Jun
Stamps prepere for cutdown day
Courtesy Calgary Herald:
It’s C-Day in the Canadian Football League, a time both coaches and players dread as the clubs trim their rosters to 46 active players.
Cutdown Day, however, may not be quite as significant in numbers for Calgary Stampeders head coach and general manager John Hufnagel as the reigning Grey Cup champions’ injury and disabled lists continue to grow.
Hufnagel confirmed Wednesday that not only will leading middle linebacker candidate Lemarcus Rowell be out for a few weeks with a knee injury, but also veteran offensive lineman Derek Armstrong is headed for surgery to repair a torn tricep and will be out indefinitely.
Both injuries were suffered during Tuesday night’s 27-19 exhibition victory over the homestanding Saskatchewan Roughriders.
While Rowell’s injury throws open the door for newcomer Tray Blackmon, it could be all hands on deck to fill out the offensive line with veteran Jeff Pilon (knee) and Godfrey Ellis (hamstring) still iffy, and sophomore Jesse Newman (ankle) highly doubtful for next Wednesday’s season opener at McMahon Stadium against the Grey Cup revenge-seeking Montreal Alouettes.
“We’ll make those adjustments,” said Hufnagel. “But I’ve stated for the last two weeks that the health of our football club is a concern and it’s just not getting any better at this time.”
All is not doom and gloom, however. The coach expects running back Demetris Summers (hamstring) and No. 2 quarterback Barrick Nealy (groin) to answer the bell on Wednesday while Pilon could be a game-day decision.
Defensive end candidate Juwan Simpson, a sophomore, also escaped serious injury despite limping off the field late in Tuesday’s game and receiver Ken-Yon Rambo got in some plays and will be good to go.
That still leaves defensive lineman E.J. Kuale (foot), receiver Jackie Chambers (foot), receiver Jeremaine Copeland (quad), defensive back Brandon Smith (knee), linebacker Shannon James (ribs) and running back Jon Cornish (knee) on the limp.
Smith is awaiting arthoscopic surgery, while Cornish’s injury wasn’t as severe as orginally believed and could return within a month or sooner.
So, the next question, is what did the coach like about the team’s final pre-season outing?
“We made enough plays to win the game,” said Hufnagel. “I liked the enthusiasm on the sideline. Even when the starters were not playing in the second half, they were on the sideline cheering on their teammates, helping them out, so I liked that part of the game.
“Obviously, there were too many penalties, especially in the fourth quarter. Giving the other team that many chances usually results in a negative result, but we were able to win the game. It was a good improvement from one week to the next, except for penalty problems.”
Any specific newcomers impress?
“Right now, it’s a contentious time for the players. They’ll find out their fate (today) and the less they need to hear about it or read about it until that time, I’d rather keep it that way. I thought some players stood out and made a good statement for themselves and that’s what they have to do to make this football team.”
Hufnagel was quick to add, however, he did have a message for the team prior to Wednesday afternoon’s rundown.
“Just because you’re not on the team now doesn’t mean you won’t be on this team in a couple of weeks,” he said. “I made the analogy several times already that I was the dumb guy who cut Charleston Hughes and right now he’s in the Philadelphia Eagles’ camp.
“So, never say die. Keep the hope, keep the fire and, hopefully good things will happen.”
Just like Hufnagel keeps hoping for good news from injury bay.
