How difficult is it to understand how a running quarterback who's a dual threat, can use the running and scrambling ability to set up the pass...and vice versa?
Anyone who's watched the CFL for the last few decades knows they can be complementary...and have served some of the greatest quarterbacks in CFL history...Flutie, Clements, Holloway, Allen, Dunigan and our own Tracy Ham...to name but a few
I'm not saying this ability is essential to the position in this league...but history at least has shown that it can lead to greatness.
Defenses that HAVE to worry about contain simply won't rush as much....if they do...the QB escapes for 30 yards (like AD did late in the 4th quarter...yet again).
If they back off the rush...a QB has till Christmas to make his reads and throw the ball.
The reason I bring up Damon Allen is I'm old enough to remember people saying they needed to MAKE him throw the ball...ie contain first, keep him in the pocket and not worry about sacking him. He ended up passing for more yards than anyone in history.
As defenses get to watch more and more tape on McPherson, they're definitely going to attempt this kind of strategy....I'm sure Hamilton thought they'd rattle him into making bad throws into coverage.
It remains to be seen if Adrian will respond in kind...but once again we'd not even be having this discussion but for a botched call on the SJ Green touchdown (if a defender knocks a receiver out of bounds in the air....it's a touchdown. Careful examination of the play shows conclusively that Green's leg and consequently his foot were knocked out out by the defender), a drop by Richardson down the right sidelines (he tapped himself on the head "my bad") a missed communication on the Richardson endzone throw (result of VERY little practice time and less game-reps)...
McPherson ran AND threw brilliantly...and I dare anyone to compare his performance to any other QB in the CFL after 3 starts (maybe Ricky Ray)...so yah...I feel completely justified in EVERY claim I've made as to the future. I've been right about him so far...and I'm convinced he'll be everything his supporters hope he will.
As to putting extra pressure on him....bollocks...like he reads these blogs :roll:
And people have been saying all of this since he won Mr. Football AND Mr. Basketball in high school.
His head got inflated once...and he paid BIG TIME
I'm certain THAT at least will NEVER happen again
Funny...his high school basketball coach is still his agent. You have to be pretty special to win that kind of long-term loyalty.
With Trestman declaring he NEVER wants Adrian to leave the Alouettes, it looks good for negotiations that are ongoing between Elliot Washington and Jim Popp....hopefully a looooong term contract will be announced soon...
...whether some people want it or not.