Brandon Bridge to sign with the Argos

[Will]

https://3downnation.com/2019/02/23/c...toronto-argos/

I personally thought they'd go with a veteran, but as free agency went on, their options there weren't great.

Bridge still has a long way to go to in his development.

[paulwoods13]

I guess we aren't getting Lulay (too bad), Ray is done or going to Edmonton (too bad) and we aren't interested in Glenn (oh well). I don't see Bridge as a guy who can be counted on to win games in the event of an injury to Franklin, but maybe this is the year he starts to figure things out. He did show tantalizing potential at times two years ago, but really regressed last year for whatever reason.

[Argofan_1000]

I guess we aren't getting Lulay (too bad), Ray is done or going to Edmonton (too bad) and we aren't interested in Glenn (oh well). I don't see Bridge as a guy who can be counted on to win games in the event of an injury to Franklin, but maybe this is the year he starts to figure things out. He did show tantalizing potential at times two years ago, but really regressed last year for whatever reason.

I think they will push each other

[Shatto]

Bridge has excellent athletic ability. If nothing else, he would make an very good 3rd down and one QB. Does he have the potential to become an effective QB--the jury is very much still out on that. But---he is an intriguing prospect.

If the rumour that there will be a change to the status of Canadian QB's, this could be a very good signing. However, that is only speculation at this time.

It does, more likely than not, mean the end of BTM's chances of making the team. If Franklin can show he can be an effective first string QB, the team should be OK but the offense must be designed to take advantages of his skills and strengths. In any case it makes for an interesting training camp.

[doubleblue]

I like this signing. Bridge has a lot of up side as far as I'm concerned. Got size, good arm and can run so there is a lot to work with there. Not concerned he had a bit of a down turn last year. You see it all the time, after teams get some video on young players they start to shut down some of the things they were doing. There are some very good defensive backs in this league. So then it's time for the QB Coaches to help them out, get back to basics and coach them up.
Same thing happened to Jennings in BC and who I expect to rebound some what this year in Ottawa.
Bridge as the #2 guy and counting as a National gives Chamblin another DI to play with.
Popp and Chamblin are making some very good moves this off season IMO.

[paulwoods13]

Bridge as the #2 guy and counting as a National gives Chamblin another DI to play with.

Not unless the rules changes. Nationality is irrelevant for QBs under the current rules -- teams can dress 21 NATs, 20 INTs and 3 QBs of any nationality. So no extra DI if a QB is a NAT.

For the record, I'll be very surprised if the rule on this is changed to (in theory) make it beneficial for teams to dress NAT QBs. There simply aren't enough NAT QBs to go around at this point, and teams without one would not support giving an advantage to teams that have one. (And also for the record, I am on record as believing that teams should be signing and developing NAT QBs, regardless of roster rules.)

[Ron]

Not unless the rules changes. Nationality is irrelevant for QBs under the current rules -- teams can dress 21 NATs, 20 INTs and 3 QBs of any nationality. So no extra DI if a QB is a NAT.

For the record, I'll be very surprised if the rule on this is changed to (in theory) make it beneficial for teams to dress NAT QBs. There simply aren't enough NAT QBs to go around at this point, and teams without one would not support giving an advantage to teams that have one. (And also for the record, I am on record as believing that teams should be signing and developing NAT QBs, regardless of roster rules.)

They should change the rules and your reasoning for not changing is the age-old cop out. It's irrelevant how many NAT QB's are around. if you have one he has to count as a NAT on the roster. Simply make the roster 21 NAT and 23 IMP and QB's are free to have the same benefit to the roster as any other NAT.

Teams are not forced to roster a NAT QB that isn't qualified but if they somehow develop one they get the benefit. Just as teams benefit now by having a NAT RB like Andrew Harris. He fills a NAT spot that is mostly filled by IMP elsewhere and Winnipeg benefits over other teams.

[john]

https://3downnation.com/2019/02/23/c...toronto-argos/

I personally thought they'd go with a veteran, but as free agency went on, their options there weren't great.

Bridge still has a long way to go to in his development.

very good news indeed !
bridge is a very good #2 for franklin and blocking schemes dont change
local boy comes home !

[Stevoman]

I like this signing. For me, I want to see the Argos play more aggressively in all three phases. Bridge exhibits this attitude and him being a local boy is also a special story.

[john]

if the ratio rules DO NOT change is there some way for argos to designate bridge as a slotback [give him 1st play/game at slotback] to skirt the ratio rule ?

[AngeloV]

Good luck to him. I still don’t think he is accurate enough to be a legit starter, but he can be lightning in a bottle for short term fixes. I expect he will be in a battle with Prukop to see you who’s #2. I also would not be surprised to see MBT moved or released before camp.

[OV Argo]

TWO Canadian QBs for Argo TC ??? - that's just whacked/insane = WTF is Popp thinking ? A new CBA rule change is going to give some bonus to a team that carries one of these inferior Canadian QBs, and Popp would have a leg up or an extra to trade ?

