There comes a time in training camp when being physically ready for the dog days comes in line with the mental toughness necessary to endure two-a-days in whatever weather Mother Nature wants to toss at the players.

It appears the Calgary Stampeders have finally reached that point.

It’s been eight days for the rookies, six for the veterans, of pushing themselves to the limit to make an impression on coaching staff.

“The first three days were kind of rough, three two-a-days in a row,” said veteran linebacker Juwan Simpson.  “We’ve gotten over the hump. Physically, we prepare for this all off-season, but you can’t mentally prepare for being out here and competing against the guys.”

Simpson would know – this is his sixth training camp in Calgary coupled with another one in Green Bay after graduating from Alabama.

“I’m good now,” he said. “If you had asked me three days ago, I probably would have been in a tub of ice at this point. I’m good, now I’m just trying to take everything in.”

It’s a sentiment shared by some of his teammates. After an off-season of training, they’ve now got their legs under them. 

“Right now is the dog days, you have to gut it out right now,” said third-year defensive back Quincy Butler. “Not everything is going to be perfect, but as long as you work on your technique and not make any mental mistakes — you might have a play here and there, but they expect it — as long as guys are pushing through.”

Luckily, it’s going to get easier. The players only have two more days with two sessions from now until the end of training camp on June 20.

“The body is getting around and feeling good,” added defensive back Derrius Brooks. “It’s fast paced but you have to get mental reps and just slow it down. The group is coming together strong, we are all talking but we have a lot of work to do.”

The first major test for the group comes on Sunday when the Stampeders host their first mock game.

The controlled scrimmage combines the aspects of team drills in practices with the realism of game days to hopefully bring the best out of everyone. 

“The concept is similar to what it’s been for the last five years — try to put the guys in situations throughout the mock game,” said head coach John Hufnagel. “They have to be thinking as they’re playing and making the right decisions to help us win games and not make poor decisions to lose games.”

The game goes Sunday at 4:30 p.m. and is open to the public.

Strength on the line

When training camp for the Calgary Stampeders eventually comes to an end, defensive line coach DeVone Claybrooks has one concern.

“The sad part about it is that the guys that we send home will probably get picked up by another team and probably punish us,” said Claybrooks, a former defensive lineman who hung up the cleats for coaching about 18 months ago.

“That is how talent-laden we are.”

It was a problem created last season. Injuries started pilling up in the trenches and the Stampeders turned to a few different players to fill the holes. Players likes Stevie Baggs, Luis Vasquez and Cordarro Law fit that criteria.

“They are making it hard on everybody,” said Claybrooks. “They are guys that came in hungry — they came in to prove they are not bitten by the injury bug and they are able to contribute.”

Now everyone’s back and healthy and, coupled with the addition of a few rookies, the Stamps now have a glut of quality imports and non-imports alike.

“The greatest thing is I’m a carpenter and my cupboard is full of tools so it’s just deciding what tools to use, what tools need to be sharpened and what tools need to be put on the shelf,” is Claybrooks’ analogy.

It starts with veteran cornerstones such as Charleston Hughes and Corey Mace.

“Corey Mace and Charleston Hughes do a great job of leading and leading by example and those are the things you can’t ask for,” said Claybrooks.

As the lynchpin in the middle of the line, Mace contributed 25 tackles, two forced fumbles, a sack and a touchdown last season. On the outside, Hughes led the Stamps with 11 sacks in 2012 and was named a CFL and West Division all-star.

Fellow returnees include Justin Phillips, Demonte’ Bolden and Junior Turner.

“I’m blessed to have a group that is eager,” Claybrooks said. “I don’t have to ask them to stay late, they are the first ones on the field, the last ones to leave and the first ones in the meeting rooms. They are doing all the little things in this league that usually translate into success.”

The Stamps also have a solid group of rookies in camp, including second-round selection Ben D’Aguilar. Import rookies include Marvin Booker, Micah Johnson, Swanson Miller and Aronde Stanton.

“They’ve been doing everything we’ve asked them to be,” Claybrooks praised. “The thing about it as a young guy, they’ve been successful in college with one move that got him to where he is now.

“I’ve been saying to them is that one move is going to get you sent home because you have to expand your repertoire because you’re going up against guys that are earning a paycheque.”

Q&A with Derrius Brooks

How’s training camp going this year?

Training camp is going good — very fast, lots of running around. You have to try and slow things down. Last year, I didn’t come to training camp so when I got on the field, my body wasn’t used to the running. This training camp has had the usual mental and physical fatigue, but you just have to fight through it.

Last season, you started two regular-season games and three playoff games. What did you learn in those five games that you can bring to this year’s training camp?

I learned a lot about patience. It’s a team thing — there needs to be lots of communication. You can’t just be selfish and worry about your job. You have to know everyone else’s job.

What have you learned that different about the Canadian game?

Up here, you really have to patient. You have to be patient with all the routes you’re playing against. You have the guys running at you off the line so you can’t be quick to jump off the line and attack your guy. The biggest difference is just how important it is to be patient and wait for your assignment to come to you.

Now that you’ve had time to study to CFL game, are there guys around the league you now try to emulate? 

No doubt the two best guys our in our locker room. I would say from the mindset and technique part, Smitty (Brandon Smith) is the best in the game. As far as physical ability, Keon Raymond is a player I would love to take after. He goes after everybody, he don’t look down to nobody — he’s just attack, attack. Keon can take anyone in this league one on one. I would love to take Keon’s mindset and Smitty’s technique and add it to my game.

How close is this defensive group?

We really try and stress that it’s not just one person. We try and work as a group, we try and keep a close bond so it translates on the field.

Have the new guys kept you busy asking you for advice?

They do actually! Me being here last year, in most situations I feel like I know what to do. It’s something to definitely be proud of. Last year, I really relied on Smitty and Keon so I’m happy to help whoever I can this year. 

Transactions

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Injuries

• Import linebacker Rod Davis missed both practices
• Import receiver Tim Hawthorne missed both practices
• Import offensive lineman Edwin Harrison missed both practices
• Import defensive back Demetrice Morley missed both practices
• Non-import offensive lineman Dimitri Tsoumpas missed both practices
• Non-import receiver Chris Bauman missed both practices
• Non-import receiver Jabari Arthur missed both practices
• Import defensive back Reggie Jones missed both practices
• Import running back Jonathan Williams missed the morning practice
• Non-import offensive lineman Brett Jones missed both practices
• Import receiver Khalil Paden missed both practices
• Import defensive back Jalil Johnson missed both practices
• Import receiver Nik Lewis missed the afternoon practice

Tomorrow’s schedule

The Stamps are on the field for a single practice on Saturday, June 8. Practice runs from 9:15 a.m. to approximately 10:40 a.m. 

More coverage

>> CIS pivot goes to school at Stamps camp
>> Video: Juwan interviews Keon