Ever since throwing for three touchdowns for the Edmonton Elks during a fourth-quarter appearance against the Hamilton Tiger-Cats on Sunday, Tre Ford’s name has been a hot topic of discussion among CFL football fans and sports commentators.
In an interview with radio host Dave Campbell on 630 CHED’s Inside Sports on Tuesday night, Edmonton’s interim head coach confirmed the team’s 26-year-old Canadian-born backup quarterback will start Saturday’s game against the Saskatchewan Roughriders (5-2).
“Tre came in and gave us a spark that we were looking for this past weekend,” Jarious Jackson said.
“He deserves an opportunity to try and lead this team to a win.”
Ford relieved starting quarterback McLeod Bethel-Thompson in Sunday’s game, creating offensive excitement and moving the team down field although the Elks lost 44-28 to Hamilton and saw their record fall to 0-7 this season.
The young pivot, who was named the Elks’ most outstanding player of 2023, completed 10 of 15 passes for 121 yards and rushed for 19 yards on three carries.
“I thought he went out there and put his best foot forward,” Jackson said of Ford.
The Elks practised at Commonwealth Stadium on Wednesday. Ford told reporters he feels like he and his teammates are well prepared for Saturday’s game.
“We’ve got a good game plan going in,” he said. “I’m excited.
“Just from last year, … I realized you never really know when you’re going to be called, so you’ve always got to be ready.”
Jackson indicated the decision to start Ford in Regina on Saturday also relates to Bethel-Thompson’s health, although he will dress for the game and be on the sidelines.
“Mac has been a little up and down the past couple of weeks along with dealing with some injuries that he won’t tell anybody about,” he said. “It’s been hard for him to even throw the ball these last couple of weeks.
“That’s not to make any excuses, but at the end of the day, Tre came in, did well.”
Chris Jones, who was fired as the Elks’ head coach and general manager earlier this month, signed Bethel-Thompson in the summer with the intention of him being the football team’s starting quarterback while also serving as a mentor to Ford. Jackson said he believes Ford has learned a lot from the veteran this season.
“I think Mac has definitely helped Tre in a lot of different ways,” he said. “He hadn’t had that in the past as far as being able to learn from a veteran.
“I think Mac has definitely started to rub off on him.”
Ford said Wednesday that Bethel-Thompson has helped him better prepare for games and make more use of analyzing game video.
When asked how he felt about Elks fans chanting his name during Sunday night’s loss, he explained it was appreciated but that he also backs Bethel-Thompson at the same time.
“I love support but feel bad for McLeod because he’s going out there and doing everything he can to win, right?,” he said.
“I want to be a good teammate.”
Bethel-Thompson also took questions from reporters on Wednesday. He acknowledged that “it sucks not playing” but added he is happy for Ford.
“I am excited to watch him play like everybody is,” said the 36-year-old California native. “It’s about team. Once you join a team, you’re committed to doing whatever it takes to win a football game. And if we all have that mentality, then we’ve got a shot.”
Ford said he does not plan to “try to be a superhero” on Saturday and just hopes to “execute at a high level” and get the ball to his receivers and running back.
“(I want to) let them be the heroes and superstars,” he explained.
Jackson did not confirm if he is planning to start Ford in games beyond the upcoming one against Saskatchewan.
“We’re going to handle this one first and we’ll figure it out from there,” he said, adding that Bethel-Thompson is “a true pro and he’s definitely going to support Tre in every way he can on and off the field.”
Football commentator sees ‘really positive sign’ in Ford’s play
Ben Grant is a radio colour analyst for Toronto Argonauts games on TSN 1050. Bethel-Thompson was a member of the Argos when that club won Grey Cup championships in 2017 and 2022.
“McLeod Bethel-Thompson had a great start to the season but he clearly has not been himself the last couple of weeks,” he told Inside Sports after Jackson announced Ford would start against the Roughriders. “(Ford) probably should have come in a couple of weeks ago.”
The Roughriders head coach is Corey Mace, who took the job after previously serving as the Argos’ defensive co-ordinator.
Grant noted that when the Argos faced Ford last season, Mace “had a pretty good game plan” despite the fact that the athletic quarterback is known for his unpredictability and his outstanding ability to run with the ball.
“(But) you can’t base an offence on that,” said Grant, who has coached football at various levels and once even coached against a younger Ford. “That’s certainly not what Jarious Jackson’s hoping he’s going to see when he looks out on the field on Saturday: … Ford running all over the place and heaving up a ball 10 seconds into the play. That’s not the design.
“Those (plays) are great, those are fun to watch and it’s exciting for Edmonton fans, but he’s going to have to play a little bit more traditional football as well because I think Corey Mace is going to be perfectly fine if he’s scrambling all over the place on every play.”
Grant said that while Ford’s brief appearance in Sunday’s game is a small sample size, he was impressed that the player appeared to be “looking to pass first.”
“He wasn’t just first read tuck the ball and run. And I love seeing that from a quarterback who is known for having speed, who can kill you on the ground,” he said. “I think that’s a really positive sign.”
Grant said while he enjoyed seeing that approach from Ford, he believes the quarterback will need to walk a fine line between allowing his playing style to evolve but also keeping the elements of his game that make him so dangerous on the field.
“He can’t lose that part of his game,” he said. “Quarterbacks that can run effectively, they want to prove that they are able to pass too. That’s an important part of their job and obviously Tre Ford can throw the football and he should.
“But I don’t think you can abandon that part of your game entirely. It’s what makes you such a weapon.
“There’s nothing wrong with hitting the ground when there’s an opening.”