MITCHELL STANDS BEHIND ‘SMART PLAY’ TO END ZONE
Stampeders QB says he wouldn’t change call that led to game-ending interception
Bo Levi Mitchell has watched endless replays and game film of the game-ending interception he threw in Sunday’s Grey Cup. Heck ... he lived it. And despite hearing plenty of the noise from the city’s million armchair quarterbacks, he insisted Tuesday it wasn’t the wrong play call or decision at all.
“I’ll stand by that decision for the rest of my life,” said the 27-year-old Stampeders quarterback following emotional exit meetings.
“You guys don’t play the game. ... It was a smart play. It was the right play. ... I just missed the throw. If that ball is three yards farther, we’re celebrating and talking about ring sizes.”
Instead, Mitchell and the Calgary Stampeders spent the day rehashing the team’s nightmarish collapse, which was punctuated by his toss into the hands of Toronto Argonauts defensive back Matt Black in the waning seconds of a 27-24 loss.
The play came on second down and four from the Argos 24-yard line with 20 seconds left and the Stampeders down by three points.
He explained the call aimed at taking advantage of a coverage mismatch favouring Stampeders receiver Marken Michel.
“We’ve run that play many times and scored with it,” said Mitchell, who hadn’t turned the ball over in the CFL playoffs before that throw.
“If you look at the film, ’Quay (Marquay McDaniel) gets pushed down and you can’t throw the inside throw because it’s an even easier pick. Pre-snap, I saw Matt (Black) start to run that way so I knew it was a riskier throw, and as soon as I let it go, I knew I didn’t put enough on it. I just feel bad for the guys — I didn’t make the throw.”
In hindsight, Mitchell admitted taking a sack would have been a better outcome, but he was confident a throw into double-coverage still came with several positive outcomes possible.
“It’s a smart decision play call-wise, because typically taking those shots, you get an incompletion or pass interference or a catch — that’s what we were banking on,” said Mitchell, who threw for 373 yards in an otherwise brilliant outing.
“And if I put that ball farther out there, man, Marken has a chance to get it, and if they call pass interference, we’re on the one-yard line with three downs to go.”
Instead, Black snagged the ball and the victory away from a team some thought should simply have kicked the field goal to send it into overtime.
Those people are wrong, as you always take a shot at winning first, with the caveat that ball protection is paramount.
Mitchell also came clean Tuesday on the shoulder injury the football world figured he was dealing with throughout the season.
“Basically the word we used earlier in the season was ‘frayed’ — I guess some of the muscles are frayed — small, small tears,” Mitchell said of the discomfort in his throwing shoulder that prompted him to see an orthopedic surgeon later in the day for more tests.
“Honestly, towards the end of the season, it started to feel pretty dang good, and as long as it was going that way, we felt positive it wasn’t a bigger tear. It didn’t affect me in the games. I thought it was smart the way (Stampeders head coach) Dave (Dickenson) allowed me to handle it at the end of the season. I appreciate it.”
As soon as I let it go, I knew I didn’t put enough on it. I just feel bad for the guys — I didn’t make the throw.