Bryant Moniz battle for Third-string QB for Calgary Stampeders

It’s like comparing apples and oranges.It’s not so much which one is better.More like which one suits your taste buds.

Rusty Smith and Bryant Moniz are polar opposites competing for the same third-string quarterback spot with the CFL’s Calgary Stampeders.One has the big arm and can deliver darts. The other has the mobility and the wheels to create yardage out of thin air.

So which one do you like?Stamps offensive co-ordinator Dave Dickenson likes what each guy brings to the table.“Rusty is a slinger,” Dickenson said. “But he has enough mobility that we think he can manage the pocket and get out of it if he needs to.

“Bryant showed how quick he is. We like that. We have always looked for a change-up kind of guy.”The Stamps like to use their third pivot as their short-yardage specialist.Both Drew Tate and Bo Levi Mitchell, who are in a neck-and-neck battle of their own for the starter’s gig, have served as the club’s No. 3 quarterback over the past couple of seasons.“Drew did a good job of finding his niche when he had that package,” Dickenson said. “Then, Bo moved into that spot, and it’s always a positive to see a guy produce doing your short-yardage package.“It’s always an advantage if you have more athleticism, but I don’t necessarily think that’s the top criteria as far as when I’m looking for a quarterback.”

If nimble feet is a prerequisite, Moniz, out of the NCAA’s University of Hawaii, would likely have the advantage. But if you’re looking to groom a potential starter, Smith, out of the NCAA’s Florida Atlantic University, certainly oozes potential.“I don’t really look for a run guy anymore,” Dickenson said. “I want guys that have enough ability that they can get out and give you extra time to throw.“But I’m really looking for a quarterback first and foremost.

”Smith and Moniz will get their final opportunity to impress the coaching staff Friday in Vancouver 8 p.m., TSN, News Talk 770.But they had better take advantage of every snap, because they won’t be getting many.“They’re not going to get a lot of work this week,” Dickenson confirmed. “We’re out there trying to evaluate who the starter is.”

Both Smith, 27, and Moniz, 25, had their moments in Saturday’s 23-20 pre-season win over the Winnipeg Blue Bombers at McMahon Stadium.Smith was picked off by Bombers cornerback Bruce Johnson but also led the Stamps into field-goal position for the tying and winning boots.

“You can’t learn everything from practice or the film-room,” Smith said. “You have to get out there where the bullets are live, where you’re actually getting hit and where the pass-rush is real.“Even throwing that interception — I would love to have that throw back, but I learned something on that play.“That’s a throw in an American game — I would throw that no problem. That receiver’s not buzzing out there that far because he doesn’t have that far to go on an American field.”

Moniz showed off his scrambling ability as he zipped upfield for 20 yards.“There’s a lot of things, after watching film, that you can improve on,” Moniz said. “But the feeling I had was positive. As an offence, it felt like we were able to string some plays together and move the ball down the field.”

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