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Calgary Stampeders to unveil revamped defensive lineup vs. Ticats
By 3Down Staff -June 6, 2025
The Calgary Stampeders will field a dramatically different roster than last season when they open the season at McMahon on Saturday, with almost complete turnover on defence.
Several returning players are expected to take on larger roles as boundary cornerback Tyler Richardson and defensive end Clarence Hicks step in as full-time starters after spot duty in 2024. Canadian defensive back Ben Labrosse will also retain a starting job, though he moves from halfback to field corner.
Other incumbents taking larger roles include defensive tackle Jaylon Hutchings, who has just two games under his belt, and former NFL linebacker Marquel Lee, who has won the job in the middle. Veteran Canadian linebacker Micah Teitz is listed as the starter on the weak side with Global Bailey Devine-Scott at strong-side, though he's expected to be quickly rotated out for free-agent addition Derrick Moncrief under the nationalized American rule.
Defensive end Folarin Orimolade, who returned to the Stampeders via trade, leads the contingent of offseason additions with high expectations. Fellow free agent Miles Brown will start at defensive tackle, while top DB acquisition Damon Webb will play safety. The Stamps will start two raw rookies at halfback in Sheldon Arnold and Jaydon Grant.
Offensively, the changes are fewer but almost as significant. Vernon Adams Jr. will make his regular-season debut as the team's quarterback and attempt to showcase a pair of free-agent American targets in Dominique Rhymes and Tevin Jones. Bryce Bell will take over at centre for the departed Sean McEwen.
American receiver Malik Henry (knee), Canadian offensive lineman Kyle Saxelid (tricep), Canadian defensive end Jason Janvier-Messier (shoulder), and Canadian defensive back Anton Haie (shoulder) will begin the year on the six-game injured list. American defensive lineman Charles Wiley (Achilles), American defensive back Bentlee Sanders (hamstring) and Canadian defensive back Kaylyn St-Cyr (hamstring) have been placed on the one-game injured list.
Calgary has also listed Canadian receiver Damian Alford, American running back Eno Benjamin, Canadian offensive linemen Rodeem Brown and Tomas Jack-Kurdyla, American defensive lineman Josiah Coatney, and American quarterback Josh Love as healthy scratches.
The Stampeders will open the season on Saturday, June 7 against the Hamilton Tiger-Cats. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. EDT at McMahon Stadium.
https://3downnation.com/2025/06/06/calgary-stampeders-to-unveil-revamped-defensive-lineup-vs-ticats/
Hamilton Tiger-Cats roll out seven new starters for opener vs. Stamps
By 3Down Staff -June 6, 2025
The Hamilton Tiger-Cats will have a new look, particularly on the defensive side of the ball, when they open the 2025 season on Saturday.
The Ticats will have seven brand-new starters plus two occasional starters from last season stepping back into roles to begin the campaign. The defensive line will see three such changes as Casey Sayles is the only returning starter. Former Winnipeg Blue Bombers TyJuan Garbutt and Miles Fox will get the nod alongside rookie Canadian Isaiah Bagnah, though it will be veteran Julian Howsare who sees the majority of the reps under the nationalized American rule.
Second-year American Ray Wilborn has won the job at weak-side linebacker to start the season, while veteran Branden Dozier will step in at SAM with Reggie Stubblefield (knee) beginning the season on the one-game injured list. All-star DaShaun Amos will debut at field halfback after coming over from Toronto in the offseason.
Offensively, Canadian Liam Dobson will step in at right guard after joining the team from Winnipeg and Quinton Barrow will get the start at right tackle. High-priced receiver acquisition Kenny Lawler will make his debut in black and gold, while the team will turn to rookie Isaiah Wooden to handle return duties.
Incumbent returner Lawrence Woods III (shoulder) and Canadian defensive end Luke Brubacher (shoulder) will begin the season on the six-game injured list. In addition to Stubblefield, Canadian cornerback Siriman Harrison-Bagayogo (hamstring), Canadian safety Robert Panabaker (hamstring), and Canadian receiver Drew Wolitarsky (ankle) have been placed on the one-game injured list.
