By Max Campbell                                                                                                                                           Stampeders.com                                                                                                                                            

Five different Stampeders recorded a quarterback takedown to stymie the RedBlacks’ attack in Saturday’s 48-3 victory, yet apparently there’s still room for improvement.

Despite sacks by defensive linemen Junior Turner and Micah Johnson and surrendering a mere 21 total rushing yards, position coach DeVone Claybrooks is reluctant to declare his unit’s outing as the best to date.

“Nope, actually not at all,” revealed Claybooks when asked if the defensive line showcased their full potential in the Week 8 matchup. “We’ve actually rushed (the passer) a lot better, but you can’t control if the quarterback throws the ball just to get rid of it. A lot of teams throw quicker on us. We were able to do a good job on the back end in coverages and that’s why we were able to get the sacks. But it was a good, complete game by the defence. I wouldn’t say that the D-line outperformed any other group. I think they played well as a unit.”

The aforementioned Johnson entered his first live action in one day short of a full calendar year, and Claybrooks was encouraged by what he saw from No. 93 after rehabbing his surgically repaired knee.

“It was a great job by Micah,” Claybrooks explained, a former Stampeder lineman himself from 2009-11. “He’s complaining now because he’s sore and he’s mad because no one else is sore. I keep trying to tell him, ‘This is your first pre-season game technically speaking, so you’re going to be sore’. But he’s good. He’s just trying to work out the kinks and the cobwebs of actual full-speed play so he’s doing a good job and he’s coming along great.”

Also registering a sack was defensive back Keon Raymond before linebackers Deron Mayo and Juwan Simpson joined in on the action.  Simpson, in the midst of his eighth season donning Red and White, took down second-string pivot Thomas DeMarco who relieved Henry Burris to start to the second half.

“Anytime you get a sack, it’s a good thing – not only for yourself, but for the team and for the defence,” said the proud alumnus of the Alabama Crimson Tide. “It felt great to get back there but whether I got back there or anybody else, as long as somebody got there, I’m happy.”

Allowing only three points will all but guarantee a victory week-in and week-out, but Simpson and his fellow defenders hold themselves to the highest standard by always striving for a clean sheet.

“Every game, the goal is to shut the opposing team out,” Calgary’s defensive captain proclaimed. “Three points, if you ask some guys, is too many. A shutout is what we’re (always) looking for, but the ultimate goal I guess at the end of the day is to have one point more than the opposing team. I think it was a great team effort. Offence and special teams had a lot to do with our success.”

Simpson does believe last week’s contest was the Stamps’ most complete performance of the season thus far, but he’s far from content with the status quo.

“I still think there’s a lot of room for improvement and no reason to get complacent,” remarked the two-time Grey Cup champion. “I’m excited about the rest of the season.”