Quarterback Injuries Damage the CFL [Archive]

ArgoRavi

06-28-2015, 04:33 PM

Last year, every starting qb missed some games.
After one game, the situation is even worse: it's uncertain when Ray will be back; Durant is out for the season; Reilly is on crutches; and Crompton injured his shoulder.
In addition, Crompton's replacement, Dan LeFevour, was out with a serious injury.
In qb dominant league, this damages the quality of the CFL game.

I totally agree although I don't know what else the league can do about this issue. I have been watching this league for a long time, as I know you have, Jerry, and QBs are better protected by officials today than they ever have been. Yet, we see more QB injuries today than we ever have. I really don't know what the answer is to this problem.

KCargosfan

06-29-2015, 01:01 AM

All these were just very unfortunate injuries that could not have been prevented by some rule. It is bad for the league as a whole, but what do you do? It is somewhat ironic we signed McPherson last week, as I believe he would possibly have been called by three other teams by now.

AngeloV

06-29-2015, 01:30 PM

Argo

06-29-2015, 04:11 PM

I totally agree although I don't know what else the league can do about this issue. I have been watching this league for a long time, as I know you have, Jerry, and QBs are better protected by officials today than they ever have been. Yet, we see more QB injuries today than we ever have. I really don't know what the answer is to this problem.

Yet we still regularly see illegal hits to the QB (e.g., helmet-to-helmet) that are not caught / not called.

Reilly-Laing-type injuries are a different kettle of fish. In any case the pocket can hardly be made a no-contact zone. Perhaps some as yet undetermined tweaking of the rules of the game might be able to improve quarterback safety. There does seem to be problem beyond basic bad luck.

doubleblue

06-29-2015, 06:01 PM

I see a couple of factors.

At the risk of agreeing with OV, the defence today really gets to pin their ears back and go full speed at the QB. You have basically 5 lineman and a back on pass protection today. Used to see 7 guys at all times in the 2 back/TE days.

QB's also get confused with the multiple looks they see on D now, and often just hold on to the ball too long, leaving themselves really exposed.

I agree the QB's seem to be hung out to dry if a defense blitzes with the blockers being out numbered. No big FB to pick up these guys.
However, IMO Durant and Reilly's injures were more or less flukes but unfortunate just the same for their teams and the League.

1argoholic

06-30-2015, 11:01 AM

The CFL is looking into having the qb's wear flags for next season. It's a JOKE!!! One year every qb stays healthy the next everyone gets hurt. Who knows from year to year.

I think guys should get flags tossed when they celebrate a huge hit that hurts a guy and leaves him injured on the field. I hate that disrespect. The older I get the more I feel for these guys. I have tons of aches and pains from my sports days but mostly from years of landscaping. These guys take a beating. Voltarin is my best friend.

paulwoods13

06-30-2015, 11:30 AM

The CFL is looking into having the qb's wear flags for next season. It's a JOKE!!! One year every qb stays healthy the next everyone gets hurt. Who knows from year to year.

Well, this marks two years in a row that a lot of QBs got hurt.

AngeloV

06-30-2015, 02:31 PM

I agree the QB's seem to be hung out to dry if a defense blitzes with the blockers being out numbered. No big FB to pick up these guys.
However, IMO Durant and Reilly's injures were more or less flukes but unfortunate just the same for their teams and the League.

Agreed on those 2. I was speaking in general terms for over the last few seasons.

jerrym

06-30-2015, 08:52 PM

A number of factors are leading to increasing QB injuries. As the league has become more and more pass-oriented, the more chances there are for the qb to be hit, but more important the greater the incentive to focus on rushing the qb and to ignore the chance a running play is being called in case one is caught off-guard. Physics also says that as the weight of defensive linemen has increased, the greater the average force of impact on the qb and thus the greater risk of injury. The expansion of rosters has also meant there is a greater opportunity for a player who is primarily a qb rusher to make a team. The loss of twin RBs and the tight end also means there is less protection for the qb.

