News
June 6, 2013
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Chris O’Leary
Edmonton Journal
Even when they’re performing backup quarterback duties, there is no clear-cut indication yet whether it’s Matt or Mike.
Both Matt Nichols and Mike Reilly have been taking turns in the Edmonton Eskimos training camp as the placeholder on field goal and convert attempts. With one of the two landing the starting quarterback job, the other, of course, will be the team’s placeholder this season.
Reilly did the job last year with the B.C. Lions and Nichols did the same in Edmonton. When Nichols got his first-ever Canadian Football League start a year ago against the Calgary Stampeders, he stayed in the game on convert attempts, for the sake of continuity.
Eskimos head coach Kavis Reed said that wouldn’t happen this year.
“No, that’s not an ideal situation,” he said. “During that time, that’s a time where the quarterback has a time to speak to the (offensive) co-ordinator, get de-briefed on the series that they just had and move on to the next snaps.
“When you’re holding the snaps, the ball can bobble, people can fall on you, all of those different mishaps that you can have that can be catastrophic.”
As Eskimos fans saw last year, it’s important to have a quarterback as your placeholder, just in case things go sideways. In the Labour Day rematch against the Stampeders, Nichols lost control of the ball on the snap and was forced into a fire drill situation. He recovered quickly and threw a Hail Mary pass to special teamer/linebacker Corbin Sharun for a touchdown that closed out the first half.
“Whoever is not the starter, the backup guy is holding in case something catastrophic happens,” Reed said. “That way the ball can be passed down the field and you’re more comfortable with your quarterback (throwing it).”