Take me through it, please.

Yeah, thank you, man.

It was a crazy trip because quick 48-hour trip.

So let me take you through my travel to get there just so you can understand the whirlwind of the couple days that I had.

So I was actually up in Winnipeg last week on Tuesday, was there for a mental health gala that I've been a part of for a couple years supporting a friend of mine.

And then I flew over to Montreal on Friday morning.

Then from Montreal, I flew to LaGuardia in New York.

What are the other reasons that Edmonton is so solid?

How does Calgary even move forward after collapsing like that for six quarters?

I mean, if you're Calgary, you just have to get back to the basics of what got you to looking like one of the better teams in the league early in the season.

Like, even when they were 2-2, we're sitting here saying, "Man," like, "they've lost some close games, like, they're still really good." What were they doing? They were taking care of the football, and they were establishing the run with Deejird Mills.

And they just got away from that.

They've had a bunch of turnovers at inopportune times.

And I've said it time and time again about Edmonton is, like, if you give them opportunities and you turn the ball over, that team makes you pay.

So if you're gonna give them opportunities in short fields, they're gonna go get seven, and that game's gonna get away from you, and that's kinda what happened.

When you, when you have that next man up mentality, which I think they operate with, and you actually have the guys who can do it, that's gonna make a massive difference down the stretch, isn't it?

What did you notice?

Yeah, man, I feel like that was like three weeks ago at this point.

You know, so much has happened for me, and I've been traveling around.

But, you know, you mentioned Winnipeg Sass, so I'll kind of start there.

And, you know, what a back-and-forth game.

And as always, that Labor Day game is going to have unbelievable energy in that stadium.

And I put out a video about that leading up to the game.

Just give me a rip on the game last night and how you feel about NFL football being back.

Can you put your finger on it?

Well, listen, I mean, in terms of last week, like I'm always a glass half full type of guy and you got to give Saskatchewan a ton of credit, man.

Like they came out, they executed, they played, like they played a Saskatchewan game that you see where it's like, all right, you let them hang around, you keep them in the game.

They're just going to lean on you.

Trevor Harris is going to distribute the ball accurately and on time like he usually does.

Their defense is going to find a way to get a big play or get a turnover, get some pressure, and then they're going to bring Tommy Stevens in for Tommy time, and they're going to lean on you.

And that's what they do, and that's what they did, and they executed.

No,

Can you put your finger on it?

Well, listen, I mean, in terms of last week, like, I'm always a glass half full type of guy, and you gotta give Saskatchewan a ton of credit, man.

Like, they came out, they executed, they played-- Like, they played a Saskatchewan game that you see, where it's like, all right, you let them hang around, you keep them in the game, they're just gonna lean on you.

Th- Trevor Harris is gonna distribute the ball accurately and on time like he usually does.

Their defense is gonna find a way to get a big play or bray or, you know, like, get a turnover, get some pressure, and then they're gonna bring Tommy Stevens in for Tommy time, and they're gonna lean on you.

And that, and that's what they do, and that's what they did, and they executed.

As it pertains to the Bombers, listen, it's like, we've all seen how good they can be when they go beat up on Montreal and they go work Edmonton in the first half, but then it's, it's not the same in the second half.

Twenty-five?

And they just couldn't find them.

I know.

It's been the MO with a couple teams this season.

Like, we've seen how good Calgary can be.

I keep going back to that game I was at in Winnipeg where they dropped 52 on the Bombers and they're rolling early in the year.

And then, you know, they just can't find a way to close these games out.

And, you know, you just got to... find a way to step up and make that play at the end of the game or emphasize ball security because at the end of the day, if they just do the little things right, they wrap that game up.

He was

So, why are you trying to dive so far in there, and how has it been going for you so far?

Yeah, it's been super fun, man.

And it's busy.

I mean, you know, and anyone out there that does content knows, man, it is time consuming, but it's extremely energizing and fun.

And for me, it's just been, hey, I've played football for a long time.