Canadian offensive linemen Jakub Szott and Arvin Hosseini, American offensive lineman Jordan Murray, and American defensive back Quavian White have all been named healthy scratches.
The Ticats will open their season against the Calgary Stampeders on Saturday, June 7. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. EDT at McMahon Stadium.
https://3downnation.com/2025/06/06/hamilton-tiger-cats-roll-out-seven-new-starters-for-opener-vs-stamps/
I'll watch part of this game just to see how the ex-Bombers do in Hamilton.
Bo returns to calgary
hopefully more fan interest than in regina on thursday
Quote from: The Zipp on June 07, 2025, 10:26:16 PMBo returns to calgary
hopefully more fan interest than in regina on thursday
Looks like the Stamps have been aggressively promoting the game with different ticket deals.
With it being their 80th season they have also brought some of their greats from the past like Doug Flutie to Calgary for the weekend.
Let's see if it translates into butts in seats.
hamilton d looks soooooft so far
Garbutt and Fox starting, will be interesting to see if they continue their development, I believe both will have a good season.
Quote from: gobombersgo on June 07, 2025, 11:02:11 PMLooks like the Stamps have been aggressively promoting the game with different ticket deals.
With it being their 80th season they have also brought some of their greats from the past like Doug Flutie to Calgary for the weekend.
Let's see if it translates into butts in seats.
looks like a number of empty seats - too bad.
Leggs numbers keep improving each year, can he crack 90%?
Calgary fans ... where are they?
Van with the bad throw to the ticats. Jeeze loiuise.
Punt out at the one yd line.....
Masin(#1 pick) reminds us all why they gave the global draft with a nice coffin corner kick!
Vernon tossing up some ill advised throws.
waaay too early but if he fizzles out in Calgary is he just an overrated dude?
Moxie nice YAC (int)
Quote from: The Zipp on June 08, 2025, 12:03:15 AMVernon tossing up some ill advised throws.
waaay too early but if he fizzles out in Calgary is he just an overrated dude?
He was very good last year, no reason why he won't be this year, on a bad team and will take time. Yes he will throw ducks. Patience. You said it, way too early. I'm on the fence on him, hasn't shown can win the big game (yet). Hot and cold. Skills are there.
He got lucky penalty on another duck. Looks like bad VA today. His consistency an issue at times.
Holy moley. vaj three picks in the half.
I think Ferguson and Ford are very good together...
Both know the league and the players, really well and compliment each other nicely. Duane with a little more energy than sometimes in the past.
Next...dump suitor
Quote from: Blueforlife on June 08, 2025, 12:05:29 AMHe was very good last year, no reason why he won't be this year, on a bad team and will take time. Yes he will throw ducks. Patience. You said it, way too early. I'm on the fence on him, hasn't shown can win the big game (yet). Hot and cold. Skills are there.
He got lucky penalty on another duck. Looks like bad VA today. His consistency an issue at times.
There's every reason to think he won't be as good this year. He went from a stacked BC offence to a bottom-feeder in Calgary.
Quote from: markf on June 08, 2025, 12:19:16 AMHoly moley. vaj three picks in the half.
Rythym isn't there yet. I think it'll come. Begelton is still a beast.
Quote from: markf on June 08, 2025, 12:19:16 AMI think Ferguson and Ford are very good together...
Yes, agree
Quote from: markf on June 08, 2025, 12:19:16 AMNext...dump suitor
LMAO! We can only hope.
Kate's voice still hurts my ears. Davis is still incoherent. Enoch speaks like he's talking to his kids. Lapo bores me to tears.
It's going to be a long year with this TSN group.
johnny Augustine with a rare whiff - if the wind was swirling i can see the issue but you have to know calgary is coming for that ball
Quote from: Jesse on June 08, 2025, 12:27:24 AMThere's every reason to think he won't be as good this year. He went from a stacked BC offence to a bottom-feeder in Calgary.
My main point of my post was one that it's too early to write him off and two VA coming off a very good season, I didn't agree about narrative around him being potentially overrated at least at this stage.
