STAMPS NOT SHEDDING ANY TEARS OVER DRESSLER INJURY

By Allen Cameron, Canwest News ServiceOctober 16, 2009 5:10 AM


The last time Weston Dressler appeared at McMahon Stadium, the Saskatchewan Roughriders receiver lit up the Calgary Stampeders for a game-high seven catches and 82 yards, to go along with a dramatic return of a missed field goal that set up the game-winning touchdown for the visitors.

Suffice to say, there weren't a lot of tears shed among the Stampeders when word spread that Dressler's season is likely over after he broke a bone in his leg in Saskatchewan's win over Toronto on the weekend.

"Hey, I hate that the kid was hurt," said Stamps defensive backs coach Corey Chamblin. "But he's done his damage to our secondary over the last couple of years."

At least when Dressler was in the lineup, the Stamps had a pretty good idea that he'd be one of the main focuses of the Saskatchewan offensive game plan. But when the Roughriders come calling for Saturday's Canadian Football League affair, the Stamps still have plenty of problems to deal with from Saskatchewan's deep group of receivers.

"I respect the hell out of their players," said Chamblin. "They play with so much energy, and the thing I see on film is whether it's a run play or a pass play, those boys give a hundred per cent. It's awesome; I don't know how they do it. Every play, their guys are full speed on every single play.

"If you try to find a weak spot on their receivers, each and every one of those guys plays hard on every play. They've lost other guys before and they just keep plugging guys in, because it's a system."

The early candidate to take Dressler's spot at slotback is Rob Bagg, who'd move inside from his wide receiver spot. But the Roughriders have plenty of options to play with from a group that includes Chris Getzlaf, Andy Fantuz, Jason Clermont, Gerran Walker and Jason Armstead.

"They're the type of team that has multiple guys," said Calgary safety Wes Lysack. "Somebody gets hurt and all of a sudden, they have another guy in there who's doing just as good of a job. They do just an unbelievable job of having talent; I think they have them hiding in the Hotel Saskatchewan."

The Riders have had practice doing just that during the past couple seasons, having had receivers go down to injury on a regular basis. And the Stamps have discovered this season just how tough that is, having lost both Ken-Yon Rambo and Ryan Thelwell to season-ending injuries.

"It's a tough loss (for Saskatchewan)," said Calgary linebacker Dwaine Carpenter. "Look at our team, losing Rambo and Thelwell. It's definitely a tough loss. But if they're looking for sympathy from me right now? No, I will not give it, because we're in the same boat and we're fighting for the same position."

While Dressler, the reigning CFL rookie of the year, is the marquee player of the Saskatchewan offence, the Stampeders have never held the belief that stopping him is the key to stopping the Riders.

"Man, every time we play Saskatchewan, you look at them and say, who do they have? But when you line up and play against them, you're like, 'Damn, they have 12 players out there,' " said cornerback Dwight Anderson. "And that's the difference: It's not one, it's 12. Their O-linemen, they're blocking 30 yards downfield on a run play. Their receivers are blocking. All 12 of those guys work together.

"Dressler is one of their premier receivers, and they do a lot of things through him. But I'm pretty sure they have somebody over there who's going to fill right in. We have our hands full."