CFL quarterback preview

by Jason Kmet
Published on June 16, 2001 under Canadian Football League (CFL)

by Jason Kmet

As another Canadian Football League season begins, the usual questions are being asked by fans everywhere. One of the first is, "Who are some of these guys in training camp?" Gone are the days of stability on pro sports rosters, and the CFL is certainly no exception. Every club deals with retirements, injuries, and free agency losses with draft picks, trades and free agent signings. However, with the plethora of opportunities in pro football these days, it is getting tougher to find truly great players. Nowhere is this more evident than at the quarterback position. Every team in every league seems to have trouble finding a starter, or has poor depth at the position. With training camp already underway, here is a guide to the prospective quarterbacks in CFL camps.

EASTERN DIVISION

Montreal Alouettes

The reigning Eastern Division champions are not going to be adding any new faces to their pivot lineup. Anthony Calvillo is the unquestioned starter. The Utah State grad is in his option year, and has made no attempts to hide his interest in the NFL. He is probably the most prepared CFLer to give the NFL a shot. This year, Calvillo looks to leave the same way Jeff Garcia did, with a Grey Cup trophy and the Most Outstanding Player award.

The Al's situation at backup is unclear. Ohio State's Stanley Jackson was last year's second stringer, with Dan Gonzalez of East Carolina behind him. Jamie Barnette (North Carolina State) was also with the club. Jackson heads into camp as the number two, but will he be around next year to replace Calvillo if he bolts to the NFL? All three reserves are in their option year. Will either Jackson or Gonzalez be willing to commit to 2002 with the Als? If one of them does, they could have the inside track at second string.

Hamilton Tiger-Cats

Danny McManus has returned for a fourth year with the 'Cats. Last season was sub par for his high standards. Can he be dominant again or is Father Time starting to creep up on him? The Florida State grad will celebrate his 36th birthday during training camp, however, he still has a great knowledge of the game and will be given every opportunity to lead the club.

Cody Ledbetter returns as the second string quarterback. Last season, he missed 11 games with a foot injury, but the former New Mexico State Aggie is one of the more capable backups in the league.

The third spot will be fought over by two rookies, Kelvin Robinson (Alabama A&M) and Butchie Washington (Akron). Both put up great numbers in college, but can they make the leap to the pros? The Cats hope they can find someone. Last year's crop of signal callers behind McManus and the then injured Ledbetter (Billy Dicken, now with the AFL Chicago Rush and Todd Bankhead, now with the AFL New Jersey Gladiators) were not up for the task and were not asked back.

Winnipeg Blue Bombers

Khari Jones (University of California-Davis) has finally found a home after spending time in the AFL (Albany Firebirds), NFL Europe (Scottish Claymores), and CFL (B.C. Lions). Last seaseon he showed signs of brilliance. This year his receiving corps will be much more inexperienced.

Brian Ah Yat (Montana) had a strong training camp last year. Unfortunately, he suffered an ACL injury which kept him out of the first half of the season. Ah Yat has a lot of potential, and if he gets some playing time, this could be his breakout year.

Jose Davis (Kent State) returns to battle for a backup spot. He will be pushed by Darryl Leason. Leason, 27, is the only Canadian trying to make a CFL roster as a quarterback. Last year he was the top passer in Canadian college football, and led his University of Regina Rams on a Cinderella journey that took them to the Vanier Cup final. Even though the Rams lost to the national championship game to the University of Ottawa, the Bombers thought he could challenge for a roster spot in the pros.

Toronto Argonauts

The Argos' quarterback situation is similar to the Alouettes in that their starter is set now that Kerwin Bell has finally re-signed with the Boatmen. He had requested his release last winter to check out a potential XFL deal. The former Florida Gator never played in the now deceased league, and will be the Double Blue's uncontested starter. He will be comfortable with John Jenkins running the offense. Under Jenkins in 1998, Bell had his best year statistically. The major knock on the well traveled Bell is that he puts up the numbers, but he hasn't lead his club to significant achievements. He will try to prove his doubters wrong this year.

Jimmy Kemp is the likely second stringer. The former Wake Forest Demon Deacon seems to be the prototypical backup quarterback. He looks best when he's coming off the bench and is probably the most capable backup in the league at present.

