Winnipeg Blue Bombers agree to terms with former Riders QB Shea Patterson

[theaardvark]

Not sure. I was a bit surprised. It might be as simple as Zach's age and possibly this being his last year, and therefore, wanting as much competition in training camp as possible to pick the best two quarterbacks behind him.

It might even be deeper than that, last year might have been Zach's last year, for all we know.  There is a chance that the #1 spot might be up for grabs.  I know he's said he wants to "win the Cup at home", but he got off to a terrible start last year.  If he comes out of the gate as bad, or worse, we are going to need a top guy to step in. 

Paterson has shown more than Wilson in game, having had more opportunity. 

Streveler, is Streveler.

Just saying, the leash will be long for Zach, but not infinite.

[Sir Blue and Gold]

What are you talking about, Aardvark?

[Throw Long Bannatyne]

It might even be deeper than that, last year might have been Zach's last year, for all we know.  There is a chance that the #1 spot might be up for grabs.  I know he's said he wants to "win the Cup at home", but he got off to a terrible start last year.  If he comes out of the gate as bad, or worse, we are going to need a top guy to step in. 

Paterson has shown more than Wilson in game, having had more opportunity. 

Streveler, is Streveler.

Just saying, the leash will be long for Zach, but not infinite.

Zach's leash is ultimately infinite, it could extend right through to next off-season and get tangled around the eternal questions of "why?", "what if?", and "how come?".

[GOLDMEMBER]

Good signing.

I like our QB room.

[BLUEBOMBER]

Clearly we need to develop a QB to take over when Collaros retires (which is pretty soon).

[TecnoGenius]

Meh.  Just like with Dolegala, am I the only outlier here?

What's our fascination with ex-Riders?  Hrmph.

Isn't Patterson the one that the Rider forum always joked: "ya, but he's tall"?

He showed me nothing exciting.  Nothing to show he's a future #1.  Yes, as a #2 I guess you could do worse.  Yes, he's probably better than Wilson as season-insurance if Zach gets hurt.

But I'd be more excited if we signed a dude I thought could be a real future #1.  Right now, out of the non-starters in the league, to me that's Crum Powell.

I do welcome more insight into what Mace et al are doing on the green team on O... that may help come post-season if SSK maintains their rising star status.

And yes, I don't see how Wilson survives against all these options.

[Jesse]

Isn't Patterson the one that the Rider forum always joked: "ya, but he's tall"?

Nope, that was Dolegala.

[KINGCHARLES]

Speaking as a Michigan fan Patterson is trash, he struggles to throw the ball deep. loves the 1-4 yard pass. Still plays like he has 4 downs. Needs 5 downs to get a first down.
IMO he's worse than Streveler.... like a discounted dollar store version of Jake Maier.

[LXTSN]

Collaros will be QB1 so we can leave him out.

Wilson and Patterson should be battling for QB2. I have more hope in the future for Wilson, but Patterson obviously has more experience and would help us win short term if Zach goes down. I'd choose Wilson and the long term upside but let's see how they play in pre-season.

Strevler should have the QB3/Short-yardage QB, but I really don't want to see him starting a game. I'd rather just see him in short yardage and use him in some play action plays where we go no-huddle following a QB sneak.
I would also be willing to hear out Wilson getting this role. He actually did a solid job last season, although I don't have those stats to back that claim up.

It's probably taboo to mention cutting Strevler, but for the good of the team now and in the future, I feel like it might be best to run with Zach, Patterson and Wilson as our QB room... (please don't hurt me)

[Jesse]

There was an article about Streveler in the paper today.

The question was raised about why Buck didn't design plays around Streveler like in 2018/19. Strev couldn't explain it, but says he talked with Hogan before re-signing and I think the plan is to have him more involved again.

He had also broken a rib in week 5 (his start against Ottawa). So was also dealing with that the whole time.

[theaardvark]

Meh.  Just like with Dolegala, am I the only outlier here?

What's our fascination with ex-Riders?  Hrmph.

Isn't Patterson the one that the Rider forum always joked: "ya, but he's tall"?

He showed me nothing exciting.  Nothing to show he's a future #1.  Yes, as a #2 I guess you could do worse.  Yes, he's probably better than Wilson as season-insurance if Zach gets hurt.

But I'd be more excited if we signed a dude I thought could be a real future #1.  Right now, out of the non-starters in the league, to me that's Crum.

I do welcome more insight into what Mace et al are doing on the green team on O... that may help come post-season if SSK maintains their rising star status.

And yes, I don't see how Wilson survives against all these options.

