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November 11, 2016

A brick in the Wall

Offensive linemen Shane Bergman and Derek Dennis during a game in Winnipeg on July 21, 2016 (Photo by David Moll)

All in all, Derek Dennis considers himself just another brick in The Wall.

(With an obvious nod to Pink Floyd frontman and songwriter Roger Waters).

“I am just representing a group,’’ declares the big man out of Temple University, announced Thursday as the West nominee for Most Outstanding Offensive Lineman. “That’s how I look at it.

“In my mind, this is an O-line achievement award. Could’ve been any one of us. Just happened to be me.

“My name’s on it, I guess I’m the face of it now, but to me it’s the whole unit, man.

“We wouldn’t be able to do what we do if we didn’t have each other’s backs out there, we didn’t have the cohesion we have and the communication we have.

“I told the guys that after practice.

“Personal accolades are nice but I know I couldn’t do what I do without Big Berg (Shane Bergman) lining up next to me.

“I’m kinda upset he got snubbed of an all-star nod. They gave it to (Travis) Bond from Winnipeg. He’s a great player and one of my good friends.

“But I think Bergy deserved it. I know he missed two or three games but he’s been so solid.”

They all have.

From left to to right, Dennis, Bergman, Pierre Lavertu, Spencer Wilson and Dan Federkeil form a Wall that even Donald Trump would be proud of.

It keeps everybody out.

Rampant rush end. Blitzing DBs. Predatory linebackers.

Stamps offensive line during a game against Hamilton on Aug. 28, 2016 (Photo by David Moll)

Photo by David Moll

“There’s no one that on our team that deserves something like this more than him,’’ lauds Bergman, glancing over at Dennis. “He’s The Guy on our group. He represents us. Our leader. The one always talking.

“I’m really happy for him.

“Our O-line has a tonne of pride. We haven’t had the same five guys play for, oh, I don’t know how many games. Or how many years.

“And we still get it done.”

Quarterback Bo Levi Mitchell knows just how well. Forget that signature No. 19 jersey perhaps getting smudged or dirty during games. Some nights, traces of foreign fingerprints would be near impossible to detect.

Breaking into Fort Knox with a can opener or swiping the Mona Lisa off its hook in the Louvre in broad daylight might be simpler than breaching the Calgary Stampeders’ offensive fortification.

As coaches and players reconvened Thursday at McMahon Stadium following what seemed a millennium of down time, beginning the rev-up for Nov. 20 and the divisional final, Mitchell waited his turn in front of the black Stampeder back-drop as Dennis finished his interview obligations.

Impatient to speed up the process, the West’s MOP candidate picked up a cylindrical tube.

“Hurry up!” he admonished his bodyguard. “Hurry uuuuuuuuuuup!”

All mock exasperation, Dennis leaned over to take a playful poke at the man he’s sworn a blood oath to protect on game day.

OK for Derek Dennis to try something like that, but let anybody from the outside be so presumptuous and …

“You could’ve given (the award nod) to any one of three guys on our O-line,’’ echoed Mitchell. “But I thought Derek was a rock all year. Special.

“Not giving up pressures. Game in and game out.’’

The 20 sacks allowed by Dennis and Co. – just a shade over one per game – were 11 fewer than the runner-up Edmonton Eskimos.

The best protected quarterback and the league’s leading rusher. Pretty much tells you how efficient the O-line was over 18 games.

“That’s our job,’’ says Dennis. “We take pride in our job. Protect Bo, let him put up the numbers he does and open up holes for Jerome (Messam).

“That’s what’s fun about O-line. Other guys are counting on you not to get touched. You are responsible for their welfare. We are in the protection racket, man.”

As it turns out, Dennis will go up against a former Stampeder, Ottawa RedBlacks centre Jon Gott, for the Most Outstanding Offensive Lineman Award during Grey Cup week in Toronto.

Offensive lineman Derek Dennis leans over Coach Del Monaco (Photo by David Moll)

Photo by David Moll

“Never received one before,’’ he says, trolling his memory banks. “Actually, no. I did. In high school. I won some MVPs and state titles and stuff. But I haven’t had this kind of success since high school. In college, people would acknowledge me for being the player I am but no accolades.

“That’s fine. No big deal.

“To me, none of that matters. Putting a good product on the field, winning football games and ultimately getting that Grey Cup are the only things on my mind.

“Our group is what I take pride in. In college, my senior year we had a good O-line, pitched four or five (sack) shutouts but this group … this group is special.”

With Derek Dennis acting as the mortar keeping the fortification strong.

“He’s the type of guy,’’ says Bergman, “who came into camp last year and at the beginning of camp this year with the attitude: ‘I’m going to be the most outstanding O-lineman in this league.’

“And now look at him.

“That’s the sort of mentality you need to play the position: You need to go out there with the mindset that you’re best there is and no — but no one — is going to get by you.

“No matter who it is.

“That’s the mentality he has. That’s what he puts on the field. And that’s why he’s up for this award.”

All all in, then — modesty aside — far more than just another brick in The Wall.