By Richard Obrand,
MontrealAlouettes.com
Montreal – On a team packed with veteran players like the Alouettes, it can sometimes serve as refreshment and a relief to see young reinforcements excel when called upon.
As a player like superstar quarterback Anthony Calvillo grow one year older, it’s only a matter of time before a new era of quarterbacking dawns upon the team. While the Alouettes are in no rush to begin that new era, at least general manager Jim Popp and company know that when the time indeed comes to retire number 13, the team won’t be lost in transition.
At the beginning of training camp earlier this month, the Alouettes dressed five quarterbacks – make that an even six with the addition of former NCAA National Champion Chris Leak shortly after the start of camp.
While rookie head coach Marc Trestman made it clear that Calvillo would be the team’s undisputed starter, and with slated number two quarterback Marcus Brady out of the lineup due to injury, a battle for the vacant number two and three spots emerged between Leak, Brad Banks, Ricky Santos and the agile Adrian McPherson.
All four impressed throughout the team’s two pre-season matchups, against the Toronto Argonauts and the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, respectively, each making their own contributions to the team’s success. The decision on how to fill the two available spots was ultimately up to Trestman.
Would it be Leak’s big game experience, Santos’ pocket presence, Banks’ familiarity with the Canadian style, or McPherson’s booming arm and ability to make things happen outside the pocket? What would persuade the coaching staff to choose one or the other for last Thursday’s season opener against the Hamilton Tiger-Cats?
In the end, it was Banks and McPherson who pleaded their case with the most authority; Banks grabbed number two while McPherson received number three.
Both know and understand their role.
“Right now, I’m the third string quarterback, and I’m very happy about it,” said McPherson.
Banks agreed.
“Anthony’s our guy, he’s carried this organization for so long and I’m proud to be playing with him,” he said.
Although it may take time to see both get some serious time on the field, they are each more than willing to use their time on the sidelines as a learning experience.
“I feel really good about myself here and I’m going to keep on learning from Anthony and Marcus. Those guys are two of the best a young quarterback can learn from, and I’m going to take advantage of my situation,” said McPherson.
“Right now I feel like the team scout. I’m hoping that my play in practice prepares our defense for what’s coming. There are a lot of fast quarterbacks in this league who like scramble out of the pocket and I feel like I’m one of those,” he added.
Once again he and Banks saw eye-to-eye on the subject.
“I have to be ready when called upon,” Banks said. “I have to prepare as if I’m the starter though, because if my teammates have to depend on me, I need to (deliver).”
