Admirals Insider – Gale’s Battle Under Centre

DANIELE FRANCESCHI – ARGOS ADMIRALS INSIDER

YORK UNIVERSITY – One thing is for certain:  Ricky Ray is the Toronto Argonauts’ starting quarterback.  It is already a well-known fact.  There is no debate to be had there. 

Barring injury, Ricky Ray will start the Boatmen’s regular season opener in Winnipeg on June 26. 

However, let’s focus on the present for a moment.  With the departure of Zach Collaros to the Hamilton Tiger-Cats this past off-season, the Argonauts’ backup quarterback position is currently vacant.  Without question, Ricky Ray is the “guy”, but as the Argos witnessed last season, a reliable backup signal caller can prove to be vital for a team’s sustained success. 

Among the hopefuls vying for the Argonauts’ backup quarterback job is CFL sophomore Mitchell Gale.  The 24-year-old Alva, Oklahoma native spent a majority of last season on the team’s practice roster.  Overall, Gale was rather content with his rookie campaign.  He appeared in a pair of games for the Double Blue and felt comfortable making the move north of the border in order to keep his professional football aspirations alive. 

While three-year veteran Trevor Harris appears to be the front-runner for the backup gig, a lot can change over the course of a 20-game season (two pre-season games, 18 regular season games). 

Speaking to the media this past week at Argonauts Rookie Camp, head coach Scott Milanovich hesitated to anoint Harris as the Argos’ No. 2 pivot.

“We don’t really have a depth chart right now.  Trevor is going to get that first shot but he is by no means No. 2.,” stated Milanovich.  “We have three guys that have really strong arms.  I like their physical tools.  Ricky (Ray) more than likely won’t play in the first (pre-season) game so we’ll try to get these guys as much work as we can.  The more practice we get, the better we can evaluate them and the better they are going to get.”

At six-feet, two inches tall and 231 pounds, Gale is a towering presence inside the pocket.  Surprisingly, he is also very agile and possesses tremendous football instincts.  His arm strength is second to none and mobility, including throwing on the run, is not an issue for the Abilene Christian University graduate. 

Gale is a very soft-spoken, respectable, young man.  His strong work ethic is his greatest asset.  Gale has adopted a “day-by-day” mindset.  He remains composed and takes everything in stride.   

It is an attitude that Gale has embodied throughout his football career.  This “day-by-day” mantra puts him at ease each and every single time he steps out onto the football field. 

“I think I have improved each day which is something everybody wants to do,” commented Gale following the final practice of Rookie/Quarterbacks Camp on Friday.   “When we come out here, of course we all want to have a good camp overall, but I think what the coaches really look for is improvement on a day-to-day basis.” 

Like any young player making the transition from college to the professional ranks, Gale experienced a steep learning curve.  Although there were many ups and downs, the modest, young pivot is grateful for the opportunity that he received from the Boatmen last season.

“My comfort level this year compared to last year is far better.  I’m more at ease now than I was a year ago.  I think that is as a result of the experience I gained last year during the 2013 season, being there for all 18 regular season games and playing in a couple games, albeit pre-season and the season finale,” stated Gale.  “Any time you have the opportunity to play, it’s like being a student.  Last year, it was as though I was a freshman.  Sometimes I didn’t know what I was doing but that’s what you have to work through in order to acquire knowledge and wisdom about an aspect of football or even life for that matter.”

In 2011, Gale earned national notoriety for his impressive “Trick Shot” video, which was posted on YouTube.  Gale possesses a quick and efficient throwing motion, a necessity for any world-class quarterback.  The man they call “Mitch” credits a majority of his rapid on-field development to the Argonauts’ offensive coaching brass. 

“All of our coaches are excellent.  You look at our three main offensive coaches:  Coach Milanovich, Coach Brady, and Coach Maas; they have all played quarterback.  There is something that comes with playing that position,” said Gale.  “There is almost an unspoken language about what it’s like to take a drop, to throw a pass, to miss a read, or to make a great play. All three of those guys (Milanovich, Brady, and Maas) have had a major impact on how I have been introduced to this league, and more specifically, this style of offence. They have certainly done a remarkable job of expanding my knowledge of the CFL.”

Gale is the first to admit that he could have never envisioned being in this position at such an early stage in his professional football career.  His performance over the course of the past year has exceeded all expectations.  By being very detail-oriented, Gale has been able to adapt to the CFL game with relative ease. 

First and foremost, athletes are competitors.  The world’s greatest and most talented individuals possess a burning desire to achieve greatness.  It is embedded within their psychological make-up.  Gale is no exception.  The former Abilene Christian University standout is excited for the opportunity to compete for the Argonauts’ backup quarterback duties.  Gale is focused on maximizing each and every single snap/rep that he receives during practice.  All in all, Gale’s only concern is controlling the things that he can control.  Win, lose, or draw, Gale is confident that this unique opportunity will inevitably make him a better individual and assist in his growth as a professional quarterback. 

“It’s an opportunity to compete.  That’s why we’re all here.  We all want to contribute, but in a sense, we’re also competing against each other,” stated Gale.  “I can’t ask for anything more than an opportunity to compete.  I’m just excited for the chance to earn the backup job and maximize every snap I receive.  I’m just going to control what I can control and we will see what happens.”

Insider Extra – The Value of Rookie/Quarterbacks Camp

The Argonauts concluded yet another year of Rookie/Quarterbacks Camp on Friday at York University.  While many underestimate the significance of this three-day mini-camp, Argos quarterback Mitchell Gale explains that, while training camp may be the time when jobs are won and lost, there are many benefits that coincide with participating in this pre-training-camp showcase.  

“I definitely think that there is something to being in the system longer,” commented Gale, when questioned about the advantages of taking part in Rookie/Quarterbacks Camp.  “The more time you spend in this system, the better off you are going to be.  It’s complex and requires constant repetition in order to learn a lesson (on the field).  I definitely think that there are some very positive things that stem from being here for mini-camp.”