CALGARY – It can be the hardest of lessons to learn in football. The individual numbers on the stats sheet matter, of course, but there is also a big picture perspective that can take years to understand and accept.
And so Dru Brown will lean the advice given to him by his father Dave and reinforced over the years on the eve of his third start at quarterback for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers — and just months removed from losing his father suddenly this summer.
“When you just focus on winning and not the things like the stats sheet or the numbers – usually those things take care of themselves,” Brown told reporters here in Calgary as the Blue Bombers arrived for Friday’s regular-season finale against the Stampeders at McMahon Stadium.
“That’s something that since I was young my dad always told me, ‘Hey dude… you just worry about winning and competing and usually all that stuff takes care of itself.’ As a young guy you’re looking at things like that and he had to steer me in the right direction.”
Brown’s numbers were sensational in relief of Zach Collaros in last week’s win over the Edmonton Elks, as he came off the bench to complete all seven of his passes for 98 yards and with touchdown strikes to Greg McCrae and Rasheed Bailey.
They were so-so in his last start before this – a 19-18 win over the Stamps here in Calgary in August – in which he was 17 of 27 for 171 yards with no TDs or interceptions. And heading into that game he authored a remarkable comeback against the Elks just a week before that, coming in for relief for Collaros and throwing for 307 yards and four TDs.
Brown’s growth this season has been there in the black and white of those stats sheets, but perhaps even more important off the field in his transformation as a leader and student of the game. Having Collaros and Dakota Prukop in the same QB room helps, of course, but the word head coach Mike O’Shea has used a few times this week in describing Brown fits perfectly – poise.
“He came in last game and was excellent,” said O’Shea. “He was very poised, calm in the huddle and he just executes the plan. He goes through his progressions and delivers the football. He’s been good.”
The circumstances for this game for Brown & Co. are different than in his last start. Both the Blue Bombers and Stamps have first and third place, respectively, secured in the West Division standings and with this game not impacting that, the clubs have opted to rest some regulars heading into the playoffs.
Winnipeg will be without 10 players who started last week against Edmonton, including Nic Demski and Stanley Bryant on offence and eight regulars on defence in Jackson Jeffcoat, Willie Jefferson and Ricky Walter on the defensive line, linebackers Adam Bighill and Kyrie Wilson, dime back Redha Kramdi, safety Brandon Alexander and cornerback Wintson Rose.
Brown said his goals are simple – “just execute, regardless of who’s out there” – and he will be working behind four-fifths of what will be the regular starting offensive line and with Brady Oliveira expected to get some snaps at running back.
There’s always this, too, with Brown: a pending free agent, any time he steps on the field he has eyeballs on him from coaches and personnel types in this league and beyond.
“I’m human, so I do think of those things as far as how the future goes,” he said. “But I try, as best I can, to try and remove myself from those thoughts because it’s not what I need to worry about right now. I’m concerned with everyone out there and being productive and executing and winning the game.”
More notes and quotes from the Blue Bombers media availability in Calgary in this week’s Game Day Playbook…
THE UNDERSTUDY GETS HIS MOMENT:
Blue Bombers defensive end Anthony Bennett – the club’s first pick in the 2023 CFL Draft – will have an increased workload against the Stamps with Jefferson and Jeffcoat not in the lineup. Winnipeg has dressed four defensive ends in Thiadric Hansen, Celestin Haba, TyJuan Garbutt and Bennett.
“What does tomorrow mean to me? It’s just another day to play football,” Bennett said. “You grow up loving the game and anytime you get to strap on the plans it’s just a blessing to be here.”
Bennett has played the sponge all season, soaking up tips from anyone who will offer them. Asked about his rookie season with one last game to go before the West Final, he offered this:
“It’s most certainly been up. What can I say? Learning from two legends who are probably going to go down into the CFL Hall of Fame… a lot of people on this team, to be honest.
“A lot of these people are just really good at what they do. It’s just a learning curve and it’s about finding the best ways to do it – the best ways to run, jump, fire off the ball. It’s Biggie teaching you something on the defence that you possibly didn’t look at before; Willie telling me to play my heart, play with my passion; Jackson telling me to play with aggression.”
KEEP AN EYE ON:
Among the new faces in the Blue Bombers lineup are two players making their CFL debuts in receiver Ravi Alston and cornerback Tyrique McGhee.
#81 Ravi Alston: Will line up in Nic Demski’s slotback spot. He began his college days at Division III St. John’s in Minnesota before transferring to Montana State. He had shoulder surgery in January which impacted his pro day in the spring, but since his arrival in September in the practice roster expansion has caught absolutely everything in practice.
#38 Tyrique McGhee: He’s listed behind Jamal Parker at one cornerback spot opposite Demerio Houston, but figures to get significant snaps. McGhee played his college ball with the powerhouse Georgia Bulldogs – suiting up for 50 games at different spots in the secondary — before spending 2020 on the Los Angeles Rams.
NOMINATED… AGAIN:
Brady Oliveira has been named as the Blue Bombers representative for the 2023 Jake Gaudaur Veterans’ Award, which ‘recognizes a Canadian CFL player who best demonstrates the attributes of Canada’s veterans – strength, perseverance, courage, comradeship and contribution to Canadian communities.’ The award has been presented annually since 2020 in honour of the late Jake Gaudaur, a World War II veteran who later became the longest-serving commissioner in CFL history.
The other finalists are: Andrew Peirson (B.C.), J-Min Pelley (Edmonton), Charlie Power (Calgary), Brayden Lenius (Saskatchewan), Sean Thomas Erlington (Hamilton), Deionte Knight (Toronto), Jackson Bennett (Ottawa) and Regis Cibasu (Montreal).
