Ticats quarterback faces daunting task in first start
Jeff Mathews insists he’s ready for defending Grey Cup champions
Facing the Calgary Stampeders in his very first CFL start doesn’t have Jeff Mathews quaking in his sneakers.
It is, he patiently explained, just another test.
“I think we prepare well as a group for every game,’’ the 24- yearold rookie calmly pointed out. “There’s a little bit extra, but I wouldn’t say it’s too much. Now that I’m the guy up ... you prepare the same way. I’m good, I’m excited. Just ready to get out there.’’
Mathews has the unenviable task of following the exceptional Zach Collaros on the Hamilton Tiger- Cats’ depth chart. With the latter’s season- ending knee injury, Mathews is next quarterback up. His debut? Against the defending Grey Cup champs who currently lead the CFL overall standings with a 10- 3 record.
Mathews becomes the 21st quarterback to start a CFL game this season — equalling last year’s total. If he’s nervous, the 6- foot- 4 Californian — who looks even younger than his years — is hiding it well.
“Very good defence,’’ he noted, referring to the Stamps, the opposition on Friday night at Tim Hortons Field. “They’re good on all three levels. A huge, obviously very good pass rush gets most of the credit up front, but there’s other guys who are very talented. I’m talking about their linebackers, very active guys. And their secondary, man, just a lot of veterans, a lot of savvy guys who’ve been around, seen a lot of things. We’re going to have to execute, but this is pro football. You have to do that every week to win.’’
The Ticats, who must have collectively blanched when Collaros went down against Edmonton two weekends ago, have faith in Mathews — a former Cornell star who finished his NCAA career as the most prolific passer in Ivy League history.
“He’s the same guy we’ve always known from Day 1 at Cornell,’’ explained Ticats’ head coach Kent Austin. “He’s not going to change. He’s a mature young man; he understands the opportunity he has and he has prepared very hard this week.
“Listen, he has all the qualities we believe in at that position. He cares quite a bit, he’s very unselfish, he’s a lot like Zach. He’s smart, he’s accurate and he’s tough. Those are the top three that we look for.’’
His baptism by fire actually happened against the Esks when, replacing Collaros, Mathews was good on 12- of- 20 passes for 157 yards and three interceptions.
“Jeff knows what he did; I didn’t have to belabour it,’’ said Austin. “We have a game plan that we believe fits the skill set of everybody on the offence. Certainly there will be a focus on the quarterback position. That being said, Jeff is capable of running our offence in its entirety.’’
Austin agreed the Stampeders are a good football team.
“They do a great job preparing their players. They play hard, they don’t make a lot of mistakes in their game. You have to play really well to beat them.”
The guys on the Ticats’ defence will be Mathews’ best friends, as well, as they will try to be a huge factor — which they have been all season long. One of those individuals who will see a lot of the ball coming his way is halfback Emanuel Davis, but he has shown that he knows what to do with it. Davis leads the league with five interceptions, three of them brought back for major scores.
“Taking my job a lot more serious off the field and I think that’s paying dividends for me on the field,’’ suggested the third- year DB. “It’s not just one person out there. I lean on my teammates the same way they lean on me.’’
The first time these teams met, back on June 26, resulted in a one- point Calgary win. It’s a vague memory at this point.
“Is it a game that we’re looking forward to playing?” asked Davis. “I feel that we are, but I don’t think we’re doing anything more than any other week.’’