Heeeeere's Joey!

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trevor hagan / winnipeg free press Winnipeg Blue Bombers QB Joey Elliott gets pointers from offensive co-ordinator Gary Crowton at Sunday's workout.

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You wanted it, you got it.

Quarterback Joey Elliott, the most popular player on the Winnipeg Blue Bombers over the last few weeks thanks to his backup status, went through his first official day of practice as the No. 1 guy at a rain-soaked Canad Inns Stadium Sunday.

Elliott gets his first start in 24 games when the Bombers (1-5) host the Hamilton Tiger-Cats (3-3) Thursday night at 7 p.m. The Purdue product replaces Alex Brink (who was replacing injured Buck Pierce) as the club searches for the right solution to this puzzling season. There's more to it, though. Elliott, 26, moves from his familiar "next guy" label to "the guy" on the QB depth chart -- a change that comes with a new set of expectations.

More on that in a second.

Through three seasons in various backup time (he started the last two games in 2010, both losses), his numbers read like this: 56-of-109 for 715 yards with three touchdowns and four interceptions. His completion rate as a Bomber is a 51.4 per cent with his quarterback efficiency rating registering slightly higher (66.1). With the exception of last season, when he missed most of the year with a torn ACL in his left knee, he's been behind Buck Pierce and Brink since joining the club in July 2010.

Throw all that out the window.

The thing about being the next guy is that it's comfortable. It's easy. The next guy is the great unknown; hope wrapped in a mystery. He's a spark to the offence, a change of pace. In some cases, the next guy could be next great Winnipeg quarterback -- that's the luxury of the position.

If Elliott wasn't some of those for the Bombers, then how does one justify his start this week?

Welcome to the spotlight, Joey. You're about to be evaluated on what you can do, not what you might do.

The team is 1-5, you're starting at home, where frustration is starting to boil, and the offence you're inheriting is at the bottom of most league categories. These are desperate times. Everyone agrees the Winnipeg attack needs a significant push, but is this really a fair situation for the "next guy?"

The thing about the next guy is that he's got to start somewhere.

"The fans have to understand that he's going to make his plays, and he's going to make some bad plays, too," head coach Paul LaPolice said. "He has to minimize how many of those bad plays there are and maximize the good ones."

Like it or not, the switch to Elliott means the Bombers offence has to take a step back again -- if that's even possible given their play through six games. Offensive co-ordinator Gary Crowton confirmed the club will scale back the offensive playbook, as he tries to build a plan suited to Elliott's strengths (throwing the ball over the top, standing tall in the pocket, quick strikes in tight coverage).

Elliott won't get the kitchen sink, Crowton offered.

"What we're trying to do is 'do what we do right' so that we can play fast and we can play hard," he said. "So, as far as scaling back: I guess you can say we're scaling back with the fact that we have a new guy in there and we're going to do what he can do well."

Then there's the matter of external attention. The club announced their starter Saturday, on a day when media presence is light. This morning, however, all the TV cameras will be on Elliott, with the lenses and microphones right in his face when he finishes practice. Questions of delivering a much-needed win will surface, and he'll talk about "executing the offence" and the need for everyone to make a play when the chance comes up.

The attention only builds the expectations.

There's no pressure on his shoulders, he says, but this start does have some salt to it.

"It means a lot," said Elliott, who's seen a quarter of action this season (11-of-18 for 193 yards in a blowout loss to Edmonton). "This Winnipeg football team to this city, it's a big deal. If we turn things over and have a few good games in a row, you never know..."

That's true, no one knows how this season will end up but Thursday, everyone will have a better idea about Elliott.

The "next guy" is dead. Long live "the next guy."

adam.wazny@freepress.mb.ca Twitter: @wazoowazny

Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition August 13, 2012 C3