Switching to Jyles no biggie

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 23/07/2010 (5911 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Head coach Paul LaPolice has confidence in the new quarterback and feels it’s only a matter of time before he becomes a legitimate starter in the CFL.

Along those same encouraging lines, offensive co-ordinator Jamie Barresi loves the athleticism and energy the pivot brings, and is impressed with the way he prepares for games week in and week out.

Even the player in question, Steven Jyles — who admits to be lacking in the experience department — shows no sign of worry or doubt heading into just his second CFL start, leading the Winnipeg Blue Bombers against the Edmonton Eskimos at Canad Inns Stadium. The calm and cool 27-year-old, now in his fifth CFL campaign, trades in his familiar clipboard for the coveted keys to the offence Saturday (5:30 p.m., TSN, CJOB), thanks to a knee injury to starter Buck Pierce.

Assurances about Jyles and his ability have been readily available from the coaching staff this week, but it doesn’t hide the idea that having a new player under centre creates an environment of uncertainty and possible confusion in the offence.

There must be an adjustment period. Drop a new engine into a car and there’s bound to be a feeling out process for the first few blocks or so.

brightcove.createExperiences();

"He might not have a lot of game-time experience, but he’s been in the league for awhile," veteran receiver Terrence Edwards offered Thursday. "He knows this game, he understands it, and more importantly, he knows this offence. We hate to see Buck go down, but I’m confident Steven can pick up where he left off.

"Steven is a guy who will rally the troops here; adjustment talk is just an excuse."

Of all the weapons in the Winnipeg offence, Edwards might be the one most affected by the absence of Pierce. The 31-year-old has collected 318 yards (19.9 yards per catch average) and three touchdowns with the former B.C. Lions pivot at the controls, and the two have shown an automatic chemistry in all areas of the field.

Edwards says there’s little to no difference between the balls that are delivered from Pierce or from Jyles (both are right-handed, so the ball spins the same way coming into the receiver’s hands), and doesn’t put a lot of stock into the theory that a new quarterback forces the entire offence to keep things simple.

That’s when a team forced to use its No. 2 takes a step back, he feels.

"I look at it this way: Steven has been here just as long as Buck, so any chemistry I have with Buck should translate over with Steven," Edwards said. "What a lot of people don’t realize is that those two saw basically the equal amount of reps in practice in training camp."

The party line is that Jyles’ limited experience as a starter is well-tempered by his familiarity of the current system orchestrated by LaPolice and Barresi. The quarterback served under those two in Saskatchewan the past two seasons so his knowledge of the attack shouldn’t be an issue against the Eskimos. Another positive: Jyles has seen some playing time during his career, coming into action under different circumstances to man the offence. After Pierce went down in the third quarter versus Hamilton, Jyles went 9-of-13 for 85 yards, and showed a knack for creating something out of a broken play.

Winnipeg Free Press | Newsletter

Mike McIntyre | On Sports

Thursdays

Keep up to date on sports with Mike McIntyre's weekly newsletter.

Sign up for Mike McIntyre | On Sports

Sign Up

I consent to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies.

I consent to CASL agreement.

But coming out of the bullpen is different than running out from under the inflatable Bombers helmet in the southwest corner of Canad Inns Stadium in the pre-game introductions. This won’t be mop-up duty against a defence that has taken its foot off the gas, or a short-yardage situation where a quarterback sneak is required. That’s where the mystery about Jyles lies — how he responds to the current assignment.

A spokesman for the offensive line addressed that point Thursday.

"It’s not like we just brought this guy off the street and said, ‘Hey you have to play quarterback now,’" centre Obby Khan said. "Steven knows everything about this offence — he knows the calls, he knows these players.

"Is it an adjustment for the offence? It would be more of an adjustment for us if Steven wasn’t back there."

adam.wazny@freepress.mb.ca