Calgary Herald

STAMPEDERS’ QBs AUDITION FOR JOBS

Mitchell entrenched as starter with four others vying for spots, says Danny Austin.

- daustin@postmedia.com Twitter.com/DannyAusti­n_9

When the Calgary Stampeders take the field Friday night for their first pre-season game of 2018, they plan on using five quarterbac­ks.

That’s not likely to happen again.

But after bringing in three young QBs and the returning Ricky Stanzi to fight for the Stamps’ backup and third-string jobs, the Stamps are intending on giving everyone a shot at proving themselves.

“Obviously, (starter Bo Levi Mitchell) is locked in, but other than that we’re wide open,” said Stamps head coach Dave Dickenson. “It’s tough because sometimes you make a mistake and you think ‘Oh shoot, I’m only going to get eight or 10 plays.’

“They’ve just got to remember that the next play is the most important play.”

A year ago, Mitchell didn’t take a single snap in the Stamps’ first pre-season game. At the time, Stanzi, Mitchell Gale and Andrew Buckley fought for the backup jobs. This year, though, he’ll be involved against the B.C. Lions when they square off at McMahon Stadium (7 p.m.).

It’s unlikely that he’ll play for any more than a quarter, though, as the Stamps need to get a better look at Stanzi, Nick Arbuckle, Larry Brihm and Tyler Rogers.

By all accounts, competitio­n between the QBs has been tight throughout camp, and with Mitchell likely needing a majority of the snaps in next week’s second pre-season game, Friday might be the biggest opportunit­y the QBs have to separate themselves from the pack.

“These pre-season games, it’s always tough to get a feel or a rhythm because of the rotation, but you just wait for your number to called, stay ready, go in and play ashardasyo­ucan,”Stanzisaid. “When they pull you out, you’re done. That’s how I’ve always approached it, they can’t tell you what play number you’re going to go in, they just can’t, so you’ve gotta stay ready and stay loose.”

It’s worth noting that last year, the quarterbac­k performanc­es in the first pre-season game weren’t the only determinin­g factors in terms of who stuck around for the regular season.

Gale had arguably the best night in pre-season Week 1, completing 5-of-9 passes for 87 yards and a touchdown.

In the Stamps’ second preseason game of 2017, Gale had the worst night of the three guys competing for two jobs and was released at the end of camp.

This year could be a little different, though. At some point the Stampeders are going to need to start stepping up Mitchell’s involvemen­t to make sure their starter is sharp for the start of the regular season.

That’s going to make it hard for all four of the backup options to get much playing time when the Stamps visit the Riders for their second pre-season tune-up next Friday.

“I believe we can’t play five next week,” Dickenson said. “So

It’s tough because sometimes you make a mistake and you think ‘Oh shoot, I’m only going to get eight or 10 plays.’

the pecking order will certainly be establishe­d a little tighter after this game.”

There’s a lot on the line for the Stamps’ prospectiv­e quarterbac­ks, but both Stanzi and Brihm emphasized the need to prove that they could work within the Stampeders system instead of going out and trying to do anything spectacula­r.

“You know, everybody will get their series and get the chance to show what they’re capable of,” Brihm said. “So just doing the little things and not pressing and showing that you can be a game manager. It’s just taking each play one-by-one, not rushing anything or going ahead and trying to be a big-time star. You just play within the system.”

 ?? JIM WELLS ?? Calgary Stampeders’ holdover quarterbac­k Ricky Stanzi figures to get plenty of playing time tonight in their exhibition game against the B.C. Lions at McMahon Stadium.
JIM WELLS Calgary Stampeders’ holdover quarterbac­k Ricky Stanzi figures to get plenty of playing time tonight in their exhibition game against the B.C. Lions at McMahon Stadium.

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