July 20, 2017

Berg vs. Ferg: Is Lulay the CFL’s best backup?

CFL PHOTO - Dave Chidley

Berg vs. Ferg returns for another season on CFL.ca as columnists Pat Steinberg and Marshall Ferguson debate over some of the league’s most contentious storylines. This week they debate over which team has the best backup quarterback.

Injuries are game-changers but nothing can derail a season like a sidelined quarterback. So when Jonathon Jennings was injured after his first pass against the Hamilton Tiger-Cats, Lions fans had perfect reason to panic.

On the Lions’ sideline, though, not much changed. As Jennings exited to the locker-room, no one panicked while long-time veteran and former Most Outstanding Player Travis Lulay calmly took over the reins and led the Lions to their third straight victory.


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Sometimes everything goes well and your quarterback stays healthy an entire season. Sometimes things go wrong and all of that goes out the window.

In the passing league that is the CFL, you better have a solid plan B. The Lions have one in the wily Lulay but is he the best in the CFL?

With the first (and hopefully last) injured quarterback this 2017 CFL season, Berg and Ferg weigh in on the league’s top backups:

BERG VS. FERG: LAST WEEK’S RESULTS

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Most recently, Berg and Ferg debated over the CFL’s most potent offence.

» View last week’s Berg vs. Ferg

CFL.ca

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TOTAL

Steinberg – 198 (87%)

Ferguson – 30 (13%)

Steinberg – 247 (74%)

Ferguson – 87 (26%)

Steinberg – 445 (79%)

Ferguson – 117 (21%)

BERG (4-2): LULAY IS THE IDEAL BACKUP QUARTERBACK

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Pat Steinberg, CFL.ca
@Fan960Steinberg

Quarterback depth is of paramount importance in the CFL and having a capable backup is crucial. For me, the BC Lions have the best backup option in the league and not just because of his record-setting performance last weekend. To have Travis Lulay second on the depth chart is a pretty nice luxury and one the Lions have to be pretty happy about.

Lulay can still play, there’s no doubting that. While he may not ever get back to his 2011 MOP form, Lulay has still shown the ability to move the ball in the action he’s seen over the last few years. The multiple shoulder injuries he’s sustained since 2013 have made an impact, but what they haven’t affected is how Lulay reads the field and his high-level understanding of the game.

Lulay really does have an impressive football IQ and that also serves him well as BC’s No. 2. As a veteran signal caller in this league, the insight he can pass on to Jonathon Jennings is invaluable. When you add the fact Lulay has embraced his role as a mentor to Jennings, you get an even more ideal fit at backup.

And then there’s the fact that Lulay has won and knows what it takes to win. The Lions have a very impressive team in 2017 and are very much in the Grey Cup conversation. It’ll most likely be Jennings leading the team if they were to reach their ultimate goal, but Lulay’s championship pedigree and knowledge can’t be underestimated in what they add to the group, even if he’s not getting number one time on the field.

Lulay was outstanding in BC’s win over Hamilton last weekend and that’s what spurred on this week’s debate on Berg vs. Ferg. As Lulay was setting a new passing record off the bench, two things were driven home for me. First, how important it is to have a solid, reliable backup in in this league and, second, how Lulay is the perfect guy to fit that bill.

FERG (2-4): FOR JAMES FRANKLIN, THE UPSIDE IS UNLIMITED

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Marshall Ferguson, CFL.ca
@TSN_Marsh

What do you want in a backup quarterback? The concept varies from coach to coach and team to team.

Some might want a Jeremiah Masoli as Kent Austin in Hamilton does. Masoli is a consummate pro who has the perfect body type to run short yardage packages and can be used as a change of pace for defences to stress about in preparation.

Others could prefer a Ryan Lindley as Rick Campbell has this season in Ottawa. A bruising monster of a man who has little to no chance being stopped in short yardage and adds NFL experience to his backup resume.

For my money, I would want a backup capable of making every play on the field without limitations. My guy might not be the greatest short yardage pivot in history or the best at running the spread option as a change of pace, but I need to know he can be relied on and not limit my playbook if and when he is asked to play.

That player is Edmonton Eskimos backup James Franklin.

Since arriving to the CFL in 2015 Franklin has proven to be an effective passer with a bright upside, making him the topic of much Riders-related discussion. Regardless of when or where Franklin ends up the fact is he can play and the Eskimos’ offence does not take on some wild new format when he enters the game.

Franklin is a career 65 per cent passer who has thrown for 1,300 yards, 10 touchdowns and just one interception. On 144 pass drop backs in his rookie CFL season he was sacked 11 times for a sack rate of 7.6 per cent. The following year, on 24 passing snaps, Franklin was not sacked: A positive sign of knowing how and when to evade defenders in the pocket and find check downs when under pressure.

Franklin is athletic, wise beyond his years and perhaps most importantly of all has many more productive years ahead of him given the opportunity.

THAT, is the backup quarterback I want on my team.

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.

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

Fan Poll
Who is the best backup quarterback in the CFL?
Travis Lulay
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James Franklin
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