QB Gale ready to represent
Saskatchewan Roughriders quarterback Mitchell Gale is officially closing the curtain on a successful debut.
After leading the Riders to their first victory of the season against the Ottawa Redblacks, the 26-yearold journeyman will get to show what he can do for an encore in Friday’s road clash with the Montreal Alouettes.
It’ll be his second consecutive start in place of Darian Durant, who continues to nurse a sprained left ankle.
“Darian felt better than he did yesterday but Mitchell is going to be our starter and we’ll go from there,” Riders head coach and GM Chris Jones said after watching Gale pilot the first-team offence during Wednesday’s practice at Mosaic Stadium. “Mitchell has been around football a long time. He threw for 12,000 yards and 97 touchdowns in college. All I want him to do is be Mitchell — don’t try to do more than that.”
Gale will also draw upon his experience from the past three CFL seasons, when he saw limited action — throwing a combined 21 passes — as a backup with the Toronto Argonauts and Hamilton Tiger-Cats.
Saskatchewan acquired Gale from the Argos on July 3, presenting him an opportunity to fill the team’s need for a reliable backup. He was thrust into action two weeks later when Durant was hurt early in a 40-27 loss to the B.C. Lions.
After going 17-of-30 for 247 yards and a touchdown versus B.C., Gale got the call for his first CFL start against Ottawa, completing 21 of 36 passes for 354 yards and one major in a 30-29 victory.
He has yet to throw an interception.
“I’ve seen him come in and be a leader right from the get-go,” said quarterbacks coach/passing game co-ordinator Jarious Jackson. “He’s not coming in and trying step on Darian’s toes or anything like that. He’s just coming in being himself, which is good.”
When Darian went down and he had the opportunity to step in, he was ready for the challenge. That’s what Mitchell has been planning for all these years.”
Although this is Gale’s first extended opportunity to hold the reins of a CFL offence, he insists it’s not about showing what he can do on a personal level. It’s all about the team. “This isn’t a personal business,” he said. “I’m excited to go out and wear the green and white and represent the Riders and go out and compete with the guys on this team.”
With two straight games under his belt, the element of surprise is no longer on Gale’s side. The Riders will have to prepare accordingly for whatever the Als might throw at him.
“I agree in a sense,” said Jackson, a former CFL QB. “They can see (from the film) what his strong points or his weaknesses are as far as certain throws that maybe he can and can’t make or how they should attack him. At the same time, that’s my job and the coaching staff’s job to put him in great situations, let him go out and do the things he does very well.
“Mitchell is very prepared. He’s always texting me or calling me, sending me plays. I just feel like he’ll be prepared for whatever arises.”
That includes the likelihood of a revamped offensive line. With centre Dan Clark still out and tackle Xavier Fulton a question mark, Aaron Picton and Marcus Hall got to run with the starters on Wednesday.
“I just have to focus on my job and trust that the guys who are put in positions here are put in positions for a reason,” said Gale. “Obviously you never want people to be injured or miss games due to injury but if that happens the next guy that’s up has to be able to come in and contribute.”
The same goes for Gale, who says there are always areas in which he can improve from week to week.
That said, his comfort within the offence is growing.
“We don’t have to reinvent the wheel,” he added. “We realize that our preparation works. We have enough skill in all three phases of the game to go out and get a win.”