It’s a simple proposition for the Calgary Stampeders. Improve defensively or languish around .500 this year.
Heading into a rematch Saturday against the visiting Montreal Alouettes, Calgary (2-3) is permitting 35.2 points and 433.8 yards per game. Even with points and yardage up across the league, those figures aren’t good enough.
“When you let them score that many points, it proves a bigger challenge,” said defensive end Folarin Orimolade. “We’re giving up a few more explosive plays and we’re giving up a few more touchdowns.”
Some of those happened last week in Montreal, where the Als outscored the Stamps 37-30. Montreal quarterback Davis Alexander has thrown for 1,779 yards, second only to Toronto’s Chad Kelly, and receiver Tyson Philpot already has 719 yards — 240 more than anyone else.
Calgary coach Dave Dickenson said playing the same opponent in consecutive weeks makes preparation easier.
“You kind of start trying to predict,” he said. “It’s like, ‘OK, if they did this, what is the counterpunch to that?’ But sometimes, it’s actually counterproductive to do that.”
While the Stamps aim for a split, the Als (4-1) try to keep rolling behind their pitch-catch combination. Philpot riddled Calgary for nine catches, 132 yards and a touchdown. It was his fourth straight 100-yard game.
If Philpot can continue at this pace for 18 games, he would finish with 2,588 yards, obliterating the CFL record of 2,036 set by Calgary’s Allen Pitts in 1994. Philpot also has 45 receptions, putting him on pace to break the 28-year-old mark of 160 that Derrell Mitchell achieved for Toronto in 1998.
“When I hear my number called, all I think about is making a play for these guys,” Philpot said. “As long as I keep doing that, I’ll continue having my number called. It’s in my DNA. I’ve done this since I was a young kid. In my mind, the guy across from me can’t guard me.”
Like the Stamps, Montreal is seeking better defensive performance. Even though they’re tied for the league’s best record with Edmonton and Saskatchewan, the Als are yielding 30.8 ppg.
–Field Level Media
