During his five seasons with the Calgary Stampeders, current Roughriders place-kicker Sandro DeAngelis put up some eye-popping numbers. Twice he kicked 50-plus field goals in a season.
Twice he cracked the 200-point barrier in scoring. Plus he was named the league’s top special teams player in 2006.
However, those achievements may be threatened in 2012 by Stampeders kicker Rene Paredes.
Paredes is off to a very strong start, connecting on 14 of his 15 field goal tries. He hasn’t missed a place kick since July 7 in Toronto and has been one of the unsung heroes of the Calgary Stampeders in 2012.
The duo both arrived in Calgary in similar paths. DeAngelis was a walk on during 2005 training camp, earning the placekicking job based on his performance during the team’s intrasquad scrimmage. Entering that season, he was not exactly at the top of the Stampeders depth chart.
Paredes also arrived in Calgary with little fanfare. He was released by Winnipeg at the end of training camp 2011. However, one week later the Stampeders were on the hunt for a kicker as Rob Maver suffered a leg injury. Four kickers answered the call to Calgary and the best candidate was given the job. That best candidate was Paredes.
While the pair may be linked together as successful place kickers, there are substantial differences. DeAngelis is an outgoing, chatterbox, whose candor has occasionally landed him in hot water. Paredes, meanwhile, is far more reserved, preferring to let his kicking do his talking.
The Montreal native’s play is just part of a very successful group of Calgary Stampeder special team units.
Punter Rob Maver is off to a strong start, averaging 45.6 yards per punt, but just as important is that he’s proven to a consistent asset as a punter.
Maver has also been strong on his directional punting, landing the ball inside the 20-yard line on thirteen of his punts.
The Stampeders punt coverage unit hasn’t allowed a return of longer than 21 yards this season.
Entering this week of play, Calgary’s special teams has allowed the fewest return yards of any team in the league.
Of course, to hold opponents to short returns, the Stampeders have to have some great downfield pursuit. Linebacker Deron Mayo leads the team with eight special teams tackles.
His blazing speed and ability to react in top flight caught the coaches’ eyes in training camp. Also helping corral opposing returners is linebacker Karl McCartney.
The third-year linebacker is back to full strength after an injury-plagued 2011, however, he showed his abilities in his rookie season of 2010 when he led the Stampeders in special team tackles with 19,
The Stampeders are able to help their own cause in the return game with the strong performance from Larry Taylor. Entering this weekend he has 1,284 yards in returns, including a dazzling 125-yard return in Toronto. Taylor’s return totals have shrunk in recent weeks as teams have decided keep the ball away from the diminutive speedster. However, he has shown he can break a play wide open at any time.
It would be fair to say the Calgary Stampeder season to date has ebbed and flowed. But it would also be fair to say the special teams have been the most consistent unit on the team. We will see if that continues.
