When Stampeder fans think of the solid defensive linemen that have hit the field in Calgary, names like John Helton, Will Johnson, and Stu Laird come to mind. They were all players that had successful but long careers. Times have changed for the Stamps' D-Line.
Stability has come in many places for the Stampeders in the past. The linebackers have seen players stay put (until last year), O-Linemen have put their roots down, and even running backs and receivers have had long tenures with the Stampeders. This hasn't been so for the D-Line.
The loss of Eddie Freeman and Charleston Hughes makes for large shoes to fill this coming season, but this is not new the Calgary Stampeders front four.
Since the Stampeders boasted Joe Fleming and Demetrious Maxie on the same line, Calgary hasn't had any stability. Every year sees more new faces replacing the ones that played for a year (at best), and leave. It even came down to a complete midseason overhaul in 2004.
It wasn't until 2007 that we started seeing some solid play and the beginning of a few players that could stick around. Tearreus George had all-star potential, Anthony Gargiulo was solid until Jason Jimenez ruined his career, and we got a taste of Mike Labinjo, even though it was at linebacker.
2008 had a bunch of new faces, but more experience with the addition of Howard Hodges, Freeman, and Hughes. Their arrival, combined with Labinjo's move to the D-Line, gave the Stampeders an elite defensive front. Even Miguel Robede started to come into his own and Randy Chevrier has always been a more-than-adequate backup.
Fast forward to February 2009, and the Stampeders are again looking at filling some holes on the defensive line.
Calgary signed three large D-Linemen Thursday in an attempt to fill some holes left by the departures of Freeman and Hughes. Montey Stevenson, Kenny King, and Tom Johnson, all 290-plus pounds, have signed for a shot at making the reigning Grey Cup Champions.
Mike Labinjo has signed on for three more years, which will definitely help. Plus if Miguel Robede can step into a starting role like the Stampeders hoped he could when they drafted him No. 1 overall, you may see much more stability on the Calgary defensive line for years to come.
They are still a long way from being compared to the BC Lions, or the Winnipeg Blue Bombers D-Lines, but the competitive they will be.
2 Comments
Loading more comments...
This comment and all replies have been deleted This comment has been deleted Undo delete