AP/CP
On Sunday I was watching Week 4 of the NFL season after watching Johnny Manziel put together arguably his best effort yet in a loss to Zach Collaros and the Roughriders.
I flipped from Collaros and the Riders over to Derek Carr and the Raiders when something unexpected hit me: “wow, Zach plays a lot like Carr,” and vice versa.
The stocky, thick build with a good lower base, the pocket movement skills, and ability to change arm angles when the defence requires it. The whole side by side of those two games separated by a television remote made me wonder if there are other NFL-CFL quarterback doppelgängers, so I gave it a shot for everyone who has played meaningful snaps this year.
I judged these matches based on a variety of factors including style of play, physical build, ability, specific attributes and narrative surrounding each player as their career unfolds.
Calgary Stampeders Bo Levi Mitchell // Green Bay Packers Aaron Rodgers
A quick release, cerebral feel for the pocket and sixth sense in closing time, Bo Levi Mitchell is the only CFL quarterback I see fit to draw comparisons to Green Bay Packers Aaron Rodgers.
Both carry themselves with a certain swagger that lets you know where they’ve been and where they believe they’ll be at the end of each season; hosting their respective championship trophies.
Mitchell and Rodgers both possess the ability to run but rarely use it as they rely almost exclusively on full field vision and deep ball accuracy.
Ottawa REDBLACKS Trevor Harris // Cincinnati Bengals Andy Dalton
Cincinnati Bengals QB Andy Dalton delivers a ball down field last month in NFL action. Marshall Ferguson compares he and 10 other NFL quarterbacks to CFL pivots (AP).
One week Trevor Harris looks like arguably the most talented passer in the CFL, the next he’s getting pulled for a series to press the reset button before heading back between the lines to take command of the Ottawa offence again.
For anyone who has watched the Bengals since Andy Dalton came in, this sounds pretty familiar. Both have top end ability but consistency hurts their public perception. Both have star receivers – Diontae Spencer and A.J. Green – with which to work, who demand attention and the football at all times.
Montreal Alouettes Johnny Manziel // Cleveland Browns Baker Mayfield
By far the easiest – and maybe laziest – comparison on the board.
Manziel was even asked to write a letter of advice to Mayfield on ESPN’s Sunday NFL Countdown this past Sunday in which Manziel told Mayfield the two were not alike and would not be judged the same because each man is his own.
Not true. They’re both incredibly creative scramblers with dead eye accuracy who manoeuvre the pocket with the best of them and aren’t afraid to tell you about it. I love these guys and this style of quarterback. They’re good for football.
Toronto Argonauts James Franklin // Dallas Cowboys Dak Prescott
I was leaning towards Cam Newton for James Franklin but the lack of a true QB power offence from shotgun in Toronto made me shy away since Carolina does so much of that. Instead I landed on Cowboys QB Day Prescott for the extremely unscientific reasoning that Franklin and Prescott look the same when they move.
Be it in the pocket or on the loose, both men possess a larger than average body and the ability to bounce off tacklers complemented by a strong arm.
Winnipeg Blue Bombers Matt Nichols // Atlanta Falcons Matt Ryan
Beyond sharing the same ‘Matty-Ice’ nickname, Marshall Ferguson says that Matt Nichols and Matt Ryan (above) have plenty in common when they strap on the pads (AP).
Tall, reliable, close to becoming one of the game’s truly elite quarterbacks, but just not there yet.
Both Matt Nichols and Matt Ryan have exceptional arm talent and the ability to make all the throws, but both are stuck in divisions with quarterbacks who seem to always find a way to be one step ahead in Calgary’s Bo Levi Mitchell and New Orleans’ Drew Brees.
Montreal Alouettes Antonio Pipkin // Houston Texans DeShaun Watson
A young and agile quarterback with huge upside, both Pipkin and Watson have shown flashes of brilliance but lack the consistency as of right now that could propel them to being one of the first names mentioned among up and coming stars.
Watson has struggled after an ACL tear in 2017 while Pipkin had one bad game, which was all it took to pull the plug and insert Manziel in Montreal. I root for DeShaun Watson because I think his skill set is the future of pro football as the college level increasingly infiltrates offensive schemes and systems. Same way I feel about Pipkin. He brings so much to the table, it would be a shame not to see both step up and earn more respect over the next year.
Toronto Argonauts McLeod Bethel Thompson // Tampa Bay Buccaneers Ryan Fitzpatrick
Beard? Check.
Veteran? Check
Ability to randomly throw for several hundred passing yards and four touchdown passes. Check.
Winnipeg Blue Bombers Chris Streveler // Carolina Panthers Cam Newton
If the starter is an NFC South quarterback, so too is the backup.
Chris Streveler runs a variety of QB run oriented sets for the Bombers, making him a clear comparable for Cam Newton. While nobody will match the size of Newton, Streveler is about the closest you’ll get in the CFL. The overwhelming raw athleticism of both was the determining factor on this match made in QB run heaven.
Hamilton Tiger-Cats Jeremiah Masoli // Tennessee Titans Marcus Mariota
Marcus Mariota dropss back for a pass last month with the Tennessee Titans. Both he and Tiger-Cats QB attended Oregon and play a similar game according to Marshall Ferguson (AP).
This was the most difficult of the comparisons I had to find because there just aren’t many people in professional football who play the game the way Masoli does. Perhaps Russell Wilson’s scrambling ability would better match Masoli’s, but this pick was more based on the freewheeling nature of Mariota’s game when he’s at his best.
Both men played at Oregon which makes it easy to see the stylistic comparisons in similar offences and both have that island way about them that suggests whatever happens through three quarters, they’ll have a level head and be ready to compete in closing time.
Edmonton Eskimos Mike Reilly // Detroit Lions Matthew Stafford
I came darn close to giving Reilly the Tom Brady treatment, but with only one Grey Cup ring it didn’t feel right.
Similar to Brady, Reilly is viewed as one of the most reliable quarterbacks week in week out and is universally respected by teammates and opponents.
After wading through the perceived storylines, one name came to the forefront for me in a Mike Reilly comparison. It had to be Matthew Stafford of the Detroit Lions. While that might seem like a slap in the face based on Stafford’s career success – as judged by championships – it’s really not.
I chose Stafford for Reilly because both are consummate professionals who have the ability to battle through just about any injury, challenge or adversity to get you a win.
Both passers also consistently post large yardage and touchdown totals but remain in search for the ultimate prize: annual playoff domination and wins.
BC Lions Jonathon Jennings // Seattle Seahawks Russell Wilson
Seattle Seahawks QB Russell Wilson meets with former CFL Commissioner Mark Cohon back in 2014 before taking in the 102nd Grey Cup in Vancouver (CP).
Highly manoeuvrable young quarterbacks with arms that can complete a quick screen just as fast as they can reach back and send the rock deep over the middle.
All around entertaining players who are made so much better by an effective running game.
BC Lions Travis Lulay // New Orleans Saints Drew Brees
Both Lulay and Brees are savvy veterans, wildly respected by their peers with an almost unhealthy attention to detail in preparation and pre-snap process. From counting out the yards away from the centre they must stand to putting receivers in motion at the perfect time, Lulay and Brees look and feel the same.
After the snap, Brees has the edge with all-time elite accuracy, but both give you a sense they can win any game regardless of situation with an undying effort level.
I’m sure you all have your own ideas of who is a CFL quarterback doppelgänger in style of play. Send me your list on twitter @TSN_Marsh!