Argo

07-02-2015, 09:40 PM

Now Drew Willy :- (

"Drew Willy has left the game as the Winnipeg Blue Bombers trail the Hamilton Tiger-Cats 24-7 in the second quarter from Investors Group Field. Willy suffered a hit to the head as he was sacked in the first quarter."

jerrym

07-02-2015, 10:27 PM

Drew Willy's injury could leave Winnipeg vulnerable, add to CFL's QB issues

Late in the first quarter, Willy was wrapped up by Hamilton linebacker Taylor Reed and then hit by defensive tackle Adrian Tracy in what looked like helmet-to-helmet contact. Willy was falling at the time, so Tracy's intention may not have been to hit his head. However, the result saw Willy lie dazed on the ground for several minutes while receiving treatment, and he was eventually helped off. If Willy winds up out for a while, what could that mean for the Bombers and for the CFL?
For the Bombers, any prolonged absence from Willy could be highly problematic. Willy was huge in their 30-26 Week One win (https://ca.sports.yahoo.com/blogs/cfl-55-yard-line/bombers-win-in-regina-for-first-time-since-2004--get-off-to-a-great-start-032831901.html) over Saskatchewan, completing 22 of 25 passes for 325 yards and three touchdowns.

https://ca.sports.yahoo.com/blogs/cfl-55-yard-line/drew-willy-s-injury-could-leave-winnipeg-vulnerable--adds-to-cfl-s-qb-issues-014837252.html

jerrym

07-03-2015, 02:00 AM

TWEET OF THE WEEK
"#Ridernation its unfortunate for the loss of Double D.. But I'm available to come back and help.. #CFL #CFLStrong #ImReady."
- Quarterback Casey Printers (@CaseyPrinters), who isn't ready to hang up the cleats just yet but shouldn't expect his phone to ring any time soon

http://www.edmontonsun.com/2015/07/01/qb-injuries-likely-will-see-more-scoring-woes-awful-games

Argo

07-03-2015, 02:51 AM

If Printers plays again, it must be ASAP as he's now 34 years old. I'd like to see him be called upon to QB a team whose starter is out for an extended period.

Printers had an idiot for an agent (a relative, IIRC), a crappy situation in Hamilton, and he received rather a bum rap, much the same as the "Flutie is a cancer" BS that circulated for a month or two before Flutie was finally shafted in Buffalo.

jerrym

07-03-2015, 04:47 PM

The Bombers know they have a big problem with the loss of Willy as the number of injured qbs continues to grow.

http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/sports/football/bombers/No-Willy-possible-problem-311539561.html

Fumblitis

07-04-2015, 12:28 PM

Here's something to ponder. I wonder with all these QB injuries if teams will be tempted to revert to 4 receiver sets with 2 back sets or tight end formation to protect their QB's better?

ArgoRavi

07-04-2015, 01:33 PM

Here's something to ponder. I wonder with all these QB injuries if teams will be tempted to revert to 4 receiver sets with 2 back sets or tight end formation to protect their QB's better?

I was wondering the same thing. If it is seen that the cause of these QB injuries is increased blitzing due to the new rules - and I think that the jury is still out on that one - it would seem to make sense that the next step in the "evolution" of CFL offences is to revert back to what we used to see in the 1980s when a fullback was used on a full-time basis to help with blocking.

