CALGARY – Quarterback conferences had been crowded to start out Calgary Stampeders’ coaching camp.
Seven quarterbacks, together with final yr’s starter Jake Maier, had been on McMahon Stadium’s turf Sunday. Considered one of them, native product Danny Skelton, was a CFL quarterback internship participant.
However Maier and final season’s backups Tommy Stevens and Logan Bonner had been joined by CFL veteran Matt Shiltz, Kyle Vantrease and Chris Reynolds to start out principal camp.
“That is a part of the enterprise proper?” Maier stated. “It’s a wholesome competitors. Everybody will get alongside nicely. You are both producing otherwise you’re not. I plan on producing and doing what I have to do.”
Calgary (6-12-0) gained the turtle derby for the West Division’s third and ultimate playoff spot in 2023 earlier than falling 41-30 to the B.C. Lions within the division semifinal.
The Stampeders ranked final within the league in touchdowns (36) and common offensive yards per sport (335.5). Calgary topped the CFL in area targets with kicker Rene Paredes going 52 for 60.
In his first full season as a starter, Maier led the league in completions (363) and passing makes an attempt (578), however his completion share (62.8) and effectivity (85) ranked exterior the highest CFL starters.
“He is pushed himself,” stated Stampeders head coach and basic supervisor Dave Dickenson. “As an entire unit, we have got to up our sport. That begins with the entrance, the o-line. We have watched the tape from final yr. We did not give him any consolation early on. We made extra psychological errors than we will afford to make.
“We did enhance because the yr went on limiting our three-and-outs. If we’ll actually win video games, we won’t hold giving Rene profession stats. That may be getting extra alternatives, however that is additionally taking benefit once we’re down inside that 20-yard line.”
Schiltz, 31, performed six CFL seasons with the Montreal Alouettes and Hamilton Tiger-Cats. Calgary’s backup Stevens scored six short-yardage speeding touchdowns in 2023.
Bonner was the Stampeders’ third-stringer and Reynolds a observe roster QB. Vantrease, 25, is a College of Buffalo alum.
“I used to be proud of the fellows right here final yr, however I did wish to usher in a veteran man and Matt’s achieved that,” Dickenson stated. “We have had Kyle on our (negotiation) listing for fairly awhile.”
Maier, who took the beginning job from Bo Levi Mitchell halfway by means of the 2022 season, wasn’t uncomfortable with 5 different males at camp making an attempt to take his job.
“I am not. I got here into this league in a state of affairs the place I used to be battling with a man who’s a Corridor of Famer and I understood the function that got here with that,” stated the 27-year-old from Fullerton, Calif. “Whenever you break it down, how can I hold my life easy, how can I give attention to my fundamentals and the way do I clear my thoughts on daily basis?
“None of that has to do with any exterior components or who’s right here? Who’s not? What is the exterior world saying? Ought to I be right here? Ought to I not? Ought to I begin? If I believe an excessive amount of about that stuff, I am simply losing my time, losing my ideas.”
Maier altered his weight loss program within the low season to drop weight, and ran extra.
“That is not simply hopping on a treadmill or working miles,” he stated. “That is velocity work, change of route and brief bursts. I am down a number of kilos and I am faster than I’ve (been) since I have been on this league.”
Dickenson admitted it is troublesome to provide all quarterbacks sufficient work within the Stampeders’ lighter camp schedule to protect our bodies. Two-a-days are gone and the gamers had been off the sphere Sunday after an hour 45 minutes.
“It’s the proper transfer at this level. Well being is necessary,” Dickenson stated. “Simply received to to verify we give them sufficient reps. That is going to be the problem.”
Forest fireplace smoke from northern B.C. that despatched the Edmonton Eskimos indoors Sunday cleared sufficient in southern Alberta for the Stampeders to observe exterior within the morning.
Receivers Jalen Philpot, Malik Henry and Clark Barnes had been current and accounted for.
College of Calgary product Philpot sat out the 2023 season rehabbing a hamstring damage, Henry suffered a season-ending Achilles tendon rupture July 15 and Guelph alum Barnes underwent season-ending knee surgical procedure in August.
The Stampeders play two pre-season video games beginning Could 25 at residence in opposition to the Lions, adopted by a Could 31 street sport in opposition to the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.
Calgary’s season-opener June 7 in opposition to the Tiger-Cats may characteristic Mitchell’s first sport at McMahon for the reason that two-time winner of the CFL’s Most Excellent Participant award was traded in 2022.
This report by The Canadian Press was first revealed Could 12, 2024.