They do things ‘quite a bit differently’ in Calgary: Khan

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 13/09/2012 (4803 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

CALGARY — Calgary Stampeders offensive coordinator Dave Dickenson thinks he might have an idea what’s been wrong with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers defence this year — the Bombers offence.

“I see (the Bombers defence) are on the field way too much. They’re not getting any help really,” Dickenson said here at McMahon Stadium Thursday morning as the Stamps held one final light practice in advance of Friday evening’s CFL contest against the Bombers.

“They’re still a good front, good speed, I think their DB’s are some of the best in the league. So I don’t think anything’s changed, except they won every close game last year and now this year year they’re losing them. And confidence obviously can be something you can gain. And maybe it’s not as high as when they had their ‘swagger.’

“But I do think they’re still very good and a team that can beat any team in our league in any week.”

The Bombers defence, which led the CFL in most major categories in 2011, has given up more touchdowns through the air than any other team in the league and is ahead of only the woeful Hamilton defence in many other categories, including points given up, yards passing and total yards.

The Stampeders are 6-4 coming into Friday night’s game and have been anointed 10-point favourites over the 2-8 Bombers, even though Calgary will be playing without star returner Larry Taylor and receivers Romby Bryant and Arjei Franklin.

The Bombers, on the other hand, will have a couple of injured players returning to the lineup on Friday. The 46-man roster released Thursday morning was exactly as head coach Tim Burke described earlier in the week, with both non-import running back Carl Volny and defensive back Johnny Sears both back on.

Meanwhile, former longtime Bombers offensive lineman Obby Khan — who the Stampeders brought out of retirement this season after the Bombers didn’t bring him back for the 2012 season — shared some thoughts on how life as a player for the Stampeders is different than when he played for the Bombers.

“As far as the organization goes, they do do things quite a bit a differently here than Winnipeg,” Khan said Thursday. “Being privately owned is a big part of that, as far as the treatment of the players, the food, the extra perks we get here. There’s quite a bit of difference out here.”

Khan was asked to clarify exactly what he meant in saying the players in Calgary are treated better than in Winnipeg. “I wouldn’t say the Bombers are cheap. I just think there are two ways of running a business. They run the business very differently here than the Bombers ran it there…

“I think the overall atmosphere of the locker room contributes a lot to what they do better here… I think simple things like getting you Gatorades after practice and getting you food every single morning and getting you food every single day after practice. I think those little things go a long way for the players.”

Khan also said the Stampeders medical facility is vastly superior and better equipped than the one in Winnipeg, although he noted that Winnipeg will likely quickly catch up in that area when the Bombers move into their new stadium next year.

The Bombers flew to Calgary Thursday morning and will hold a light practice of their own at McMahon Stadium this afternoon.