New page in Argo history - a CFL team that has historically had little to zero use for a Canadian QB (hey, they did draft Dan Fereday back in the 80s; and let Brannagan sit on the PR all of one season , including playing a few downs in garbage time in a meaningless game). This is historic !

[Rich]

New page in Argo history - a CFL team that has historically had little to zero use for a Canadian QB (hey, they did draft Dan Fereday back in the 80s; and let Brannagan sit on the PR all of one season , including playing a few downs in garbage time in a meaningless game). This is historic !

When was the last time someone from the GTA started at QB for the Argos? It's been at least 75 years. If I'm not mistaken Joe "King" Krol was the last Canadian to start at QB for the Argos -- in the late 40s -- but he was from Hamilton.

[OV Argo]

When was the last time someone from the GTA started at QB for the Argos? It's been at least 75 years. If I'm not mistaken Joe "King" Krol was the last Canadian to start at QB for the Argos -- in the late 40s -- but he was from Hamilton.

In 1969, veteran Canadian QB Frank Cosentino played for the Argos in his last CFL season; not sure if he had any starts, but he was 2nd behind Tom Wilkinson that season in pass attempts for the Argos (over 100 passes thrown); i tend to forget about that rare example of a Canadian QB with the Argos, and i remember Cosentino more as an Esk or Ticat. Cosentino was also from Hamilton and played his college ball at Western.

[R.J]

Not really a fan of this signing as I don't see Bridge as a viable option after Franklin, and as I recall Popp and Chaps gave up on him once already. I suppose with time and coaching Bridge can evolve under a coach like Chapdelaine (who IMO is heads above McAdoo), but we shall see. One or two of Bridge, Bethel-Thompson, Prukop, and Picton probably won't last around here after TC, so I think this is Bridge's last chance. I also think with this signing that Bethel-Thompson and Prukop have been put on notice.

[john]

Not really a fan of this signing as I don't see Bridge as a viable option after Franklin, and as I recall Popp and Chaps gave up on him once already. I suppose with time and coaching Bridge can evolve under a coach like Chapdelaine (who IMO is heads above McAdoo), but we shall see. One or two of Bridge, Bethel-Thompson, Prukop, and Picton probably won't last around here after TC, so I think this is Bridge's last chance. I also think with this signing that Bethel-Thompson and Prukop have been put on notice.

macbeth is terrible and cannot throw downfield nor run
recall franklin refused to sign an extension
bridge only signed a 1 yr contract - is a better runner that franklin but a worse passer
which may mean argos are without come 2020
then again we shall see what popp has up his sleeve

i think bridge plays a similar style to franklin which means play calling can stay pretty much the same - easy for players to change from 1 qb to the other
which dovetails well w/ coach cc's view of a smaller playbook
i hope the play calling of the oc who is also qb coah are far more aggressive
running qbs should be a feature of this offence - both franklin and bridge are very good runners
would love to see a play w/ 2 running qb - wonder what the defence would do ?

[paulwoods13]

macbeth is terrible and cannot throw downfield nor run
recall franklin refused to sign an extension
bridge only signed a 1 yr contract - is a better runner that franklin but a worse passer
which may mean argos are without come 2020
then again we shall see what popp has up his sleeve

i think bridge plays a similar style to franklin which means play calling can stay pretty much the same - easy for players to change from 1 qb to the other
which dovetails well w/ coach cc's view of a smaller playbook
i hope the play calling of the oc who is also qb coah are far more aggressive
running qbs should be a feature of this offence - both franklin and bridge are very good runners
would love to see a play w/ 2 running qb - wonder what the defence would do ?

The shift key and the period are your friends.

[john]

The shift key and the period are your friends.

wow...... more concerned about punctuation than the words - well everyone has to have a hobby i guess
typing 1 handed kinda makes shift key difficult, but go ahead and criticize punctuation......

[paulwoods13]

wow...... more concerned about punctuation than the words - well everyone has to have a hobby i guess
typing 1 handed kinda makes shift key difficult, but go ahead and criticize punctuation......

Sorry to hear about the one hand thing. I've commented on your words before as well, and I will again if you say things you haven't already said repeatedly.

[Argo57]

macbeth is terrible and cannot throw downfield nor run
recall franklin refused to sign an extension
bridge only signed a 1 yr contract - is a better runner that franklin but a worse passer
which may mean argos are without come 2020
then again we shall see what popp has up his sleeve

i think bridge plays a similar style to franklin which means play calling can stay pretty much the same - easy for players to change from 1 qb to the other
which dovetails well w/ coach cc's view of a smaller playbook
i hope the play calling of the oc who is also qb coah are far more aggressive
running qbs should be a feature of this offence - both franklin and bridge are very good runners
would love to see a play w/ 2 running qb - wonder what the defence would do ?

Franklin is a much more polished QB in all aspects of the game, he has a good arm, has exhibited some decent touch when needed and has decent mobility.
Bridge has a very strong arm and is mobile but he is much more raw in his skills, not overjoyed by this signing TBH but let’s see how things go.