A QB CONTROVERSY? MORE LIKE THE BOMB
Nichols and Streveler giving Winnipeg a dynamic one-two punch under centre
Winnipeg Blue Bombers coach Mike O’Shea said he didn’t want reporters to get any overzealous ideas about quarterback Chris Streveler following the rookie’s stellar performance in Montreal.
Basically, he wanted to nip any thoughts of a quarterback controversy in the bud when Matt Nichols returned.
“This is Matt’s team,” he said, unprompted.
He didn’t really need to tell us that. Anyone who has watched the Blue Bombers over the last couple of seasons knows Nichols is the unquestioned leader.
His mere presence on the field is uplifting. His teammates love his toughness, his ability to take care of the football and his penchant for moving the offence.
He’s everyone’s friend, possessing a top-notch work ethic that’s an example for how each player should conduct himself.
“He’s in here early every day making sure he knows what he’s doing,” Bombers fullback and special teams ace Mike Miller said Wednesday. “And he’s in here making sure he knows what everyone else is doing. He’s working his butt off.”
Now the Bombers have their leader back after a knee injury kept him out of the lineup for the first three weeks of the CFL season.
He looked solid in his first appearance July 7, leading the Bombers to a 41-19 shellacking of the B.C. Lions at Investors Group Field and he’ll look to improve upon that Saturday when the teams meet again in Vancouver.
Nichols threw for just 162 yards last week, but he didn’t need more as the Bombers moved the ball on the ground with impunity. That had a lot to do with running back Andrew Harris, who rushed for 109 yards.
It also had to do with Streveler, who scampered for 33 yards on five carries and is second on the team this season with 216 yards rushing.
The beauty of it all is the Bombers discovered, almost by fluke, that they have another weapon in the backfield to complement the starter this season.
“We are going to benefit from that,” O’Shea said.
Streveler brings a different look to the Bombers’ offence with his ability to use his legs to get first downs. The fact he can also throw the football keeps defences honest.
The entire package keeps the opposition guessing.
“It’s a different dynamic,” Miller said. “The more you can confuse a defence or give them more looks, that’s going to benefit us in the long run. Two great football players who do things a little differently and it adds a great dimension to the offence.”
It has to be a dream come true for offensive co-ordinator Paul LaPolice, who has already broadened the playbook with draw plays and quarterback sweeps and other special packages for the fleet-footed Streveler.
“Having Chris there is a good option to touch the ball,” LaPolice said.
“Chris has shown he can do good things with the ball in his hands and he’s smart and he can handle things.”
With Nichols healthy, Streveler seems to be settling into the role Dan LeFevour played for the Bombers last season: running short-yardage plays, but also staying on the field to try to catch the defence off guard with nohuddle pass plays.
“We did some of it last year, too. It’s just a different guy and a guy (Streveler) who started for us and got that experience in the first three games,” O’Shea said. “I think that’s what’s different. He’s a guy who we feel can start and lead our team.”
As far as Nichols is concerned, the way the Bombers are using Streveler fits perfectly with the overall team concept.
“We preach about how it takes every man on the roster to win football games and we’re a team that proves that,” Nichols said.
Since he’s been in the league, Nichols has played with and against quarterbacks who bring that running dynamic and can have a big effect on games despite limited opportunities.
“I don’t think that’s anything new, but I do think (Streveler) is one of the better guys to do that, to have that job.
“His talent level is perfect for that situation.”
This new-found quarterback balance — the experienced passer and unquestioned leader and the young gun with the super-charged legs — just might prove to be perfect as well.
We preach about how it takes every man on the roster to win football games and we’re a team that provesthat.