A while ago, I published an article about the changing face of CFL quarterbacking. This article might be considered Part II.
The ousting of B.C. and Saskatchewan from the CFL playoffs confirms that a new quarterback will win the Grey Cup. But the results mean something more: it means the passing of an era in CFL quarterbacking.
Gone is Montreal Alouette stalwart Anthony Cavillo. Ricky Ray and Henry Burris missed the playoffs. Kerry Joseph will go back into retirement. Kevin Glenn’s days are numbered.
This year’s Grey Cup quarterbacking is about now and the future. Along with the injured Darian Durant and Travis Lulay, and Winnipeg’s Drew Willy, the quarterbacks in this year’s remaining playoff games are going to be the stars of the CFL for the next 5-10 years.
So it will be Bo Levi Mitchell and Drew Tate in Calgary, Mike Reilly and Matt Nichols in Edmonton, Jonathan Crompton in Montreal, and Zach Collaros in Hamilton, all trying to be the new man in the CFL.
Gentlemen, you are not just playing for the Grey Cup. You will be playing against one of your main rivals for at least the next half-decade. If you are Tom Brady, then he is Peyton Manning. You will be shaking his hand before the coin-flip and conversing with him after the game many times over the next few years.
It is because of the new uncertainness that this year’s Grey Cup is so wide open. Nobody knows which quarterback can win the big game. In the end, it may not even come down to quarterbacking, but some other factor where one team has an edge over the other.
Crompton and Nichols have already passed the first test, but as the playoffs move on, the opposition gets tougher.
The upcoming three games are going to be personal in a lot of ways. The winning quarterbacks will have established an edge over their defeated rivals.
Management will also be watching closely. Was there a decided edge in the play of one quarterback over another? Was the defeat due to him or does the team have to be improved in other ways?
So this is a pivotal year in the CFL as far as quarterbacks are concerned. It is all about now and tomorrow.
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