Like I said will take him time on a new / bad team. I expect him to pickup where he left off once comfortable. Yes had the benefit of some good targets in BC which helped his numbers no doubt but he has some new good targets in Cgy that he will develop raport with.
Comes down to protection imo and limiting turnovers.
Quote from: J5V on June 08, 2025, 12:42:56 AMRythym isn't there yet. I think it'll come. Begelton is still a beast.
Yes, agree
LMAO! We can only hope.
Kate's voice still hurts my ears. Davis is still incoherent. Enoch speaks like he's talking to his kids. Lapo bores me to tears.
It's going to be a long year with this TSN group.
Agree on rhythm and agree that it will come in time. Yes he's got some targets to be sure!
BLM forcing the ball into Lawler reminded me of our offense last year forcing the ball to him when nothing is there. He certainly doesn't look like a $300,000 reciever!!
Environment Canada.
Wind N 23 gusting to 44 =
85 yard punt...
Quote from: dd on June 08, 2025, 12:46:58 AMBLM forcing the ball into Lawler reminded me of our offense last year forcing the ball to him when nothing is there. He certainly doesn't look like a $300,000 reciever!!
Lawler is equally overpaid and talented. He will earn his check imo. BLM will find him deep and often.
VA getting smacked around a bit
Classy mention to Ted on broadcast
10 guys on Hammy from Wpg, wow, some good players on that list and prospects
Mills running well
VA scrambling well
brian cole looking slow out there for hamilton
Quote from: The Zipp on June 08, 2025, 01:01:38 AMbrian cole looking slow out there for hamilton
Interesting, is he getting a lot of reps?
Too much juice on the bomb with the wind for Bo to Lawler
Barnes will have a good year, nice bomb VA, good sign shakes off the mistakes
Ticats should get on the hotline to Jeff reinbold
Looks like the Bombers East still have too many Tiger Cats on the team to be successful.
BLM forcing the ball to Lawler in double coverage and overthrows him by 10 yards. I wonder how long it will take for Milanovich to bench BLM again.
clark barnes and sam emilus showing great for canadian receivers this week
Quote from: markf on June 08, 2025, 01:13:26 AMTicats should get on the hotline to Jeff reinbold
I should get on the hotline and ask a friend for my picks next week as why I picked Hammy I can't say lol
Quote from: J5V on June 08, 2025, 01:15:15 AMBLM forcing the ball to Lawler in double coverage and overthrows him by 10 yards. I wonder how long it will take for Milanovich to bench BLM again.
In a strong wind, hard to say how long the rope is this year.
Quote from: J5V on June 08, 2025, 01:15:15 AMBLM forcing the ball to Lawler in double coverage and overthrows him by 10 yards. I wonder how long it will take for Milanovich to bench BLM again.
I have zero idea why everyone on TSN was talking up BLM and Hamilton all off season.
They were a terrible team last season and BLM only stacked offensive numbers because their defense was so terrible. Which looks to still be the case.
I appreciate MOS all the more when I see the antics from some players on some teams. Just sayin'.
i like litre on the sneak
gotta get a td here hamilton
bo dirt ball
Quote from: The Zipp on June 08, 2025, 01:31:07 AMi like litre on the sneak
gotta get a td here hamilton
bo dirt ball
Nice ball after a bad one
TD would keep it interesting
Hammy no goodie lol
i think litre was the call on 3rd down
Nice sack for safety
Quote from: J5V on June 08, 2025, 01:29:41 AMI appreciate MOS all the more when I see the antics from some players on some teams. Just sayin'.
Yup.
Quote from: Jesse on June 08, 2025, 01:41:59 AMYup.
Mafia don't mess around
Another forced ball to Lawler and then a BLM air ball
Too bad, Hammy making this boring
Nice TD Lawler
Nice tackle on the 2pt
Wow VA keeps taking licks, but he is pretty durable
Montreal is well in the lead out of the gate so far.
Quote from: Jesse on June 08, 2025, 01:21:14 AMI have zero idea why everyone on TSN was talking up BLM and Hamilton all off season.
