LeFevour to start against Stamps

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This article was published 01/11/2017 (2930 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Dan LeFevour threw for four touchdowns against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers as a member of the Toronto Argonauts last season. His fourth score came on a three-yard pass to Kenny Shaw that put the Argonauts up 29-19 five minutes into the second half of the Week 13 game on Sept. 17, 2016.

The Bombers would eventually rally back, scoring 27 unanswered points to win 46-29 at Investors Group Field. LeFevour finished up by completing just five of his last 12 passes, recording two interceptions.

He would start the following week for Toronto in Ottawa against the Redblacks, but lasted for only the first half, going 13-for-19 passing with one interception before Drew Willy, who was acquired in a trade with the Bombers just weeks before, replaced him.

“I got yanked in that one,” said LeFevour, now with the Bombers on a one-year contract, after Wednesday’s practice at IGF.

LeFevour hopes to fare much better in his next CFL start, which will come Friday when the Bombers travel to Calgary for the regular-season finale against the Stampeders at McMahon Stadium.

Bombers head coach Mike O’Shea confirmed the move after practice, a workout that included LeFevour taking the majority of the reps with the No. 1 offence.

“It’s been a good week to prepare,” LeFevour said. “I’ve been here five months, so this time’s as good as any to get out there and play.”

When the Bombers signed the 30-year-old LeFevour in the off-season, it was seen as a sensible backup plan for starter Matt Nichols. LeFevour had started seven games in the CFL and his performance against Winnipeg the year before showed glimpses that he could lead a CFL offence.

The goal, however, was to never have to use him. That way, it would mean a healthy starter in Nichols and the development of Dominique Davis into a viable No. 2 option.

The Bombers appear to have neither at their disposal.

Nichols is out with a calf injury and Davis, though healthy, hasn’t quite lived up to the expectations placed on him in his third season with the team. At least not enough to convince the coaching staff he gives them the best chance to win against Calgary, in a game that still has major implications in the standings.

O’Shea listed a number of reasons why the team favoured LeFevour over Davis at this point. But what seemed to be most prominent was LeFevour’s playing experience. Davis, 28, has started just one game in three years, which came in the final week off the 2015 season.

“Maybe more so at the quarterback position… there’s a certain level of comfort that comes with experience, the idea you’ve been there and done it,” O’Shea said.

Though it can be argued Davis has been afforded few opportunities to shine, the few chances he’s had this season to prove he can lead the offence have failed.

Davis took over in the second half in a 30-13 loss at home to the Hamilton Tiger-Cats Oct. 6, after Nichols was ruled out with an injured finger.

With an entire two quarters against a team with the worst record in the CFL, Davis went 9-for-14 passing for 84 yards.

In just more than two quarters last week against the B.C. Lions — a team already out of the playoffs and with a number of regulars on defence out of the lineup — Davis put up almost identical numbers, finishing 7-for-12 for 84 yards.

“I don’t know if it’s disappointing, it’s just where we’re at right now,” said Bombers offensive co-ordinator Paul LaPolice, when asked about choosing Friday’s starter. “It was a difficult decision. It doesn’t mean Dom can’t play in the game. But we’ll give Dan a long leash. Dan’s got a little bit more experience.”

Davis said he disagreed with the decision, but added he respected it and planned to be in LeFevour’s corner all week.

“Just the fact that I was the No. 2 and I just felt like when Matt went down it was my turn, my time to help this team win a game,” Davis said.

What’s perhaps toughest to swallow for Davis is that LeFevour didn’t exactly impress to earn the position he now sees himself in. While LeFevour has rushed for six touchdowns this season as the key part of Winnipeg’s short-yardage package, he hasn’t produced with his arm.

When he replaced Davis in the fourth quarter against B.C., he completed just five of his 12 passes and recorded two interceptions.

“We certainly evaluated what happened after the game and felt that Dan brings some things that other quarterbacks don’t on our system,” LaPolice said. “We felt we deserved to give him the opportunity to play.”

O’Shea disagreed when asked if he felt the stage might be too big for Davis, given what’s at stake and where he is at this point in his career.

The Bombers can clinch a home playoff berth with a win over the Stampeders — or a Saskatchewan Roughriders victory at home against the Edmonton Eskimos.

“It’s not saying that Dom is not a good quarterback or can not or will not play for us,” O’Shea said. “This is the decision we’re making this week. As we do every week.”

He added: “I wouldn’t want him to be excited about it. I expect he’ll just continue with a great attitude and help his teammates and if his number gets called he’ll be ready to go.”

The Stampeders have already locked up first place in the West and are expected to sit a number of starters, including quarterback Bo Levi Mitchell.

“Whether they rest guys or not, they’re fielding 44 guys that are going to go out there and try to win the football game,” O’Shea said. “They’re going out to compete and to win in front of their home fans, and we’re coming in there trying to win that game.”

jeff.hamilton@freepress.mb.caTwitter: @jeffkhamilton