Sports Take

The new look Stampeders begin their season against the Tiger-Cats with new faces at almost every position including new starting QB Vernon Adams Jr. who was on pace to be above 6000 yards before injury and the return of Nathan Rourke in BC last season, it became obvious that Adams would be made available and in a rare move the Stampeders swooped on it. Going 197/302 for 2929 yards in 9 starts there’s new hope in Calgary who ended last year as the worst team in the CFL, something that hasn’t happened in 20 years.

Beside him in the backfield will be a mixture of Dedrick Mills and Jeshrun Antwi. Mills racked up 923 yards on 163 carries in 13 games last season and was a bright spot in an other wise awful season for the Stamps, Antwi picked up off free agency from the BC Lions adds the speed and receiving element out of the backfield.

The target for Vernon Adams will be his former BC Lions teammate in 2023 in Dominique Rhymes, last season in Ottawa Rhymes picked up 72 catches on 126 targets, for 1011 yards. But we also can’t forget Reggie Begelton, who also racked up over a thousand yards and was the main target for the Stamps last season.

On the other side of the ball, Damon Webb is the new safety on a completely different defense than last year, all new starters in every single position. Include a new defensive coordinator and the Stampeders have major questions on that side of the ball.

For Hamilton the starting QB is a future first ballot hall of famer in Bo Levi Mitchell, who turned back the clock last season, with a career high in yards with 5451 yards, his next closest came in his first season as a starter in 2016. Can he continue being an ageless wonder? That’s why the games are played.

Beside him will be Greg Bell, in 8 starts last season he picked up 629 yards on 94 carries, on pace in a full season for over 1400 yards, with a new front 7 in Calgary I’m expecting him to get the ball more often to try and open up play action and deep passes that Bo loves to throw.

Speaking of deep balls Kenny Lawler is going to be that guy that Bo Levi will target above everyone else, if he can stay healthy all year, plagued by injuries in his career, he’s yet to play in all 18 games in a single season. But no less effective when he is in.

On the D the matchup with Jamal Peters is not one should expect to win too often, picking off the ball 4 times last year plus 38 tackles on the short side of the field. Shows that QB’s don’t like throwing in his direction, which is a compliment in itself.

This is a toss up, but I expect a Stampeders win with Adams Jr living up to his nickname, Big Play VA.