Johany Jutras/CFL.ca
VANCOUVER — Calgary Stampeders head coach Dave Dickenson didn’t mince words following his team’s narrow 21-17 victory over the BC Lions on Friday night.
“It was disappointing to see the execution (and) mental errors, stuff we’re not used to seeing with Stampeder football,” said Dickenson, whose team ground out a defensive win in Friday’s sloppy affair. “BC didn’t play their best either — mistakes seemed to be more prevalent than actual good plays — so hopefully we turn the corner and start playing the way we were three weeks ago.”
The win moved Calgary to 6-1-1 on the season, and Dickenson’s squad now sits a single point behind provincial rival Edmonton for first place in the West Division.
“Guys were sloppy, but if you have a poor game and win, I’ll take that every time as a coach,” continued Dickenson. “It gives you things to work on in practice, and you still get the two points.”
On the status of star running back Jerome Messam, who was injured in the fourth quarter, Dickenson was hopeful but unsure.
Jerome Messam broke the 5,000-yard rushing mark on his career Friday in Vancouver prior to leaving with an injury. (THE CANADIAN PRESS Photo)
“I don’t know about Mess, he certainly got hit on the leg,” said Dickenson. “He was playing well, our best player on offence, really running downhill — we need him for the stretch run, so I hope he’s alright.”
While Calgary’s offence struggled for much of Friday’s contest — pivot Bo Levi Mitchell completed an uncharacteristically-low 32 per cent of his first-half passes — the Calgary head coach also wants his defence to learn from Friday’s performance in Vancouver.
“Our defence played well except for that discipline,” explained Dickenson, whose team was flagged three times for 35 yards on defence. “Guys got to grow up and make sure they play smart; that’s selfish, (and) we need our guys to play unselfish football if we’re going to win.”
The Stamps will now return home for a Week-10 date against the Toronto Argonauts (3-5) next Saturday (Aug. 26). Kick-off is scheduled for 9 p.m. ET.
