Logan Bonner looked strong out of the gate Saturday.
The quarterback’s first CFL start began with promise — a first-play pass completion for a first down, as part of marching the Calgary Stampeders downfield for a field goal.
Then came a second drive — even better in that deeper into the red zone, right to the doorstep of the Edmonton Elks’ end zone.
“He started good,” agreed Stampeders GM/head coach Dave Dickenson. “He made some really good throws.
“And then he threw the pick in the end zone — one he’d like to have back.”
Indeed, Elks defender Loucheiz Purifoy intercepted the second-year QB’s hurried pass with ease, as Bonner just didn’t get enough air under the ball in toss attempt for a back-of-the-end-zone touchdown strike from six yards out.
The pick prevented the Stamps from going up 10-1 on the host Elks in the Labour Day Replay at Commonwealth Stadium.
And it marked the Red and White’s last best chance of the game — far too early by anyone’s standards — of finding the end zone.
The visitors never moved the ball beyond the Elks’ 22-yard line again.
“No, I don’t even think it rattled me,” said Bonner, of the early game interception. “I think I was just upset for the fact that we drove down the field knowing we could do that, and the guys had a great drive, and I kind of just messed it up.
“So it was the right read, just bad ball — came out flat,” continued the 26-year-old Texan. “That was very uncharacteristic of me.”
Certainly, Bonner was feeling the heat on the turnover, getting pressured from the Elks’ weak-side edge rusher right from the snap while back-peddling in the pocket, causing him to throw off his back foot.
“I’ve still got to make that throw,” lamented Bonner. “It’s not anybody else’s fault. I had the ball in my hands. It was my fault.
“And you’ve got to let it go by the time of the next drive.”
Bonner went on to have a 21-of-36, 284-yard performance in his CFL debut as a starter — the only other Stamps QB to draw a start since Jake Maier supplanted legendary Bo Levi Mitchell midway through the 2022 campaign.
Unfortunately, Bonner’s much-hyped start was spoiled by five interceptions — albeit two of them with the game out of hand in favour of the Elks — and a second loss in six days to the arch-rivals.
“I felt like his eyes kind of lost track of what he wanted on his progressions, but he kept battling,” Dickenson said. “Logan’s going to keep taking snaps, and I believe in him. But I do feel like he got a little loose with his reads — and that’s part of what it is (being a quarterback in the CFL).”
By benching Maier and giving Bonner a chance, Dickenson was looking for a spark from the quarterback position.
Unfortunately, Bonner couldn’t drive the Stamps to paydirt in the 37-16 loss, making it two straight tilts — including the Labour Day loss to the same Elks at McMahon Stadium — the offence was unable to record a major.
Ouch.
“I feel like that (quarterback) room’s got to be at its best in order for us to win,” said Dickenson, who is likely returning Saturday with Maier as his starter when the Stampeders (4-8) host the CFL’s top team in the Montreal Alouettes (10-2) at McMahon Stadium (5 p.m., TSN, QR Calgary).
“We’re searching for answers,” continued Dickenson. “And there’s none right now.”
The hope was a switch at QB would help jump-start some answers.
Because the current run of four straight losses and five drops in six games have the Stampeders on the outside looking in at a playoff spot.
They are currently three points back of a post-season slot with a half-dozen contests remaining on the regular schedule.
But after Saturday’s decision, the Elks have now vaulted over the Stamps in the standings, giving them the inside track for one of the three playoff positions in the CFL’s West Division.
“Just keep working and let the process play out,” Bonner said. “I mean … yeah … I’ve been in this league for a while, so you just know that you got to be ready to play. So it’s not about anything but just doing your job. And I felt like, for the most part, I did. And there’s just a few mistakes that I’d liked to have back.
“I felt pretty good,” added Bonner, when asked to dive deeper about getting his first start in two years after starring for both the NCAA’s Utah State Aggies and Arkansas State Red Wolves. “I saw everything I wanted to see. I missed some throws. I was a little rusty, but that isn’t trying to be an excuse.
“I felt good. I felt like the game plan was good. I felt like I was reading everything good and had some bad breaks guys. The ball bounces that way sometimes. And is what it is. You’ve got come to work next day and try to fix it.
“You want to play as a quarterback. I got the opportunity, and hopefully, I get another one down the road.”
SHORT YARDAGE
Stampeders DL Josiah Coatney (knee), DL Elliot Graham (ankle) and DB Malcolm Thompson (hamstring) did not participate in Tuesday’s practice … WR Ishmael Hyman (hamstring) was limited in the session … As per CFL policy, the Stamps unveiled 10 players from their negotiation list Wednesday. They are QB Garrett Greene (West Virginia), QB Josh Love (San Jose State), RB Deshawn Fenwick (Oregon State), WR Daylen Baldwin (Michigan), WR Samson Nacua (BYU), DL Markaviest Bryant (Central Florida), DL Michael Dwumfour (Rutgers), DL Pita Taumoepenu (Utah), DL Jacoby Windmon (Michigan State) and DB Shon Stephens (Ferris State). League bylaws state that teams can claim exclusive rights for up to 45 players by placing them on their negotiation lists. Players can be added, removed or traded from the lists at any time.