© 2024 Calgary Stampeders. All rights reserved.
Calgary Stampeders training camp continued on Monday with a pair of practices at McMahon Stadium.
Thanks to the mathematical challenges created by squeezing nine games into two weeks of pre-season action, the Stamps will take the field for their first 2017 action next Tuesday when they play host to the BC Lions. That’s a full four days sooner than last year’s pre-season opener, which means far less all-important preparation and learning time for roster hopefuls.
The quarterbacking position, where three players – Andrew Buckley, Mitchell Gale and Ricky Stanzi – are battling to determine the pecking order behind starter Bo Levi Mitchell, is just one of the areas impacted by the condensed early-camp schedule.
“You’re asking these guys to compete . . . so I have to give them enough practice time,” said head coach Dave Dickenson. “All three have looked good. I’m not saying there’s a clear-cut favourite right now but certainly I like what I’m seeing.”
The Stamps’ pre-season opener against the Lions is just one piece in the puzzle that will determine how things shake out at QB.
“Last year,” says Dickenson, “I felt our quarterback play wasn’t good (in the first pre-season game) across the board and then which quarterback stepped up in the second pre-season game? It was Andrew. That was the one where he showed he could do it. He made the team and he did a good job.”
Veteran defensive back Brandon Smith: “It’s good to be back together with all the guys again. We’ve had some big wins together and we’ve had some tough losses together and it’s great to be back on the field and preparing to take another run at a Grey Cup.”
There will be back-to-back practices on Tuesday morning with the entire session running from 9:10 a.m. to approximately 11:35 a.m. ENG cameras will be permitted to shoot from approximately 10 to 10:20 a.m.