Damien Alford: A Star in the Making For the Calgary Stampeders?
The Calgary Stampeders might just have a future star on their hands in rookie Damien Alford.
Alford played sparingly in the first couple of games, but in just his first start, he established himself as one of Vernon Adams Jr.’s favorite targets.
American players make up a large portion of the stars in today’s CFL. But, don’t let that fool you, the Canadian players are the heart of the league.
Alford, the number one pick in this year’s draft, might just be the next big name Canadian.
Damien Alford’s Breakout Game
The impressive 24-10 win over Saskatchewan put the Calgary Stampeders in 1st place in the West.
But that wasn’t the only storyline of the game. Damien Alford had a huge day to establish himself as a force to be reckoned with.
- 6 catches
- 156 yards
- 2 touchdowns
The statline wasn’t the most impressive part. The most impressive part was the skill set he showed off on the way to that stat line.
Play one
The reason Alford was open here was a combination of playcall and QB play.
The combination of a fake screen and Vernon Adams Jr. looking off the corner is what got Alford open here. But the catch was all his.
Obviously, a 6’6″ frame comes with a huge catch radius. But what’s impressive is the strength Alford has to go along with it. He not only managed to high point the ball, but he also survived a big hit while holding on with only his hands.
Play two
Unlike the first play, the credit all goes to Damien Alford this time.
The play call was simple: run deep. And, Alford ran right by the corner to get open.
The ball was underthrown slightly because Vernon Adams Jr. was hit as he threw. But that didn’t matter; Alford went up and caught the ball anyway.
He once again showed off strong hands to go along with his large frame.
Play three
I’ll start by stating the obvious: Alford was open because of a blown coverage.
But his being open wasn’t the impressive part of this play. What was impressive was the athleticism displayed.
Vernon Adams Jr. had to throw the ball on the run, so it wasn’t perfect. But, as you’re probably starting to realize, Alford doesn’t need a perfect ball to make a play.
Alford showed off great body control and athleticism here. He had to turn completely around to catch the ball, but that didn’t slow him down. He still managed to burst away from the DB and finish the play.
How Good Will Damien Alford Be?
Obviously, it’s impossible to say how Damien Alford’s career will go. It’s simply too early to tell. But, one great sign is that he’s not alone.
He was one of 4 Calgary Stampeder receivers to go over 50 yards on the day.
- Alford: 156
- Rhymes: 88
- Philpot: 86
- Brooks: 50
The Calgary Stampeders receiver depth gets even more impressive when you consider the fact that they were missing both Barnes and Begelton.
Damien Alford has the skillset to be a star, but the Stampeders don’t even need him to be that. If all he does is make one or two tough catches a game, he will make a huge difference. Anything more is just icing on the cake.
I, for one, am excited to watch what will hopefully be a long career for Alford. I hope the Vernon Adams Jr. to Damien Alford connection is a fun one to watch for a long time.
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