Losing their starting QB no excuse for Blue Bombers

Posted: 3:00 AM CDT Tuesday, Sep. 1, 2015

Not long ago, U.S. presidential candidate Donald Trump put his foot in his mouth when he stated his preference for a war hero would be one that wasn't caught and made a prisoner of war. Along these same lines, it would be fair to say for fans of five out of nine teams in the Canadian Football League, they would also prefer their football heroes -- namely their starting quarterbacks -- be ones that don't get hurt. But there is nothing that can be done about either realization now.

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Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 01/09/2015 (3914 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Not long ago, U.S. presidential candidate Donald Trump put his foot in his mouth when he stated his preference for a war hero would be one that wasn’t caught and made a prisoner of war. Along these same lines, it would be fair to say for fans of five out of nine teams in the Canadian Football League, they would also prefer their football heroes — namely their starting quarterbacks — be ones that don’t get hurt. But there is nothing that can be done about either realization now.

Normally, when you lose the most impacting player on your team, an unofficial mulligan is issued for your football franchise. For how could you be expected to accomplish any or all of the goals set out for your team if the most important athlete isn’t able to play? How can you be expected to beat other squads with your third-stringer, when you are playing against their first-stringer? How can you effectively execute an offence when the guy at the helm isn’t even the one meant to run it?

Most years, we would all extend our sympathies to the teams this scenario has befallen, because they are valid considerations, and long odds to overcome. But when over 50 per cent of the league’s No. 1 guns are out for an extended period of time, it is no longer the year where free passes and excuses for sub-par performances are handed out.

CP
Montreal hasn't had an easy go of it this year, with only four wins on the season, but last week a FOURTH-stringer by the name of Tanner Marsh came into the game for the Als and beat Hamilton, the best team in the league. — CP Montreal hasn't had an easy go of it this year, with only four wins on the season, but last week a FOURTH-stringer by the name of Tanner Marsh came into the game for the Als and beat Hamilton, the best team in the league.

Feel sorry for your team because the backups are running the show? Well get used to it, because that’s the hand the majority of the league has been dealt, and some teams appear to be managing it much better than others.

What has happened this year in the CFL is essentially the equivalent of the NFL losing 18 out of 32 starting quarterbacks before the halfway point of the year.

Saskatchewan had its top two starters go down early in the season. Edmonton lost its top pivot in Week 1. The Toronto Argonauts haven’t even had theirs suit up yet, and Montreal lost two in one week. Just a few weeks ago, Winnipeg joined the club when Drew Willy was most likely lost for the majority of the remaining games.

Out of this gang of pivots in peril, though, there is now clearly a divide between those that have depth and have been able to adjust, and those that do not and have not.

The Argos have a future Hall of Fame QB (Ricky Ray) who hasn’t taken a snap this year, but they already have six wins under their belt with Trevor Harris running the show.

Up until last week, I had no idea who James Franklin was until he threw for 335 yards in his first start for the Eskimos, who have six wins and are second in the West Division.

Montreal hasn’t had an easy go of it this year, with only four wins on the season, but last week a FOURTH-stringer by the name of Tanner Marsh came into the game for the Als and beat Hamilton, the best team in the league.

Yes, indeed, the only two teams unable to win a game since their starters went down are the Saskatchewan Roughriders and your Winnipeg Blue Bombers — who ironically square off against this week — which is a failing grade and condemnation on two levels. The first is one of depth, because both teams have found themselves wanting and without adequate provisions, and have been reeling since their starters got hurt.

The second fail is that of adaptability, because neither team has been able to adjust to the new conditions they find themselves in.

The only thing not quite clear yet is whether the talent level of the backups or this inability to accommodate change and handle adversity is the bigger of the two problems.

At least after this Sunday, one of these teams will have found a way to win with their backup quarterback, just like all the other afflicted teams in the CFL have so impressively.

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

Twitter: @DougBrown97