The Calgary Stampeders delivered an unappetizing Thanksgiving meal on Saturday afternoon, leaving the announced crowd of more than 21,000 at McMahon Stadium hungry for more.
The Stampeders had a chance to win the game with the ball on the Edmonton Elks’ five-yard line with two seconds on the clock, but they couldn’t convert and lost 23-18.
Here’s what I saw from the pressbox.
Shiltz shines in stints
Matthew Shiltz started his first game for the Stampeders, a debut that was likely delayed by injuries, and went 18-of-33 for 215 yards and a touchdown to go along with an interception on a late two-point convert attempt. He also ran five times for 64 yards.
Though the veteran passer showed some flashes, the team around him had virtually no offensive chemistry for the vast majority of the game, scoring only three points by the midway point of the fourth quarter. The team’s other two points came from a defensive safety on the Elks’ first series after the game.
In between Calgary’s first field goal and the next offensive score were seven punts. The only drive that didn’t end with a punt was the last drive of the first half, which ran out the clock.
Shiltz was sacked five times on the afternoon, but it felt like a few of those resulted from him hanging onto the ball too long. On other throws, there was clear miscommunication between the quarterback and receivers as balls were thrown into a no-man’s land on more than a few occasions.
Shiltz did enough to earn another start next week against Hamilton — unless P.J. Walker gets a surprise look — but certainly didn’t lay claim on next year.
Run over again
Stop me if you’ve heard this one before, but the Elks were very effective in running the ball against the Stampeders.
Calgary surrendered 201 yards on the ground, including 140 to rooking running back Justin Rankin on just ten carries. Rankin ran roughshod, including a dagger run for 38 yards to get the Elks into Stampeders territory with time winding down.
This was more of the same for a Stampeders’ defence that looked as though they had sorted this problem out last week. Gaping holes and broken tackles were the theme of the day as the per-game average continues to rise.
Rough day for Lee
Marquel Lee made his Stampeders debut and the linebacker who previously spent time with the Las Vegas Raiders wasted no time getting noticed. Unfortunately for the 28-year-old rookie, it was with a pair of negative plays on special teams.
A contacting the kicker penalty — that was more about being in the wrong place at the wrong time than an active play — gave the Elks a first down. Later, Lee burst through coverage towards a ball laying on the turf waiting to be recovered, creating a 15-yard penalty for no yards.
Both were penalties you might see in the preseason, but that’s where this Stampeders team has regressed to given they’re already eliminated from playoff contention.
Labrosse stands out
Many experts thought the Stampeders went off the board when they selected Ben Labrosse in the first round of the 2024 CFL Draft but the Canadian defensive back has played well as a rookie.
After the contest, in which Labrosse collected six tackles and had an excellent pass knockdown near the sideline, head coach and general manager Dave Dickenson said the young player is still developing.
“He’s been one of our better guys the last three or four weeks,” said Dickenson. “Ben has shown he can play multiple positions and is a heck of a tackler. I do think he has a way to go to learn the nuances of his position, but he is doing his job.”
The veteran head coach also referenced rookie offensive lineman Christy Nkanu as a young player who has stood out, while making it clear that starting first-year players isn’t optimal.
“For me, those are things to look for for the future. We obviously hoped they could be starters but, if I’m being honest, if you are playing too many rookies as starters, you probably don’t have quite as much talent as you want on your team.”
Another first?
Last week, T.J. Lee became the first CFL player to score a touchdown while wearing a guardian cap and this week may have featured another first.
Strong-side linebacker Bailey Devine-Scott is believed to be the first Global player to score a safety when he sacked Tre Ford in the end zone.
“I had the thought before the snap that if I am unblocked, I might be able to get some points here,” said the Australian-born defensive back, who has been pressed into action following an injury to Brandon Dozier.
Devine-Scott was a nice find for the Stampeders in the third round of the 2022 CFL Global Draft. He has continued to impress while earning more playing time on defence.
Back to battle Bo
Up next for Calgary is another battle against former Stampeders’ quarterback Bo Levi Mitchell and the Hamilton Tiger-Cats.
Neither team is in the playoffs this year but both squads should be motivated by the presence of Mitchell on the opposing sideline. The two-time CFL M.O.P. is leading the CFL in passing yards and touchdowns.
Calgary is currently riding an eight-game winless streak having not tasted victory since a Week 9 win over Toronto, which brought the team to 4-4. They are now 4-11-1.
Only a tie against the Montreal Alouettes has broken up the streak of losses.
Ryan Ballantine is a lifelong Stamps fan and host of the Go Stamps Go Show Podcast. He has been covering the team since 2008.
