Bob Irving
CFL.ca
Why would the Winnipeg Blue bombers trade a quarterback who completed 62% of his passes, threw 19 touchdown passes and only 7 interceptions, had the third highest quarterback rating in the CFL behind Anthony Calvillo and Henry Burris in 2010 and is only 28 years old?
That’s the question rolling around in the minds of many Blue Bomber fans after the team’s GM and VP of Football Operations, Joe Mack, pulled the trigger on a deal that sent Jyles to the Toronto Argonauts for the Argos 1st round pick (4th overall) in this year’s CFL draft, and a 4th round selection in 2012. The 2012 pick could be upgraded to a second rounder if Jyles starts 12 or more games with the Argos this season.
Mack and Bomber head coach Paul LaPolice cited three primary reasons for making the deal.
First and foremost, it’s a Blue Bomber priority to upgrade their Canadian depth. The Jyles trade gives Winnipeg the first and fourth overall selections in the May 8th Canadian draft and as Mack said “I would like to know the last time Winnipeg had two picks in the first round.” Coupled with a trade a few weeks ago that sent long-snapper Taylor Inglis to the Edmonton Eskimos for 5th and 6th round picks, the Bombers have doubled the number of players they can choose in this year’s draft from three to sixth.
The deal also gives the Bombers more flexibility on draft day when it comes to making a trade. Mack says it’s unlikely he’ll trade the first overall pick, but he hasn’t ruled out using the fourth overall selection in some kind of draft day trade package.
Secondly, the Bombers have made it clear that Buck Pierce is their number one quarterback, and they have plenty of confidence in the two young signal callers who will back him up this season. When asked if he’s comfortable going into the 2011 season with Joey Elliott and Alex Brink as the men behind Pierce, Mack said, “Yes, I am, both players know our system, and Elliott in particular showed plenty of skill, leadership and moxy during the two games he started at the end of the 2010 season.”
Pierce has made a tremendous off-season recovery from a dislocated elbow that ended his 2010 campaign on the Labour Day long weekend in Regina. He says he’s in the best shape of his life, and the Bombers are convinced Pierce is in for a big 2011 season. But in Brink, a 25-year old Washington State product, and Elliott, a 24-year old from Purdue, the Bombers believe they have the quarterbacks who can help them win should their services be required. In addition, the Bombers are likely to sign another quarterback on their negotiation list. Mack says they have no plans, at this time, to pursue a quarterback with CFL experience.
And the third reason for the deal—People in the Blue Bomber football department, not necessarily all of them, but enough, were not impressed with the way Jyles performed in crucial situations in 2010. Jyles made 10 starts and the Bombers only won 2 of them.
Not all of the blame should fall on the quarterback, but Mack was very candid when asked if the 2-8 record as a starter played a role in dealing Jyles.
“Yes, I would have to say it did,” he said. “It’s never entirely the quarterbacks fault, but he does have to take some of the burden on his shoulders, and I am ever mindful that we were 4-14 last season.”
Jyles had some inopportune fumbles and made poor decisions at critical points in a handful of games last year.
In fairness to Jyles, 2010 was his first year as a more or less regular starter in the CFL. He had only made one start in the first four years of his career when he joined the Bombers as a free agent. So, it could be argued that Jyles went through some growing pains in 2010 that will benefit him greatly in the coming season.
That’s exactly what the Argos are counting on. Jyles said the trade did somewhat surprise him.
“I thought I had a good thing going in Winnipeg, I thought I played well last year even though we didn’t win enough game,” said Jyles. “But you have to play where they want you, and I’m happy to be joining in a team in the Argos that wants my services.”
Argos GM and head coach Jim Barker summed things up quite accurately when he said, “This is a good trade for both clubs. You never want to give up a first round draft pick, but Joe Mack drove a hard bargain, and we are delighted to acquire a quarterback with the experience and the mobility of Steven Jyles.”
Still, the deal represents something of a gamble for the Bombers. Yes, they have put themselves in a position to significantly upgrade their Canadian talent. But, should anything happen to Pierce, they have left their fortunes in the hands of two young and unproven quarterbacks in Elliott and Brink.