I love this game.

I know this game.

But just what are you seeing out of that? Just, you know, having your own quarterback teaching program, I should say.

How do you see that game playing out? What's the path to a victory there for the BC Lions?

Yeah, well, I think the BC Lions need to continue to run the football.

I mean, we've kind of talked about it the early part of the season where James Butler, they just weren't getting him going.

They weren't giving him touches.

Now look what's happened now that Xander Horvath has like 16 touchdowns this season.

They're on a five-game win streak.

I don't think that those things are separate.

no offense as you've talked about love there, but what's going to be the key for the Elks to walk away from a win from McMahon next Monday? Stamps are minus one and a half in that game? Yes.

And I think the other thing, too, is with some of these designated plungers that come in on third down, and their only worth on a team is to, you know, convert third downs, you're taking away a spot from a guy who could be, quote, "a quarterback" down the road.

Yeah.

Uh, you know, I, I'm a proponent of the wedge, and I think that if you have a guy that is in that position that can do that successfully but also develop as a quarterback, I think that that's kind of the, the perfect combination.

But I do think that teams need to continue to take pride in the wedge.

I, uh, teams have continued to use that as a weapon throughout the league, so, um, there's that.

I, I, I also think, you know, in any professional league, like, reps are limited.

Like, y- your backup guys are really just not gonna be getting reps in practice.

Strev, uh, how much are you enjoying it, and was this always something you figured you might pursue when the playing career ended?

What do, what do you credit for kind of that turnaround?

Yeah.

Well, watching it last night, I, I feel like they adjusted some things schematically, where they're doing some more late rotation, trying to disguise looks, playing a little bit more true zone.

I mean, they're still gonna play their quarters and match, but it's a little bit more stickier, like man.

But I thought they were playing a little bit more true zone, where they can let their guys kinda sink back, play the quarterback, and drive the football, which I think is great versus a guy like Trevor Harris, who, you know, just, just doesn't have the arm strength that he used to.

So if you can see the ball thrown and try to make a break on it, you can make some plays, and I think that's what they did really well last night.

They obviously took the ball away going into halftime.

Yeah

And when that moment happens and you've gotta go in, like, how much preparation do you have for that moment just because of the focus on the starters in all the game preparation from week to week when all of a sudden, you know, they hand you the ball and say, "You're in"?

in"?No, it's a great question.

I actually just made a video about this the other day I'm gonna put out on social media.

But you have to take a lot of pride in your own preparation, because you're not gonna get a ton of reps in practice.

If you're the number two guy, I mean, you might get a rep or two at the end of a period, but a lot of those reps are gonna be scout team reps.

So number one, in those reps you're thinking, "Okay, how can I replicate what we're simulating here from the other team in terms of something that we might run? Can I put my eyes in the right spot and try to steal a rep here?" And then what a lot of backups do, man, it, it's a big thing, is walking through.

Being able to take the script after practice and say, "Okay, we installed third down today.

[laughs]

And when that moment happens and you've gotta go in, like, how much preparation do you have for that moment just because of the focus on the starters in all the game preparation from week to week, when all of a sudden, you know, they hand you the ball and say, "You're in"?

No, it's a great question.

I actually just made a video about this the other day I'm gonna put out on social media.

But you have to take a lot of pride in your own preparation because you're not gonna get a ton of reps in practice.

If you're the number two guy, I mean, you might get a rep or two at the end of a period, but a lot of those reps are gonna be scout team reps.

So number one, in those reps, you're thinking, "Okay, how can I replicate what we're simulating here from the other team in terms of something that we might run? Can I put my eyes in the right spot and try to steal a rep here?" And then what a lot of backups do, man, it, it's a big thing, is walking through.

Being able to take the script after practice and say, "Okay, we installed third down today.

Can you take us back to your time with Kyler, what type of teammate he was, and what are your expectations for him with the Vikings?

