EDMONTON – It has all of the elements of an ungainly partnership. However, up to now, the Edmonton Elks’ quarterbacking tandem of McLeod Bethel-Thompson and Tre Ford are doing and saying all the suitable issues.
Ford emerged as one of the crucial thrilling gamers within the CFL final yr. His scrambles and scampers made quite a lot of spotlight reels by way of the yr. And, by the tip of the 2023 season, the Niagara Falls, Ont. product appeared to have the within monitor to be the Elks’ beginning quarterback going into 2024.
However, within the low season, Elks coach and normal supervisor Chris Jones turned heads when he inked veteran Bethel-Thompson. The previous Toronto Argonauts pivot had spent a season within the USFL with the New Orleans Breakers and needed to come back again to Canada.
In 2022, he led the Argos to the Gray Cup and topped the CFL with 4,731 passing yards.
So, as coaching camp opened in Edmonton this week, Bethel-Thompson was on the prime of the depth chart, whereas Ford slid in as No. 2. However, by way of the primary days of follow, Jones has determined to make use of a “double-barrelled” method on the offensive units, which means each quarterbacks get the identical quantity of reps.
Bethel-Thompson stated that the prospect to work with Ford was one of many causes he determined to signal with the Inexperienced and Gold.
“I don’t discover any awkwardness,” stated Bethel-Thompson Tuesday at Commonwealth Stadium after the Elks accomplished their first session with the pads on. “I like working with Tre, I like his potential, and he’s an enormous cause why I’ve come right here, proper? You’ll be able to see what he represents and why it’s essential to have nice Canadian expertise on this league.
“I like the chance to play my greatest and assist take this staff someplace, and in addition give every part I probably can to Tre.”
The Elks completed 4-14 final season, however had been 4-6 with Ford as a starter. The Canadian quarterback threw for two,069 and added 622 yards speeding — a whopping 9.4-yard common per carry. However Jones stated there are areas the place Ford wants to enhance, akin to getting the ball out of his palms extra shortly and never all the time counting on his legs to get him out of hassle.
“They each are excessive professionals,” stated Jones. “McLeod has obtained a plethora of expertise, enjoying at a whole lot of totally different ranges. Tre’s a sensible sufficient man to go, ‘hey, let me faucet into that a part of his sport.’”
However Jones stated whereas Bethel-Thompson is on the prime of the depth chart, the door isn’t closed on Ford.
“We have now a pecking order. We have now a depth chart for a cause. Every thing is charted. We take a look at the completion proportion, the place the throws are, the accuracy of throws. Every thing is a contest, however there’s a place chart for a cause.”
Jones stated the state of affairs reminds him of 2017, when he coached the Saskatchewan Roughriders. Kevin Glenn was the established veteran, who had thrown for 1000’s of yards in his profession, and the younger upstart, Brandon Bridge, was ready within the wings. Glenn threw 25 landing passes that season, Bridge added one other 10.
“I’m simply going to take advantage of out of the chance,” stated Ford. “McLeod is right here, he is a good dude. I’ve linked with him, for certain. I’m studying rather a lot from him. So I’ve obtained to soak in all of the information that he’s offering and use it enhance my sport.”
Bethel-Thompson admitted he’s nonetheless shaking off the rust, and he’s not previous being the “new man” with the Elks.
“On the soccer area, it’s getting comfy and getting my eyes in the suitable place. It’s about getting comfy with the performs so I’m not passive, I’m aggressive and my eyes are forward of the play.
“Off the sector, it’s simply attending to know your teammates and studying get to the lunch room, and work together with new guys and ensure you’re placing names to faces. It’s a whole lot of new folks. Each of these (on area and off) are form of brick-by-brick operations.”
And whereas he doesn’t remorse spending a yr within the USFL — he led the league in passing yards in 2023 — he’s completely happy to be again in Canada.
“That was a made-for-TV product, proper?” he stated. “They did a great job, they’d a whole lot of assets behind them. I feel that league goes to be round for a very long time. It was a special operation.
“I loved my time there, I loved being with my daughter day-after-day. I loved being again within the States. However I’m completely happy to be again within the CFL. This league has a protracted historical past, and hopefully it can go for lots extra years and have a brighter future forward.”
This report by The Canadian Press was first printed Could 15, 2024.