Crum
 YEAR
   TEAM    GP    COMP    ATT    YDS    TD    INT    AVG
2023
   OTT    18    266    385    3109    10    12    8.1
2024
   OTT    18    31    45    320    0    2    7.1
   
Total
   36    297    430    3429    10    14    8.0

Patterson

YEAR
   TEAM    GP    COMP    ATT    YDS    TD    INT    AVG
2021
   MTL    3    0    0    0    0    0    0.0
2023
   SSK    13    4    6    32    0    0    5.3
2024
   SSK    18    131    217    1655    6    5    7.6
   
Total
   34    135    223    1687    6    5    7.6

Not a huge sample size for either, Crum has more Int than TD.  Not sure why you think he's a future starter when his own team has Brown ahead of him...

[dd]

Not sure what type of plays Hogan is going to come up with. Streveller is a bruising, running Qb. We had a short yardage, fake the hand off, tuck and run outside play for him to run play, that's it.

He's a running Qb, and running Qb's get hurt. He's just coming off an injury that we don't even know if he can pass the physical.

[Throw Long Bannatyne]

Fresh theory, after QB Darren Grainger announced his retirement a few weeks ago Walters was forced to re-evaluate available QB's he could sign without the hassle of finding and bringing in an unknown. The goal is having an extra arm or 2 in TC.

He probably didn't have a plan for Patterson, but willing to give him a fair shot.  Patterson did surprise many last season when he beat out incumbent Fine at Rider TC, he seems fairly smart but perhaps lacks great athletic tools, kind of a C grade version of Dru Brown.

[Blueforlife]

Speaking as a Michigan fan Patterson is trash, he struggles to throw the ball deep. loves the 1-4 yard pass. Still plays like he has 4 downs. Needs 5 downs to get a first down.
IMO he's worse than Streveler.... like a discounted dollar store version of Jake Maier.

There is no place on this forum imo for the type of language you are using to describe a new member of this ball club.  Would you say any of this to his face?  Players deserve more respect than that.

Collaros will be QB1 so we can leave him out.

Wilson and Patterson should be battling for QB2. I have more hope in the future for Wilson, but Patterson obviously has more experience and would help us win short term if Zach goes down. I'd choose Wilson and the long term upside but let's see how they play in pre-season.

Strevler should have the QB3/Short-yardage QB, but I really don't want to see him starting a game. I'd rather just see him in short yardage and use him in some play action plays where we go no-huddle following a QB sneak.
I would also be willing to hear out Wilson getting this role. He actually did a solid job last season, although I don't have those stats to back that claim up.

It's probably taboo to mention cutting Strevler, but for the good of the team now and in the future, I feel like it might be best to run with Zach, Patterson and Wilson as our QB room... (please don't hurt me)

Agree with most.  Camp will be very telling and preseason will help coaches make a very close and difficult decision about QB.  I don't see Strev getting cut but needs a strong camp and to be 100% healthy.

Fresh theory, after QB Darren Grainger announced his retirement a few weeks ago Walters was forced to re-evaluate available QB's he could sign without the hassle of finding and bringing in an unknown. The goal is having an extra arm or 2 in TC.

He probably didn't have a plan for Patterson, but willing to give him a fair shot.  Patterson did surprise many last season when he beat out incumbent Fine at Rider TC, he seems fairly smart but perhaps lacks great athletic tools, kind of a C grade version of Dru Brown.

Not buying the fresh theory

[ModAdmin]

Winnipeg Blue Bombers sign quarterback Shea Patterson

WINNIPEG, MB., February 12, 2025 –  The Winnipeg Blue Bombers today announce the club has agreed to terms on a one-year contract with quarterback Shea Patterson.

Patterson (6-0, 212; Michigan; born: January 17, 1997, in Toledo, OH) joins the Blue Bombers after spending the last three seasons with the Saskatchewan Roughriders (2023-24) and Montreal Alouettes (2021).

He dressed for all 18 regular-season games and the Western Semi-Final and Western Final last year for the Roughriders, completing 131 of 217 passes (60.4 percent) for 1,655 yards and six touchdowns against five interceptions. He also rushed 38 times for 134 yards and a team-leading seven more scores.

The Roughriders were 2-4 in his six starts last season in relief of Trevor Harris, including a 19-9 win over the Blue Bombers in Regina last July in a game in which he threw for 261 yards and a touchdown while rushing for 35 yards.

Patterson first turned pro with the Kansas City Chiefs in 2020 as an undrafted free agent and after a stint in The Spring League, spent time with the B.C. Lions on the practice roster in 2021 before signing with the Montreal Alouettes later that season.

Patterson was the first overall pick in the 2022 USFL Draft by the Michigan Panthers in 2022 and was later signed by the New Orleans Breakers. He then signed with Saskatchewan in February of 2023.

He split his college days between Ole Miss (2016-17) and Michigan (2018-19) and earned All-Big Team Third Team honours in both his seasons with the Wolverines and moved past Tom Brady into seventh place on the school's all-time passing-yardage list.

Patterson was also selected by the Texas Rangers in the 39th round of the 2018 Major League Baseball draft.