Originally I wanted to do a 2,000 word breakdown on that video of Montreal Alouettes Head Coach Mike Sherman and his losing battle against his headset or how these Live Mic Games remind us all about how much football players love to curse but I was soon talked out of those brilliant ideas.
Now that doesn’t mean I’m not going to live on the wild side. Quite the opposite in fact as I want to discuss one of those hot button issues that always rile up football fans: “Is Quarterback X elite?”
In this case the quarterback in question is Jeremiah Masoli and with each passing week (pun intended) the answer is getting closer and closer to Yes. I understand that we are only 12 quarters into the 2018 season, but have seen you this guy play so far???
There is no sport where narratives change as quickly as football. Before the season started the big question was when Johnny Manziel would start his first game. Every expert had a specific week where we would see this happen. The next thing you know people are speculating about which team makes the most sense for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats to trade Manziel to. To quote Ferris Bueller, “life moves pretty fast”.
That point hit home with about 3:12 left in the game when TSN showed Manziel kneeling on the sideline with the Tiger-Cats up 28-10 over Winnipeg in large part due to the damage done by Masoli against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers defence.
Masoli’s growth as a quarterback goes beyond the numbers. Everyone, rightfully so, is focused on his chase for the record of most consecutive 300-yard games but his development goes beyond that. Masoli was putting up those 300 yard numbers last year but his accuracy and his pocket presence are at a whole other level.
Go back and watch his game-sealing 20 yard touchdown pass to Brandon Banks against Edmonton that gave the Tabbies a 31-14 lead with under seven minutes to go. On that play Masoli had to scramble out of trouble as Hamilton elected to go with just five offensive linemen and did not use bruising fullback Nikita Whitlock in the backfield for added pass protection.
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The most impressive part of that touchdown was Masoli’s vision; even as he had to scramble out of danger his focus was always downfield. Instead of defaulting to scrambling for yards Masoli was still looking for possible targets. On that play he used his athleticism and his intellect to beat the blitz and put the Eskimos away. Most quarterbacks look good when everything is going their way. But the best, dare I say the “elite”, are the ones that transform chaotic moments into first downs and touchdowns.
You saw that level of quarterback all night against the Blue Bombers. Whether it was calmly running away from danger and hitting open targets to executing a perfect pump and go that resulted in a wide open touchdown for Terrence Tolliver Masoli is playing at a whole other level this year.
Of course the progression in his game is the result of many factors. A full training camp under June Jones certainly has played a part. Clearly coach and quarterback are on the same page and there was one play in particular that highlighted this for me.
Late in the first quarter on a 2nd and short Masoli faked a short pass to his left and instead went deep to Brandon Banks for 37 yards. This was the sort of aggressive play calling you find when there is complete faith in the coaching staff with the quarterback. Safe and conservative game plans are hall marks for teams where such trust does not exist. Also with the return of Terrence Toliver Hamilton has an impressive array of wide-outs with Jalen Saunders, Banks and Luke Tasker helping make life easier for Masoli. You’re doing damn well at receiver if Tasker maybe your third best option.
Now the one storyline I hope does not come out that Masoli’s growth is one where we point to Johnny Manziel joining the team as the motivating factor for his improvement. That narrative feels a wee bit predictable and an insult to Masoli. It takes away from his own dedication to get better at his craft to grow as a person and a passer. Also what is going on in Hamilton feels less like a “revenge story” where Masoli is going to prove everyone wrong and more of a “buddy story” between a young quarterback looking to find his way and an older coach looking to show he belongs in the CFL.
Despite Johnny Manziel taking most of the headlines, Jeremiah Masoli is playing the best football of his career (Adam Gagnon/CFL.ca)
On a bigger picture we all need what is going on in Hamilton. With injuries to Matt Nichols, Zach Collaros and Ricky Ray and the struggles of Brandon Bridge the CFL needs these feel good quarterback stories.
From someone who lives in the Eastern Time Zone I’m looking forward to the Hamilton/Ottawa games with Masoli battling Trevor Harris for the title of best quarterback in the East.
Next to Sherman vs. Headset it may end up being the most compelling competition in the East!
