Elliott a cocky quarterback

Convinced he can lead Blue to win in Edmonton

By: Ed Tait Posted: 1:00 AM CDT Saturday, Oct. 30, 2010

EDMONTON -- The politically-correct term -- the one that won't offend, create the wrong first impression or have everyone thinking he's a complete tool -- is 'confident.'

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EDMONTON -- The politically-correct term -- the one that won't offend, create the wrong first impression or have everyone thinking he's a complete tool -- is 'confident.'

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This article was published 30/10/2010 (5454 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

EDMONTON — The politically-correct term — the one that won’t offend, create the wrong first impression or have everyone thinking he’s a complete tool — is ‘confident.’

But ‘cocky’ sure as hell fits, too.

This is a story about Joey Elliott, the man who tonight becomes the fourth quarterback to start for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers this year. A guy signed in July, a guy with all of 16 passes in his Canadian Football League career and — get this — a guy who is absolutely, positively convinced he can lead his squad to a victory in his very first pro start.

KEN GIGLIOTTI / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS
Joey Elliott has the instincts and leadership skills to be a CFL quarterback, says Bombers head coach Paul LaPolice. — KEN GIGLIOTTI / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Joey Elliott has the instincts and leadership skills to be a CFL quarterback, says Bombers head coach Paul LaPolice.

On enemy soil, no less.

“Here’s the thing you have to understand about Joey,” began Bomber slotback Terrence Edwards Friday afternoon. “The first day he got here we didn’t know who this guy was but he was telling us ways to get open. And we’re like, ‘Who are you? We don’t even know your name yet.’ He’s just like that.

“But he’s a quick learner. You saw him when he got into the game last week. He’s going to go in and I think he’s going to make a lot of plays. He comes into the huddle like he’s been the starter since Day 1. And that’s what you want from a quarterback.”

Of course, taking command of a huddle is one thing. Making it happen after the 11 other men saunter up to the line of scrimmage is quite another. Bomber head coach Paul LaPolice has worked with a lot of QBs over the years, many of whom talked a great game during the week and then did the bug-meets-windshield thing the minute the game lights came on.

But, for what it’s worth, the Bombers boss has been impressed with what he’s seen from the young pivot this week. Yes, confident-slash-cocky can also be a good thing.

“First day of practice he was great, threw the ball well,” said LaPolice. “Second day, he located it well, threw it to the right guy but missed a lot of throws. And so I went to him and said, ‘Just relax.’ And right away he started with, ‘But I thought this and…’ and I stopped him and said, ‘Just throw to the open guy. You know who it is. Just relax.’

“He knows where he wants to go with the football. He has instincts. He’ll speak his mind and the players love it. He’s got leadership skills. He watched film with Cory Watson and said, ‘Hey, this is where I expect you to be on this play or that play.’ Those are all good traits.”

Joseph Preston Elliott was born 24 years ago in Evansville, Indiana. His mom played tennis at Western Kentucky and coached at Franklin College. His dad has been a high school football coach for 35 years, including a stint as a defensive co-ordinator at Evansville Castle High School.

Their main rivals back in the day? Evansville Harrison, led by a kid named Joey Elliott.

“And so he was trying to game plan against his son. That was pretty fun,” said Elliott with a grin. “We beat them on Homecoming on the last play of the game, they beat us on a last drive in the sectional championship. It was a good rivalry, although my dad didn’t like it. A lot of the kids on his team were jaw-jacking him about me playing. But it was all good.

“I’ve been around the game a long time. I grew up going to camps with my dad and really grew to love the game. I’ve been having a lot of fun.”

A two-time member of the Big 10 All-Academic Team, Elliott’s biggest moment as a member of the Purdue Boilermakers came just over a year ago when he led his squad to a 26-18 win over Ohio State, then ranked seventh in the nation.

Now, some 378 days later, he’s got a glorious opportunity to muddy the Bomber QB picture for next year. And bet one thing about Elliott based on the early reviews: he may go down tonight in his first pro start, but if he does it will be in a blaze of glory.

He’s a carpe-diem-type personality who has admittedly imagined what these next two games could do for his stock with the Bombers long term.

“Yeah sure, I’ve thought about it,” Elliott said with a shrug. “But I’m just going to worry about the task at hand. I can’t worry about anything else.

“It’s going to be fun. I can tell you I hate the pre-game warm-up and I don’t like halftime. I like being out here where everything happens, right here between the lines.”

ed.tait@freepress.mb.ca