CALGARY 鈥� The running back position will be in the spotlight when the Calgary Stampeders host the Toronto Argonauts at McMahon Stadium on Sunday.
While the Stampeders (3-4) will play without Dedrick Mills, the Argonauts (4-3) will rely on the services of former Calgary running back Ka鈥橠eem Carey.
After amassing 100 yards on nine carries and five receptions during Calgary鈥檚 lacklustre 33-6 road loss to the Ottawa Redblacks last week, Mills asked for some time away from the team.
鈥淗e鈥檚 stepping away from the team at the moment to take care of some stuff,鈥� said Calgary coach Dave Dickenson. 鈥淣ot ideal, but as a team we鈥檝e got to move forward. It鈥檚 tough, but I mean everybody wants to play.
"Everybody鈥檚 excited for their opportunity. A little bit unforeseen, sure. We鈥檒l try to help him and see where life takes him."
Quarterback Jake Maier has confidence that Peyton Logan, who had one carry for 11 yards against Ottawa, will fit in just fine in Mills鈥� absence.
鈥淗e鈥檚 ready to go,鈥� Maier said. 鈥淗e鈥檚 made the big plays in this league. He鈥檚 changed the game in various ways whether it鈥檚 on special teams or carrying the ball for us. I鈥檝e got all the faith in Peyt and anybody else that has to step into that role is going to be ready to go.鈥�
After having just four days to get set to face the Redblacks, Dickenson said his team should be better prepared to host the Argos.
鈥淲e actually wanted to play faster, we did, because we had a poor performance, but we should have good energy,鈥� Dickenson said. 鈥淲e know we鈥檙e up against a good team. They鈥檝e consistently been one of the best the last few years. They have a lot of talent. They鈥檙e well coached.
鈥淲e鈥檝e just got to make sure we play well, stand up physically, be ready for the battle and hopefully (our) skill can take over.鈥�
Meanwhile, Toronto coach Ryan Dinwiddie said he fully expects Dickenson to have his charges ready to play.
鈥淵ou give Dave a few extra days to game plan, he鈥檚 going to get creative, so I think they鈥檙e going to establish the run game,鈥� said Dinwiddie, whose team eked out a 16-14 overtime win at home over the Winnipeg Blue Bombers last time out. 鈥淚 think they鈥檙e going to be pretty aggressive.鈥�
Dinwiddie added that he鈥檒l use the fact that Logan is listed as Calgary鈥檚 lone running back as motivation for his players.
鈥淚鈥檓 going to bring that up to the defence,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 always tell our defence that it鈥檚 disrespectful if a team only starts one running back. If they think they can get away with that, they don鈥檛 think we鈥檙e very physical.鈥�
After playing for four seasons with the Stamps, Carey signed as a free agent with Toronto in the off-season.
鈥淚 think he鈥檚 got something to prove,鈥� said Dinwiddie of his starting running back. 鈥淗e hasn鈥檛 talked really much about going back to Calgary. I鈥檓 sure there鈥檚 a little bit of added element to it that he鈥檚 keeping to himself of wanting to come out here and play well.鈥�
Following an injury-plagued 2023 season with the Stamps, Carey has bounced back with the Argos.
鈥淚鈥檓 excited to go out there and show everybody what I can do,鈥� said Carey. 鈥淚鈥檝e got new life here.鈥�
Carey has scored four touchdowns so far this season 鈥� three rushing and one receiving 鈥� after failing to find the end zone in nine games with the Stamps in 2023.
Although he endeared himself to the Calgary fans with seven rushing TDs in 2021 and 10 more a year later, he doesn鈥檛 think he鈥檒l receive any special tributes when he steps out onto the field.
鈥淚 love my fans 鈥� I鈥檓 going to get my hugs and sign my autographs,鈥� he said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 all love. Definitely ain鈥檛 going to have no poster or no 鈥榃e love you Ka鈥橠eem, goodbye sign on the big board,鈥� so it is what it is.鈥�
Like he has done in Toronto鈥檚 past two games, Dinwiddie is leaning toward using both Cameron Dukes and Nick Arbuckle at quarterback against Calgary.
鈥淲e鈥檒l probably use both,鈥� Dinwiddie said. 鈥淚 listed Cam as the starter, but Nick鈥檚 doing some good things. He knows the system. He鈥檚 a little more developed as far as understanding the CFL game and what we鈥檙e trying to do. He鈥檚 got that edge, but Cam鈥檚 got some edge, too. He鈥檚 athletic and he鈥檚 only in Year 2.
鈥淲e can鈥檛 expect Cam to be great, but I鈥檝e also got to make sure we try to find a way to win this football game.鈥�
Carey has confidence in both Dukes and Arbuckle.
鈥淥ur quarterbacks, hopefully we can keep their defence off-balance with them by spreading the ball out,鈥� Carey said. 鈥淎nd the more we spread it out, the more this game could be a really, really, really good game for us.鈥�
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 3, 2024.
Laurence Heinen, The Canadian Press
