Als about the win
Starting QB ‘not worried about what Johnny’s doing’
MONTREAL — There’s this voice in the back of Vernon Adams’s mind, repeating the same statement — the Alouettes didn’t acquire Johnny Manziel to sit him on the bench.
Two months ago, when Manziel reported to training camp in Hamilton, Tiger-Cats management said much the same thing. Then Jeremiah Masoli went out and passed for at least 300 yards in four consecutive games, and now Manziel is on his second Canadian Football League team in his rookie season.
Adams can probably relate. He completed the 2016 season with three consecutive wins, something no Montreal quarterback has achieved since. The organization then went out and traded for Darian Durant, deemed Adams expendable, and traded him to Saskatchewan. Then the Riders traded him to Hamilton last winter. And then he was released, partly because of Manziel’s addition.
“I’m blessed. I could be home, doing other things, or not getting paid. It’s a tough situation,” Adams said.
“You know, as a player, you want to be that guy. But there can only be one (quarterback) on the field.
“Anything’s possible.
I know that.”
Thursday night at Molson Stadium, Adams will be that guy against the Edmonton Eskimos. And he knows Manziel, acquired Sunday in a trade from the Ticats, will be looking over his shoulder, waiting in the wings.
“Everybody knows Johnny didn’t come here to sit. They didn’t pay him just to sit. I understand he’s coming here to play,” Adams said. “As of right now, the Alouettes are 1-4. I’m worried about winning a game. I’m not worried about what Johnny’s doing. Coach gave me the start. I’m going to come out here, do my best, lead this team, be efficient on second down and just have fun. When I have fun, I play my best.”
Professional football teams usually change quarterbacks due to injury or because the club’s struggling, but they rarely do so on a short week.
The Als are playing their second game in five days and had only two full practices this week. That’s why Manziel’s not starting.
Matt Shiltz, who replaced the injured Drew Willy in the second quarter against Calgary, has a bruise on his non-throwing hand, according to head coach Mike Sherman. But Shiltz looked fine in Monday’s practice, he’ll dress against Edmonton and is healthy enough to play, Sherman said.
And that speaks volumes. The Als haven’t lost confidence in Shiltz, who is in his second season. But this is a team that has lost 15 of its last 16 games and is desperate. They have nothing to lose by playing Adams, who will provide mobility and might present the Eskimos with a different look. And if Adams falters, the team will turn to Manziel — if not this week, most certainly Aug. 3, when Montreal hosts Hamilton.
Keep rolling the dice and hope, eventually, lucky seven comes up.
With the Als playing at home, and also in front of CFL commissioner Randy Ambrosie and most of the Toronto-based executive office, it will be difficult for Sherman not to tap Manziel on the shoulder, even if only for one series.
“I don’t want to put him in a situation that’s uncomfortable for him with only two days’ preparation. Then again, I do want to get him on the field and give him his opportunity. I’m weighing both options,” Sherman said. “He’ll definitely be in uniform. Whether he crosses over, we’ll have to wait and see.”
The Als have scored a league-low 69 points in five games. In three of those, they’ve been held to 10 points or fewer. And wide-receiver Chris Williams, arguably the team’s best deep threat, was part of the package sent to Hamilton for Manziel.
Adams makes quick decisions, according to Sherman, doesn’t hold onto the ball longer than necessary, is “extremely smart” and can escape the pocket. Just Adams’s scrambling ability alone might force the Eskimos to play a defender on him.
“Their defence. They’re questioning things and are on their heels,” middle-linebacker Henoc Muamba said. “They don’t know what to expect. Is the whole playbook going to change? It could be a completely difference offence, but I’m not saying it is.”
Meanwhile, the Als have released Kirby Fabien, who started at left guard. Both return-specialist De’Mornay Pierson-El and defensiveback Greg Ducre, who started against Calgary, are now on the practice roster.