jerrym

07-04-2015, 10:20 PM

Hit on Willy Hits Home with Argo's Harris

Trevor Harris couldn’t help but wince when he watched on TV as Drew Willy got clocked in the head on Thursday night. ...
Harris, who plays quarterback for the Argonauts, knows that he can be part of such a play every time he walks on to the field. ...
“Mike, Darian, Drew, those guys are the face of our league and it’s unfortunate when they go down,” Harris said following practice on Friday. “But it’s football and it’s a physical game and those things happen. It really stinks. My prayers and thoughts go out to those guys and I just hope they can get healthy quick.” ...
“Shoot, any time you can walk out of a game healthy, it is by the grace of God. Any time you can walk off the field, period,” Harris said. “You just have to play the game. When injuries happen, you have to weather it and hope for the best and rehab as quickly as you can. When it’s a head injury, it’s really scary, and scary for Drew, and you hope for the best for him.”
Argos head coach Scott Milanovich also was watching the Winnipeg-Hamilton game though he acknowledged he did not see much more of it after Willy was injured. “It was a brutal hit,” Milanovich said. “(Injuries to quarterbacks) seem to come in bunches and hopefully that will be the end of it for a while.”
For Harris, the sharper focus is on trying to come anywhere close to the level of success he had in the Argos’ opener last week in Fort McMurray, Alta., against Edmonton. While the Toronto defence stymied the Eskimos offence, especially in the second half, Harris was excellent from start to finish, making 24 completions on 27 pass attempts for 347 yards and three touchdowns. The completion rate of 88.9% was not far off the CFL record of 92% (with a minimum of 25 attempts). ...
“I don’t know that you can improve on that,” Milanovich said of Harris’ production against the Esks. “He just needs to have another good performance. He needs to continue to protect the football and manage the team, get us in and out of the huddle. Take what is there when it’s given and, if he needs to, run for the first down — do those things. Expect him to play well.

http://www.torontosun.com/2015/07/03/hit-on-willy-hits-home-with-argos-harris

jerrym

07-27-2015, 11:56 AM

Kevin Glenn has been added to injured quarterback list in the Rider's loss to Hamilton. The rarely used backup quarterback Brett Smith replaced him to no avail.

It appeared Glenn injured himself late in the third quarter after he was intercepted by Rico Murray. Glenn was in on the tackle of Murray and was spotted on the sideline grimacing when he tried to move his right shoulder.
“I don’t think it’s snake bit,” Smith said. “Football is a rough sport. Quarterbacks bodies aren’t really meant to tackle guys sometimes. Kevin is a hard worker and he’s a great teammate. He’s going to do what he can to prevent a touchdown and help the team.”

http://globalnews.ca/news/2132996/glenn-injured-as-roughriders-drop-to-0-5-after-loss-to-tiger-cats/

jerrym

07-28-2015, 06:03 PM

Drew Willy was also injured last week, suffering a knee injury that makes him questionable against the Lions this week.

jerrym

07-30-2015, 04:12 PM

Looks like Winnipeg will be trotting a wonky Willy again this week. Can we say Buck Pierce II?

Already this season, injuries have forced Canadian Football League teams to dig deep into the reserves and play their third-string quarterbacks – and we’re still in the month of July.
Such weighty matters normally considered by backup QBs – how should I wear my ball cap on the sidelines, peak to the front or to the back? – have been replaced by the serious need to buckle up and be ready.
Brian Brohm, the No. 2 quarterback of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, got the emergency call last Saturday against the Edmonton Eskimos when starter Drew Willy was knocked out of the game on a low hit to his right knee, an injury that figured to place the Bombers in some peril for Thursday night’s game against the visiting B.C. Lions.
Willy was in sweat pants when the Bombers went through their only practice of the week on Tuesday, an indication that he might be hiding something, such as a tell-tale knee brace. (The Blue Bombers acknowledge injuries only in generalities, “upper or “lower” body).
Indeed, it is shaping up as another painful season in Winnipeg, especially for Willy, who was sacked 66 times last year and has been injured previously this season. He lay prone on the turf for several minutes, in varying stages of consciousness, after being whacked in the helmet in the Blue Bombers’ home opener, a humiliating 52-26 defeat to the Hamilton Tiger-Cats.

http://www.pressreader.com/canada/the-vancouver-sun/20150730/282411283024949/TextView

jerrym

07-30-2015, 04:19 PM

Willy argues that the league has to raise fines if it wants to reduce the QB hunting season.

