Excuse us, please and thank you, for the sacrilegious act of trotting out a hockey analogy on a football page, but if the metaphor fits you roll with it…
Yes, it could be said the most effective way to summarize Taylor Elgersma’s first game experience as a quarterback with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers is this:
The big pivot was simply squeezing the stick too tight.
Just to briefly recap, Elgersma came off the bench following the first drive by Zach Collaros in last Saturday’s preseason loss to the Saskatchewan Roughriders and then played through to the end of the third quarter.
His numbers: 6-0f-13 for 78 yards with two interceptions. Granted, amidst the mistakes there were a couple of drops from receivers in there and there were also some moments that made fans slide to the front of their seats in ‘Oooh, there it is’ excitement at his skillset.
But while he was wearing it in the moment after the game — and then essentially told to take a deep breath by head coach Mike O’Shea in the immediate aftermath — he’s since had a few days to decompress and reset.
What that looks like tonight in the final preseason game against the B.C. Lions will be one of the key storylines.
“There was a lot of growth, not only in specific situations and situational football, but areas where as an offence we can extend drives,” said Elgersma Thursday afternoon. “But, also, one of the things I learned last week was just letting the game come to me. You don’t have to try and force big plays. They’re going to happen.
“Just go through your progressions, get the ball out fast and put our offence in an opportunity to go put points on the board.”
Elgersma is expected to start tonight with Zach Collaros not dressing and Bryce Perkins is listed as the only other quarterback on the depth chart, although receiver Jackson Tachinski — who has changed positions after starring at QB at the University of Manitoba — was taking snaps on the sidelines in what could simply be a potential only-in-an-emergency basis.
Asked what he wants to see from the QBs tonight, Blue Bombers head coach Mike O’Shea was succinct.
“Growth. Command of the offence and making sure it’s not too big for them and I don’t believe it is — we’ve already seen glimpses of that — and just have them execute at a high level,” he said. “Offensive football, the quarterback touches the ball on every play so the guys that are trying to make the roster are depending on the quarterbacks to deliver it to them. So, it’s always a big responsibility for the quarterbacks.”
Perkins entered last week’s game — his first CFL experience after a career down south — in the fourth quarter and finished 5-of-9 for 67 yards and a late interception.
The former member of the Los Angeles Rams and UFL MVP now wants to take his own ‘next step.’ Here he is when it was asked what it will look like if he gets things rolling against the Lions:
“It’s going to look like fast ball and being efficient — that’s always the No. 1 thing operationally: making sure we’re in and out of the huddle,” said Perkins. “It starts with that before any play is called.
“Being excellent on the snap, being excellent in the huddle in communicating with the guys and find the open guys. Don’t make it harder than what it needs to be. Find the open guys, let the guys make plays and don’t feel like you have to do it all yourself.
“It should be fun, man. I’m looking forward to it. I’m excited and we’re going to roll.”
ICYMI, here is our Game Preview:
Game Preview | Preseason #2: Blue Bombers vs Lions
And what follows is this week’s edition of Game Day HQ…
THE COACH SAYS
Blue Bombers boss Mike O’Shea on what he wants to see from his squad tonight:
“I want to see them play hard and I want to have them put real tough decisions in our hands. That’s what everybody wants. Everybody wants a great opportunity and to be looked at seriously as a contender to make our roster.”
The depth chart, clearly, reflects that as many vets are being rested so that the team can get further evaluation on some of the new faces and the competition for starting gigs.
“I also look at the end of training camp with guys we know are going to be here… training camp has been tough,” said O’Shea. “We try to work them extremely hard and get them ready for the season and part of that, then, is making sure they have the right rest before the first game.
“Some guys are in a battle, and they won’t really be afforded the amount of rest that other guys will get. You are still trying to get answers and also prepare for that Week 1 contest.”
TV DEAL REACTION
Massive news from the CFL Thursday morning with the announcement of a new TV deal for 2027 and beyond. That news can be found in detail here:
A New Era: CFL announces landmark media agreements in Canada and globally
Some snippets from start running back Brady Oliveira on the new arrangement:
“Incredible. This is exactly what the league needs. It’s heading into a really good direction. It’s a very exciting time for the league.”
-“Lots of people are heading into subscriptions and streaming services. This is where the world is moving into.”
-“Content creation and digital marketing in today’s day and age is a whole separate thing, a whole new beast. People want to see raw, uncut, behind the scenes of what actually we go through. I was really exciting about the YouTube thing.”
WHAT IS ‘THE THING’/’LETHAL WEAPON’/’HEAT’
I’ll take ‘Gabe Wallace’s three favourite movies for $1,000, Alex’…
Check out our latest Handled Internally podcast, recorded on Thursday, as co-hosts Zach Collaros, Darren Cameron and myself visit with Wallace and talk about his three favourite flicks, the CFL’s new TV deal and the Enhanced Games, among other things.
