Streveler is good, but he’s not alone

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 26/06/2018 (2635 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

It is the eternal question among football fans: what came first, the good quarterback or the good supporting cast?

Is it possible the Winnipeg Blue Bombers haven’t been able to develop their own pivot — seemingly for a millennium — because the host environment was never this nurturing?

Chris Streveler has an opportunity with this football franchise that few other green QB’s passing through town ever had.

So far, after two games, it appears he is making the most of it.

Call it Blue & Gold privilege. If you’re a rookie coming to Winnipeg in 2018 — especially at quarterback — you now have some massive advantages over your predecessors and competition, due to the existing infrastructure.

Streveler has now thrown for six touchdowns and only two interceptions in his first two professional regular-season games.

That’s the magic 3-to-1 ratio that pivots dream about and it has as much to do with the people protecting him and those he is throwing it to as it does Streveler’s own vision, accuracy and arm strength.

In fact, most of his touchdown tosses have gone to targets that were somewhat wide open, either in the end zone or close to approaching it.

This veteran group of receivers has used its football IQ and precise route running to make things easier for Streveler.

No threading the pigskin into closing windows or congested traffic — or dropping footballs into impossible baskets.

Even when the end zone throws have been errant, players such as Nic Demski have adjusted their routes and made aggressive moves to the football to secure the six.

This franchise hasn’t seen a receiving group such as Weston Dressler, Darvin Adams and Adarius Bowman since the days of Milt Stegall, Arland Bruce and Robert Gordon.

Former Winnipeg quarterback Khari Jones — and now Streveler — benefited from it.

On the post-game show, Streveler himself was incredulous over how clean the offensive line has kept him. Against the Montreal Alouettes on Friday, the line allowed zero sacks and gave Streveler all those extras moments young quarterbacks need to process the information that can otherwise overwhelm them.

They opened holes for the running game so he could run a balanced attack and keep the defence guessing — and he always had plenty of escape lanes if he didn’t like what he saw downfield.

Of course, the playbook and play-calling that match his strengths well are also a big part of his successful development.

Even though offensive co-ordinator Paul LaPolice admitted he’s still getting to know Streveler as a player, he appears to know how to get his starter into a rhythm and use his mobility to simplify the game for him.

When Streveler rolls outside of the pocket — as he is naturally comfortable using his legs — it also limits his options and reads to half of the field.

He has been coached so well that in only Week 2 he knows to scramble as an alternative to throwing up a ball for grabs when he isn’t certain of the picture he is seeing.

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Heck, Streveler is the first greenhorn QB I’ve seen that will throw the ball into the dirt if a play isn’t there, instead of panicking and throwing it to the opposition.

So, is Streveler really this quick of a study or is his progression and evolution as a quarterback due to the enhanced environment that is surrounding him and promoting his growth? Is it nature or nurture for Streveler?

It’s certainly not a coincidence that such a viable quarterback is developing at the same time as an excellent supporting cast.

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

Twitter: @DougBrown97