They were a terrible team last season and BLM only stacked offensive numbers because their defense was so terrible. Which looks to still be the case.
Yes and the late TD by Lawler in this game is another case of BLM stacking up the offensive numbers in a game that Calgary had well in hand.
noodle arm. this is the first week of the season...by mid season he may be done. father time is cruel.
One big,plus so far this season.... The refs have not ruined any games. This one was well reffed I thought.
Moved quickly, no controversy, no stupid challenges, which was Dave Dickensen signature move in the past.
Maybe the coaches were told to back off on the no hope challenges.
On to rourke v ford.
Quote from: J5V on June 08, 2025, 01:57:42 AMYes and the late TD by Lawler in this game is another case of BLM stacking up the offensive numbers in a game that Calgary had well in hand.
Absolutely.
BLM had 130 yards before these last three drives when the game was out of hand, now he's getting praised by TSN for another 300 yard game.
Now we get another year of hearing propped up as a MOP candidate for a team that somehow keeps missing the playoffs.
Quote from: Jesse on June 08, 2025, 02:10:25 AMAbsolutely.
BLM had 130 yards before these last three drives when the game was out of hand, now he's getting praised by TSN for another 300 yard game.
Now we get another year of hearing propped up as a MOP candidate for a team that somehow keeps missing the playoffs.
As Matty would say - "yards after beatdown."
Quote from: gobombersgo on June 07, 2025, 11:02:11 PMLooks like the Stamps have been aggressively promoting the game with different ticket deals.
Let's see if it translates into butts in seats.
Nope. Fail. It's even worse than 2024. I know the CGY fans arrive late, so I wait until around end of 1st Q to judge, and the crowd is still sparse. Not good in cowboy land.
Quote from: The Zipp on June 07, 2025, 11:24:11 PMlooks like a number of empty seats - too bad.
Quote from: markf on June 07, 2025, 11:39:57 PMCalgary fans ... where are they?
They may need to invest in a new stadium before they come back. CGY may need a rich owner like EDM got. I prefer seeing the AB teams with packed stands like they were 5-10 years ago. Prairies are supposed to carry the league. We're the better fans! 8)
Quote from: Blueforlife on June 08, 2025, 12:50:10 AMClassy mention to Ted on broadcast
Ya. And I like that now I know why Ted/Woli had to stay together: guitars.
Haha, Thick Nik now Thicker Nik! Awesome. How can you not like Nik, down on the sidelines with the fans.
Quote from: The Zipp on June 08, 2025, 12:03:15 AMVernon tossing up some ill advised throws.
VAJ looking like, well, VAJ. He's like Maier, but good and mobile. They'll seem to be calm and smart for a long while and then go and do something boneheaded. The difference is VAJ will get you some big yards in between screwups.
What stood out to me was Begelton > Kenny. Begelton is so good and reliable that I'm shocked he didn't catch that tip ball. Kenny whiffed on just under half his targets? Mental lapses plus over-targeting and too much confidence by the QB/OC, just like when he was here in '24. Ya, some great circus catches, but overall in a game is it better than a Begelton?
I know who I'd take: Begelton @$200k vs Kenny @$300k? Begelton.
Quote from: The Zipp on June 08, 2025, 02:01:37 AMnoodle arm. this is the first week of the season...by mid season he may be done. father time is cruel.
It's not so much noodle arm as it is a propensity to get un-dialed-in (dialed out?). Note he overthrew just as many as he turfed. That's not noodle arm, that's either a brain problem with judging distance, or a lack of touch on the ball to get the distance the brain desires. I truly don't know which is BLM's problem.
He also isn't seeing the field all that great anymore.
He was the same last year, though he would have periods during games where he could dial it in. So I guess the question remains: can he dial it in more often than not?
Quote from: Jesse on June 08, 2025, 01:21:14 AMI have zero idea why everyone on TSN was talking up BLM and Hamilton all off season.
They were a terrible team last season and BLM only stacked offensive numbers because their defense was so terrible. Which looks to still be the case.
