Turnovers hang-out Calgary Stampeders in loss to Montreal Alouettes

Article content material

Sooner or later, it stops mattering that there’s nonetheless a path for the Calgary Stampeders to make the playoffs.

Article content material

There’s completely no indication that the Stamps (4-10) are a crew able to making the most of the chance that, technically, remains to be there.

Article content material

Coming off a bye week and dealing with a Montreal Alouettes (7-7) crew that had misplaced 4 video games in a row, it felt just like the Stamps may need an opportunity to salvage one thing from their season. A loss by the Saskatchewan Roughriders, who’re holding the third and ultimate playoff spot within the CFL’s West Division at 6-8, made slightly optimism really feel honest.

As a substitute, extra disappointment.

In a must-win recreation on Saturday, it was the identical outdated Stamps that we’ve seen so many occasions this season and one other loss, this one by a 28-11 scoreline at McMahon Stadium.

Turnovers value the Stampeders factors. There have been massive errors in massive moments. They couldn’t capitalize within the redzone. They didn’t handle a single sack towards an Alouettes offensive line that had allowed greater than every other crew within the CFL this season.

Article content material

Article content material

What went fallacious? The place can we begin?

“We couldn’t get any performs, we bought down within the tight areas a number of occasions and couldn’t come away with any factors, and we couldn’t cease them on the finish,” stated Stamps GM/head coach Dave Dickenson. “There’s no motive to have power. They’re preventing, I’m not saying anybody has given up. We’ve bought to create power, create momentum and we couldn’t do this.

“It worries me so much, it’s why we’re (4-10). You’ve bought to make performs and you may’t give the ball away. We’ve got good management in there, however everybody’s down. Thought we had a superb probability to make up some floor, particularly after yesterday’s video games and we simply weren’t capable of do it.”

Turnovers, particularly, haunted the Stampeders on Saturday afternoon.

Article content material

On their very first drive of the sport, quarterback Jake Maier drove his crew downfield however threw an interception that was introduced down by former teammate Shawn Lemon.

On their first drive of the second half, Maier was picked off in the long run zone.

After which late within the recreation, Reggie Begelton fumbled the ball at midfield, ensuing within the Alouettes scoring on the following drive.

Maier wound up finishing 29-of-37 passes for 271 yards to associate with a landing and the 2 interceptions. It was the timing of the turnovers that felt so powerful, although.

There have been errors by different Stampeders, too. This was not a consequence that may be positioned solely at Maier’s ft. The defence struggled within the second half, with Als QB Cody Fajardo ending the sport 22-of-29 for 252 yards, in addition to one landing and one interception.

Article content material

That was sufficient. The Stampeders regarded like a defeated crew by the fourth quarter, and there’s little doubt that the truth is sinking in that they may simply not have what it takes this yr.

After a recreation just like the one they misplaced on Saturday, it’s arduous to see why anybody would imagine anything.

“I feel the idea for me is we’re all fortunate and blessed to have the ability to come to work on daily basis and get a chance to play this recreation that not very many individuals get to play,” Maier stated. “In the event you’re going to have any perception, it needs to be that, it must be having that gratefulness and that respect for the sport that you just’re going to point out up and let it cling whenever you’re on the market and if it doesn’t go your approach, that’s simply life and that’s how sports activities goes typically. My perception proper now lies in that.”

Article content material

QUICK HITS

The Stamps’ Micah Awe will certainly be listening to from the league’s head workplace a couple of head-to-head hit he laid on the Alouettes’ Cole Spieker within the first first half. It’s the kind of hit the authorities have been attempting to get out of soccer for years, and it’ll absolutely end in a superb on the very least … Simply wished to offer a shoutout to the beautiful couple I met on the elevator who had been attending their ultimate Stamps recreation at McMahon Stadium after 25 years as season ticket holders. It’s followers like them who make the league particular … Official attendance at McMahon Stadium was 22,321 … Shawn Lemon positively made an influence for the Alouettes. Lemon, who was the West Division Most Excellent Defensive Participant final season with the Stamps however was not re-signed, had an interception that ended Calgary’s first drive after which had an enormous second half sack deep in his personal territory, too. He added a second sack late within the recreation, and is sitting on 99 for his profession … At one level within the fourth quarter, one of many referees appeared to tug a hamstring. He stayed within the recreation after slightly stretching … Nick Statz began the second half with an interception for the Stamps. It set the offence as much as acquire slightly momentum, however sadly their subsequent drive ended with considered one of Maier’s interceptions … The World’s Quickest Cow is completely smoking individuals this season. He gained once more on Saturday and it wasn’t even shut.

daustin@postmedia.com 

www.twitter.com/DannyAustin_9 

Article content material