O.T. Sampson (Florida A&M) is back after spending the spring as the third quarterback with the San Francisco Demons of the XFL. He holds the dubious distinction of being the player who scored the last touchdown in XFL history, late in the fourth quarter of the Million Dollar Game. Don't look for Sampson to be happy in the third spot, making him likely trade bait.

Greg Hill (Georgia Southern) returns for a second season in the CFL. This Tracy Ham protégé was tried at other positions last year by Montreal prior to his release there. Jon Neilsen (Claremont) had a previous tryout with the Argonauts in 1998. He was the starting pivot for the Arkansas Twisters in af2 last year where current Argo offensive coordinator John Jenkins was head coach.

WESTERN DIVISION

Calgary Stampeders

The loss of Most Outstanding Player Dave Dickenson to the San Diego Chargers was a tough blow for the Stampeders to take. GM and head coach Wally Buono knew it would be hard to replace Dickenson with someone of similar talent. It is unlikely, however, that he thought it would be so difficult to replace him with anyone. Only days before camp began did they ink Marcus Crandell (East Carolina) to a contract. Crandell, 27, knows the CFL game from his three seasons in Edmonton as a backup (1997-99). Since then, he's spent time in NFL Europe with Scotland, with the Kansas City Chiefs and Green Bay Packers camps (released from both) and with the XFL's Memphis Maniax.

Mike Cawley was released in the off season, leaving an inexperienced group behind Crandell. Ben Sankey (Wake Forest) enters his sophomore CFL season with the number two quarterback job his for the taking. Rookies Ryan Johnson (North Dakota State), Mike Bath (Miami Ohio) and Kevin Feterik (Brigham Young) are also in camp. Feterik is not a complete rookie, since he did spend some time with the XFL San Francisco Demons, but was injured. Interestingly enough, Feterik's father is currently looking at buying a minority share of the Stampeders.

Edmonton Eskimos

This could be Nealon Greene's year. The fourth year pro has shown consistent improvement every season. The Clemson grad looks like he could establish himself as one of the league's elite. He has all the ingredients for a CFL quarterback including arm strength and mobility. The Esks will break camp with Green as their starter.

Dan Crowley (Towson State) will provide solid relief on the bench. Second year pivot Jason Maas (Oregon) may make a push for Crowley's backup job. Rounding out the training camp list is former Florida State QB Marcus Outzen.

British Columbia Lions

The legendary Damon Allen (Cal State Fullerton) is back for his 17th season in the CFL. After breaking some career passing records and winning his third Grey Cup ring last season, Allen may have finally won over some of his detractors. Despite his penchant for going on extended periods where he's ice-cold, Marcus' brother always seems to step it up when it really counts.

Allen's longevity can be at least partially attributed to his durability. The Lion backup quarterbacks have not had much to do the last few seasons. Management will probably hope this continues because the candidates are a crop of CFL rookies. Last year's second quarterback, Doug Nussmeier (Idaho), suffered a serious hip injury and his playing career is threatened. He has joined the Lions' coaching staff while he recovers. Tony Corbin of Sacramento State has the most pro experience with stints in the Arena League and NFL Europe. The University of Montana quarterback pipeline to the CFL brought another former Grizzly to Canada. New grad Drew Miller (Montana starter in 1999 and 2000) hopes to follow in the footsteps of Dave Dickenson and Bryan Ah Yat. Rounding out the competitors is former San Diego Charger draft pick Ja' Juan Seider of Florida A&M and Vic Penn of Central Florida.

Saskatchewan Roughriders

Last season, the 'Riders were entering the season with the next potential CFL superstar in Henry Burris. This year, Burris is in Green Bay, trying to make the Packers' roster. Journeyman Marvin Graves (Syracuse) has been placed at the top of the depth chart. He showed some promise last year while filling in for an injured Burris. Graves has never lived up to his potential. When he entered the CFL in 1994 with Toronto, he was also the next CFL superstar. He'll never get a better chance than this again.

Behind him is a group of rookies, led by former Arizona Wildcat Keith Smith, who is probably best known for his unsuccessful lawsuit to free him from his CFL obligations to join the XFL. Also in the picture are Kevin Glenn (Illinois State) and Ramon Robinson (Benedict College).

Jim Ballard and John Rayborn (now with the AFL Indiana Firebirds) were not asked back by the 'Riders this year.