Training Camp Diaries: Day 9

ARGONAUTS.CA STAFF

MISSISSAUGA — What was already a well documented battle for the Argos’ starting quarterback position became even more intriguing this morning when #9 QB Steven Jyles took his first snaps since QBs & Rookies camp.  Jyles, who has been rehabilitating his shoulder (from off-season surgery), threw a few short routes during morning and afternoon skelly drills.  In the morning, he threw four passes that were on target each time to an open receiver.  He took two more snaps in the afternoon. All of this is promising for the team and Argonauts fans.

Jyles’ fellow quarterbacks had solid morning practices of their own.  #12 QB Dalton Bell scrambled and connected with an open #84 WR Sammy Tranks over the middle that ended with Tranks waltzing into the endzone untouched.  Not to be outdone, #1 QB Cleo Lemon scrambled out of the pocket on numerous occasions to hit his receivers on the run.

The play of the morning practice came when Bell threw to #2 WR/KR Chad Owens over the middle. The ball went off Owens’ left hand and fell right into the arms of a sprinting #80 SB Jeremaine Copeland, who ran 10-yards into the endzone.  Both Owens and Copeland later joked that the play was planned and it was their own version of the infamous “tip drill”.

Lemon quickly emerged as the star of the afternoon practice.  After #43 DB Armando Murillo jumped a route and intercepted Lemon’s second pass of the practice, last year’s starter was nearly perfect.  He connected on consecutive plays for big yardage to #87 WR D.J. Boldin and then to #71 WR Djems Kouame.   Lemon cemented his good afternoon by throwing a gorgeous 25-yard touchdown pass to Owens in the far left corner of the endzone.

Bell threw a touchdown pass of his own and, for the second time today, he was the beneficiary of a tipped pass.  Bell threw a 25-yard bomb to P.K. Sam in the back of the endzone, the ball was deflected by #28 DB Byron Parker and Sam made the adjustment before coming down for the major.

The afternoon practice ended with the quarterbacks, linebackers and defensive backs running wind sprints for the final 15 minutes.  The wide receivers and running backs participated in calisthenics routines, while the linemen continued to work on position-specific drills.

The Argos’ next practice will take place on Tuesday on the Upper Field at UTM starting at 9:40 a.m.

Notes:  #54 OT Chris Van Zeyl participated in part of morning practice but injury kept him out of the afternoon practice. #11 RB Gerald Riggs sat out both practices.