Willy inferred Wednesday that if the CFL wanted to get really serious about the mayhem they should hit offenders more heavily in the pocket book. The league announced Wednesday that Eddie Steele of the Eskimos had been fined for his low-bridge hit on Willy. “As per league policy,” the amount of the fine was not announced.
“I have great respect for the refs in our league,” Willy said. “Sometimes, they’re human, like everyone else. (But) you can’t fine a guy, like you can in the NFL (Clay Matthews of the Green Bay Packers was docked $22,050 for a blind side hit on the Seahawks’ Russell Wilson in the NFC championship game). It’s the No. 1 thing right there. You fine a guy $250 (in the CFL).”
In other words, it’s a cue to all backup signal-callers in the CFL: Better buckle up.

http://www.vancouversun.com/sports/Bombers+wonky+Drew+Willy+bounces+back+start+agains t+Lions/11252635/story.html

jerrym

07-30-2015, 06:56 PM

The Rider-Eskimo game this week symbolizes the high rate of QB injuries. Third string Brett Smith faces second string Matt Nichols. Second string rules considering what Nichols has already accomplished.

Backup Matt Nichols has been the starter in all three wins, having completed 47-of-79 passes (59.5 per cent) for 650 yards with four TDs and four interceptions. Nichols will be under centre Friday night against Saskatchewan (0-5) despite rookie James Franklin completing 9-of-15 passes for 124 yards and three TDs against Winnipeg.

http://globalnews.ca/news/2138688/edmonton-eskimos-rolling-despite-injury-to-reilly/

jerrym

08-11-2015, 11:47 PM

As I suggested above, the Bombers seem to be rushing Willy back early and could pay dearly for it. Now they have. The QB injury list keeps growing.

The Winnipeg Blue Bombers may have lost starting quarterback Drew Willy to a right knee injury for the balance of the season.
Willy suffered a tibial plateau fracture and partial tear of the posterior cruciate ligament in Sunday's 38-8 loss at Hamilton and will be sidelined at least six to eight weeks, and perhaps longer.

http://www.cbc.ca/sports/football/cfl/drew-willy-blue-bombers-qb-out-6-8-weeks-with-right-knee-injury-1.3186947

argolio

08-12-2015, 12:42 AM

Willy was coming off a very good game vs B.C., so I don't buy the idea that he was injured due to being rushed back too early.

PullTogether73

08-12-2015, 06:38 AM

Willy argues that the league has to raise fines if it wants to reduce the QB hunting season.

http://www.vancouversun.com/sports/Bombers+wonky+Drew+Willy+bounces+back+start+agains t+Lions/11252635/story.html

Never mind the league fining defenders.
Willy should ask his coaching staff to fine his O-line and other blockers for the crappy job they do protecting him.
Of course, maybe the coaches should be fined for not coaching those blockers well.

jerrym

09-25-2015, 08:18 PM

The CFL injury carousel continues with the loss of Collaros.

The Hamilton Tiger-Cats' Grey Cup hopes were dealt a significant blow Monday when the team announced that star quarterback Zach Collaros will miss the rest of the CFL season with a knee injury.
Collaros – who leads the league in passing yards with 3,376, and in touchdown passes with 25 –suffered a torn ACL early in the second quarter (http://www.cbc.ca/sports/football/cfl/eskimos-defence-upends-ticats-1.3235459) of Saturday's 25-18 loss to the visiting Edmonton Eskimos at Tim Hortons Field.

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/hamilton/news/collaros-acl-tiger-cats-cfl-1.3237702

jerrym

09-25-2015, 08:21 PM

and the list keeps getting longer and longer as the Lions lose both Lulay and Beck and are left with third string Johnathon Jennings as starter.

Jonathon Jennings has been here before.
A true freshman quarterback at Saginaw Valley State University back in 2010, Jennings started five games as an 18 year old before going onto a decorated career with Cardinals, including 31 touchdown passes as a senior.
Fast-forward five seasons and he's getting thrown into the deep end once more with the B.C. Lions.
With both Travis Lulay and John Beck out injured, Jennings will make the first professional start of his career on Saturday when the Lions visit the Edmonton Eskmos.
"I relate this very much so to that," the 23-year-old said after Wednesday's practice. "I kind of got thrown into the fire in college my freshman year. You just try and learn as much as you can from those vets.
"You have to be realistic with yourself. You're not going to know everything, but you have to go out there and try to do what you can."
Lulay suffered a knee injury on Sept. 3, while Beck went down with a pectoral-muscle ailment in Friday's 35-23 road loss to the Calgary Stampeders, meaning that in a few short weeks Jennings has gone from No. 3 to No. 1 on the depth chart.

http://www.cbc.ca/sports/football/cfl/lions-turn-to-jonathon-jennings-1.3241149

jerrym

09-25-2015, 08:46 PM

The title and picture say it all.

