The Winnipeg Blue Bombers open main training camp this morning. This is the eighth and final segment in our annual positional-preview series.

QUARTERBACKS 

Just over a year ago, the Winnipeg Blue Bombers quarterback depth chart looked deep and it looked set.

There was Matt Nichols atop the group as the unquestioned starter, as he was coming off a season in which he threw for 4,472 yards with 28 touchdowns against just eight interceptions. Veteran Darian Durant had been added over the winter as a proven arm to come out of the bullpen, and former B.C. Lions prospect Alex Ross was also signed to offer even more depth.

There was also an intriguing prospect on board in Chris Streveler, who was pegged to battle Ross for the third-string gig.

Yeah, well, we all know how all that turned out…

Durant bolted with a just-before-camp retirement; Nichols went down in a heap before the first regular season game, and Streveler emerged from a camp battle with Ross to be the opening-night starter and not only won a game during his time under centre, but provided a wrinkle to the offence that has left fans wanting more.

And so as we begin our eighth and final positional preview prior to the opening of training camp Sunday, it’s worth noting just how much has changed in a year.

Make no mistake, Nichols is still the clear-cut No. 1, as he has guided the Bombers 30-14 record in his starts dating back to 2016. He returned from the camp knee injury to go 9-5 as a starter in 2018 and then help the club to its first playoff victory since 2011 in the West Semi-Final decision over Saskatchewan. But he also struggled at times after the knee injury with a bad stretch in late summer/early September that saw the club drop four straight. He rebounded and in his final seven starts – including the two playoff games – threw for eight TDs against zero interceptions.

In the process, Nichols has moved into sixth place on the Bombers all-time passing yardage list at 13,041, behind only Dieter Brock (29,623), Khari Jones (20,175), Kevin Glenn (18,116), Ken Ploen (16,470) and Tom Clements (14,917).

Ultimately, what Nichols and all these QBs are judged on are Grey Cup championships and what’s interesting about the club’s Top 10 career passers – including Don Jonas, Matt Dunigan, Jack Jacobs and Tom Burgess – is only Ploen, Clements and Burgess helped the Bombers win a title. Jones, Glenn, Dunigan and Jacobs also all led the team to the final – although Glenn (2007) and Dunigan (1993) were injured for the Grey Cup game. That’s a discussion that really won’t be rekindled until November.

In the meantime, what Streveler gives the offence behind Nichols is an intriguing look. Last June Streveler became just the 12^th straight-from-college quarterback to start Week 1 for a CFL team since 1959 and the first since Anthony Calvillo with the Las Vegas Posse in 1994. He was also the last college QB to start an opener for the Bombers since John Schneider way back in 1968.

His rookie season ended with some notable numbers: 11 passing and 10 rushing touchdowns, making him the first Bombers QB in 25 years – since Matt Dunigan in 1993 – to hit double-digit TD totals through the air and along the ground.

Nichols and Streveler are settled in at the 1-2 spots on the QB depth chart, but what happens with the third-string gig will be one of the positional battles to study during camp. Veteran Bryan Bennett made himself valuable to the club on special teams, both as a holder and after he volunteered to line up on the kick-cover units – remember, he saved a potential touchdown with a critical tackle late in the West Semi-Final win in Regina.

But he will be looking over his shoulder at Sean McGuire, the all-time passing leader at Western Illinois who was recently at the Bombers free agent camp in Florida and mini-camps with the Minnesota Vikings and Miami Dolphins. He beat out former Alliance of American Football pivot Kevin Anderson, who was released after rookie camp this week.

The Bombers also have Sawyer Buettner of the University of Ottawa in camp as part of the CFL-U Sports QB Apprenticeship program, but he’s here on a learning mission and will be back with the Gee-Gees for their season.

All in all, there is a solid mix at the Bombers QB position, from the veteran Nichols, to the exciting No. 2 in Streveler, to the athletic Bennett, to the prospect in McGuire.

And, make no mistake, the QB who helps lead this team to its next Grey Cup will not only earn a few free meals and pints in this town, he’ll find a place among the franchise legends.

A LOOK AT THE QUARTERBACKS

The Returnees: Matt Nichols, Chris Streveler, Bryan Bennett
CFL newcomers: Sean McGuire, Sawyer Buettner* (U Sports QB apprentice)
Depatures: None

*Indicates Canadian

IMPACT NEWCOMER

Sean McGuire

McGuire gets listed here by default, as the QB depth chart returns three from last year in Nichols, Streveler and Bennett. He’s got good size at 6-3, 228 and won over coaches in Florida and again in rookie camp.

X FACTOR

Chris Streveler

He’s proven to be a dangerous threat operating the short-yardage set and when he tucks the ball away and runs. What the coaching staff is hoping to see from the second-year pro is a better understanding of CFL defences now that he has a season under his belt and an ability to dissect them with his arm now, too.

NOTABLE NUMBER | 32-19

That’s Nichols’ record as a starter since first arriving here via trade with Edmonton in September of 2015. Prior to Nichols, the last Bombers QB with a winning record was 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), Chris Streveler (1-3) Tee Martin (0-3), Robert Marve (0-2), Brian Brohm (0-2), Mike Quinn (0-2), Dominique Davis (0-1).