1st & 10 | The Complete Blue Bombers QB Picture

[Tecno]

Of the very best QBs that I've seen over the past 20+ years watching the CFL, they usually look pretty good as soon as they get an opportunity.

Ya, maybe it's not really "how long they sat holding the clipboard?", maybe it's more "when they first stepped on the field in reg season, did they suck?".

I didn't even know there were guys named Rourke, Kelly, or Alexander on a roster in the CFL until the moment they stepped on the field (usually in injury relief).  Then they all lit it up.  Same for Dru Brown -- the lighting it up part, not the "didn't know" part, but that's only because I'm a WPG fan.

The Cody & T.Harris examples are probably the best Calvillo-like counter-examples.  But those examples are getting real stale (like a decade ago stale).  There's really no current new guy starting who didn't light it up and have instant success.

You just gotta have that "it" factor immediately.  Wilson has had a few (big!) opportunities to light it up.  He's been mediocre (but not crap) every time.

[Jesse]

Ya, maybe it's not really "how long they sat holding the clipboard?", maybe it's more "when they first stepped on the field in reg season, did they suck?".

I didn't even know there were guys named Rourke, Kelly, or Alexander on a roster in the CFL until the moment they stepped on the field (usually in injury relief).  Then they all lit it up.  Same for Dru Brown -- the lighting it up part, not the "didn't know" part, but that's only because I'm a WPG fan.

The Cody & T.Harris examples are probably the best Calvillo-like counter-examples.  But those examples are getting real stale (like a decade ago stale).  There's really no current new guy starting who didn't light it up and have instant success.

You just gotta have that "it" factor immediately.  Wilson has had a few (big!) opportunities to light it up.  He's been mediocre (but not crap) every time.

This is what I'm saying.

[Blueforlife]

Rourke looked legit from his first snap, same with Davis Alexander. They had no problem reading defenses and executing plays. Guys who have it have

That happens but is exceedingly rare.  Those are two generational talents imo.  BO was the last one before that who was awesome early.  Some need to be seasoned.  BO needed seasoning mid career.

[Throw Long Bannatyne]

Ya, maybe it's not really "how long they sat holding the clipboard?", maybe it's more "when they first stepped on the field in reg season, did they suck?".

I didn't even know there were guys named Rourke, Kelly, or Alexander on a roster in the CFL until the moment they stepped on the field (usually in injury relief).  Then they all lit it up.  Same for Dru Brown -- the lighting it up part, not the "didn't know" part, but that's only because I'm a WPG fan.

The Cody & T.Harris examples are probably the best Calvillo-like counter-examples.  But those examples are getting real stale (like a decade ago stale).  There's really no current new guy starting who didn't light it up and have instant success.

You just gotta have that "it" factor immediately.  Wilson has had a few (big!) opportunities to light it up.  He's been mediocre (but not crap) every time.

You're using this phrase pretty loosely, in the case of BLM as with most other QB's there is mucho homework invested to achieve instant success. His first year in the league he ran SY behind Drew Tate and Kevin Glenn, it wasn't till half way through his second season that injury to Glenn and Tate pushed him into the role of starter.  From that point forward you could say he achieved instant success, even though earlier game action confirmed he had the right set of tools to be a good CFL QB.  Not dissimilar to Dru Brown or Alexander's path to "instant success" in their 2nd or 3rd season.