The 2015 CFL season should get its 20th different starting quarterback this week

https://s1.yimg.com/bt/api/res/1.2/6xPGirrjBzG1x5NS5Xw8fQ--/YXBwaWQ9eW5ld3NfbGVnbztmaT1maWxsO2g9Mzc3O2lsPXBsYW 5lO3B4b2ZmPTUwO3B5b2ZmPTA7cT03NTt3PTY3MA--/http://media.zenfs.com/en_us/News/Reuters/2015-09-19T214924Z_1176869347_GF10000212922_RTRMADP_3_CANA DA-CFL.JPG (https://ca.sports.yahoo.com/blogs/cfl-55-yard-line/the-2015-cfl-season-should-get-its-20th-different-starting-quarterback-this-week-203358479.html#)
.

https://ca.sports.yahoo.com/blogs/cfl-55-yard-line/the-2015-cfl-season-should-get-its-20th-different-starting-quarterback-this-week-203358479.html

Will

09-27-2015, 12:37 PM

Somewhat ironic that the oldest (Burris) QB is the guy who hasn't missed any time at all over the last couple of years.

ArgoRavi

09-27-2015, 01:26 PM

Somewhat ironic that the oldest (Burris) QB is the guy who hasn't missed any time at all over the last couple of years.'

I can think of only two major injuries that Burris has had in his career. He suffered a season-ending knee injury in 1999 and a dislocated shoulder in, I believe, 2007 when he missed a few games. Other than those injuries, he has been remarkably durable during his career.

jerrym

10-01-2015, 12:06 AM

Here's a list of current QB injuries, along with a few others, showing how widespread the problem is and leading to the question whether some rule changes could reduce the risk of QB injury in the future.
[quote]

DON BEST - CANADIAN FOOTBALL INJURIES

Canadian Football

<tbody>

<tbody>
Last Updated: September 30, 2015 9:00 11 AM

B.C. Lions

09/11/15
QB
Travis Lulay
Knee
placed on 6 game injured list

08/20/15
LB
Solomon Elimimian
Achilles
out for season

Hamilton Tigercats

09/24/15
QB
Zach Collaros
Knee
out for season

Montreal Alouettes

08/24/14
2nd QB
Dan LeFevour
Shoulder
out for season

07/09/15
LB
Bear Woods
Pectoral
out for season

Saskatchewan Roughriders

06/28/15
QB
Darian Durant
Achilles
out for season

Toronto Argonauts

08/11/15
QB
Ricky Ray
Shoulder
out indefinitely

Winnipeg Blue Bombers

09/03/15
QB
Robert Marve
Leg
expected to miss next 6 games

08/11/15
QB
Drew Willy
Knee
out indefinitely

http://www.donbest.com/cfl/injuries/

</tbody>

</tbody>

KCargosfan

10-01-2015, 12:21 AM

We don't need any rule changes. QBs are already way overprotected as it is.

"Issues"Mcgee

10-01-2015, 02:34 AM

[QUOTE=jerrym;69536]Here's a list of current QB injuries, along with a few others, showing how widespread the problem is and leading to the question whether some rule changes could reduce the risk of QB injury in the future.
[quote]

Please no more rule changes. I think we've all had enough of that.

ArgoRavi

10-01-2015, 12:12 PM

How many more rule changes can we have to protect QBs at this point? The only one I can think of is that they wear a red jersey during games and are not allowed to be tackled.

