The Winnipeg Blue Bombers open rookie camp on May 16^th. This is the eighth and final segment in our annual positional-preview series leading up to the first day players hit the field…

QUARTERBACKS

There are no doubts or questions now. The Winnipeg Blue Bombers write the name atop their quarterback depth chart in permanent marker and no longer are there are any debates or cries for an arm out of the bullpen on those rare occasions the offence coughs or sputters.

Matt Nichols is the no-questions-asked QB1 in these parts, and has been since that fateful game in Edmonton back on July 28, 2016 when he stepped in behind centre in place of Drew Willy and promptly led the club on a scoring drive on the first possession.

That marked more than just the beginning of a seven-game winning streak after a 1-4 start, it was also the beginning of a new era in these parts.

The Bombers have made two consecutive playoff appearances since Nichols was made the permanent starter and are 21-9 in games in which he starts since then. Just as important, he has brought stability to a position that had been a constantly spinning revolving door for years.

And just to put that into perspective as we wrap up our positional preview series, consider this: since arriving in September of 2015 in a trade with Edmonton, Nichols is 23-14 overall as a starter for the Bombers.

The last quarterback in these parts with a winning record? Khari Jones, who was 44-28-1 from 2000-04. The others: Kevin Glenn (35-37-1), Buck Pierce (14-18), Drew Willy (11-18), Michael Bishop (6-8), Steven Jyles (2-8), Joey Elliott (2-7) Max Hall (1-8), Justin Goltz (1-4), Ryan Dinwiddie (1-2), Alex Brink (1-2), Stefan LeFors (1-3), Tee Martin (0-3), Robert Marve (0-2), Brian Brohm (0-2), Mike Quinn (0-2), Dominique Davis (0-1).

That’s a combined 75-125-1 for the starters between Jones and Nichols, FYI.

It’s not so much what the Bombers have atop their QB depth chart that has fans buzzing as training camp opens, but who is listed behind him. Last week’s surprise retirement decision by veteran Darian Durant means the club no longer has the experienced safety net behind Nichols. Signed days after his release by the Montreal Alouettes in January, Durant’s addition was hailed as giving the franchise its deepest QB pool since Glenn arrived to back-up Jones in 2004.

Durant’s exit leaves the Bombers with three quarterbacks behind Nichols – Alex Ross, Chris Streveler and Zack Mahoney — and that trio has 12 combined passes among them, all by Ross last year in B.C. That leaves the Bombers vulnerable behind Nichols. But the counter-spin is Durant’s departure provides a wonderful opportunity for Ross, a star during his days at Coastal Carolina, and Streveler – who lit it up over the last two seasons at the University of South Dakota – along with Mahoney, a dual-citizen pivot and walk-on at Syracuse.

Nichols has been durable since his ascension to the starting gig here, missing just one start in 30 games – last year’s regular season finale win over Calgary in which Dan LeFevour got the start and completed 13 of 17 passes for 91 yards in a game played in horrible conditions and dominated by the Bombers defence. LeFevour retired this offseason and the team’s other QB from a year ago, Dominique Davis, was released before signing with the Ottawa REDBLACKS.

All of this – the stellar play of Nichols, the signing and then retirement of Durant, the release of Davis and retirement of LeFevour – means Bomber camp will open with all eyes fixated on the young bucks behind the starter. And when the lid lifts on the 2018 season, there will be fingers crossed Nichols stays healthy and the prospects behind him develop ASAP.

TRAINING CAMP 2018 PREVIEW | A LOOK AT THE QUARTERBACKS

The Returnees: Matt Nichols
Free agent additions: Alex Ross (B.C.)
CFL newcomers: Chris Streveler, Zack Mahoney*
Departures: Dominique Davis (OTT); Dan LeFevour (retired)

*Indicates Canadian

IMPACT NEWCOMER

Alex Ross

Don’t fixate on his numbers in B.C. from a year ago – five of 12 for 82 yards with two interceptions in garbage time – but look deeper at his credentials from his days at Coastal Carolina. The change in management in Vancouver this offseason, with Ed Hervey taking over as GM, meant the Lions wanted to bring in some of their own people – including QBs. B.C. has Jonathon Jennings and veteran Travis Lulay, coming off a knee injury, along with former Toronto Argonaut Cody Fajardo and rookie Ricky Lloyd. Ross has won at every level and is still just 25 and has never had a more glorious opportunity to move up a depth chart and establish himself as a No. 2 than right here and right now.

X FACTOR

Chris Streveler

At 6-2 and 220 pounds, Streveler stood out while watching the Bombers recent mini-camp as a QB in a linebacker’s body. His credentials from his career at South Dakota positively glow and he’s got the arm and mobility that seem a perfect fit for the CFL game. He’ll benefit from being in an environment that includes a diligent student of the game in Nichols and a QB room that features offensive coordinator Paul LaPolice and QB coach and long-time pivot Buck Pierce.

STANDOUT NUMBER | 46:17

The touchdown-to-interception ratio for Nichols in the last two seasons. Nichols threw only eight interceptions in 579 pass attempts a year ago and only one in his last eight games, including the West Semi-Final.