Club better get runnin'
By ERIC FRANCIS -- Calgary Sun
One day after the Stamps' shootout loss to the Ticats, Matt Dunigan stood outside McMahon Stadium rehashing words linebacker George White spat out following the club's failed comeback attempt.
"He told everyone to 'look in the mirror, police their game and be open-minded about correcting mistakes they made,' " said the Stamps head coach-GM.
Which brings us to the question being asked by most football fans in the city: Is Dunigan and his coaching staff open-minded enough to re-think their decision to implement an all-out aerial attack that virtually ignores the run?
"Well, no," said Dunigan, quickly tempering his stance.
"I know (offensive co-ordinator) John (Jenkins') philosophy, his mind and approach to the game and attention to detail. That's why he's here.
"He's always been a big believer of the run but you use it to gash the opponent for a big gain. If we need to run the football, we will. That's a focus for us in practice every day."
That focus is clearly abandoned come game time when Matt's Men line up in shotgun formation most of the evening for the type of passing game generally reserved for more established and accomplished pivots than Marcus Crandell.
Although the much-maligned Crandell was on the mark the final three quarters of an entertaining 41-34 loss, the Stamps' inability to even try establishing a ground attack hurt the surging club when it mattered most.
Midway through the third quarter, in the midst of clawing to within nine of the visitors, Crandell directed the hosts down to the Hamilton six-yard line where rookie running back Victor Ike grabbed the ball on first down and pounded out four of his 18 yards on the day. Instead of letting him finish the job from two yards out, Crandell's second down scramble towards the endzone fell short, as did his pass attempt to Wane McGarity in the endzone on third down. Drive over.
Ike later scored on a two-yard plunge in the third quarter, just the Stamps' second rushing touchdown of the season.
"We realize we do have to have that running game -- in all my years in football I certainly understand what it can do for a team and a quarterback," said Dunigan, whose club lost despite Crandell's personal passing record 425 yards.
"We do realize the importance (but) it's a work in progress and it will continue to be so."
In other words, Dunigan doesn't believe his ground game is even close to being up to snuff just yet. However, he expects it will be in plenty of time for the cold weather when running the ball takes on increased importance.
"I think (the running game) was effective yesterday when we used it," said Dunigan, whose 1-2 club ran the ball 10 times for 29 yards Sunday. "John loves to air it out but I said from the beginning everyone is going to ask for the run. Hey, I'll be asking too. I'm the one saying 'don't forget about Ike, (Scott) Regimbald or (Scott) Deibert. We are certainly massaging that in to make it more effective."
So, despite insisting his offensive philosophy hasn't changed, Dunigan admits fans will see the ball carried more and more as the season progresses.
"We're concentrating on our run game but also our pass game," said Dunigan, who has, to his credit, insisted on a handful of screens and various other run-oriented plays to try keeping defences off-balance to some degree. Hey, we're not satisfied with anything offensively. We may be passing 50 percent of the time, 60 percent or even more. Whatever is there, we're going to take. We've got a long way to go and it's a marathon not a sprint."
Even more reason to start running now before it's too late.