Ya, TSN and 3down were even picking HAM to make the cup. I was like, wha? Same with OTT. They seem to pick HAM to have a resurgence every season and it never materializes.
I'm not building a team of nearly all ex-Bombers is the way to do it, either. There's a reason they were considered expendable. It's a shame to see Dobson so utterly wasted on this team.
Also, Kenny won't last a whole season taking the beatings he took in this game. He's scrawny. Have to use him more like WPG did. Have fun losing all season for 300k Kenny. When you want to come back for $225, give us a shout.
But let's put a ton of blame on the OC. Who is the OC in HAM? Simply awful. Picks the wrong play every time. Awful on 1st. Awful on 2nd. Ignores the run. Who would have thought you could get an OC worse than Condell.
Hand it to CGY for being "most improved" so far. Still, as always, ABC.
Quote from: markf on June 08, 2025, 02:07:57 AMMoved quickly, no controversy, no stupid challenges, which was Dave Dickensen signature move in the past.
Oh, Dickenson The Greater
did do a stupid challenge. Right at the end they challenged the spot. In the pile. A challenge that virtually never wins because there's too many people obscuring the ball. And he had no good video evidence to challenge it on, he just wanted to waste everyone's time because he could.
Dave doing Dave things.
Quote from: The Zipp on June 08, 2025, 02:01:37 AMnoodle arm. this is the first week of the season...by mid season he may be done. father time is cruel.
Disagree about noodle arm. He had a great arm, got hurt and relearned the mechanics. Not what it was but still decent. Agree with what techno has said.
It's early, but Hammy looks bad, and the Stamps look better than I expected.
VAJ was a difference maker for both teams.
I LOL'd at BLM's half-time interview. Doubt his coaches liked it though.
Quote from: TBURGESS on June 08, 2025, 02:57:25 PMIt's early, but Hammy looks bad, and the Stamps look better than I expected.
VAJ was a difference maker for both teams.
I LOL'd at BLM's half-time interview. Doubt his coaches liked it though.
I missed it. Can you give me the tldr?
A reporter asks a long-winded question about how the first half went and BLM just says YUP. Reporter tries again, BLM kinda ignores him & gives another 1 word answer. Thanks him and leaves.
Quote from: TBURGESS on June 08, 2025, 06:04:48 PMA reporter asks a long-winded question about how the first half went and BLM just says YUP. Reporter tries again, BLM kinda ignores him & gives another 1 word answer. Thanks him and leaves.
Sounds like he has a bone to pick with TSN.
Quote from: Throw Long Bannatyne on June 08, 2025, 06:27:18 PMSounds like he has a bone to pick with TSN.
I don't think he has a bone to pick with tsn- he's eyeing them up for a panel spot and visa versa. I think blm is just frustrated knowing his body can't deliver what it used to and he's struggling. Definitely not the Bo Levi of old but that's the way it goes
Quote from: Throw Long Bannatyne on June 08, 2025, 06:27:18 PMSounds like he has a bone to pick with TSN.
Sounds he's trying not to give them a soundbite.
Quote from: Jesse on June 08, 2025, 08:29:21 PMSounds he's trying not to give them a soundbite.
Which is pretty embarrassing for TSN, if Bo becomes a panel member after he retires as expected, he's not doing himself any favours. Rourke did almost the same thing last season avoiding an interview with Farhan, which caused a kerfuffle.
Quote from: Throw Long Bannatyne on June 08, 2025, 09:41:23 PMWhich is pretty embarrassing for TSN, if Bo becomes a panel member after he retires as expected, he's not doing himself any favours. Rourke did almost the same thing last season avoiding an interview with Farhan, which caused a kerfuffle.
I'm not sure I agree with that. He had a bad half and he's trying to run back to the locker room with enough time to go to the bathroom before he has to come out again and the reptile trying to drag out the negatives?
I wouldn't be too receptive either (and I'm the biggest Bo hater out there).
Quote from: Jesse on June 09, 2025, 02:54:23 AMI wouldn't be too receptive either (and I'm the biggest Bo hater out there).
I take exception to that title claim!