Stampeders ready for short week of prep for Argos

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Ideally, the Calgary Stampeders would probably like to have more than one day of practice to prepare for the CFL’s best team.

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That would obviously be nice.

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But that’s not the hand the Stamps have been dealt. Instead, after losing to the Montreal Alouettes on Sunday night, the Calgary crew will have only Wednesday’s practice to get ready for their guests at McMahon Stadium on Friday night, the Toronto Argonauts.

So no, that’s not ideal.

The thing is, the Argonauts have been dealt an equally tough hand. Maybe it’s even worse.

“Toronto’s on a six-day (week) and are coming from Halifax and have to travel here,” said Stampeders GM/head coach Dave Dickenson. “So no excuses, it will be man vs. man.

“We’re gonna just have our one practice tomorrow and try to put everything in there. We’re trying to build something here and practice does matter, I think we can use a little extra practice, but it’s pretty much even.”

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If there’s a difference between the Stampeders and Argos, though, it’s that the Stampeders have a lot of improving to do right now. That’s not to say that the Argos don’t need to continue getting better, too, but they’ve built a nice cushion with their undefeated 6-0 record.
The Stamps, meanwhile, are 2-5 and are coming off two straight heartbreaking losses to the Ottawa Redblacks and the Alouettes. The rest of the summer is brutal, too, with two games against the Argos and one each against the West Division-leading B.C. Lions and the Winnipeg Blue Bombers – who remain a contender despite all rumours of a regression.

For a team like the Stamps, the more practice they can get, the better.

The way this week’s schedule is working out, though, that’s just not an option.

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Hopefully, though, there are some reinforcements arriving despite the short week.

Linebacker Silas Stewart was expected to be a big part of the defence this season and could be available against the Argos.

Running back Ka’Deem Carey is close, too.
Close enough that a betting man would probably put his money on Carey being in the lineup on Friday night.

“He’s going to practice full tomorrow,” Dickenson said. “It doesn’t mean if he plays he has to be the only back. He could easily play and split the carries. Really looking forward to getting him back on the field but I have to see that same jump, I know he’s got the blocking down, I know he can do a lot of good things, just want to make sure he has that acceleration and jump.”

Getting Carey back would definitely be a big boost for the Stamps. Not that Dedrick Mills has been bad in his absence – quite the opposite, actually – but Carey is a veteran and an all-star. He’s a key piece to what the Stampeders were planning on doing this season, so it’s only natural that having him available again will help.

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And after being a limited participant in practice last week, he’s not the least bit concerned about only having one on-field session to get ready for the Argos.

“It’s not a huge difference to me,” Carey said. “I’ve been doing this since I was seven, I never get out of shape, I always stay ready. As long as my body is ready, I’m ready to go.

“I’m excited. I see what we’ve got. Looking from the outside in, we’re so talented, we’re so young, we’re making plays and getting better each week. We’re just not getting the end result. I look at it and the championship teams get hot at the right time. Right now, this ain’t our time, but we’ve got a lot of games to go.”

daustin@postmedia.com

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