was rarely seen the past two seasons when the Stampeders went a combined 11-24-1. Calgary's 18-year playoff streak ended last year when the Stampeders finished a league-worst 5-12-1.

With quarterback a major problem, the Stampeders traded for the best QB available in Adams Jr., who was not going to remain starter in B.C. after Nathan Rourke returned to the Lions.

Adams Jr. is second in the league with 585 passing yards through two weeks, while adding 10 carries for 87 yards.

His favourite target last week was Canadian Jalen Philpot, who was slowed by injuries for a good chunk of his first three seasons in the league after being selected fifth overall out of the University of Calgary in 2022.

Philpot had six catches for a career-high 117 yards last week as Adams Jr. showed no hesitation in putting one-on-one balls up for the talented receiver.

"I trust my QB. He trusts me," said Philpot, who had taken a backseat to twin brother and Montreal Alouettes receiver Tyson Philpot in their first three years in the CFL. "He's just going to put the ball in the area and just go and make the play and that's what I did."

The defence, however, was the stronger unit in the most recent triumph. Toronto-born defensive back Adrian Greene snagged a pair of interceptions, including a pick-six, while defensive lineman Folarin Orimolade, re-acquired in an off-season trade with Toronto, had a sack.

The Stamps signed Greene as a free agent this off-season after he started his pro career with three years in B.C. He won a competition for a starting job at camp.

"Just felt like he's aggressive, he's a tackler, he's young, he's still hungry and I believe also he's getting better. Lots of good things," Dickenson said of Greene.

New defensive co-ordinator Bob Slowik seems to be getting the most out of a dramatically different unit.

Calgary ranks third in the league in yards allowed.

"We've got a lot of young guys that have really stepped up, made plays on the ball, jelled," Dickenson said.

If the Stamps can beat the visiting Ottawa Redblacks on Saturday, Calgary will have its first three-game win streak since the team started 4-0 in 2022.

A season-opening run would build excitement around a club that hasn't won a Grey Cup since 2018 and has seen attendance numbers fall. It also would give the squad momentum heading into a new marquee game on the schedule — the Stampede Bowl on July 3. The home game against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers takes place the day before the annual Calgary Stampede starts.

Quarterback injuries

The Redblacks were hoping starting quarterback Dru Brown could return Saturday in Calgary after missing last week's loss to Montreal with a hip injury, but he will remain out.

Dustin Crum got first-team reps at practice and appears to be in line to start.

Matt Shiltz started against Montreal and threw three interceptions.

“We’re just taking Dru day by day and going forward from there,” coach Bob Dyce said Wednesday. “If Dru were not to go, we wanted to make sure Dusty got some reps going into this game. Today was a perfect day to give Dru a chance to rest up a little bit.”

Why Crum over Shiltz?

“Coming out of training camp, things were very equal (between Crum and Shiltz),” Dyce said. “We obviously went with Matt (as Brown’s backup), but Dusty had a fantastic camp as well, and felt he deserved an opportunity to maybe move up and go from there. It’s still early, so we’re still evaluating, and both those guys are fantastic, along with (fourth-stringer) Tyrie (Adams). And so we decided to elevate Dusty for this week.”

The B.C. Lions also have a starting quarterback question for this week after Nathan Rourke suffered an oblique injury in a loss to Winnipeg last week. Rourke did not practice Wednesday and has been listed as questionable ahead of a rematch against the Blue Bombers on Saturday in Vancouver. Veteran Jeremiah Masoli will start if Rourke can't go.

Meanwhile, Argos starting quarterback Chad Kelly will sit out a third consecutive game with a broken leg suffered last year when Toronto hosts the Saskatchewan Roughriders on Friday. Nick Arbuckle is expected to start, with the Argos hoping Kelly returns for a Week 4 contest in Ottawa.

Kicker confused

For the second time in as many years, Roughriders veteran kicker Brett Lauther experienced a nightmare game last week.

The Truro, N.S. native missed three of five field goals, but the team's defence bailed him out with a key turnover on downs late in a 28-23 road win over the Hamilton Tiger-Cats.

“It’s baffling, it’s hard to explain, and just (want to offer) an apology to everyone, really,” Lauther said at practice on Tuesday, per the Regina Leader-Post. “Because sometimes I don’t understand it either.”

Midway through last season, Lauther missed four field goals in a loss to the Montreal Alouettes. The Roughriders stuck with him then and are doing the same now.

“He’s just a good Canadian guy. We’re going to say sorry for everything, even if you do something good," Roughriders coach Corey Mace said of Lauther, who made 28 of 29 kicks after last year's woes vs. the Als.

“(But) there’s no need for that … People are going to make mistakes. Nobody plays a perfect game.”

With Saskatchewan's next game Friday at BMO Field in Toronto, Lauther could have to battle unpredictable winds off nearby Lake Ontario. The Argos and Stamps combined to miss three of nine field goals last week.

Collaros returns

Blue Bombers star quarterback Zach Collaros will make his 2025 debut Saturday in B.C. after serving a one-game suspension in last week's season-opening win over the visiting the Lions for not responding to requests for an off-season drug test.

With Collaros watching the game in the locker room, Chris Streveler started and played well in a 34-20 win.

What does Bombers coach Mike O'Shea expect from the CFL's two-time most outstanding player this season?

"(A) great year. Absolutely. He's the best. Why would we expect anything less?" O'Shea told reporters this week.

The Blue Bombers signed Collaros to a one-year extension carrying him through the 2026 campaign this off-season. They clearly feel he has lots left in the tank, and it's hard to argue with the team having qualified for five consecutive Grey Cup games.

"I don't know that he has changed a lot. I think that's what makes it special," O'Shea said. "He's been who he is for a long time. He knows that. He knows exactly who he is. He brings a lot of leadership just through his actions, too."

Week 3 schedule

Thursday, June 19: Montreal Alouettes (2-0) at Edmonton Elks (0-1), 9 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. MT
Friday, June 20: Saskatchewan Roughriders (2-0) at Toronto Argonauts (0-2), 7:30 p.m. ET
Saturday, June 21: Ottawa Redblacks (0-2) at Calgary Stampeders (2-0), 4 p.m. ET / 2 p.m. MT
Saturday, June 21: Winnipeg Blue Bombers (1-0) at B.C. Lions (1-1), 7 p.m. ET / 4 p.m. PT