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Paredes has missed a convert in every one of the Stamps’ four games to date. His field-goal percentage (71.4) is substantially off his career pace of 85.7, going into the 2016 season. In his best season, 2013, his efficiency of 94.7 per cent established a league record.

“I don’t think it’s anything contagious, that’s for sure,” Paredes says with a chuckle. “Everybody goes through a slump, whether you’re a quarterback, a receiver or a kicker. That’s when you have to show the ability to rebound. Having a guy like Don (Sweet) to talk to helps.”

Factoring into the Calgary kicking equation is the arrival of a new long-snapper, Pierre-Luc Caron, a rookie from Laval, Que. Just 22, Caron is replacing Randy Chevrier, a 39-year-old warhorse. And Caron is a lefty to boot.

“He’s (Caron) a great, great long-snapper. It’s one of the reasons we drafted him,” Paredes says. “He’s done his job perfect. There are no complaints from me and Maver. This year, I’ve started slow. It’s all on me.”

A year ago, Leone began his CFL career as a field-goal kicker by converting his first 12 attempts, which included a 56-yarder on the final play of regulation. He has tried just nine field goals this season, making six of them.

While that might signal a retrenchment, Sweet still likes the look of his swing.

“When Richie made those last year (12 in a row), some weren’t pretty kicks, and there was luck involved,” Sweet says. “I’m more worried about the process than the results. I see him kicking more consistently now, and he’s different between the ears. He’s confident. He’s more at peace. He’s taking it upon himself when things don’t go right. That’s maturity. It’s what Rene has. And he’s going to be just fine. I don’t think it’ll be long before we’re talking about him (Paredes) making 25 in a row.”

As to why CFL kickers generally are having issues, Sweet has a theory: the point-after-attempt. In an effort to make the convert more challenging, and certainly more interesting, distance and difficulty have been added. And negative results can impact field-goal kicking.

“This is a 32-yard field-goal attempt, not a PAT, “ Sweet says. “Once kickers buckle down, and realize the seriousness of it, that 10 per cent can be made up. When negative thoughts pile up, it discourages any kind of kicking.”

Sweet words of wisdom.

mbeamish@postmedia.com

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