Hamilton's Quarterback Complacency May Prove Costly

Almost everybody thinks that Hamilton is an improved team from last year and are ready to take a step forward to challenge Montreal for the eastern title.

General Manager Bob O'Bilovich swallowed the majority of opinion (excluding myself and a few others) that the Hamilton offense with Kevin Glenn at the controls was adequate.

Last year, I wrote that Quinton Porter should be developed as Hamilton's quarterback and Glenn regulated to backup duties.

Based on the first game of the season, I see no reason to change my opinion.

Glenn showed again why he has never won a Grey Cup.  He is too streaky and inconsistent. He was that way in last year's playoff game and was the same again in this year's first game.

Quarterbacks' bad statistics are usually measured in interceptions, fumbles, and sacks, but they don't apply to Glenn who seldom commits them.

Glenn's bad statistics are measured by first downs. Usually, he doesn't accumulate many of them.

What happens in a Kevin Glenn game is that the offense doesn't get many first downs, the opponent's offense gets chance after chance to try an establish something, and finally the team's defense breaks down from sheer fatigue.

Such was the case again against Winnipeg where the impotent Hamilton offense wasted a spectacular effort from its special teams.

I said last year that quarterback was Hamilton's main problem, but O'Bilovich and the coaching staff ignored it in the off season.

All they've done is reverse last year's scenario in which Quinton Porter was going to be developed with Glenn coming off the bench when necessary.  Now the plan is to make Glenn the starter and bring Porter along slowly.

There was no attempt to bring in new quarterbacks in the off season to challenge Glenn and Porter's status.

Hamilton is going nowhere with Glenn at quarterback and Porter on the bench.

If Porter is untrustworthy, then new arms should have been brought in.

Based on the first game, it looks like Winnipeg, not Hamilton is ready to challenge Montreal.  After last year's horrible season, Winnipeg did a complete makeover including sacking their incumbent quarterbacks and getting a consistent starter, Buck Pierce, from the B.C. Lions.

Some Hamilton fans think it is too early to push the panic button.  Sorry, it is.

The only consistency that Glenn has displayed during his entire CFL career is that he is a streaky quarterback.  Hamilton will not make any progress with him at the controls.

Hamilton should either hand the ball to Porter and let him learn, or scour the NFL camps for any promising arms that are stuck on the bench.

But that probably won't happen.

I expect a season about what has to happen before the quarterback switch occurs.

Hamilton may end up imitating Winnipeg, and bringing back Michael Bishop in desperation.