Steinberg’s MMQB: Full steam ahead for 2013

The Argonauts, Stampeders, Tiger Cats and Eskimos all finished their pres-eason schedules with victories and all eight Canadian Football League teams gave us all one last chance to see what they’re all about in game action. 

With the exhibition schedule in the books, and with final cuts having been decided on, it’s all about Week 1 of the 2013 season.  Let’s get it on.

Quarterback questions
Maybe it’s just me, but quarterback issues seemed to be more prevalent during training camps than they have been in years past.  We took a look at some quarterbacking issues in our first edition of the 2013 MMQB a few weeks ago, and now a few of those issues have really become some of the biggest talking points league wide.

A 52-0 loss to the Hamilton Tiger-Cats wasn’t going to sit well with Bombers fans regardless.  And because that loss also raised even more issues behind centre in Winnipeg probably just made things worse for a group of fans hoping last year was something they can soon forget.
    
With starting quarterback Buck Pierce watching, the Bombers gave Justin Goltz significant time to run the offence, an offence that didn’t do much of anything.  It needs to be pointed out that Hamilton played a good majority of their veterans, while Bombers head coach Tim Burke opted to sit many of his established players, especially on offence.  

That said, Goltz’s two interceptions on 13 for 22 passing wasn’t what we’d call confidence inspiring.
    
Typically this wouldn’t be a huge issue, as Goltz isn’t auditioning for the starting job, per se.  The problem is, as tired a topic as it can be, the durability for the man on top of the depth chart in Winnipeg.  

Pierce has never played 18 games as a starter in his CFL career (he did start 16 with the Bombers in 2011), and any team trotting him out as their number one is well aware he may be sitting for a handful of games.

I know neither Joey Elliott nor Alex Brink were the answer behind him the past two seasons, but the fact is you need a solid backup to have real success in Winnipeg.  I actually see potential with Goltz and Max Hall, (Chase Clement was among the final Bombers cuts), but will that potential be realized in time to relieve Pierce if needed?

If the pre-season is any indication, I wouldn’t be hedging my bets.

Speaking of durability, that’s what we’ve come to know as one of Anthony Calvillo’s calling cards in Montreal.  Since the turn of the millennium, Calvillo has started less than 15 games in a season only once (2003) along the way to becoming the league’s most accomplished passer in history.

I’m not worried about his durability for this season, or any other season that he plays going forward.  His track record speaks for itself, so the MMQB isn’t going to start second guessing now.  

No, this quarterback question is more about what comes next after the 40-year-old future Hall of Famer decides to move on, whenever that might be.  Who is the next number one running the Alouettes offence? Are they developing one right now?

I like Quinton Porter as much as the next guy, but he’s 30 years old and probably is what he is at this point in his CFL career: a decent option in a pinch.  As such, I thought it was the correct decision for the Als to include him among 11 others in their final cuts this weekend.  

That leaves 23-year-old Tanner Marsh and 26-year-old Josh Neiswander as the two left standing behind Calvillo.

Neiswander, out of little-known Angelo State, might be the best option for the time being at the number two slot on the depth chart, but it’s Marsh who intrigues me when looking at the bigger picture.  

Marsh joins the Als after a solid senior year at Arkansas Tech where came close to setting new school marks in a few different categories.  So far in the pre-season he’s put up 99 yards on 7-for-11 passing in very limited work.  

At 23 and in his rookie pro season (and first north of the border), he’s going to need some time to develop.  Studying behind Calvillo certainly isn’t a bad thing, but let’s face it: AC is going to retire some day in the near future, and the Als need a true contingency plan when he does.  

Of the two quarterbacks still on the roster, I think Marsh has a better chance of being that.

Finally in Edmonton, it had to be somewhat of a relief to see Mike Reilly put up the numbers he did in a 27-22 win over the Lions.  Without Matt Nichols to push him, there was no doubt that Reilly was going to be the guy for the rest of Eskimos camp, and he impressed in his final pre-season appearance.  

Reilly went 13-for-18 with 202 yards, a touchdown, and an interception in just under three quarters of work.

