By Nic Sgaggi
Stampeders.com

With three interceptions and 32 tackles to his name this season, Stampeders defensive back Jamar Wall is already closing in on career highs (four and 41 respectively) he set last year.

Though he’s been an unsung hero for the Red and White’s No. 1-ranked defence in 2014, his recent performances have been bringing a little more attention his way.

“It feels pretty good,” Wall said. “I’ve been doing quite a bit of film study. We’ve been getting in together as a team and we’re seeing it come together as a team. We’ve been able to make plays. I had a couple good ones and a couple easy ones but hey, I’ll take them how I get them.”

The Lubbock, Tex., native has no doubt been a key player in the success of Calgary’s defence, which is mentored by coordinator Rich Stubler. He was not one bit hesitant to share credit with his teammates.

“We’re all buying in,” Wall said. “That’s one thing that Stubes said when he first got here — with this system, we’ll be great as long as we all buy in. We’re finally getting it as a unit. You play as a team from D-line to linebackers to defensive backs and the sky is the limit.”

It’s still too early to call it a career year for the third-year defensive back, but Wall is continuing to prove day in and day out that he’s for real.

In fact, he has three interceptions in his last three games and now leads the Stamps in that category.

“Three is always good,” Wall chuckled. “Hopefully, more will keep coming. It would be nice if I could just keep them coming throughout the year. One each game would be nice but it just comes with the territory. If I get one, I get one. If not, the ‘W’ is always more important.”

Calgary is coming off a Week 9 contest in which its defence didn’t allow a single point against Ottawa’s offence. The RedBlacks’ only score came on an interception return early in the first quarter.

Wall spoke about the importance of maintaining the momentum of a strong defensive performance in Ottawa ahead of Monday’s Labour Day Classic game against the Edmonton Eskimos.

“Now we know a shutout is possible,” Wall said. “It was a lot of guys’ first time to ever post a shutout. Just being able to see that and knowing that it’s going to be a tough game (against Edmonton), we’re going to have to be ready to go. It might be a low-scoring game, we never know. It might be 7-0 or 7-6. Who knows? We’ve got to come out ready to go.”

The Stamps got the better of the Esks in their first meeting this season but Wall knows a repeat result is certainly not going to come easy.

“It’s going to be a really tough game,” Wall said. “The last one was tough and this one will probably be even tougher. We have to come out focused and ready to go on all sides of the ball including special teams.”