Pivotal decision
Time has come for Stamps to go shopping for a new QB
The scrambling has just begun for Matt Dunigan and the Calgary Stampeders. Pre-season fears the team didn't have a quarterback to lead the offence into the playoffs have been confirmed with the club stumbling to a 2-8 start, last in the CFL.
The position is just one of several gaping holes in the roster but is the most obvious shortcoming and the weakness most urgently needing attention.
The Stamps GM-head coach again sounded confident in his quarterback trio after Friday's 26-7 loss to the Hamilton Ticats but the words are ringing hollow.
"I like our mix of guys here -- it's going to take some time," the first-year boss pleaded after the Stampeders offence not only failed to score but never created a legitimate opportunity through 60 minutes.
"They haven't been able to develop any quarterbacks here in the last three years.
"We need to develop guys and we need to have the opportunity to do that."
That theory of Calgary's inability to develop quarterbacks isn't exactly accurate. Before Dunigan's arrival, talented prospects like Darnell Kennedy were shipped out of town to guarantee a roster spot for Kevin Feterik, son of owner Michael Feterik.
Other proven pivots such as Dave Dickenson and Henry Burris -- who earned their CFL stripes while wearing Red and White -- could have been lured back to Calgary as free agents if not for the owner's determination to give Kid Kevin a place to play. Quality quarterbacks have come and gone and arguing otherwise is a charade, camouflaging the owner's hidden agenda for three seasons prior to his son's outright release by the team last fall.
Dunigan was preaching patience after the loss to the Tiger-Cats, insisting rookies Tommy Jones and Michael Souza need time to develop into CFL starters. Veteran Marcus Crandell, Dunigan insists, is also an important part.
"Tommy and Michael have a lot of great football in front of them, Marcus is great in the mix to have an experienced guy there to help them out along the way and contribute as well and produce," Dunigan said.
While publicly defending his pivots, don't be surprised if Dunigan is working the phones to find another legitimate passer. Winnipeg would be the most obvious source, where a QB controversy is brewing. Discontent over former league MVP Khari Jones is almost as high as his salary, making the QB a potential candidate for a trade while Dunigan, logic suggests, is in the market.
Discontent with the offence can be seen in the eyes of the Stamps defence. Frustration is building after allowing just 25 points in last week's loss to the first-place B.C. Lions before giving up 19 to Hamilton's offence in consecutive losses. One TD Friday night was scored by the Tabbies defence on an interception.
If you can't score 20 points, you won't win many games in this league.
And the situation will only grow more desperate with the Edmonton Eskimos rolling into McMahon Stadium next week for the Labour Day Classic, a game that transcends all other regular-season encounters for Stampeders fans.
"We'll concentrate on trying to get better as a football team and tee it up a week Monday against the Edmonton Eskimos," Dunigan said.
"Our intensity level better be at a different level than it was (Friday) night or we'll be on a tough road with two games against those guys back-to-back. We need to get on top of it in a hurry or it's going to get ugly."
Dunigan must be covering his eyes on the sidelines because the truth is the Stampeders season is already an eyesore.
