By Nic Sgaggi
Stampeders.com

Statistically speaking, the Calgary Stampeders have a lot of No. 1s to their name right now.

The Red and White currently possess the No. 1-ranked offence in the league. They also boast the No. 1-ranked defence in the CFL.

Yet, somehow, their players are the least recognized.

Thirty-six player-of-the-week and player-of-the-month awards have been given out since the start of the 2014 CFL campaign and a Calgary Stampeders player has been a recipient just one time.

With Jock Sanders (Week 2 special teams player of the week) being the lone exception, the Stampeders simply haven’t attracted much voter attention and as a result Calgary is currently ranked last in the CFL in player awards received.

That’s not to say there haven’t been any impact Stampeders players in 2014 — quarterback Bo Levi Mitchell has been finding ways to connect with the likes of Jeff Fuller and Marquay McDaniel on a regular basis, defensive back Brandon Smith is sitting near the top of the CFL’s tackles chart and defensive end Charleston Hughes is consistently breathing down the necks of opposition quarterbacks with six sacks to his name already this season.

But the lack of individual accolades exemplifies a level of teamwork of which the Stamps are certainly proud. In seven games so far this season, the Stampeders have found six different leading receivers and the same amount of leading rushers.

Stamps captain Rob Cote, who was the Red and White’s leading ball-carrier in Week 7, likes the fact no one player is lugging the entire workload himself.

“I think that’s what you want because if you lean on individual performances every week and those guys don’t happen to show up for you, then you’re going to be in trouble,” said the eighth-year fullback. “We’ve had guys that are consistent. We’ve had lots of injuries and that probably hasn’t helped – some of our player-of-the-week-type guys have not been playing. I think it’s just a team effort and that’s how we play.”

Cote mentioned that the situation at running back has been one of the most bizarre things he’s ever experienced.

“That’s crazy,” said Cote. “Through the first seven games to have that many guys (lead in a category) – I’ve never heard of a team having that kind of versatility from all their players. To have six guys to lead a game in rushing would be an absolutely crazy number at the end of the season, never mind after seven games. No matter who’s in there, we’re going to get the production. Hopefully – not that we need it – but it would be nice to get a couple more players of the week in the future.”

The workload has been shared on the other side of the ball, too, with four different defenders currently sharing the Stampeders interceptions lead at two picks apiece.

Defensive back Fred Bennett says individual accolades aren’t necessary.

“It doesn’t matter. We don’t care about that,” said Bennett. “Nobody on our team has even discussed that. This is my first time hearing about it. It’s just one of those things. We’re a team. We have team players and no individual players. Guys really don’t care about that, so it is what it is.

“It’s just funny,” added Bennett. “We just go out there and play. Whoever gives out those awards – hey, just give it to the person you think deserves it. Obviously they feel like nobody on our team has deserved it this season thus far so, like I said, we don’t worry about that. We’re just going to keep pushing and keep fighting to be No. 1 and be the best team over here and that’s that.”