WINNIPEG (CP) _ There's no doubt in rookie head coach Mike O'Shea's mind who the Winnipeg Blue Bombers' starting quarterback is.The Bombers unveiled newcomer Drew Willy on Friday, a day after acquiring the young quarterback from the Saskatchewan Roughriders. And O'Shea immediately named Willy as his starter."You see a guy who has been tutored by some good coaches,'' said O'Shea. "He's ready for this.''Winnipeg has two other quarterbacks on its roster – Max Hall and Justin Goltz. And although Willy has made just four career CFL starts, O'Shea believes his time has come."It's important to this franchise to have a quarterback and a guy that everybody can believe in.,'' O'Shea said.Willy, 27, played two seasons behind Darian Durant with the Roughriders. He said he prides himself on his passing accuracy and feels comfortable in all situations but also expects to learn by doing."Being behind a guy like Darian Durant you learn a lot,'' he said. "I've learned from George Cortez, you learn a ton. Obviously I've had Khari Jones in my ear the last two years as well.''Cortez is Saskatchewan's offensive co-ordinator. Jones was the club's quarterback coach in 2012 and 2013, before becoming the B.C. Lions offensive co-ordinator."It's something for the fans and for the coaching staff, the management, to be excited about,'' O'Shea said of Willy's signing.The Bombers are in dire need of a starter who can win games and fill seats at their new stadium. The club posted a 3-15 record last season that tied a modern franchise record for futility.The Bombers approached free agents Zach Collaros and Henry Burris. But Collaros signed with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats while Burris joined the expansion Ottawa Redblacks.Winnipeg GM Kyle Walters denied Willy was necessarily third on the Bombers list but also didn't rule out adding another quarterback to the roster."We're always looking to improve our team, free agency trades … we'll explore all options all the time to improve our team and promote competition at every position,'' he said.But Walters had nothing but praise for the young quarterback they're hanging their hopes on right now."Pocket awareness, toughness, what drew put on film showed that he's ready to be a starting quarterback in this league,'' he said.Willy started two games in 2013, going 1-1. He earned his first career CFL win as a rookie, a come-from behind win at Winnipeg in the Banjo Bowl. He finished 17-of-23 passing for 188 yards and a touchdown while also running for another.Willy played at the University of Buffalo where he was the most prolific passer in school history, setting records for completions (849), attempts (1,322), passing yards (8,748), touchdowns (52), total offence (8,639), and completion percentage (64.2).He also spent some time in the NFL on practice squads in Indianapolis, Baltimore, San Diego, and New York and played in the UFL with Las Vegas in 2010.
Happy that Drew will get an opportunity, but this is a good thing for the Riders. A young inexperienced QB playing behind the worst oline in CFL.
It will be another long one in the 'Peg.
Anonymous
10 years ago
Interesting evaluation method. In High School I sat behind a guy in Physics who went on to become an Engineer. I am not an Engineer.
Anonymous
10 years ago
I think it reads like, Drew Willy is our starter FOR NOW unless something better comes along! Same thing alot of teams are saying now before free agency.He could still end up in a back-up roll before game 1 of the regular season.
Anonymous
10 years ago
This is like when Danny Barrett named Nealon Greene as his starter in February. The next day Kevin Glenn demanded a trade. KG is in the top ten all time, NG???
Anonymous
10 years ago
Are you saying that Drew Willy was not a pro level athlete while he was in Saskatchewan? He is a good quarterback. If Winnipeg chooses to anoint him early, that is great. It's their business, not yours or mine. At least they have some decent football people in place. The reality is with a 9 team league, that if one toe is sore, the whole heart gets affected. A better Winnipeg is better for all. Good for Drew.
Anonymous
10 years ago
Free Willy the Riderville version is now complete.
Anonymous
10 years ago
Can't get over the number of football experts that make "comments" on this blog. I would expect that the majority reside in the province so it seems most of the province deems themselves as experts. Highly unlikely.
Anonymous
10 years ago
Drew Willy wears army boots just like the rest of the Blum Bloomers.
Anonymous
10 years ago
Ah its Tino time… Very high on this kid!
Anonymous
10 years ago
I agree with this one. Sunseri must be given a chance to compete for the starting job. The time he was in, he looked like an incredibly poised, athletic and fundamentally sound player. The Riders need to open the position up to competition. Edmonton, Calgary, BC, Toronto, Hamilton and Winnipeg have all made the transition to new blood in their qb position. Everyone in this province can live with a transition. Give Darian a competitive ultimatum in camp, and the best man wins. That is, the best man for the future of the organization. To me, 9 and 9, with… Read more »
you are obviously trolling, or out to lunch. I'll leave it at that.
Anonymous
10 years ago
If you really think Darian is not the starter of this football team, you are a complete moron. Sunseri looked good, yes, BUT he played a grand total of two quarters of meaningful football. Darian Durant just won us the Grey Cup.
