Alouettes’ quarterback understudies in spotlight as CFL preseason begins
In 2015, the Butler Bulldogs, a nondescript college football team led by a nondescript quarterback — accounting major Matthew Shiltz — went 6-5 overall, including 4-4 in the Pioneer League conference. They tied with two other schools for fourth place.
That should have been the end of the Matthew Shiltz story, especially when he failed to catch on with a pro team last season. He worked out for Chicago and Indianapolis in the NFL, Calgary and Ottawa in the Canadian Football League, but no contract offers were made. Even Shiltz figured it was the end of the road, taking a day job and putting his education to use.
Then the Alouettes called. Thursday night at BMO Field (7:30 p.m., TSN 690 Radio), Shiltz will play his first game in over a year. He’ll be one of three quarterbacks dressed for Montreal’s opening exhibition game against the Toronto Argonauts.
Second-year pro Vernon Adams will start, according to head coach Jacques Chapdelaine, followed by Jacory Harris, who was added as a free agent from Hamilton in February and has one game of CFL experience. Shiltz might not play until the fourth quarter, but he’s not complaining.
“God works in mysterious ways. It was a great day when I got the call. At that point, it was a nobrainer,” Shiltz said Wednesday morning. “I was a little surprised. After a year (away from the game) I’m not going to lie, I was starting to fade a little bit, but everyone encouraged me to keep working at it. You never know what might happen.
“I’m excited to get back out there and play. I want to play assignment-sound football, get those game reps.”
Veteran Darian Durant, acquired last winter in a trade from Saskatchewan, will get the night off against the Argos, but is expected to be on the sideline. Durant suffered an injury to his left knee on the third day of training camp, but resumed practising on Monday.
Drew Willy’s expected to start at QB for Toronto in place of veteran Ricky Ray.
Shiltz, who’s 6-foot-2 and 195 pounds, spent two seasons as the Bulldogs’ starter. He played six games in 2014 before suffering a season-ending hand injury. He started all 11 games as a senior, passing for 2,713 yards and 19 touchdowns. He was intercepted nine times. He also was able to extend plays with his legs and gained 639 yards rushing while scoring 10 touchdowns.
The Bulldogs averaged 304.7 yards of offence per game, fifthbest in the country.
Shiltz earned all PFL secondteam honours as a senior and was a member of the PFL academic honour roll throughout his fiveyear stay at Butler.
In 29 career games over four years, Shiltz passed for 4,042 yards.
When Als general manager Kavis Reed and his assistant, Joe Mack, were seeking a fourth quarterback to bring to camp, Shiltz stood out.
“His stats were equal. There wasn’t a lot of fluctuation. There were no dips or spikes,” Reed explained. “He willed that team to a lot of wins. He has a pocket presence and his footwork’s exemplary. He can extend plays and was academically sound.”
Indeed, following a slow start at camp — combined with an inclination to run first — Shiltz has started to settle down while completing numerous passes.
Harris played for the University of Miami Hurricanes, completing 60.1 per cent of his passes over 47 games along with 8,826 yards and 70 touchdowns. But he was unable to stick with the Philadelphia Eagles or Edmonton Eskimos. He spent three seasons with the Tiger Cats, but played only one game, against Ottawa, completing 13 of 23 for 160 yards. He was sidelined last season with a shoulder injury.
But at 6-foot-4 and 205 pounds, Harris certainly looks the part. And it was Reed who brought the 27-year-old into the CFL.
“There’s raw athleticism and quarterback talent there. For whatever reason, he hasn’t been able to put it together,” Reed said. “But he has been under some good tutelage and you hope his breakthrough time is about to arrive. Quarterbacks don’t mature until their late 20s.”
“I’m trying to get a career started,” said Harris, a Miami native, who signed a two-year deal with Montreal. “Whatever happens, we’re here to play football. I’m here to help this team win. The individual things will come if I’m the starter or not.”
Adams, meanwhile, was acquired from British Columbia in May 2016 for the Als’ first-round draft choice. And, in a season that went south in a hurry, he eventually became the team’s starter after Kevin Glenn was benched, then subsequently traded to Winnipeg.
Montreal won its final three games under Adams, but that became moot when Durant arrived. Adams, Harris and Shiltz all are vying to become Durant’s backup, knowing their playing time could be limited should the veteran remain healthy.
“This is part of the business. I didn’t understand it at first. Once I sat down and looked at everything, it’s going to be better for me in the long run,” Adams said. “I can’t expect to just come to the CFL and ... I’ve had a little bit of success, but (Durant) has won two Grey Cups.
“I think it’s going to be good for us. I think the team’s going in a good direction. I’m ready to help however I can.”