It would be easy to heap all the credit on one player for the shocking turnaround this season for the Calgary Stampeders.<\/p>\n
Yes, Vernon Adams Jr. is the new face of the franchise. And yes, his veteran savvy, athleticism and mobility \u2014 not to mention charisma and infectious enthusiasm give the Stampeders a swagger that was sorely missing since Bo Levi Mitchell<\/a> left for Steeltown.<\/p>\n But the comeback story for the 8-4 Stamps \u2014 after winning just five games last season\u2014goes way beyond the quarterback.<\/p>\n Here are five reasons why the Stampeders got their edge back thus far in the 2025 campaign:<\/p>\n RELATED CHANGING IT UP ON THE FIELD<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n As Ray Kroc, founder of McDonald\u2019s, once said: \u201cIf you\u2019re green, you\u2019re growing. If you\u2019re ripe, you rot.\u201d<\/p>\n Rotting might be an exaggeration, but the Calgary core clearly failed to get the job done in 2024. So instead of making minor tweaks to the roster \u2014 especially on defence \u2014 the Stampeders opted for a massive overhaul.<\/p>\n The Stampeders opened the 2025 season with 12 new starters on the defensive side of the ball.<\/p>\n \u201cUsually with the teams I\u2019ve been on, you have a core group for you that stay together, three, five years \u2014 then there are small changes here and there,\u201d says kicker Ren\u00e9 Paredes. \u201cBut after the past couple of years of not making playoffs, and only winning five, six games, I figured Dave needed to make some changes. And I think he did some good things.\u201d<\/p>\n Those good things included the addition of defensive backs Damon Webb<\/a> and Adrian Greene<\/a>, and SAM linebacker Derrick Moncrief<\/a>, who leads the league with eight tackles for a loss.\u00a0<\/p>\n Under new defensive coordinator Bob Slowik, the Stamps have surrendered a league-low of 245 points, for an average of 20.4 points against per game. They also boast the CFL\u2019s stingiest aerial defence, allowing an average of just 265 passing yards per game.<\/p>\n CHANGING IT UP OFF THE FIELD<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n The Stampeders vowed to conduct a ruthless self-examination of their entire organization in the off-season after missing the playoffs for the first time since 2004. And instead of spending their energy defending outside criticism, they focused on improving the experience for the players \u2014 and the fans in the stands.<\/p>\n \u201cWe were all aware of the challenges that playing a stadium built in 1960 present,\u201d says team president Jay McNeil. \u201cIt\u2019s the little things that make the difference.\u201d<\/p>\n So the Stamps upgraded a lot of the \u201clittle things\u201d including the weight room, the players\u2019 lounge, the meeting rooms and even the coaches\u2019 area. And then there\u2019s a \u201cbig thing\u201d with the new turf at McMahon Stadium.<\/p>\n Now the Stampeders are winning again, there\u2019s a renewed buzz around the city.<\/p>\n \u201cPeople are talking about the team, and they\u2019re excited,\u201d McNeil says. \u201cIt\u2019s been fun, and we\u2019ve certainly seen it through ticket sales.\u201d<\/p>\n The players feel the difference as they go about their lives in the community everywhere from the gas station to the dog park.<\/p>\n \u201cThe fans love how VA is playing and how our offence is so explosive this year,\u201d Paredes says. \u201cThe fanbase is happy to see us back in the winning column.\u201d<\/p>\n REBOUND THROUGH RESILIENCY<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Injuries come with the job in football. Much like the wild hailstorms that hammer Calgary every summer, they\u2019re simply expected.\u00a0<\/p>\n This season has not been kind to the Stampeders in that department \u2014 especially to their star player<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t want to complain,\u201d Dickenson says.\u00a0\u201cI think we\u2019ve had as many injuries as anyone in the league.\u201d<\/p>\n On offence, receiver Reggie Begelton<\/a> \u2014\u00a0a three-time, 1,000-yard receiver \u2014\u00a0fractured his leg on Calgary\u2019s second play from scrimmage in only the second game.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019ve missed him,\u201d Dickenson says. \u201cHe was our rock. He\u2019s our best guy.\u201d<\/p>\n Without their best guy, the Calgary receivers are getting the job done by committee. Dominique Rhymes<\/a> (34 catches for 609 yards) leads the way, followed by Jalen Philpot (35 catches for 521 yards) and Erik Brooks (35 catches for 458 yards).<\/p>\n \u201cWhat we are missing is that consistent 70 yards, six catches,\u201d Dickenson says. \u201cAnd so we\u2019re still trying to find that balance there on how we can get everyone involved to make sure when it\u2019s really crunch time, who\u2019s going to step up and make those catches for us?\u201d<\/p>\n
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