Anonymous
10 years ago
Sunseri is another Qb of the future, however he like most of the others before him will probably be gone in two years and have his future elsewhere with little "real" playing time here unless DD is hurt.
Anonymous
10 years ago
All I am saying is make Darian earn it? Why in the world do people want to put him in a cocoon and protect him from having to earn his starter position? If he is the starter, then that will surface wont it?
Out to lunch? I am out to lunch because I want a succession plan for the team's most important position? How is that out to lunch?
I can't believe that I already have to repeat my fun facts, as it has only been 2.5 months after we won the Grey Cup. Out of all the current and recent QBs only Ray, Calvillo and Durant have a better than 0.500 win percentage in the playoffs. Darian's QB rating for the 2013 playoffs was 144.3 for all three playoff games this year, in addition to how well he ran when needed. For his playoff career his rating is now a terrific 109.4, to go with a 6 and 3 playoff record. It can be argued that Darian Durant… Read more »
Durant's a stud, so we are still in very, very good hands. If Willy develops and plays half as good as the best backup we've ever dealt (Kevin Glenn), then he's in for a pretty good CFL career. If that makes WPG a better team, it's good for the league. Give 'em hell, Drew! For the beauties out there who still want to bash Durant, maybe lobby the powers that be to bring back Joe Barnes now that we have another QB spot available? Probably still pretty mobile, eh?
Happy that Drew will get an opportunity, but this is a good thing for the Riders. A young inexperienced QB playing behind the worst oline in CFL.
It will be another long one in the 'Peg.
Interesting evaluation method. In High School I sat behind a guy in Physics who went on to become an Engineer. I am not an Engineer.
I think it reads like, Drew Willy is our starter FOR NOW unless something better comes along! Same thing alot of teams are saying now before free agency.He could still end up in a back-up roll before game 1 of the regular season.
This is like when Danny Barrett named Nealon Greene as his starter in February. The next day Kevin Glenn demanded a trade. KG is in the top ten all time, NG???
Are you saying that Drew Willy was not a pro level athlete while he was in Saskatchewan? He is a good quarterback. If Winnipeg chooses to anoint him early, that is great. It's their business, not yours or mine. At least they have some decent football people in place. The reality is with a 9 team league, that if one toe is sore, the whole heart gets affected. A better Winnipeg is better for all. Good for Drew.
Free Willy the Riderville version is now complete.
Can't get over the number of football experts that make "comments" on this blog. I would expect that the majority reside in the province so it seems most of the province deems themselves as experts. Highly unlikely.
Drew Willy wears army boots just like the rest of the Blum Bloomers.
Ah its Tino time… Very high on this kid!
I agree with this one. Sunseri must be given a chance to compete for the starting job. The time he was in, he looked like an incredibly poised, athletic and fundamentally sound player. The Riders need to open the position up to competition. Edmonton, Calgary, BC, Toronto, Hamilton and Winnipeg have all made the transition to new blood in their qb position. Everyone in this province can live with a transition. Give Darian a competitive ultimatum in camp, and the best man wins. That is, the best man for the future of the organization. To me, 9 and 9, with… Read more »
you are obviously trolling, or out to lunch. I'll leave it at that.
If you really think Darian is not the starter of this football team, you are a complete moron. Sunseri looked good, yes, BUT he played a grand total of two quarters of meaningful football. Darian Durant just won us the Grey Cup.
Sunseri is another Qb of the future, however he like most of the others before him will probably be gone in two years and have his future elsewhere with little "real" playing time here unless DD is hurt.
All I am saying is make Darian earn it? Why in the world do people want to put him in a cocoon and protect him from having to earn his starter position? If he is the starter, then that will surface wont it?
Out to lunch? I am out to lunch because I want a succession plan for the team's most important position? How is that out to lunch?
grey cup = qb spot has been earned.
Grease Fire continues in Winnipeg
I can't believe that I already have to repeat my fun facts, as it has only been 2.5 months after we won the Grey Cup. Out of all the current and recent QBs only Ray, Calvillo and Durant have a better than 0.500 win percentage in the playoffs. Darian's QB rating for the 2013 playoffs was 144.3 for all three playoff games this year, in addition to how well he ran when needed. For his playoff career his rating is now a terrific 109.4, to go with a 6 and 3 playoff record. It can be argued that Darian Durant… Read more »
Durant's a stud, so we are still in very, very good hands.
If Willy develops and plays half as good as the best backup we've ever dealt (Kevin Glenn), then he's in for a pretty good CFL career. If that makes WPG a better team, it's good for the league. Give 'em hell, Drew!
For the beauties out there who still want to bash Durant, maybe lobby the powers that be to bring back Joe Barnes now that we have another QB spot available? Probably still pretty mobile, eh?