September 30, 2016

Berg vs. Ferg: Who is the greatest quarterback-coach duo ever?

THE CANADIAN PRESS

Every week of the 2016 season, CFL.ca columnists Pat Steinberg and Marshall Ferguson debate over one of the league’s most contentious storylines. In Week 15, we ask the question: who is the greatest quarterback-coach duo the CFL has ever seen?

For everything the Winnipeg Blue Bombers proved in a last-second loss to the Calgary Stampeders, the Stamps showed a little something themselves. Now 11-1-1 and entering Week 15 on a 10-game winning streak, it is undeniable that the best team in the Canadian Football League — right now — plays in Calgary.

Undefeated since a season-opening loss in BC, the Stampeders have a legitimate shot at tying a single-season wins record with the 1989 Eskimos, who went 16-2, and finishing with more points if they can run the table and go 16-1-1 on the season.

With five games left against Eastern opponents that is certainly possible, but either way, Calgary’s dynamite season really sheds some light on the partnership of Bo Levi Mitchell and Dave Dickenson.

» Related: Mitchell remains on top in latest Quarterback Index

Johany Jutras/CFL.ca

Mitchell meets with Matt Nichols following a Week 14 win over Winnipeg (Johany Jutras/CFL.ca)

It can take a while for new coaches to reach such high-level performance, but Dickenson’s success early on has opened the door for what could be a prolific career as a head coach.

Much like his quarterback, all Dickenson has done is win games early in his career as the Stampeders’ bench boss. It’s too early, of course, to put those two in the same category as some of the league legends, but Mitchell and Dickenson — both relatively young for their respective roles — have a chance to one day put themselves in the history books as one of the greatest QB-coach duos of all-time.

In their careers, Mitchell is 39-7-1 (.813) while Dickenson is 11-1-1 (.917).

With that said, we decided to have Pat Steinberg and Marshall Ferguson debate over the best quarterback-coaching duos they’ve ever seen, with the thought that one day, maybe, Mitchell and Dickenson’s name will be mentioned in the same breath

More in the latest Berg vs. Ferg.

BERG VS. FERG: WEEK 14 RESULTS

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Last week, Berg and Ferg debated over who is a bigger threat to Calgary.

» View Week 14 Berg vs. Ferg

CFL.ca

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TOTAL

Steinberg – 669 (70%)

Ferguson – 290 (30%)

Steinberg – 232 (60%)

Ferguson – 154(40%)

Steinberg – 901 (67%)

Ferguson – 444 (33%)

BergVFerg Weekly Tally_week_15

 

FERG (5-5): FLUTIE AND BUONO CAN NEVER BE COPIED

Marshall_Ferguson_2016

Marshall Ferguson, CFL.ca
@TSN_Marsh

Dave Dickenson and Bo Levi Mitchell have many around the CFL staring in amazement at their record-setting 2016 campaign. Rightfully so — the combination has been near untouchable this season. The combination of a dynamic, athletic play-making quarterback paired with passionate yet commonly reserved head coach in Calgary red and white has me believing Mitchell and Dickenson could challenge the tandem I believe to be the greatest coach-quarterback duo of all time: Doug Flutie and Wally Buono.

It’s tough to evaluate the best of the present against excellence of the past because we take the now for granted and pass down grandiose tales of mythology and triumph about the past. With that said, the numbers of Flutie under a Buono-coached Stampeders team will make you scratch your eyes in order to assure you aren’t experiencing a mirage.

Flutie led the West Division in passing yards in 1993 (5,726) and 1994 (6,092). No quarterback in the CFL has thrown for that 1994 total since Flutie set the mark.

Under the guidance of Bouno, Flutie threw for 5,000 yards in three straight years for Calgary (’92, ’93, ’94). Anthony Calvillo is the only other CFL quarterback to hit that level of consistent excellence when doing so in 2003, 2004 and 2005 in Montreal.

In 1993, Flutie had seven 400-yard passing games.

