ARGONAUTS.CA STAFF

TORONTO – The Toronto Argonauts may have selected one of the better weeks to get out of the city and play some football.

As Torontonians trotted through April showers, a few members of the Double Blue got back into football mode in a remote area in Florida. There, they’ve been sharpening their skills before playing for keeps when training camp opens in June.

With five quarterbacks on the roster, the Argos’ main storyline during training camp looks to be focused again on the spot behind centre. The past few days gave an opportunity for the QBs to show how their off-season workout regimens have paid off. It’s also given the Argos coaching staff a chance to add some new twists to the playbook.

“It went really well,” said QB Dalton Bell. Bell is entering his second season with the Double Blue. “They gave us a few different looks and every opportunity to succeed in a short period of time.”

Newly-acquired QB Steven Jyles took the opportunity to not only learn a new set of plays but also a new set of faces.

“All of the coaches and players who are down here have a lot of positive energy and have really made it easy for me to feel comfortable,” said Jyles.

Jyles, who is coming off of shoulder surgery to repair an injury that ended his 2010 season early, took the time to prepare his mind for the upcoming season while he continues to rehabilitate his throwing arm. “I threw a little bit yesterday and, today, I just took the time to rest up and really sharpen up my mind and get back into a football mentality.” Jyles added.

Argos’ 2010 starting QB Cleo Lemon didn’t take any reps at the mini-camp due to a nagging hamstring injury.  Despite the setback, he still feels like the camp was important for him to attend.

“I took the opportunity to get in tune with what our coaching staff has in mind for us heading into training camp,” said Lemon. “This is the time of year where you have to strive to be a step ahead of your opponents, and that’s what we’re trying to do here.”

There has been a lot of speculation regarding the competition at the quarterback position in June. If one certainty has came out of this free agent camp for head coach Jim Barker and his staff, it is that come July 1 they will have had ample opportunity to select the best possible option to the lead the Argos’ offence.