It’s show-and-sell time for Bomber QBs

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This article was published 21/10/2014 (4060 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

With only two games remaining, and the post-season seemingly an impossibility, what can the Blue Bombers accomplish as they play out their regular-season schedule?

They could try to develop and advertise a possible position of strength and depth, and use it to address a glaring weakness.

In the 33-23 loss to the Calgary Stampeders Saturday, we learned many things about this team. We learned Brian Brohm could complete 61 per cent of his passes and throw for 200 yards and no interceptions against the best defence in the CFL, in a little more than a half of football. We learned Robert Marve — essentially the third-string quarterback until last week — is not only a dual threat, but came within a quarterback draw of possibly changing the outcome of the game.

We also learned something that has never been broached in the 13 years this column has run: The most valuable position on the field may actually be an area of depth and strength for the Blue Bombers. That may sound a little premature, especially since neither Brohm nor Marve played the entire game, and quite frankly, nobody has any film on them, or has put together a game plan to stop them — but hear me out. If this team can resist the temptation to throw Willy back into the meat grinder for the final two games, they might have a shot at turning this unprecedented level of depth and talent at quarterback into something they need — something like a starting Canadian offensive lineman.

The Bombers only need two good quarterbacks, not three. Brohm may not have finished the third quarter of this last game, but he was on pace to put up some numbers that we haven’t seen in weeks. Marve is the most athletic of the bunch and currently the best suited to play behind an inconsistent offensive line. He also makes Paris Cotton a better tailback. Both of Cotton’s rushing touchdowns Saturday came off of zone-read plays, and if your quarterback isn’t a dual threat, the defence doesn’t have to respect his ability to run and the holes don’t open up for your back.

Pretend Marve was anointed the starter for the remaining games and he was able to replicate the performance he put in on Saturday, only two more times over. Wouldn’t a team like Saskatchewan, Ottawa, Montreal or B.C. be tripping all over themselves to give up something of value to get a possible franchise player?

Of course it’s presumptuous to call either Brohm, Marve or even Willy — yet — a definite franchise QB, but they don’t have to actually become one here, they just have to look like one for the rest of the season. Quarterbacks Zach Collaros and Drew Willy were bought and sold last year off of their potential abilities, as they both had very small samples of actual pro work.

The contemplation should begin with what do the Bombers have to gain by starting Willy in these final two regular-season games? A playoff berth? Highly unlikely. Further progression? The only thing seemingly increasing is the rate at which he is being sacked. Keeping him secure and happy as the No. 1? That is about the extent of things that can be accomplished by Willy closing out the regular season. That consideration, though, hasn’t been followed this season for any other player on the roster that got hurt, so it shouldn’t start now.

Teams usually don’t have the courage or foresight to enter into next-year territory until all possibilities are exhausted, and even then, sitting a moderately healthy No. 1 quarterback is a lot to ask of a first-year management team trying to get their own footholds in the CFL.

Yet, all you have to do is ask yourself what the Bombers risk by not playing Willy these final two weeks, and what they could potentially gain by Marve stringing a couple of good games together and becoming a highly marketable asset?

There are never any guarantees in football, but wouldn’t it be worth it to try and increase the number of bargaining chips this club has in the off-season?

Doug Brown, once a hard-hitting defensive lineman and frequently a hard-hitting columnist, appears Tuesdays in the Free Press.

Twitter: @DougBrown97