Seven…

THE CANADIAN PRESS

Buono and Flutie went 58-14 together with the Calgary Stampeders (The Canadian Press)

He would throw 44 touchdowns that year only to better himself in 1994 with 48, the all-time CFL record.

Flutie was CFL Most Outstanding player in 1992, 1993 and 1994 with Calgary while being leaned on in the biggest moments, including throwing the third-most pass attempts in Grey Cup history in 1993 with 49 while adding 48 attempts in the 1995 Canadian championship.

Buono and Flutie were 58-14 (.805) together, made the playoffs every year in Calgary before Doug departed for Toronto and won a Grey Cup in 1992. Amazing stuff.

Perhaps more than any statistic, what makes me love this combination is the steely eyed nature of Wally Buono overseeing a wildly controllable offence pivoted by Flutie. The contrast of styles, the daring decision-making on the fly was so unique and special it has rarely been reproduced.

Mitchell and Dickenson have the potential to challenge my favourite combination of all-time, but they have plenty of work yet to do.

BERG (5-5): CALVILLO, TRESTMAN TOUGH TO BET AGAINST

Pat_Steinberg_2016

Pat Steinberg, CFL.ca
@Fan960Steinberg

I’m a born and raised Calgary boy, so Marshall’s selection of Doug Flutie and Wally Buono is tough to bet against when it comes to a fantasy quarterback/coach duo. Personally, though, I’ve never seen a more impressive and cohesive connection than the one Anthony Calvillo and Marc Trestman had with the Montreal Alouettes. The 2009 and 2010 seasons those two had together, both culminating in Grey Cup titles, represent some of the best football I’ve ever seen played.

Perhaps my opinion is biased because I had the opportunity to watch the Alouettes win those Grey Cups in person at McMahon Stadium and Commonwealth Stadium. In doing so, though, I can confidently say I wouldn’t choose any other duo over Calvillo and Trestman in a big-time game.

It’s not just the hardware those two won together; it’s how they won that hardware.

Many will remember Montreal’s 2009 title for the 13th man penalty taken by Saskatchewan on the penultimate play of the game. In reality, though, there was so much more to that game for the Als. If you’ll remember, the Riders held a 17-3 halftime lead and an even more daunting 27-11 fourth quarter advantage. But in the final eight minutes of the fourth quarter, Calvillo’s execution and Trestman’s game planning was the picture of perfection.

THE CANADIAN PRESS

Trestman and Calvillo during practice before winning the Grey Cup in 2009 (The Canadian Press)

Calvillo led the Als on two scoring drives to cut the lead to two points before he and Trestman engineered their most important series of the night. With just 31 seconds left on the clock, Montreal moved from its 34-yard line to Saskatchewan’s 36 to setup the game ending fireworks. It really was masterful in its execution and will to this day be some of the best work I’ve seen in any sport under that type of pressure.

The 2010 title wasn’t quite as dramatic for Montreal but Calvillo and Trestman still found themselves down by a field goal at halftime and tied at 11 heading to the fourth quarter. The work put in by the Alouettes in the final 15 minutes was enough to win them a second consecutive Grey Cup.

The duo of Flutie and Buono got the job done when things mattered most, too. For me, though, there’s something about watching Calvillo and Trestman play in tight Grey Cup fourth quarters in two consecutive years that will always resonate with me. Montreal had incredible teams in both years, but the connection the coach and quarterback had is enough to vault them to the top of my list for this discussion.

DON’T SIT ON THE FENCE!

While both sides are pretty convincing, someone’s got to take it. Whose argument convinced you the most?

You can vote for this week’s winner both on CFL.ca and Twitter. Meanwhile, continue the conversation by tweeting @Fan960Steinberg and @TSN_Marsh. While the discussion never ends, polls close on Sunday night at 11:59 p.m ET.

The winner will be revealed in the following week’s Berg vs. Ferg.

Fan Poll
Berg vs. Ferg: Which QB-coach duo would you rather have?
Ferguson: Flutie-Buono (Calgary)
Vote
Steinberg: Calvillo-Trestman (Montreal)
Vote