EDMONTON 鈥� It has all the ingredients of an awkward partnership. But, so far, the Edmonton Elks鈥� quarterbacking tandem of McLeod Bethel-Thompson and Tre Ford are doing and saying all the right things.
Ford emerged as one of the most exciting players in the CFL last year. His scrambles and scampers made more than a few highlight reels through the year. And, by the end of the 2023 season, the Niagara Falls, Ont. product looked to have the inside track to be the Elks鈥� starting quarterback going into 2024.
But, in the off-season, Elks coach and general manager Chris Jones turned heads when he inked veteran Bethel-Thompson. The former Toronto Argonauts pivot had spent a season in the USFL with the New Orleans Breakers and wanted to come back to Canada.聽
In 2022, he led the Argos to the Grey Cup and topped the CFL with 4,731 passing yards.
So, as training camp opened in Edmonton this week, Bethel-Thompson was at the top of the depth chart, while Ford slid in as No. 2. But, through the first days of practice, Jones has decided to use a 鈥渄ouble-barrelled鈥� approach on the offensive sets, meaning both quarterbacks get the same amount of reps.
Bethel-Thompson said that the chance to work with Ford was one of the reasons he decided to sign with the Green and Gold.
鈥淚 don鈥檛 notice any awkwardness,鈥� said Bethel-Thompson Tuesday at Commonwealth Stadium after the Elks completed their first session with the pads on. 鈥淚 love working with Tre, I love his potential, and he鈥檚 a huge reason why I鈥檝e come here, right? You can see what he represents and why it鈥檚 important to have great Canadian talent in this league.聽
鈥淚 love the opportunity to play my best and help take this team someplace, and also give everything I possibly can to Tre.鈥�
The Elks finished 4-14 last season, but were 4-6 with Ford as a starter. The Canadian quarterback threw for 2,069 and added 622 yards rushing 鈥� a whopping 9.4-yard average per carry. But Jones said there are areas where Ford needs to improve, such as getting the ball out of his hands more quickly and not always relying on his legs to get him out of trouble.聽
鈥淭hey both are extreme professionals,鈥� said Jones. 鈥淢cLeod has got a plethora of experience, playing at a lot of different levels. Tre鈥檚 a smart enough guy to go, 鈥榟ey, let me tap into that part of his game.鈥欌��
But Jones said while Bethel-Thompson is at the top of the depth chart, the door isn鈥檛 closed on Ford.
鈥淲e have a pecking order. We have a depth chart for a reason. Everything is charted. We look at the completion percentage, where the throws are, the accuracy of throws. Everything is a competition, but there鈥檚 a position chart for a reason.鈥�
Jones said the situation reminds him of 2017, when he coached the Saskatchewan Roughriders. Kevin Glenn was the established veteran, who had thrown for thousands of yards in his career, and the young upstart, Brandon Bridge, was waiting in the wings. Glenn threw 25 touchdown passes that season, Bridge added another 10.聽
鈥淚鈥檓 just going to make the most out of the opportunity,鈥� said Ford. 鈥淢cLeod is here, he is a great dude. I鈥檝e connected with him, for sure. I鈥檓 learning a lot from him. So I鈥檝e got to soak in all the knowledge that he鈥檚 providing and use it improve my game.鈥�
Bethel-Thompson admitted he鈥檚 still shaking off the rust, and he鈥檚 not past being the 鈥渘ew guy鈥� with the Elks.聽
鈥淥n the football field, it鈥檚 getting comfortable and getting my eyes in the right place. It鈥檚 about getting comfortable with the plays so I鈥檓 not passive, I鈥檓 aggressive and my eyes are ahead of the play.聽
鈥淥ff the field, it鈥檚 just getting to know your teammates and learning how to get to the lunch room, and how to interact with new guys and make sure you鈥檙e putting names to faces. It鈥檚 a lot of new people. Both of those (on field and off) are sort of brick-by-brick operations.鈥�
And while he doesn鈥檛 regret spending a year in the USFL 鈥� he led the league in passing yards in 2023 鈥� he鈥檚 happy to be back in Canada.聽
"That was a made-for-TV product, right?" he said. "They did a good job, they had a lot of resources behind them. I think that league is going to be around for a long time. It was a different operation.聽
"I enjoyed my time there, I enjoyed being with my daughter every day. I enjoyed being back in the States. But I鈥檓 happy to be back in the CFL. This league has a long history, and hopefully it will go for a lot more years and have a brighter future ahead."聽
This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 15, 2024.
Steven Sandor, The Canadian Press
