Larry McDougall/CFL.ca
CALGARY – Bo Levi Mitchell isn’t used to having to wait until the fourth quarter of the first game to notch his first touchdown pass. He is also not used to having to defend the play of his offence following a win but he did so after the Stampeders uncharacteristically kept Hamilton around before ultimately pouncing on the Ticats late.
For Mitchell, the 12 points through three quarters was not concerning, especially given his team moved the ball with ease in the first half between the twenties before stalling in the redzone three times.
After the game it was all about managing expectations.
“I felt good, was seeing everything but it was just chemistry and us (needing to) talk things out,” the Eastern Washington grad told reporters.
“I thought the passing game was really on at the beginning. I felt like we were doing everything we wanted to at will until we got into the green zone.”
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Mitchell put a relatively inexperienced Tiger-Cats secondary to the test early, airing the ball out and generating over 200 yards passing in the first half. He was not only spotting receivers in the right places, he was targeting busted coverages which allowed Calgary receivers to make almost as much after the catch than on the deep ball passes themselves. But once they looked to put seven on the board he and his receivers were unable to finish drives.
“Personally I missed a few throws and there were some chemistry things we need to clean up,” Mitchell remarked. “Ultimately it is a week one win that we grinded away and got it done when we had to.”
The aforementioned difference in experience left the Ticats ripe to be had and after the first three plays it looked as though the Stampeders were in midseason form. Mitchell had a secondary opposite him that entered with a combined 30 CFL games played and a new defensive coordinator that despite a full resume, had note coached North of the Border.
“It was frustrating because the plays were there and the play calls were there,” Mitchell said of some of Calgary’s missed opportunities. “I thought Dave (Dickenson) called a great game and I think our game plan was on point with what we thought they were going to do, especially a new defensive coordinator.”
Coming out with the win makes it a lot easier for the Stamps offence to enter the film room and right what was somewhat unexpected play from the veteran-laden unit. They will need to do so against a Toronto Argonauts team that on paper has improved defensively and will be primed to prove that winning last year’s Grey Cup over these very Stampeders was no fluke.
