Roundup for June 10th

Christoph · Jun 10, 2012

Stamps' Happy Corey
http://www.calgarysun.com/2012/06/10/stamps-happy-corey

Corey Mace plans on celebrating on Canada Day.

If all goes well, the Calgary Stampeders will be celebrating a return of an important part to their Canadian content.

July 1, 2011 was a disaster for Mace.

He blew out his Achilles tendon in the season-opener against the Toronto Argonauts at McMahon Stadium, an injury which ended his season just as it was starting.

So when the anniversary rolls around — and the Stamps just so happen to open on Canada Day against the Montreal Alouettes at home — Mace is looking for a different result.

“It’s a coming out party,” Mace said. “Even though

I popped my Achilles that day, I still had a sack.

“I at least have to do something along those lines. It’s been a full 365. I’m ready to get after it.”

When Mace was hurt last year, it caused a ripple effect in the Stampeders lineup. Adrian Davis took over the bulk of the reps at defensive tackle as the Canadian defensive-line depth took a hit. A few weeks later, as Mace was getting surgery, offensive lineman J’Micheal Deane moved over to defence to help out.

It wasn’t until Brian Bulcke came to the Stamps from the NFL that the position was solidified a bit.

Now that Mace has returned, and Bulcke and him are rotating at the tackle spot, the Stamps can feel that it’s a position of strength.

“We have the best d-line depth in the league as far as Canadians go,” Mace said. “It was just a terrible situation. Even if we had won the Grey Cup last year — yes I would take the ring — but knowing
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Coming Up Lame
http://www.calgarysun.com/2012/06/10/coming-up-lame

Certainly, though, the injury news keeps getting worse and worse for the Stamps.

A day before they are scheduled to partake in their first organized scrimmage, the Stamps receiving corps (the last unscathed position outside of quarterback) took a hit.

During the morning practice session, highly-anticipated free-agent signing Maurice Price came down awkwardly after going up for a pass.

By the late practice session, the verdict was in: Fractured ankle. Price will be marked down for six-to-eight weeks.

This is the fourth long-term injury in seven days of camp, while seven other players were spectators at Saturday’s practices.

“Truthfully, the injures are no more than what they’ve been in other camps,” Hufnagel said. “It’s part of training camp. You hope people do get back healthy.

“You just have to persevere. That’s why you do bring in 75 people. That’s why you work so hard in the off-season to get as much depth as possible.

“I never want to see an injury, and I don’t expect injuries, but I understand that’s not the case.”

On Friday, punter Scott Crough suffered a ruptured disc in his back and will be out for a lengthy period.

On Day 1 of camp, defensive linemen Jadon Wagner and Kevin Dixon both suffered serious knee injuries that require surgery.

If there is one consolation, no veteran starters have gone down with anything that is more than day-to-day.

(Knock on wood).
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Bryant's Versatility a Plus for Stamps
http://www.calgaryherald.com/sports/Vet ... story.html

There was a special-teams practice going on at Calgary Stampeder training camp earlier this week, and non-participants Nik Lewis and Ken-Yon Rambo were on the sideline, trading stories and laughs with guest coach Ike Charlton.

There were howls of delight when a rookie accidentally bowled over a coach during one of the drills. Praise when another rookie showed some good footwork on a tackle.

And then Romby Bryant started running downfield for a drill. That’s when the chuckles stopped and the nods of admiration began.

Bryant, you should remember, is 32 years old with an NFL pedigree. He led the CFL in receiving touchdowns in 2010 with 15. He could just as easily stake a claim on the sideline during these drills, but instead, he runs with the rookies, and, for good measure, he takes reps on the scout-team offence to push the first-team defence.

And, by the way, rarely looks tired in doing so.

“When you have a guy like that who can go catch an 80-yard bomb, then come back and line up on kickoff (coverage), go down and make the tackle inside the 20 and still jog off the field like nothing happened?” said Charlton, who, as a Winnipeg Blue Bombers linebacker, was Bryant’s teammate in 2008 and part of the 2009 season when Bryant was traded to Calgary. “That’s special, especially in this league where everything’s fast-paced, everything’s moving. I saw him in practice every day in Winnipeg, and when he left us, there was kind of a void for us. But he came to a good place, man. He picked up right where he left off.”
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Christoph · Jun 10, 2012

Ameet Pall, Undercover Rusher
http://www.calgarysun.com/2012/06/10/undercover-rusher

If one was so inclined, it would be easy to pick out the shortcomings of this year’s first-round draft pick.

When Ameet Pall joins teammates in his position group, and especially when he stands across from the offensive line, he doesn’t exactly look like he belongs.

After the snap of the ball, though, it all becomes quite clear. The “little” guy playing defensive end can get by offensive linemen and he just never quits.

The fact a 6-foot, 245-pounder doesn’t look like a defensive lineman is something Pall has heard a lot, but it just doesn’t matter anymore.

“I’ve been playing ball for 16 years,” said Pall, who the Stampeders snagged out of Wofford with the fifth overall pick in this year’s draft.

“Every level that I moved up, I was too small. I should move to linebacker. They never did.

“Now I’m here. They drafted me in the first round as a defensive end. Knock on wood. They might move me back tomorrow but I’m used to that talk now. The guys are a lot bigger but I have to use my advantages.”

Those advantage would be a lower target to hit when blocking. Most of the offensive lineman in this league, especially the tackles, are towers of strength.

On a deep defensive line, Pall won’t be asked to make a huge splash immediately, but he’s performed well enough in team sessions at the end position to prove he belongs.
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Price Fractured Ankle when Non-Contact Drill went Wrong
http://www.calgaryherald.com/sports/Pri ... story.html

There’s a fine line between practising hard and practising smart, and rookie defensive back Tim Clark may have crossed that line on Saturday, resulting in a potentially serious injury to promising receiver Maurice Price.

During what was supposed to be a non-contact drill on Saturday morning, Clark’s tackle on Price left the 26-year-old receiver on the McMahon Stadium turf writhing in pain. Price had to be carted off the field, and he left the stadium in crutches; an examination revealed he’d suffered a fractured ankle and that he’ll be out for six to eight weeks.

“Very unfortunate,” said Stamps coach and general manager John Hufnagel. “Hopefully the damage isn’t too extensive. He was having a good camp, he was taking some strides. Hopefully it’s not too much of a setback.”

After the play, Hufnagel made his displeasure with Clark’s tackle very obvious.

“I always try to tell the players to not grab, don’t put the receivers on the ground, try to stay off of them, practise hard, fast and safe,” said Hufnagel. “There was some grabbing. Whether it could have been prevented or not? I don’t know. I know it was an unfortunate happening. But you just reinforce the fact of how important it is to practise safe.”Training-camp complaints about Calgary’s unpredictable June weather are an annual rite of passage at McMahon Stadium, but you won’t hear any out of rookie defensive end Chase Vaughn.
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iso_55 · Jun 10, 2012

Maybe Tim Clark should be taught a lesson he'll never forget by being cut. Non contact means just that, NON CONTACT. I know for a defender it's hard sometimes not to go full out but he knew the drill. If Clark can't discipline himself in training camp, what will be like in a game? He seriously hurt a promising player & teammate. That is bad.

Roundup for June 10th

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