Bethel-Thompson to start against Ottawa

[1971GreyCup]

Mike Hogan tweet: #Argos head coach Marc Trestman has announced QB McLeod Bethel-Thompson will start this week vs Ottawa. #CFL

[R.J]

I am not surprised.

[OV Argo]

Good luck with that one.

Maybe Trestman should start looking in the mirror or at his offensive assistants - to change a boring, predictable, limited offence - instead of assuming putting in an unproven / unimpressive QB is some big answer.

Argos are the worst team in the league now IMO - and yes, worse than the lame-o Als.

[Neely2005]

It makes sense given that Trestman has said all along that Franklin and BT were equal and 2 & 2A.

[R.J]

It makes sense given that Trestman has said all along that Franklin and BT were equal and 2 & 2A.

I'm interested to see if it was really that close.

[Neely2005]

I'm interested to see if it was really that close.

Agreed but it may be difficult to tell as Franklin was playing against tougher Western teams.

[Stevoman]

I think it is a mistake. It's a short week to prepare and Franklin shouldn't have this short of a leash and we really need this win. But I guess we haven't seen Bethel-Thompson in regular season...

[gilthethrill]

In an era where the qb won/loss record has become front and centre, let's remember that MBT was 1-0 in the preseason.🤔

But as a comic in all seriousness, the game plan has to call for a quick release...can the line buy him time, can the receivers get open quickly and most importantly, can MBT make quick decisions?

[Wobbler]

... can the receivers get open quickly...?

I think we've seen that they can't.

[Argo57]

In an era where the qb won/loss record has become front and centre, let's remember that MBT was 1-0 in the preseason.🤔

But as a comic in all seriousness, the game plan has to call for a quick release...can the line buy him time, can the receivers get open quickly and most importantly, can MBT make quick decisions?

Hopefully the quick release isn’t too quick, it takes our receivers a while to get to where they need to be.

[Joe Barnes]

Hopefully the quick release isn’t too quick, it takes our receivers a while to get to where they need to be.

Yeah...the o-line has not protected Franklin and the receivers have been slow. I don't see that changing. So good luck to B-T! Still, maybe this step back is what Franklin needs right now. A chance to catch his breath and re-set.

[PullTogether73]

I know nothing about Bethel-Thompson, so I looked him up online.

How is this guy even given any opportunity in professional football?

His college stats are supremely unimpressive... https://www.foxsports.com/college-fo...n-player-stats
He only played in 14 games over 4 years with 12 of those at FCS Big Sky Conference school Sacramento State - not exactly a powerhouse school or conference.
Completion % of 55-58 over his three years there.
Small number of pass attempts per game (18 max.)
Average passing yards per game of 138 or less.
7 td passes versus 8 interceptions over 3 years.

His professional career is equally unimpressive...https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/McLeod_Bethel-Thompson.

WTF???

[Argo]

Good luck with that one.

Maybe Trestman should start looking in the mirror or at his offensive assistants - to change a boring, predictable, limited offence - instead of assuming putting in an unproven / unimpressive QB is some big answer.

Argos are the worst team in the league now IMO - and yes, worse than the lame-o Als.

Agreed.

[R.J]

I know nothing about Bethel-Thompson, so I looked him up online.

How is this guy even given any opportunity in professional football?

His college stats are supremely unimpressive... https://www.foxsports.com/college-fo...n-player-stats
He only played in 14 games over 4 years with 12 of those at FCS Big Sky Conference school Sacramento State - not exactly a powerhouse school or conference.
Completion % of 55-58 over his three years there.
Small number of pass attempts per game (18 max.)
Average passing yards per game of 138 or less.
7 td passes versus 8 interceptions over 3 years.

His professional career is equally unimpressive...https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/McLeod_Bethel-Thompson.

WTF???

He's a prototypical pocket QB. Big, supposedly strong armed, lead foot, and doesn't like to stray from/freelance from the play that's called. Hence why Trestman is probably so enamored with him.

I wonder, if BT shits the bed and Franklin continues to struggle would Trestman even think about putting in someone like Prukop ?

[PullTogether73]

Well, Ricky Ray played a couple of years at Sacramento State as well.
Maybe lightning strikes twice?

[OV Argo]

I know nothing about Bethel-Thompson, so I looked him up online.

How is this guy even given any opportunity in professional football?

His college stats are supremely unimpressive... https://www.foxsports.com/college-fo...n-player-stats
He only played in 14 games over 4 years with 12 of those at FCS Big Sky Conference school Sacramento State - not exactly a powerhouse school or conference.
Completion % of 55-58 over his three years there.
Small number of pass attempts per game (18 max.)
Average passing yards per game of 138 or less.
7 td passes versus 8 interceptions over 3 years.

His professional career is equally unimpressive...https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/McLeod_Bethel-Thompson.

WTF???

Didn't he get a couple of NFL looks? - that means tons to a typical CFL GOB personnel guy or GM.

[ArgoRavi]

Didn't he get a couple of NFL looks? - that means tons to a typical CFL GOB personnel guy or GM.

He received lots of NFL looks, including three stints with San Francisco, and two each with the Vikings and Dolphins so it would appear as though those three teams saw something in him that they liked. We have a few Vikings fans on here. Perhaps some of them can comment on Bethel-Thompson's time with Minnesota.

[Rich]

I am guessing that Franklin is hurt. He whacked his throwing hand pretty hard on a helmet late in the game Friday, and even if it's not broken that can really make it difficult to grip the ball properly.

Pulling a healthy Franklin in favour of BT would smack of desperation at this point in the season, and I don't believe Trestman is that kind of coach.

[macspectrum]

i mean seriously .....
if he was so enamoured with by BT was not give him snaps in 2 blowout games against 'peg ?
i still maintain that the cfl is a mobile qb league not pocket passing which is very nfl thinking
doug flutie was very mobile and ran around and very successful
mobility is even more important if argos have a weak o line
.
wilder stays to protect qb blind side, qb rolls to his strong side, cross [who is catchless in 2 games] goes across middle into flat
qb then has option to run or throw
.
archer needs to be fired
let marcus ball call d on field

[R.J]

So according to Naylor and Scianitti: Trestman loves BT workman attitude (first in, and last out), and that BT loves football whereas Franklin just likes football. Also brought up how Trestman gave Ray all the reps, but when Franklin was the starter BT was getting 15-20% of the first team reps - will that continue no that it's the other way around ?

I also wonder if when asked about BT and the QB situation Trestman will bring up Franklin the same way he always seemed to bring up Bethel Thompson.