Winds of change blow into Calgary
Backup quarterback spot opens up, while defensive backfield will see new faces
CALGARY — Plans can change quickly in the CFL.
A month ago, Andrew Buckley was the Calgary Stampeders’ backup quarterback and Roy Finch was their star kick-returner and a candidate for more touches at running back.
On Tuesday, head coach Dave Dickenson spoke with the media about opening training camp with neither of them on the roster.
Buckley has retired from football so that he can begin medical school, while Finch is dealing with legal troubles in Oklahoma and won’t be available until July — if at all.
By no stretch of the imagination is it a perfect situation, but Dickenson insisted the Stamps coaching staff hasn’t been panicking.
“We’ve had some things that weren’t ideal, that’s probably the understatement of the year,” Dickenson said. “I just can only handle what I can handle.
“Every situation is unique. Those types of players, for me, the quarterback position, I was feeling very confident two weeks ago.
“I need that, but I’ve still got the best guy in the league (in starter Bo Levi Mitchell) so I’m feeling pretty good there.”
With Buckley retiring, the Stampeders are left with Ricky Stanzi as the only QB with any CFL experience on the roster behind Mitchell. Considering that Stanzi only appeared in two games last season and completed four of the eight passes he threw, it’s not like he’s a steady veteran presence, either.
In addition to Stanzi, the Stamps have brought in two younger options to compete at training camp.
Tyler Rogers was a New Mexico State Aggies standout who reports suggest brings a lot of mobility to the game, while Nick Arbuckle put up big numbers in two seasons with the Georgia State Panthers.
“We have looked hard at the quarterback position, you know, I think we had a different idea of how it would play out but no one’s job was necessarily locked in except for Bo,” Dickenson said.
“With Andrew retiring, Ricky is a guy who should step up and we’ll give him that opportunity.
“We’re trying to find the right mix of a guy I think can play and be a backup, and also look for some athletic guys who can potentially help you in our short yardage package.”
The uncertainty at the backup QB position means that for the second year in a row, Mitchell will have a slightly lightened workload throughout training camp.
The Stamps want to make sure he’s fresh, but also want to give their potential backups a chance to get reps with the team’s starters to see what they can do.
As for running back, the Stamps were always going to have a group that was light on CFL experience after Jerome Messam was allowed to leave in free agency for the Saskatchewan Roughriders.
Terry Williams is back after a rookie season that saw him impress in limited playing time, but the lineup is otherwise heavy on newcomers.
While fans have been gnawing at their fingernails about who will start at running back, Dickenson sounded confident in the options his team will have at camp.
“The running back position, I think we’re going to have a 1,000-yard rusher and I personally believe whoever earns that job is going to have a good year,” Dickenson said. “We have a system and a style that’s conducive to giving our running backs touches and letting them get into the game.
“You’re going to be a focal point, but I don’t know who it’s going to be, so kind of exciting.”
Among the new options at running back are North Carolina product Romar Morris, who attended training camp with the NFL’s New York Jets in both 2016 and ’17, and Nevada product Don Jackson, who played with the Green Bay Packers in2016.
Playing around
If there’s one positional group that is likely to see a lot of change this season, it’s the defensive backs unit.
Tommie Campbell left in free agency for the Montreal Alouettes, Shaquille Richardson joined the NFL’s Oakland Raiders and Josh Bell has retired from playing to be the Stamps’ new DB coach.
That’s three starters from last year, so change is pretty much inevitable.
The good news is there were a few backups in 2017 who were knocking at the door and appear ready to take on bigger roles.
They’re going to get those opportunities, although Dickenson stressed that the Stamps’ veteran DBs are going to be counted on for a lot. “(The DB group) is going to be the most new bodies you’ll see on our team,” Dickenson said.
“We feel like the vets need to be able to play multiple positions and let’s lock our rookies into one position and then we’ll get the best group out there.
“The vets need to bail us out. Our back end will be evolving and we’ll see how camp plays out.”
Quicksnaps
The Stampeders will be bringing in University of Calgary Dinos quarterback Adam Sinagra as their CFL-U Sports development program player at training camp this year.