B.C. Lions’ head coach Rick Campbell was hoping for a spark when he benched star quarterback Nathan Rourke at halftime of Friday’s 33-17 loss to the Toronto Argonauts, but all he managed to ignite was one of the most fascinating QB controversies in CFL history.
“I’m making decisions trying to win games. It’s less about evaluating their play and more about trying to win the game. I thought the way our team was playing, we needed a spark and we never got it,” Campbell told the media of his decision to insert Vernon Adams Jr.
“It’s a case of having, in my opinion, two elite CFL quarterbacks. I told the team and I told Nathan that it wasn’t on him, but I’m not going to turn down having two guys if it creates a spark. I didn’t think our energy on offence was where it needed to be and that wasn’t on Nathan, that was just on the whole. We just couldn’t get any flow going.”
Rourke started the game by going just one-of-five passing for five yards, as the Lions managed negative one-yard of net offence in the first quarter. He appeared to find his rhythm in the second frame, finishing the first half six-of-12 for 110 yards and capping his final drive with a nine-yard rushing touchdown.
The Lions trailed by nine points at the break after the Argos responded with a late major of their own, but the Canadian QB’s touchdown drive was not enough for Campbell to stick with him. Rourke emerged from the intermission in a baseball cap and began to help Adams warm up after the pair were informed that a switch was being made.
“I was checking on [injured receiver] Alexander Hollins in the back room and Coach just came and grabbed me and Nate. He told me probably five minutes into halftime,” Adams revealed post-game.
“I guess I was a little surprised. I was still ready, but just a little surprised that he made the switch.”
Rourke admitted that he too was surprised by the move but that his priority was ensuring team cohesion through the change.
“VA has been great to me. It’s only right that I reciprocate, not only for him but for the sake of the team. I’m never going to put my interests in front of what’s important for the team and what was important at that moment was to be as supportive as possible, and hopefully, I did that,” Rourke said.
“Obviously, I’m not great at keeping my emotions in. I wear them on my sleeve, and I’m obviously disappointed, but we weren’t playing well. As a team, we were losing, and I think everyone’s body language kind of showed that tonight.”
Adams was four-of-seven in less than a half of action, throwing for 75 yards and an interception. He was pulled from the game with three minutes remaining, with his final pass landing in the arms of DaShaun Amos for a pick.
The 31-year-old, who last saw game action on August 1, confessed to being jittery in his return and felt he needed to settle his feet. However, he was praised by both Campbell and Rourke for his performance after being thrust in cold.
“I thought he did a good job under tough circumstances. He’s a pro, and sometimes that’s what you’re asked to do,” Rourke said. “You have to remember, he didn’t practice all week. I took all the reps with the ones. It’s tough to go in there and have to go play and be asked to dig a team out of a hole that I put him in, so hats off to him.”
Third-stringer Chase Brice handled the final two drives, going two-of-four for 32 yards, including a checkdown to rookie running back Jordan Terrell that was run in 24 yards for the Lions’ only passing touchdown. In total, B.C.’s quarterbacks were sacked seven times throughout the game, with Rourke tackled for a loss on three occasions and Adams hauled down four times.
“I don’t pin this on our quarterbacks at all. They can only be superheroes so much,” Campbell said of the loss. “I think our football team as a whole lost the game tonight and I credit Toronto for playing good football.”
On Wednesday, Campbell indicated that the team intended to re-evaluate its quarterback situation during their Week 16 bye regardless of the result of Friday’s game. After the loss and the quarterback change, he reiterated that a decision would be made prior to the start of the next week of practice but declined to provide any details as to what would inform his choice.
“It’s not going to be a competition. It’s a unique situation where we have two excellent quarterbacks and I’ll be the guy making the call,” he stressed.
“I pride myself on communicating with those guys. I’m not here to mess with those guys. They’re actually two of my favourite guys as players, but as leaders too.”
Rourke has completed 79-of-126 passes since returning from the NFL, throwing for 1,099 yards, four touchdowns, and seven interceptions. He has also rushed for 155 yards and three touchdowns, going 2-3 as a starter.
The Lions signed the 26-year-old in mid-August following a two-year excursion to the NFL. Campbell released a statement at the time of the signing indicating that Adams Jr. will not be traded this season, calling him “a huge part of our team.”
Adams Jr. has completed 171-of-266 passes for 2,544 yards, 14 touchdowns, and seven interceptions this season, going 5-3 as a starter. He has also carried the ball 35 times for 174 yards and two touchdowns. He was the consensus M.O.P. frontrunner at the time of Rourke’s arrival but had recently suffered a knee injury that held him out of several contests.
Despite being in the thralls of a quarterback controversy, Campbell does not believe the situation will be a distraction for his team.
“I’ve been on multiple teams where you had two quarterbacks and it ended up being a benefit in the long run,” he said. “I’d rather have two really good guys than zero guys and that’s on me to make sure I’m doing a really good job of communicating and knowing where they stand. Quarterback, that’s the hardest position to play so you can’t mess with those guys but I’m not going to be afraid to use those guys.”
“It’s not like it’s a random dude coming off the bench. You’re talking about a guy that was playing at an M.O.P. level.”
Both quarterbacks expressed a desire to be the team’s starter going forward but were in agreement that they would embrace whatever role is assigned to them.
“When we get back, whatever they want to do, that’s what we’re going to do,” Adams said. “I’m a team player. If they want to go with Nate, Nate’s one of the best QBs in this league so I got his back. Whatever Coach wants, I’m going with it. If it’s me, awesome, let’s get back to it and let’s do what we do.”
“[I’m going to] control what I can control. I’m not gonna be taking any time off, I’m gonna get right back at it. A lot of things to clean up, a lot of things to get better at,” Rourke added. “Hats off to Toronto. They did a good job, they had a good plan, they out-played us tonight. They wanted it more, I think that’s honestly what it came down to, and I don’t think that we played up to our potential.”
The Lions (7-7) will return to action on Friday, September 27 when they host the Hamilton Tiger-Cats (3-9).
