Argos need an experienced backup QB. Can they find one?

[Argo57]

If you read the first post I asked a question. If you don't try to get an experienced QB, for sure you won't get one. There may QBs available near the trade deadline that aren't available now. That's how Winnipeg got Collaros and BC got Adams. I'm not saying it will work but some commenters said we should stick with Dukes to develop him. However, historically first year QBs have rarely been handed the ball and told keep going on teams heading into the playoffs, we won't look for anyone else to come in. Even Warren Moon was a backup to Wilkinson in his rookie year.

There is a shortage of quality QB’s right now and teams that are lucky enough to have a competent backup certainly won’t be trading them.
Argos brass aren’t stupid and surely explored all options heading into the season and had to go with what they had.

[OV Argo]

Well, Dru Brown was just superb IMO in relief of Collaros; accurate passing and showed poise; but playing in a top CFL offence with Buck P as OC, plus Brown has been with them learning for a few seasons, plus has some very good deep threat receivers in Schoen, Demski, Lawler.

Tre Ford did well playing on a $hite team; threw some nice strikes and the guy is maybe the most dangerous running QB the league has seen in decades.


SO, maybe the CFL QB situation is not as dire as some believe. There's going to be some good young QBs, along with some weak ones. And the offensive coaching limitations & stupidity that are so common in the league now can hold back any QB from succeeding.

[bannedforlife]

Well, Dru Brown was just superb IMO in relief of Collaros; accurate passing and showed poise; but playing in a top CFL offence with Buck P as OC, plus Brown has been with them learning for a few seasons, plus has some very good deep threat receivers in Schoen, Demski, Lawler.

Tre Ford did well playing on a $hite team; threw some nice strikes and the guy is maybe the most dangerous running QB the league has seen in decades.

SO, maybe the CFL QB situation is not as dire as some believe. There's going to be some good young QBs, along with some weak ones. And the offensive coaching limitations & stupidity that are so common in the league now can hold back any QB from succeeding.

Agree with most everything you said. I have posted about the quality of CFL QBs going in cycles and lately it has been a down cycle. Now, I think you are going to see a Renaissance at the position, looks like there's lots of new talent out there in the league.

With Ford, I have to ask the question why didn't they have him run more. You are right, he looks like the most dangerous guy in the league. Maybe they don't want him getting nailed, I don't know.

[Tobin Rote]

Maybe one of the big problems is the recent lack of experienced American born quarterbacks hanging around to serve as back-ups due to the relatively low salaries available to non-starters under the restrictive CFL salary cap. Maybe all QB salaries should be excluded from the cap.

[paulwoods13]

Maybe one of the big problems is the recent lack of experienced American born quarterbacks hanging around to serve as back-ups due to the relatively low salaries available to non-starters under the restrictive CFL salary cap. Maybe all QB salaries should be excluded from the cap.

The two caps (players and football ops) definitely hurt the league from a purely competitive/fan enjoyment standpoint. The former drives potential players away, and the latter handicaps teams that make bad hiring decisions. But getting rid of either, or even providing "workarounds/opt-outs" for certain situations, would seem to defeat the purpose, which was to keep a lid on expenses in a league that perpetually has a revenue shortfall. If QB salaries were excluded from the cap, teams would get into even bigger bidding wars for starting QBs, and it would drive down to guys at the next level. For instance, do you think Wpg might be willing to pay $400k to keep Dru Brown as Collaros's backup, rather than lose him? I do. The net result would be everyone spending hundreds of thousands of dollars they don't have.

[ArgoRavi]

It's still the case that if you want to make a living playing professional football, the CFL is the much better place to be as opposed to the XFL or USFL. If you're still hoping for an NFL shot, you can get that by coming to the CFL but it may be easier to do from the USFL/XFL.

[paulwoods13]

It's still the case that if you want to make a living playing professional football, the CFL is the much better place to be as opposed to the XFL or USFL. If you're still hoping for an NFL shot, you can get that by coming to the CFL but it may be easier to do from the USFL/XFL.

I don't think there's any maybe about it, Ravi. Alex McGough went from USFL MVP straight to an NFL camp. If he'd been up here and was the MVP, his NFL shot would be delayed by a year.