All hype aside, Masoli’s the man
On the eve of the team’s first pre-season game and with the Johnny Manziel hype cranked up all the way to 11, Hamilton Tiger Cats head coach June Jones reiterated that Jeremiah Masoli will begin the season as the team’s No. 1 quarterback — no matter what.
The Ticats will start Friday night’s exhibition game against the Toronto Argonauts at Tim Hortons Field with much of the first-team offence in place, including Masoli, but Jones says the quarterback has nothing to prove at this point.
“I probably don’t need to see anything. I’ve seen enough in practice and saw enough of him last year. I just want him to get in a rhythm and for the first group to have some confidence coming out of this game,” Jones said. “I want to get some specific things done and I don’t want to do a whole lot, but I want to do what we do good.”
Jones was asked specifically if Masoli would start Week 1 and if there was any scenario by which Manziel could unseat him in the pre-season. The answers: “Absolutely,” and “No.”
Manziel will be the second quarterback in the game followed by either Bryant Moniz and Dane Evans. Vernon Adams, who missed the first three days of practice this week, is out.
“Masoli is going to play until I feel good about it, and the rest of the game will be whatever we decide — 15 plays each and we’ll flip a coin on who goes in third and fourth,” Jones said.
With Manziel still learning the CFL game, Jones said he wants the former Heisman Trophy winner to go through his read progressions and make good decisions with the football. “That’s going to be fun to watch for you and for me. I think he knows some things but he’s still feeling his way on others, but he’s a football player and he makes plays,” Jones said. “Hopefully, he’ll do that.”
Manziel says he’s looking forward to playing in his first CFL game, which comes more than two-and-a-half years after he last appeared in the NFL. The 25year-old appeared in two contests at the Spring League, an unpaid showcase for professional players, in April.
“No nerves. There’s no pressure on myself right now. I don’t have to come up here and prove anything in the first pre-season game,” he said. “I just have to come out and play ball, that’s all I’m doing. I’m still learning an offence, I’m still learning everything new. It’s a growing process.”
While Manziel may be locked into the No. 2 slot on the depth chart, there’s plenty at stake for other players in this game.
Canadian offensive lineman Everton Williams gets the start at right tackle. While the team is expected to start an American at that spot once the regular season gets going, it’s a huge opportunity for the 28-year-old to prove that his development — now four
seasons in the making — has come to fruition.
Julian Howsare will get the start at defensive end on a unit that features many of the big names, including linebackers Simoni Lawrence and tackle Ted Laurent. Randall Evans will start at the strong-side linebacker spot — another key question mark for Hamilton.
Toronto, meanwhile, has left most of the big names at home.
McLeod Bethel-Thompson will start at QB in place of veteran Ricky Ray and is expected to split time with James Franklin as they battle it out for the back up spot. All-star receiver S.J. Green, star running back James Wilder Jr. and linebackers Bear Woods and Marcus Ball are all out.
“We’re going to play guys who don’t have a lot of league experience or are in a position where they really have a chance to make the team and we need to get a little more look at them,” head coach Marc Trestman said. “On every level there’s competition, and a lot of it will take place on special teams.”
None of that will matter to Manziel, who likely couldn’t pick the biggest CFL stars out of a lineup at this point, anyway. Plus, he’s got other things to concern himself with.
“Now we get a chance to see another team’s defence, get a chance to see how other teams play our offence, and you get a chance to learn,” Manziel said.
“For me this is the first time to get out on a Canadian field and throw the ball around,’’ he added.