There’s no sophomore slump here.
Jameer Thurman has taken on a lead role in the Stamps defence so far this season.
It’s been a tremendous year the for linebacker, who’s nearly matched his total of 52 tackles in 2017 in just nine games – sitting at 41 heading into this weekend.
“Last year I had to wait seven games to start,” Thurman said of his rookie campaign.
“And now, after last season, I’m able to play faster, make more plays. Last year I was still getting to learn the playbook throughout the season – I didn’t have a full grasp of it. Since I’ve been in the system for over a year I’m pretty comfortable with what I’m supposed to be doing.”
And just one year’s experience for the linebacker is already paying off for the Red & White. Just last weekend, Thurman recorded 10 tackles and one sack in the Stampeders’ 39-26 victory over the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.
“The main focus last game was to stop Andrew Harris; he’s the engine to their offence,” he said. “All my keys were focused on making sure we kept the ball out of his hands, or limiting him when he did have the ball.
“I wasn’t supposed to get a sack, but it happened, and I’m happy to have gotten my first of the year.
“I had the back on me, and thought he was going to try to throw the deep ball so I got my hands up. But he tucked it, so I put my feet back on the ground, and went after the quarterback – it just came to me.”
It wasn’t a one-man job, though. Putting up numbers like that isn’t an easy task, but it definitely helps when you’re playing on the most consistent defence in the CFL.
“We’re just dedicated to our craft,” Thurman said of his teammates.
“We do a good job of watching film and meeting together, learning different tendencies of the offences we’re going against. It’s a whole room thing, it’s not just the guys that are starting, everyone’s pushing us to be as great as we can be.”
Naturally, battling alongside the 2017 Defensive Player of the year helps, too.
“Alex Singleton was the reigning defensive player last year,” Thurman said. “It’s pretty simple; a lot of offences are going to try to limit him, and make sure he’s out of the picture in what we’re doing on defence, so it frees up space for me to make plays.
“We’re able to just click and know what we’re doing, we’re able to play faster off of each other, we’ve got good chemistry.”
And that’s exactly what Thurman and the rest of the Stamps are ready to demonstrate this long weekend, as the Edmonton Eskimos visit McMahon Stadium for the annual Labour Day Classic Sept. 3.
“Edmonton has a lot of weapons on offence, but we’re the top defence in the league and we expect to show that again on Labour Day in front of everybody,” Thurman said.
“We’re going to go out and get the job done.”