Calgary Stampeders boss Dave Dickenson feeling pressure amid losses

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Dave Dickenson is clearly feeling the heat.

So much so that he dropped an uncharacteristic f-bomb when asked Wednesday if he’s worried about his job amid calls for a change at his position from fans and pundits alike.

“Honestly, what do you want me to say to that?” said the Stampeders affable GM/head coach. “I’m (bleeping) here to work — I don’t really give a damn. I’m here to work.

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“Speculate all you want, but I’m here to work.”

Indeed, the speculation is out there in the football world with success having been hard to come by for the Stampeders in the last few CFL seasons.

The quick way to make that all go away, of course, would be sewing together a string of wins, beginning with Friday night’s crucial contest for the Stampeders (4-9-1) versus the host BC Lions (7-8) in Vancouver (8 p.m., TSN, QR Calgary).

Turning the team’s current six-game winless skid on its ear and punching a ticket to the playoffs for a 19th straight season should at least beat back the nay-sayers.

“No … we don’t think about that stuff,” said Stamps quarterback Jake Maier, when asked if he and his teammates are concerned about their head coach’s future. “We think about getting ready for the game each and every week. The outside speculation on that stuff is more for you (in the media) to talk about.

“I mean … we understand the business we’re in — we need to win games. But that’s every year and every week. So, no, I would say that doesn’t cross our mind as a team at all.”

Rightly so what is on the minds of Maier & Co. is getting their first victory in seven tilts.

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The Stamps head into what is a must-win affair — for the most part — five points behind the Lions for the third and final playoff spot in the West Division.

A Lions win would ensure the Lions finish ahead of the Stamps in the final standings. But the Red and White would still own an opportunity to catch the Saskatchewan Roughriders (7-7-1) for a playoff berth — although that would die with a Riders win Saturday — and even the East Division’s third spot — that quirky post-season crossover slot — currently occupied by the idle Toronto Argonauts (8-7).

“Yes … we feel the urgency,” Maier said. “No … we should not feel any burdens in terms of ‘Oh, man, if we don’t do this, then what’s going to happen.’ That’s too much outside noise. You just have to execute when you’re playing in these games.”

Unfortunately, execution as a team has been hard to come by — and they know it.

Dickenson has been especially vocal about needing to find that fast during this freefall.

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“We know the urgency has to be there,” Dickenson said. “I’d be disappointed if we didn’t come out and play aggressive, physical football. But it’s really more about the plays that need to be made.

“We have to play with poise — we can’t take dumb penalties. We’ve got to protect the football and also go get the ball.

“It’s the same things we’ve been saying,” continued the beleaguered head coach. “We just haven’t been able to consistently in three phases ever put those three together as a team. In order to win, two of the three have to really rise up. And hopefully all three do that, which creates momentum and takes us where we want to go.

“We’ve been competing hard all year — I’m not questioning our compete level at all. We’ve been working hard. It’s just we haven’t got the results we want. Effort’s not enough in pro sports.

“Let’s see the results. We’ve got a lot of questions surrounding our team. We need to answer them on Friday.”

And over the following final three weeks of the season.

Or it could mean significant changes afoot for the Stampeders moving forward.

“No,” said Stamps edge-rusher James Vaughters, when asked about the job security of his coach. “I don’t want to talk about that.”

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“We understand when we signed up for this business that winning and losing determines the outcome of your job security and how long you get to be in this business — you know that going in,” added Maier. “So anything that is going to hinder that and slow you down, you’ve got to keep that noise and keep those thoughts out of your mind or else you’re not going to perform well.

“I think the more that you build it up and that you start thinking about the things that are outside of your control, the slower you play and the more timid you play and the more nervous you play, and I just don’t think you can think like that or live like that.”

Short yardage

Stampeders WR Reggie Begelton heads into this week’s game 79 receiving yards shy of a second consecutive 1,000-yard season and the third of his career. Begelton established a career-high of 1,444 receiving yards in 2019 and rolled up 1,119 yards a year ago … The Stamps signed another three players to the practice roster in the last two days, adding American defensive back Clifford Chattman and American receiver Mike Harley Jr. on Wednesday after inking American defensive back Keaton Ellis on Tuesday. The 27-year-old Chattman, at 6-foot-5, 210-lb., spent four weeks on the Stamps practice roster in 2023 and attended the team’s 2024 training camp after playing three pre-season games for the NFL’s Atlanta Falcons. In two pre-season games for the Red and White, the former standout of the NCAA’s UTSA Roadrunners recorded three defensive tackles and a knockdown. Harley signed with the NFL’s Cleveland Browns as an undrafted free agent in 2022, attended their training camp and was on their practice squad. In 2024, the 5-foot-11, 180-lb. former star of the NCAA’s Miami Hurricanes signed with United Football League’s DC Defenders and later attended training camp with teams on both sides of the border — first with the CFL’s Ottawa Redblacks and then with the NFL’s Miami Dolphins. The 23-year-old Ellis, at 5-foot-11, 190-lb., signed as an undrafted free agent with the NFL’s Tennessee Titans and attended the team’s training camp after which he played in three pre-season games, recording six tackles … One of this week’s earlier signees, American receiver Jesiah Irish has been placed on the suspended list by the team.

tsaelhof@postmedia.com

On X: @ToddSaelhof

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