CP/Stampeders.com
The final pre-season tune up for the Calgary Stampeders will place a couple of veterans in the spotlight. Both are familiar with the spotlight but for different reasons.
Jonathan Hefney was a central part of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers for the last several seasons, but will find himself in a new uniform Thursday night. His initiation to the Calgary Stampeders will be a brief one. He is expected to play a significant role for the team as regular linebacker Keon Raymond is sidelined with an ankle sprain.
Drew Tate will find himself in the spotlight, because that is where quarterbacks traditionally find themselves. Tate is looking to bounce back from a sub-par outing in the pre-season opener against the Lions.
For Hefney, the last few days could not have been any more hectic. On Saturday afternoon, he was released by Winnipeg and was on the field Tuesday afternoon in Calgary.
He didn’t want to become entangled in wondering why he was released from Winnipeg.
“I don’t really know,” noted Hefney when asked about his departure from Winnipeg. “All I know is I got a job now. John Murphy (Calgary assistant GM) and everybody gave me the opportunity to come out here and play. And coach Huff, he feels good about what I can do and my abilities. I’m really excited to come to a team that just went to the Grey Cup.”
Hufnagel, for his part, is looking forward to getting a first hand look at the two-time Canadian Football League all-star.
“Well, he was on the street and he’s a good football player,” said Hufnagel. ”We had discussions with him and we’re comfortable with his situation. So, he’s on board to compete for a job.”
While other teams were after Hefney, familiarity with a couple of Calgary people turned the tide in the Stampeders favour. Murphy and defensive coordinator Rick Campbell were with Hefney in Winnipeg.
“They’re the guys who brought me in from when I was sitting in Tennessee taking classes”, Hefney remembered. “They told me to come to Florida and go to training camp. So I went to camp in Florida and they brought me into Winnipeg and the rest is history.”
As for Tate, he will look to rebound from a frustrating, if brief, appearance against the Lions. Tate was 2-of-7 passing for seven years. Naturally, he spent time examining the video of the effort,
“Personally, (I need to) be sharper on my throws,” he said. “I just wasn’t accurate last week. There’s no other way to put it. Just got to focus in harder and put the ball on the money and go play to play.”
He expanded on how he intends to kick start the offence: “Just get into a rhythm. We weren’t able to get a rhythm out there with that first unit. Just get drives, move the chains and I think all that stuff will take care of itself.”