I liked what I saw from Reilly, who I thought had the upper hand had the battle with Nichols been able to play out.  He spread the ball around nicely, wasn’t afraid to take a few risks, and generally ran the offence with confidence.  

He’s a fun quarterback to watch and he gives you the impression of swagger when he’s on the field.  It’s an important trait to carry at the position, but swagger doesn’t mean consistency.  

That C-word is going to be the biggest challenge for Reilly to overcome this season, his first starting in the league.  

The guy is exciting and he sure can throw it and at the very least there’s a little something to be jazzed about as an Eskimos fan at quarterback.  That wasn’t so much the case one year ago.

Other questions
52 points was a nice thing to talk about for a few hours following their win, but the question now becomes simple in Hamilton: can the Tiger-Cats be an offensive factor without Chris Williams?

Henry Burris looked great behind centre against the Bombers and he seemed to have things in sync with Andy Fantuz in the first half.  That’s promising, because it took those two a number of games to get on the same page last year.
    
Also promising was how Burris didn’t seem to hesitate at all in using Samuel Giguere as a second option when his primary looks weren’t open.  Without Williams to start the season as that unpleasant situation continues, the Tabbies are going to need a reliable secondary threat and I think Giguere can be that guy.  

It was Greg Ellingson making the big plays against Winnipeg, but Giguere and Fantuz are going to need to be as sure handed as they come without the game breaking ability of Williams for the time being.
    
The Riders lost their exhibition finale to the Stampeders by one point, but there was something slightly more unfortunate in that game.  Head Coach Corey Chamblin, who was hoping to get some really good looks at Chris Milo and Brody McKnight at kicker, didn’t get a chance for more than one field goal on Thursday night.  

As such, newcomer McKnight ended up getting the short end of the stick.
    
McKnight only got one field goal try, missing a 45 yarder in the fourth quarter, but that wasn’t the reason he was released on Sunday.

In all honesty, it was probably Milo’s familiarity with the team that won out in the end, being in his third season with the team.  McKnight, on the other hand, joined Saskatchewan in a trade with Edmonton during the off-season.
    
So, Milo is the guy at kicker and Ricky Schmitt will start the season as punter for the Riders.  That’s where the questions begin.  The queries are less about Schmitt, because he seemed to punt well against the Stamps at Mosaic.  

No, the questions for me are more focused on Milo, who struggled at times last year. 

Final Cuts
Kevin Huntley, LaMarcus Coker, Stevie Baggs, Quinton Porter, Mick Williams and Eddie Russ were among those released over cut-down weekend in the CFL. Click here to see all the cuts.

He was 11 for 17 kicking field goals before being replaced by Sandro Deangelis, and is just 1-for-3 so far in the pre-season.  Milo has the job for now, but he’s going to need to show some fairly rapid improvement to keep it when comparing to the job he’s done since last season.

Canadian muscle
The Riders were the envy of the league a few years ago when they put together the “Canadian Air Force”, boasting non-imports Fantuz, Rob Bagg, Chris Getzlaf, and Jason Clermont at receiver.  Saskatchewan was able to trot out Canadians at positions that can be dominated by Americans at times, giving them the upper hand using imports at other positions.  

Ratio busting like that is something that any team would love to have.  The 2013 Calgary Stampeders could have something very similar going for them, at different but equally important position.
    
The offensive line may not be the highest profile position in football, but it sure is of crucial importance to any success an offence may have.  It’s another position that can be populated by American players, specifically at tackle.  In Calgary, things are going a decidedly northern way, however, giving the Stamps another ratio busting opportunity.
   
Of the five starters on the Calgary o-line, it looks like four-year CFL vet Stanley Bryant will be the only import starter.  Bryant will get a spot at tackle looking down the line at four other Canadians.  

The Stamps will start the 2013 campaign with Dimitri Tsoumpas, Jon Gott, J’Micheal Deane, Dan Federkeil, and Spencer Wilson as potential starters.  Throw in 2013 second round pick Brett Jones (another Canadian), and things are starting to shape up nicely.
    
How it all shakes down is somewhat of a mystery, but this is a group with a lot of talent and ability to go along with their Canadian passports.