Jim Popp made an important observation about quarterbacks in his first meeting with the Ottawa media after being named a senior adviser for the winless Redblacks this week.
“… There’s the rare guy who comes along that plays their first season in the CFL and does well,” the five-time Grey Cup champion executive said.
“You have one or two a decade that can kind of do that. The rest of them back up, they develop and probably by the time they’re 28 or 29, they’re getting into their prime, the game slows down for them and they’re much more prepared.
“We’ve seen that with (Cody) Fajardo in recent time, people at one time didn’t think McLeod (Bethel-Thompson) could do it and he’s won a Grey Cup, Vernon Adams was talked about (that) he couldn’t play and he’s been one of the stars in the league. That’s really what happens with most.”
By answering a question about the most important position on the field very honestly, Popp laid out just what kind of challenge it will be to solve the biggest issue facing a franchise that has lost its way.
You don’t start a season 0-10 and have a 16-game losing streak — tied for the second-longest in the history of the Canadian game at the top level — dating back to last year without having a long list of woes.
The Redblacks have been decimated by injuries this year, the offensive line is a weakness and the defence is easily the worst in the league.
But the overriding problem during the past seven seasons of mostly horrible football has been the team’s inability to find a consistent starting quarterback.
Since Trevor Harris — who won the Grey Cup last year for the Saskatchewan Roughriders — bolted for the Edmonton Elks prior to the 2019 season, the Redblacks have cycled through 13 starting QBs.
None of the 12 men before Jake Maier, this year’s starting QB, are current starters in the CFL. Guys like Will Arndt, Dominique Davis, Devlin ‘Duck’ Hodges and Matt Nichols have all come and gone.
And while Maier has had his moments of solid play while trying to deal with offensive-line issues and a flat running attack, his career record as a starter is now 19-37-1. Maier’s efficiency rating this year is also the worst of all opening-day starting QBs.
Bethel-Thompson, Maier’s backup, is 38 and struggled in relief last week, while third-stringer Bryson Barnes, 24, signed with the Redblacks prior to this season and has thrown five passes.
It’s imperative that the Redblacks find some meaningful playing time for the Utah State product in the final eight games to get an idea of Barnes’ potential going forward. Unfortunately, he was banged up in the team’s last game and will be the third-stringer this week.
Still, the odds of a true rookie looking ready to lead a team in his sophomore season are very long.
For the Redblacks to avoid embarrassment again in 2027, they must improve their quarterback room dramatically.
But as Popp noted, it’s hard to find a guy ready to take the reins without serious development time in the CFL. The nine opening-day quarterbacks this year all spent at least one year — and often more — mostly as a backup or lower on the depth chart.
This is not the NFL, where you can be bad and often have your pick of potential franchise quarterbacks in the draft.
Looking around the CFL, there are not a ton of clear options.
One intriguing possibility could be Toronto Argonauts QB and 2023 CFL most outstanding player Chad Kelly, 32, whose contract expires after this season. His MOP season and Grey Cup win in relief the previous year came under Ryan Dinwiddie, who is now the GM and head coach of the Redblacks.
But will Kelly be interested in joining a rebuilding team at this time of his career? It’s certainly no sure thing.
Most of the other starters are either older or on longer deals with their current clubs.
As for backups, three have already had shots as Ottawa’s starter — Winnipeg’s Dru Brown, Toronto’s Nick Arbuckle and Montreal’s Dustin Crum.
Edmonton’s Taylor Powell, 27, is a backup who did some good things in Hamilton, but it’s unlikely the Elks will want to move on from him with Fajardo getting older.
All this is to say the Redblacks have their work cut out for them.
It’s a great mystery who will be behind centre come opening day in 2027. And if the Redblacks can’t get the answer right, the losing will continue.
All 32 NFL teams must reduce their rosters to 53 by Sunday night.
That will put more than 1,100 pro football players in employment limbo. Over the next 48 hours, some will be signed to practice rosters or claimed by other NFL teams.
Others will have no jobs, meaning they could be CFL targets.
The Canadians (or national players) on roster bubbles all have their rights owned by CFL teams.
• Los Angeles Rams DL Wesley Bailey (Edmonton)
• Rams TE Rohan Jones (Montreal)
• Las Vegas Raiders OL Niklas Henning (Toronto)
• Miami Dolphins DL Rene Konga (Ottawa)
• Carolina Panthers WR Malick Meiga (Hamilton)
• Indianapolis Colts LB Devin Veresuk (Hamilton)
Canadian quarterback Kurtis Rourke suffered a rib injury playing in the pre-season opener for the San Francisco 49ers, but has earned good reviews and seems likely to stick with the NFL team in some capacity. His CFL rights are owned by Saskatchewan.
Montreal Alouettes (9-1) at Winnipeg Blue Bombers (5-5), Friday, 8:30 p.m. ET / 7:30 p.m. CT
The CFL-leading Als can clinch a playoff berth and a home post-season game with a win and a Hamilton loss this week.
Hamilton Tiger-Cats (4-7) at Calgary Stampeders (5-6), Saturday, 3 p.m. ET / 1 p.m. MT
Stampeders QB Vernon Adams Jr. is listed as questionable after suffering a head injury in the team’s last game.
Toronto Argonauts (5-5) at Saskatchewan Roughriders (6-4), Saturday, 7 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. CST
Argos QB Chad Kelly is 4-0 for his career against the Roughriders, including a 40-34 victory earlier this year.
B.C. Lions (5-5) at Ottawa Redblacks (0-10), Sunday, 7 p.m. ET
The Lions are looking for their fifth consecutive victory.