How do you go to work every day when it looks like you're never gonna actually do something that leads to success?

Yeah.

Well, although I will say this, some of the changes they've made have been a little bit confusing from a player personnel standpoint.

Now, we don't understand.

We don't know what's going on in that locker room, but some of those moves have been a little bit baffling with cutting two starting DBs and, and Gino Loures.

Uh, uh, you know, all that stuff is just kinda like, okay, what's going on here? Look, if you're a player, at the end of the day you're a professional football player.

You have a job to do.

Yeah.

All the rule changes that are coming that have come, is there one that you would turf?

I get it all the time, man.

I just did a hit with Ottawa radio before this.

Look, I'll just tell you where I stand on it, okay? All the rule changes that we've seen this year have been fantastic, right? I don't think maybe there's a couple people out there saying we should be winning games on missed field goals.

No, that's crazy, man.

We're not winning games on missed field goals.

We shouldn't have football games ending in ties, right? Play the game out.

Mm-hmm.

Um, assess Rourke's play, and also could you give us what your, you know, sort of a thumbnail on what you saw out of Harrison Frost and whether he can be a decent bridge until the return of Bo Levi?

Yeah.

It, it's good to see Nathan Rourke back out there.

I think we all know that that's good for the league to have great quarterbacks back out on the field.

And I just felt like that BC offense, although it was sloppy at times, it wasn't perfect, they had a little bit more pep in their step.

Like, to see Justin McInnis get going again, that was good for their offense.

And then, you know, seeing them get the ball late in the fourth quarter, tied at twenty-four, like, you just felt like Nathan Rourke was gonna be able to go down and get them points, and he did.

Yeah.

What makes this, uh, scheme very quarterback-friendly, and why can Mike LaFleur become one of those head coaches like a Shanahan, like a McVay, where you can plug in certain players like a Mac Jones last year a la Shanahan, and for them to have immediate success in this league?

Yeah.

Well, I think when you look at LaFleur and kind of his path, like he's been around some awesome guys.

Like, and I think whenever you're able to be on that journey and kind of take bits and pieces from what they do, obviously he's got his brother out in Green Bay, spent time with Shanahan, spent time out in, out in LA last season with McVay.

Like, being able to take bits and pieces from everybody's offense and kind of craft that into your own version of the West Coast.

We all hear the term West Coast, it gets used all the time.

Everyone's kind of got their own flavor for it.

Just, just tell our audience, tell us what you think his arm is capable of, like, as far as the throws he can make, and then maybe what his limitations might be as far as what his, his arm put on display last night.

But what do you think is the biggest reason for their early season success? What do you see?

Yeah.

Well, I mean 100%, like it's just, it's just great for the league when Edmonton is behind that football team.

And, but you probably saw me on social media this past week just like getting the boys going, getting the people going of like, "Hey, man," like, "let's get out to this game." Like, "Let's pack Commonwealth because it hasn't been packed in a long time." It's been a while since Edmonton has had a real home field advantage, and it's been -- it was kinda cool to kinda see Saskatchewan fans take that personally and be like, "Oh, we're going to the game too." I'm like, perfect.

Like, you guys show up too.

We just want excitement.

And that, players feel that energy.

Um, how, how do you assess quarterback play around the league right now, generally speaking?

What's it like going from being a player to watching the game as a fan and commentating on it as both a former player and now as a fan of the game itself?

Yeah, it's, it's, it's natural, man.

I'm not gonna lie.

Like, when I was still playing, I, I, I had the opportunity to go call some college football games and do some stuff like that at my alma mater.

Did some NFL content the last couple years, just dipping the toes.

But man, it's natural.

Like, as a quarterback, you kind of just learn to take in information and call it like you see it.

But when it comes to the game t- like, do you just, like, hate the Riders? Maybe not now that you're not playing, but in your, in your playing days, did you just, like, hate this team?

But your thoughts on Winnipeg right now and what the alert level is in Bomberland.

