Adams to get start vs. Esks, but Manziel will play
Newly acquired Manziel likely to dress, but still getting familiar with offence
The Alouettes are expected to have a new starting quarterback this Thursday against Edmonton. And no, it won’t be Johnny Manziel.
Vernon Adams received the majority of reps with the starting offence during Tuesday afternoon’s practice at Olympic Stadium. He was followed by Manziel, acquired from Hamilton last Sunday in a blockbuster trade involving five players and two first-round draft picks.
An Als source told the Montreal Gazette on Tuesday night that Adams is expected to start. He would become the fourth different quarterback to hit the see action this season, after Drew Willy, Jeff Mathews and Matt Shiltz.
Shiltz, who replaced the injured Willy in the second quarter of last Saturday’s game, at Calgary, has a bruise on his non-throwing hand, according to head coach Mike Sherman — although Shiltz didn’t appear to be in any discomfort Monday, when he practised fully.
“All the quarterbacks have an equal opportunity to start. I’m not going to name a starter right now,” said the suddenly-secretive Sherman. “Everybody has an opportunity ... to play. Whether they do or they don’t remains to be seen on game day. I don’t understand why I would put it out there right now.”
Fair enough, although we’re guessing the Eskimos (3-2) couldn’t care less which pivot they face, given Montreal’s anemic offence to date.
Adams, in his second stint with the Als, was signed as a free agent at the end of June, following his release by the Tiger-Cats, and has played sparingly, limited to one carry. But he’s also the last Montreal quarterback to produce a three-game winning streak. That occurred at the end of the 2016 season, after Jacques Chapdelaine replaced Jim Popp as head coach.
Since then, Adams has bounced around between Saskatchewan and Hamilton, but he became the odd man out on the Ticats with the return of veteran Jeremiah Masoli and the signing of Manziel, a former Heisman Trophy winner and first-round draft choice of the Cleveland Browns. Of course, so did Manziel, eventually.
“I haven’t played in a long time. I don’t know what’s going to happen, to be honest,” Adams said, discussing his status. “We’ll see what happens Thursday, or if they tell us (Wednesday).
“Anybody would feel better knowing if they’re going to play or not, you know what I’m saying ? But I’ve been doing this for a while. I’ll practise and prepare like I’m the starter, If I play, I’ll be ready.”
The Als now possess three athletic — and they hope dynamic — young quarterbacks in Shiltz, Manziel and Adams. And Willy, who’s recovering from a cut to a finger on his throwing hand that required stitches, is the valuable veteran who should provide guidance while mentoring the trio.
How soon all this will come together is the great unknown, but the Als appear to have some time with which to play, given how noncompetitive the East Division is, with only Ottawa sporting a winning record.
As for Manziel, he certainly had an expanded role during his second day with his new team, and will most certainly dress against Edmonton. How much he plays depends on how much of the offence he can grasp by the opening kickoff, combined with the effectiveness of Adams.
Manziel said he’s becoming more comfortable with co-ordinator Khari Jones’s offence.
“Getting there,” Manziel said. “I’ve had the chance to see the stuff for a couple of hours. I’m trying to start slow. As the days and weeks go by, we’ll expand it. I have a handle on a couple of things now.
“It’s hard to come somewhere (new). Two days ago, I was getting ready for Ottawa and I was in Hamilton. Now I’m getting ready for Edmonton and I’m in Montreal. We’ll see how things go. If that’s the case, hopefully I’ll be ready for the handful of plays, or whatever it’ll be. If I’m called upon for a small period of time, there are certain things I’m comfortable with. I don’t think it does this team, or myself, well if I’m not 100 per cent sure of everything that’s going on and I’m winging it. That’s not the way to approach it.”
Manziel returned to Hamilton Monday night, following practice, for a quick trip home to gather more of his belongings, including his cleats. “I didn’t come here to sit,” he said. “I needed to go get my stuff.”
Manziel, of course, didn’t arrive alone from Hamilton, accompanied by offensive-linemen Tony Washington and Landon Rice. Washington, a hulking 6-foot-7 and 315 pounds, will start at left tackle against the Eskimos and will play next to guard Phil Blake, who returns from a foot injury.
The Als, who have allowed a Canadian Football League high 17 quarterback sacks, should field their strongest offensive line this season.
“I was shocked, needless to say,” said Washington, who has played for Calgary, Toronto, Edmonton and Hamilton. “I don’t think I was doing anything wrong there. It kind of caught me off-guard. But that’s the business.”
Meanwhile, slotback Adarius Bowman, acquired Monday in a trade from Winnipeg, has been given extra time by general manager Kavis Reed to tend to personal matters and will join the team next week.
Bowman played under Reed with the Eskimos, and his arrival could put Ernest Jackson on tenuous footing. Jackson has caught nine passes for 118 yards. But Bowman, who has played one additional game, has only nine catches for 95 yards.
Two days ago, I was getting ready for Ottawa and I was in Hamilton. Now I’m getting ready for Edmonton and I’m in Montreal.