CFL.ca
CFL.ca Staff
CALGARY — Drew Tate’s time is now.
After spending the bulk of the 2012 regular season recovering from a shoulder dislocation on his non-throwing arm, the 28-year-old will be Calgary’s starting QB for their Western Semi-Final matchup with the Saskatchewan Roughriders on Sunday.
Stampeders Head Coach and GM John Hufnagel made the announcement Tuesday.
“I think it’s better we address it and make people aware, make everybody aware, so there’s not this constant talk about it and we can concentrate on the important things,” Hufnagel said yesterday regarding the anticipation felt by both fans and media alike.
Tate, meanwhile, has appeared in two games since being given the green light by team doctors to resume playing, completing 16 of his 22 passes for 207 yards, two touchdowns and one interceptions. He also carried the ball twice for 13 yards and another touchdown.
Hufnagel listed the things he likes about Tate since his return.
“Number one, that he’s fully recovered from his injury. Number two is that he’s throwing the ball very accurately. Number three, he’s seeing the field very well. Those are things that makes Drew the quarterback that he is,” he said.
Tate still feels somewhat of an unknown quantity. Because of his injury, he’s started seven games since Hufnagel handed him the ball with three games remaining in the 2011 season.
The six-foot, 192-pound pivot struggled in his first playoff start, which was a 33-19 loss to Edmonton in last year’s West semifinal. Tate completed 5-of-10 passes for 99 yards with an interception before he was replaced by Henry Burris in the second half.
Hufnagel hitched his wagon to Tate nonetheless, signing him to a three-year contract extension in December. He shipped Burris to Hamilton the following month in a deal that brought Glenn to Calgary.
More to come…
With files from the Canadian Press