Yeah, I mean, I think everyone's just hitting the panic button, and I'm that guy that kind of sits back and is like, hey, I try to be level-headed about things, right? So here's the reality.

The Bombers are sitting at 4-4.

They have not looked great the last three games.

They pull it out in Ottawa.

They end up losing to give up 50 to Calgary.

Then they have this game against BC.

What do they do there in their quarterback room?

[laughs] It's crazy.

I know.

It's insane.

I just put out my CFL Strev episode and, man, I just start off basically just gassing up the Elks.

'Cause, I mean, look, I, I've been saying it, like, "Hey, they're great.

You know, they're a top three team in the league.

Like, they look good." But, like, they showed me something different this weekend.

I, I mean, I don't want to say they're gonna be out of it by the time Rourke gets back, but it, they're very much living on the edge right now, aren't they?

If there's a shootout in this game, if there's a two-point convert attempt, like is it five or is it 150?

It's definitely not 150.

I think it's closer to five.

And maybe, I think, seeing the way that it played out last week, maybe teams start to carry a couple more, seven or eight.

Those are plays you practice all season, 'cause you're not gonna use them every game.

So you've repped those plays quite a few times.

And again, seeing how that played out last night, saying, "Okay, we might have to run three two-point conversions at the end of a game." Teams might carry seven or eight.

Uh, losing Reda Cramdi to a hand injury, how big a deal is that for the defensive backfield, do you believe?

Um, just thoughts on BC, Chase Brice, and, you know, how competitive this team can be if they're gonna be without Nathan Rourke for any significant period of time.

Yeah.

Uh, so I, I, I was having trouble getting the game up in the States, so it's like midway through the first quarter my phone's blowing up like, "Oh, Rourke just went down." I'm like, "Oh my gosh, I gotta get this game up." So I get it up.

I see him coming out of the locker room in the sling, and I'm like, "Oh, that doesn't look good." And, and I've been...

I was kinda vocal on X this week, and I've said it earlier in the season that I'm a fan of Chase Brice.

Whenever he's gone up in mop-up duties, he's been able to kinda move the football and do some good things.

Obviously, this was not his game, right? With the four interceptions, it's not, it's not great.

... just thoughts on Friday, looking ahead, and the challenge for the Bombers to come back, try and keep the wins coming against what should be a very hungry team that's playing with some desperation.

Give me your assessment of what you've seen with him back in, uh, Winnipeg.

Well, two wins and two games over 300 yards.

That's, that's a pretty strong first couple games there.

And look, it's, it's obviously gotta help going back to a place where he's comfortable with the boys in the locker room.

He's got some familiarity with the way that a lot of those guys move.

And then going back to his former offensive coordinator, Tommy Condell, I mean, you, you really can't have a better setup for a guy who's been in that building for a couple weeks to be able to immediately step in and play.

And I-- and look, I think we all understand that when Zach's back and healthy, it's still gonna be his team.

Mm-hmm.

Um, I mean, Zach's job for sure, but how impressed were you with what Drew did with one practice?

I- I- I mean, extremely impressed.

I don't know if the average fan can quite appreciate how hard that is.

You know, going into a new building on a short week.

You're moving your family across the country, too.

Like, there's other personal factors that play into why that's difficult.

But I do think it was, i- in terms of that transition, probably as smooth as it could have been with him going into the office with Tommy Condell, who he had all last year, going into a locker room where he's got some familiarity with the guys.

Yeah.

Can you share it with ours?

Yeah.

No, I, I knew I was gonna be doing some Arizona Cardinals podcasts and things coming up, so I'm like, "All right, let me, let me get this one out there." So it was 2020, COVID season.

We're going through training camp, and it was kind of unique off-season 'cause we never had pre-season games or anything like that.

So final cuts are kind of happening, and I'm waiting for my phone to ring, and it just, it never rings.

So a couple days after, I go into the facility, and there's really no one in there.

I'm just gonna get a workout in.

Yeah.