Dave Dickenson made the move.
After Jake Maier threw four interceptions in Monday’s Labour Day Classic, it was inevitable that the Calgary Stampeders GM/head coach was going to need to consider going with another option at quarterback.
You just don’t win football games when your QB is turning the ball over that many times, and with a rematch against the Edmonton Elks set for Saturday fans were calling for a different look.
And on Friday morning, Dickenson made the switch. Logan Bonner will start at QB for the Stamps, with Maier reduced to the backup role.
Is it permanent? Is this the dawn of a new era? Can Bonner actually get the job done?
Here are some things to know heading into Saturday’s must-win game.
- BONNER HAS A SOLID PEDIGREE
As a professional, Bonner is short on experience. There’s no getting around that. He’s dressed as a backup for the Stamps in 15 games dating back to last year, but has completed only 8-of-14 passes for 94 yards. Anyone saying they know he’s going to be better than Maier is just guessing.
But if we look back to Bonner’s college career, there are reasons for optimism.
He spent time at Arkansas State before having his best years at Utah State, where he was the 2021 Mountain West Conference most valuable offensive player.
Reading scouting reports on Bonner from before the 2023 NFL Draft, the consensus seemed to be that he isn’t the type of quarterback who is going to take off running downfield, but he’s got a big arm, a good touch on the ball and is a leader on the field.
- HE’S GOT A TALL TASK AHEAD OF HIM ON SATURDAY
I don’t envy the job that Bonner has in front of him in Edmonton this weekend.
The Stampeders had one closed practice this week. That’s it. There was a walkthrough late on Wednesday afternoon, but that only helps so much.
Quarterback was far from the only issue for the Stampeders in the Labour Day Classic. The defensive line put Elks QB McLeod Bethel-Thompson under little-to-no pressure, the run-game was non-existent and … no, honestly, I could just list everything here. Everyone needs to be better.
That might make it difficult to evaluate Bonner’s performance on Saturday. The circumstances are not ideal for making your first professional start, that’s for sure.
The Stamps are going to need to be a lot better around him if they’re going to have any shot of reversing Monday’s result. It wasn’t just about Maier, and Bonner’s going to need help.
- IS THIS THE DAWN OF A NEW ERA?
I honestly don’t know how to answer this question.
What I know is that Dickenson doesn’t take these decisions lightly.
The last time the Stamps made a change at QB, it was when Maier took over for Bo Levi Mitchell in 2022. At the time, we all sort of knew it marked the end of Mitchell’s time as the Stamps’ starter and the beginning of what many assumed would be a long stretch with Maier leading the charge.
It didn’t work out that way, but even in the West Semifinal against the B.C. Lions that year, Dickenson stuck with Maier until long after the game was out of hand.
Was the Labour Day Classic the end of the Maier era? It’s really, really hard to know.
The warm applause that greeted Bonner’s introduction into the Labour Day Classic tells you what you need to know about how the fans are feeling, but there’s nothing to suggest the Stamps have either fully given up on Maier or believe that Bonner can return them to glory.
That being said …
- YOU MIGHT AS WELL FIND OUT
The Stamps have lost four of their last five games and aren’t striking fear into the hearts of any of their opponents.
Other than Reggie Begelton, I’m not sure there’s anyone on the roster who has looked like an all-star this season.
So if you know there are going to be major changes coming this winter, you might as well get an idea of what a guy like Bonner can bring. If he’s your QB of the future, why not find out? If he’s not that guy, it tells you that you’ve got to go shopping this off-season.
Maybe Maier gets a one-week rest and comes back and proves over the remaining two months of the season that he can be that guy. Maybe it’s Bonner. Maybe Matt Shiltz gets healthy and buys you a little time.
Either way, there’s no use sticking with the status quo when it’s not working.
- A COUPLE OTHER THINGS
Bonner getting the start at QB isn’t the only notable roster move the Stampeders made ahead of Saturday’s game.
For one thing, Dedrick Mills is back at starting running back. He hasn’t played since July 26 for personal reasons.
Bryce Bell is also listed as a game-time decision at left-guard, but having him back would be massive for an offensive line that struggled to create holes for its running backs to burst through in the Labour Day Classic.
Tre Roberson has also been moved to the one-game injured list. Tyler Richardson will take his place at the corner.