QB Marsh to get rare start vs. Lions
Quarterback gets opportunity to start as Cato deals with family emergency
Slightly more than two years have passed since that magical throw, a 57-yard desperation toss that, in many ways, defined the career of quarterback Tanner Marsh as much as it did the man who caught the ball, Eric Deslauriers.
It led to the game-winning field goal, against British Columbia, in a dramatic 39-38 victory. Deslauriers went to bed that night believing the Alouettes had found their quarterback of the future.
“To be real, that’s what we thought. We thought he was going to be the next guy, the next quarterback. We’ve always had a superstar — the next superstar,” Deslauriers said. “Unfortunately with injuries and a few things that happened, that didn’t transpire right away.
“And obviously, with the emergence of Cato,” Deslauriers quickly added, “I don’t know how long this will last.”
Marsh, now in his third season with the Als, will get a rare opportunity to start Thursday night (7:30 p.m., TSN, RDS, TSN Radio-690), when Montreal entertains the Lions at Molson Stadium.
Rakeem Cato, who suffered a hip pointer last week at Hamilton, has returned to the U.S. to deal with a family emergency and has been placed on the disabled list. Should he somehow return to the city before the opening kickoff — highly doubtful, given the gravity of the situation — he’ll dress and be activated. While he remains sore, he could play if necessary.
Otherwise Marsh, who replaced the injured Cato in the second quarter against the Tiger-Cats, gets his first start since Sept. 15, 2013, at B.C., when he was forced to leave after tearing a ligament in his throwing hand.
In 2013, Anthony Calvillo was still active, although he had already played his final career game, having been concussed at Saskatchewan on Aug. 17. That season would also see Josh Neiswander and Troy Smith line up at quarterback. The Als won games with all of them. Last season there was a similar revolving door — from Smith to Alex Brink until the team finally settled on Jonathan Crompton.
And now, the Als appear to be Cato’s team, with injuries to Crompton and Dan LeFevour. Canadian rookie Brandon Bridge received some playing time in the regular-season opener, Marsh having started the year on the six-game injured list.
“We’re used to this. It has been going on for three years. I don’t know how many quarterbacks we’ve been through, but we’ve been through a lot. The team’s used to it,” general manager and head coach Jim Popp said. “When it first happened with Anthony, when you’ve had the same guy for so many years and winning with that guy, it was kind of a shock. As that season went along and they saw we could win ... that kind of subsided.
“The next year came along and we got over that. They realized we have to move forward. Plug and play. We have to get it done. No excuses.”
And there were none last Thursday, the Als becoming the first team to defeat the Ticats at Tim Hortons Field, winning their second consecutive game to improve their record to 4-5. Marsh wasn’t brilliant, but he wasn’t required to be. He managed the game effectively, completing 11 of 18 passes for 99 yards. The game was tied, 10-10, when he entered and immediately took the Als on a touchdown drive in their 26-23 victory.
“He wants it, that’s the great thing. He bounces back from a mistake,” Popp said. “When he was called to play, he managed the game very well.”
Marsh, the rookie, was reckless and unpredictable. He was intercepted eight times in those four games and threw only three touchdowns, while completing 52.8 per cent of his throws. But he was exciting and seemed to be exactly what the Als required following the constant that was Calvillo.
“Everyone remembers the last pass (to Deslauriers). All I remember is me being young and making a lot of mistakes during that game,” Marsh said. “I put up decent numbers and won the game. At the same time, I made a lot of young, rookie mistakes.
“It was a great learning experience, but now I’m older. I’ve moved on from those rookie mistakes.”
Marsh played sparingly last season, seemingly not having the confidence of the offensive coaches who were in place. But he always has retained Popp in his corner. While not playing might have temporarily retarded his development, it also gave him a chance to sit back, study and observe. The more knowledge he gained, the more the game slowed down for him.
Marsh said there’s no pressure on him this week and he doesn’t believe he has anything to prove. He’s only 25, seemingly with his entire career still in front. And neither will he begin to speculate on what might — or might not — transpire with an exceptional performance against the Lions. At the very least, with the Als on a bye week in the schedule following the game, he would give Popp and his assistants some scenarios to contemplate.
“My biggest thing right now is running the offence,” Marsh said. “Run the offence, give it to my athletes and let them do their thing. I’m going to take advantage of my opportunity. Whatever they want to do after this bye week is up to them.
“We have no control over that. All I can do is go out there, win and leave it in the coaches’ hands. It’s up to them.”
Run the offence, give it to my athletes and let them do their thing. I’m going to take advantage of my opportunity.