Quarterback Index: Arbuckle building a winning resume

CFL.ca Staff

The CFL.ca Quarterback Index is a weekly power ranking of quarterbacks across the CFL. The ranking reflects recent performance, historical value, statistical indicators, team success and overall on-field evaluation.

TORONTO — It was an eventful long weekend for quarterbacks in the Canadian Football League.

A day after the Argos acquired Zach Collaros in a trade with the Riders, starter McLeod Bethel-Thompson responded with a career performance, erasing a 20-point deficit in a stunning win over the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.

The REDBLACKS welcomed Dominique Davis back to the starting lineup following his two-week absence, while opposite him the Alouettes were dealt an injury to Vernon Adams Jr. in a game that ended with overtime.

Elsewhere, Cody Fajardo led the Riders on a late game-winning drive, the Ticats began life without Jeremiah Masoli, and Nick Arbuckle and Trevor Harris got their first taste of the Battle of Alberta in a wild Week 8.

Most notable may have been Arbuckle, who continued his winning ways in a 24-18 win over the Eskimos to close out the week. And in the end, with the reigning Most Outstanding Player sidelined in Bo Levi Mitchell, winning is all that matters.

With Mitchell eyeing an Aug. 17 return, Arbuckle may have just one game left to put his talents on display. But the 25-year-old is quickly proving he’s starting material in the three-down game.

CFL.ca ranks the pivots going into Week 9:

TREVOR HARRIS
THIS WEEK: 1 | LAST WEEK: 1

After struggling against Calgary throughout his career, Trevor Harris put those concerns behind him with a 373-yard, two-touchdown effort against the Stamps, though in a losing effort. The Esks’ offence is humming along with Harris at the helm and should continue to put up big numbers.

MATT NICHOLS WPG
THIS WEEK: 2 | LAST WEEK: 2

The numbers weren’t bad for Matt Nichols in a loss to the Argos, but the veteran pivot didn’t have his usual touch while watching the Boatmen mount a 20-point comeback in Toronto. It was a less than thrilling result for Bombers fans, but it’s far too early for concern in Winnipeg.

NICK ARBUCKLE CGY
THIS WEEK: 3 | LAST WEEK: 6

He’ll be back on the bench soon, but Nick Arbuckle is making a name for himself in relief of Bo Levi Mitchell, averaging 8.9 yards per attempt, completing 73 per cent of his passes and, most importantly, pivoting Calgary to the top of the West standings. The future is bright for Arbuckle.

MIKE REILLY BC
THIS WEEK: 4 | LAST WEEK: 4

With the week off and some possible adjustments — including the addition of American lineman Justin Renfrow from Calgary — the Lions hope to provide more help for Mike Reilly in Week 9 vs. Hamilton. The most frequently sacked quarterback in the CFL, it’s difficult to evaluate Reilly on his 2019 work alone.

CODY FAJARDO SSK
THIS WEEK: 5 | LAST WEEK: 5

His team down a field goal with just 2:05 remaining, Cody Fajardo had no trouble operating under pressure, leading a five-play scoring drive including the eventual game-winning touchdown on a five-yard scramble vs. the Ticats. Fajardo has turned the Riders — and many others — into believers.

VERNON ADAMS JR. MTL
THIS WEEK: 6 | LAST WEEK: 3

Vernon Adams struggled to find consistency vs. the REDBLACKS, going on a 3-for-12 stretch before eventually being injured in the third quarter. No word yet on Adams’ status for Week 9, but there’s been far more positive than negative in what’s quickly becoming a breakout season for Big Play VA.

DOMINIQUE DAVIS OTT
THIS WEEK: 7 | LAST WEEK: INJURED

Back from a two-week absence, Dominique Davis was ineffective against Montreal, averaging just 4.8 yards per pass while throwing two picks. DeVonte Dedmon bailed him out with two highlight-reel return touchdowns. This season Davis has thrown more than twice as many INTs (9) as TDs (4).

DANE EVANS HAM
THIS WEEK: 8 | LAST WEEK: 7

Dane Evans showed steady improvement in his first start of 2019, but a late Cody Fajardo touchdown sent the Ticats to just their second loss of the season. There are sure to be bumps and bruises along the way, but Evans has a chance to open some eyes in the absence of injured star Jeremiah Masoli.

MCLEOD BETHEL-THOMPSON TOR
THIS WEEK: 9 | LAST WEEK: 9

A year later, McLeod Bethel-Thompson decided to re-live the Argos’ late-game magic, reversing a 20-0 deficit against Winnipeg to give Toronto its first win of the season. It may have earned him another start as Zach Collaros and the injured James Franklin loom in the background.

ANTONIO PIPKIN MTL
THIS WEEK: 10 | LAST WEEK: NOT RANKED

Following an 8-for-17 effort in a loss to Ottawa, Antonio Pipkin has completed just 44 per cent of his passes in 2019. Still, he won the starting job out of camp for a reason, and an injury to Vernon Adams Jr. could give Pipkin one last opportunity to prove he deserves to be a CFL starting quarterback.