AngeloV

10-01-2015, 01:06 PM

KCargosfan

10-01-2015, 04:37 PM

How many more rule changes can we have to protect QBs at this point? The only one I can think of is that they wear a red jersey during games and are not allowed to be tackled.

:D

Argocister

10-02-2015, 12:17 AM

I think CFL teams may need to re-think how they use the ratio going forward. I think the big problem is that o-lineman are flat getting beat. Also with all the different blitz packages you now see, it is very understandable that Milanovich sees pass protection as the #1 function of his RB's.

The ratio being a problem? You will have to show me that it's been the Canadians only allowing the blitz men to get thru.there was an article from out west commenting on this. .... Pardon the pun ...... Hogwash.
Milanovich , I'm sure, is not the only one requiring pass protection from their RBs.

Perhaps it's because we have a pass happy league.

paulwoods13

10-02-2015, 07:59 AM

AngeloV

10-02-2015, 10:06 AM

We had a pass-happy league in the 1980s and '90s too. But never QB injuries like this. I honestly think the day is coming at all levels of football where the quarterback will not be allowed to be hit.

You may be right, but before it comes to that, I can see a rule put in limiting how many players can rush the passer. I can see a rule implemented allowing no more than 6 rushers on any play.

ArgoRavi

10-02-2015, 07:31 PM

You may be right, but before it comes to that, I can see a rule put in limiting how many players can rush the passer. I can see a rule implemented allowing no more than 6 rushers on any play.

That would be similar to what they do in all-star games.

Argocister

10-03-2015, 12:43 AM

My son was showing me an article posted on Facebook regarding oline players playing with emphasis on the pass protection now compared to previously. As the spread offense became more predominant in high school and college over the years, the Oline supposedly, puts more emphasis on pass protection type of moves. ...... I wil try and source out the article ...... And this was with respect to the NFL olines ...... Which don't have that high percentage Canadian content .

jerrym

10-03-2015, 08:06 PM

34 year old John Beck, who replaced an injured Lulay only to suffer a pectoral muscle injury that ended his season, has announced his retirement from football.

Argocister

10-04-2015, 10:10 PM

So here is the article from ESPN ..... looks like its just not a CFL thing .... or a Canadian Oline thing .... ( as one reporter wrote )

http://espn.go.com/blog/nflnation/post/_/id/181904/nfls-o-line-epidemic-threatens-its-qb-star-system

here is the Canadian article

http://news.nationalpost.com/sports/cfl/cfls-quarterback-casualties-mount-as-homegrown-players-are-being-outmatched-by-american-talent

jerrym

10-07-2015, 08:52 PM

Ottawa got a scare last night when Burris went down with an injury that prevented him from finishing the game. However, the good news for Burris and Ottawa is that it appears he will be able to able to play their next game, unlike so many other QBs who have been injured this year.

Burris was hit from the side by Argos defensive lineman Ricky Foley on the second-last play of the game, what was supposed to be a long pass down the field to get the Redblacks into position for what might have been a game-tying field-goal attempt. He remained down on the field long enough for backup QB Thomas DeMarco to get in a few hurried warm-up throws.
DeMarco then rushed onto the field and heaved a pass down the left sideline, but the ball was knocked to the ground by a defender and the game was over. That left the Redblacks with an 8-6 record after their third loss in as many games against the Argos, whose 8-5 record matches that of the Hamilton Tiger-Cats atop the Canadian Football League (http://ottawacitizen.com/tag/Canadian-Football-League)‘s East Division.
“We fought 60 minutes (Tuesday night) and gave it our all, but right now it’s all about for us to finish out these last four games and get into these playoffs and be rolling when we do,” Burris said, referring to the season-ending tandems of home-and-away games against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers and Tiger-Cats.
“Right now it’s important that we take advantage of these four days that we have before we get back to practice and use (the break) to get our bodies adjusted and stay strong and get recovered, get fresh and get ready to go beecause we have four important games to finish out this season.

http://ottawacitizen.com/sports/football/cfl/redblacks-qb-henry-burris-says-hes-fine-will-start-next-game