Teammates back backup QB

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This article was published 20/08/2019 (2214 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

They both play quarterback for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers and currently sport bushy beards. But other than that, there’s not too many similarities between Matt Nichols and Chris Streveler.

With Nichols sidelined for at least six weeks with an upper-body injury, it will be up to Streveler to keep the Bombers’ CFL West Division-leading offence rolling.

But if the offence does keep scoring in bunches, it will look different without No. 1 QB Nichols at the controls. In three career starts, which came at the beginning of the 2018 season, Streveler quickly showed he’s one of the most athletic quarterbacks in the league, as he had 22 carries for 183 yards and two touchdowns. His running ability was highlighted in a 56-10 pummelling of the Montreal Alouettes in which the rookie quarterback had 98 rushing yards and a touchdown on 10 carries. It’s led to him being a key piece of the Winnipeg offence, even when serving as a backup to Nichols. Streveler has 39 carries for 176 yards and five touchdowns this season. Nichols has nine rushing attempts on the year and one running touchdown.

“You know, we were very impressed with him last year,” Bombers offensive co-ordinator Paul LaPolice told the media after Tuesday’s practice. “Obviously, he took everything in camp well and he didn’t make mistakes. But obviously, going through a whole season and sitting in every quarterback meeting, playing on the field, he’s played probably more than most backups will play because we try to get him into games. He’s certainly prepared.”

But LaPolice pumped the brakes when asked if the team’s playbook is going to change much now with Streveler under centre.

“We will adjust to his strengths. But, yeah, we’re not gonna all of a sudden come out and run the wishbone,” LaPolice said. “We still need to throw the ball as much as we do when we need to. We need to run the ball, we need to mix up what we’re doing. We still need to look like the offence we’ve done the past two years here.”

After playing nine games with a pocket passer in Nichols, going to a scrambling playmaker such as Streveler will be a bit of an adjustment for everyone on offence. But offensive lineman Jermarcus Hardrick said that’s not necessarily a bad thing.

“It doesn’t really change my job. It kind of helps my job out. If I get beat, (Streveler) can save me a little bit. Matt is the same way, but Chris is a little bit more of a runner, so he can save me a little bit more if I get beat,” Hardrick said.

As for the receivers, they’ll find themselves turning into blockers on more plays than usual with a runner such as Streveler at the helm. But wide receiver Nic Demski said it’s not anything they’re not already used to.

“(Running back) Andrew (Harris) obviously catches a lot of stuff out of the backfield. So, I mean, we’re used to that,” said Demski, who had three receptions for 63 yards and a touchdown in last week’s 32-16 win over the B.C. Lions. “We all know as a receiving core, when Chris sees some daylight to take off and run, he’s going to do it. But at the same time, you know he’s great at staying in the pocket, making reads and throwing the ball downfield, too.”

People may doubt whether Streveler and his arm can keep the Bombers on the right path. But Demski said the team has full confidence in the second-year pro, as he’s shown in his previous starts that he can get the job done.

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“We easily learned he has a lot of heart. He has a lot of passion for this game. He wants to win. He wants to be a great player and he wants to do what it takes to win,” Demski said.

“And, I mean, he also threw a lot of touchdowns, too. He did a good job at taking care of the ball. We’ve got a lot of trust in Strev.

“We know what he can do — running the ball and passing the ball — so there’s no worries here.”

taylor.allen@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @TaylorAllen31

Taylor Allen
Reporter

Taylor Allen is a sports reporter for the Winnipeg Free Press. Taylor was the Vince Leah intern in the Free Press newsroom twice while earning his joint communications degree/diploma at the University of Winnipeg and Red River College Polytechnic. He signed on full-time in 2019 and mainly covers the Blue Bombers, curling, and basketball. Read more about Taylor.

Every piece of reporting Taylor produces is reviewed by an editing team before it is posted online or published in print — part of the Free Press‘s tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about Free Press’s history and mandate, and learn how our newsroom operates.