Drew Tate has emerged as the undisputed starter for the Calgary Stampeders ahead of the 2012 CFL season. Al Dannity looks at whether Tate has what it takes to keep the job all through the year.
Changing of the guard With Henry Burris gone from Calgary, it was time for a new man to take up the task of playing quarterback for the Stampeders. Drew Tate, the one-time quarterback in waiting, has emerged as the undisputed choice to fill that role.
Tate has already tasted life as a starter with four starts at the tail end of last season. In 2012 he faces a rather different situation, with pressure to deliver big. The Stamps haven’t lost much in the off-season, leaving a roster in place with the ability to make a serious run at the Grey Cup. Rather than look at a big signing in free agency to replace Burris, the Stampeders are trusting a man who has seen only limited action as a pro. That’s a big risk and a huge amount of pressure on Tate’s shoulders. Should the Stamps get off to a bad start, there won’t be much in the way of alternatives on the depth chart.
Faith from the coach The man with the only opinion that really matters has put his faith in Tate. Calgary coach John Hufnagel has given Tate his full support. “With any young quarterback there’s intrigue and mystery to things,’’ Hufnagel said Thursday during a conference call. “Drew is very competitive. Even when he was our No. 2 quarterback, he approached it as though he were in the huddle, going through every play with the thought process as if he were taking every snap. He’s a very determined young man. The game is very important to him and winning football games is very important to him.”
Calling Tate young seems a stretched, at least as new starts go. At 28 Tate has had plenty of time to mature while waiting for his shot. The worry for fans in Calgary is that going so long without a regular starting gig might have taken the shine off Tate’s game. The hunger Tate has shown to date, combined with a significant amount of patience, should be cause for hope. This is a man with his head on his shoulders but equally eager to make his presence felt. A CFL quarterback needs that kind of balance between desire and focus.
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