Overture, dim the lights

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 24/07/2010 (5868 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

It’s time for your close-up, Mr. Jyles.

All eyes are on quarterback Steven Jyles as the Winnipeg Blue Bombers host the desperate Edmonton Eskimos at Canad Inns Stadium today (5:30 p.m., CJOB). The 27-year-old, who came over to Winnipeg as a free agent in the off-season after two years in Saskatchewan and Edmonton, will make just his second start of his CFL career (his first came in 2008) and as he’s already found out this week the spotlight shines a little brighter — and a lot hotter — when you’re under centre.

Imagine the 24,000-plus in the stands all pointing flashlights — or blowtorches — in your direction.

"That’s part of playing this role as a quarterback," a reserved Jyles said in front of a dozen or so media types following the walk-through Friday. "You’re going to get a little more attention. I’m in the spotlight now… you have to accept it. I don’t like interviews too much — it’s part of the job. I’m a guy who likes to stay (off) camera. I don’t like too much attention; I like to be under the radar."

Winnipeg (1-2) is on a two-game losing streak, and with Buck Pierce on the shelf with a knee strain for an undetermined amount of time (he’s on the one-game injury reserved) and the club scheduled to be on the road for four of their next five games, the pressure to display the faith the coaches have in his ability is palpable.

Try as he might to stay in the shadows and manage a quiet game, the lights are white hot for Jyles and he knows he’ll have to build on that 9-of-13 for 86 yards relief work he showed in Hamilton last week.

"Everybody is depending on me," he said, assuming the leadership his position requires.

But as the words of self-imposed pressure release from Jyles’ mouth, other Bombers are organizing an ‘all hands on deck’ mantra in the locker-room. All week, members of the offence have said they’ll need to raise their level of play to make life easier for the green-horned Jyles.

For example: Receivers can’t afford any more drops (a problem for the club against the Tiger-Cats) and the running game — namely the idling Fred Reid — promises to be more of a factor against an Eskimos run-defence that has given up 500 yards on the ground so far.

It’s a mindset along the lines of a hockey club preparing to play in front of the backup goaltender, where the effort is a little more noticeable and the urgency to make a positive difference is more apparent as each opportunity presents itself.

"We have to make some plays for Steven," receiver Terrence Edwards said. "I’ve seen a quarterback’s confidence go down when a guy drops an easy ball. We can’t do that here."

Even the Winnipeg defence is looking to get with the Jyles program.

"Let’s give Edmonton a few two-and-outs, let’s stop them deep in their own end," linebacker Joe Lobendahn said. "That’s how we can help the offence: Get the ball back to them as much as we can."

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On the Green and Gold side, the focus sits somewhere between frustration and tension. Despite having a stud quarterback in Ricky Ray (72-of-110 for 888 yards), a top running back in Arkee Whitlock (264 yards and two touchdowns), and two of the best slotbacks in the game in Fred Stamps and Kelly Campbell (700 yards receiving between them), the Eskimos are still searching for their first win and are now dealing with the scrutiny of an unexpected slow start.

"We are what we are," Eskimos head coach Richie Hall said, growing more comfortable with the uncomfortable questions of a winless existence. "We’re 0-3. If you’re going to deserve better then you go out and make the plays for 60 minutes, and that’s something we haven’t been able to do. We’ve been our own worst enemy, and with all due respect to Montreal and Saskatchewan — they’re the two best football teams in the league — we had opportunities to put them away."

That’s been the biggest issue for the Eskies in 2010: The inability to finish strong. Twice they’ve self-destructed (against the Alouettes and Riders) late in ball games, and have been outscored 29-0 in the fourth quarter.

adam.wazny@freepress.mb.ca