Around the CFL: Dynamic Elks QB Tre Ford 'playing like he's in a video game'

Following decades of disappointment for Canadian quarterbacks, a Canuck pivot might be the best story in the CFL for a second year in a row.

This time, however, it took until mid-season for the story to start getting good — because the Edmonton Elks weren't ready to commit to Tre Ford until after they started setting embarrassing futility marks.

Better late than never, of course. After two previous Elks starting quarterbacks struggled, the fleet-footed Ford has given the franchise a huge and much-needed boost.

One year after fellow Canadian QB Nathan Rourke raised eyebrows with an outstanding season with the B.C. Lions and turned it into a practice-roster spot with the Jacksonville Jaguars, Ford is producing at a high level, too.

"Tre's out there having fun right now," Elks receiver Eugene Lewis said of the Niagara Falls, Ont. native. "He's out there playing like he's in a video game."

The six-foot-one, 185-pound Ford is anything but a traditional, drop-back quarterback, which probably explains why he ended up at the University of Waterloo (which is not a perennial contender in the Ontario university ranks).

Other schools had thoughts of switching him to another position, but Waterloo was ready to roll with Ford at QB -- and it paid off when he was named the top university football player in Canada in 2021.

The Elks made Ford a first-round pick (eighth overall) in 2022 and he eventually got his chance to start, winning his debut, before a collarbone injury derailed his campaign.

This year, Ford finally got the call after the Elks fell to 0-8. With Ford at the helm, the team is 4-2 (and could easily be 6-0 with better defensive play). Ford has at least 50 rushing yards in each start and the team is averaging 205 rushing yards per game during that stretch thanks to the QB and surging running back Kevin Brown.

"Our guys came off the field with that look in their eyes like 'that guy's a lot faster than I expected,'" Saskatchewan Roughriders coach Craig Dickenson said after a 36-27 loss to the Elks last week.

"You can tell they believe in the guy throwing the ball for them now and you can sense a different vibe in the air with them."

Ford keeps plays alive way longer than most quarterbacks because of his speed and elusiveness.

"When he does escape, he can beat you with his legs or he can extend the play and beat you downfield," Dickenson said.

The Elks (4-10), who have won their past two home games after losing a North American pro sports record 22 in a row at Commonwealth Stadium, get a shot to take down a league power on Friday when the Lions come to the Alberta capital.

The Lions have notched two shutout wins over the Elks this season. Do not expect a third.

"The game doesn't seem too big for him," Lions coach Rick Campbell said. "You can tell he's got a calmness to him. He's not flustered. He's fast. He's not kind of fast, he's fast. You've got to do a really good job against him. They've got other athletes on offence, too. It will be a tall task."

What We Liked in Week 15

• The Toronto Argonauts' impressive comeback win in Montreal against the Alouettes to clinch the CFL East Division with six games left.

• Hamilton Tiger-Cats QB Taylor Powell's performance in an upset win over the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. The third-stringer has made big strides and the team is going to have a decision to make if Bo Levi Mitchell returns to full health.

What We Didn't Like in Week 15

• Ottawa Redblacks coach Bob Dyce's decision to try a 50-yard field goal with less than two minutes left and his team up by 10 in B.C. The team missed and the Lions' Terry Williams returned it for a touchdown, leading to an epic comeback victory for the home side. Punting was a safer bet.

• The Alouettes' continued inability to beat a good team. Full credit to the Argos, but it's not great for the league when a division title is decided this early.

Power Rankings

1. Toronto Argonauts (11-1, first last week): GM Pinball Clemons got a well-deserved extension this week.

2. Winnipeg Blue Bombers (10-4, second last week): After a bye, face the Argos, Lions and Elks. Finishing first in the West won't be easy.

3. B.C. Lions (9-4, third last week): Incredible comeback over Ottawa kept the team's first-place hopes very much alive.

4. Hamilton Tiger-Cats (6-7, sixth last week): Suddenly, Grey Cup hosts have a real shot at a home playoff game.

5. Edmonton Elks (4-10, seventh last week): The Ford-Brown combination is causing major problems for opposing defences.

6. Saskatchewan Roughriders (6-7, fourth last week): Thoughts of moving up in the standings pretty much gone after two losses in a row.

7. Montreal Alouettes (6-7, fifth last week): After being swept by Toronto in a home-and-home, Als are in a much worse spot.

8. Calgary Stampeders (4-9, eighth last week): Crossover playoff hopes on the line the next two weeks with games against Montreal and Hamilton.

9. Ottawa Redblacks (3-10, ninth last week): Team all but done after seven losses in a row.

Week 16 Picks

Saskatchewan Roughriders (-2.5) at Ottawa Redblacks, Friday, 7 p.m. ET / 4 p.m. PT: Roughriders can start feeling the heat with a loss. PICK: Saskatchewan

B.C. Lions (-6.5) at Edmonton Elks, Friday, 9:30 p.m. ET / 6:30 p.m. PT: Vernon Adams Jr. vs. Ford is a fun QB matchup. PICK: Edmonton

Montreal Alouettes (-1.5) at Calgary Stampeders, Saturday, 4 p.m. ET / 1 p.m. PT: Als are struggling and Stamps coming off the bye. PICK: Calgary

Hamilton Tiger-Cats at Toronto Argonauts (-9.5), Saturday, 7 p.m. ET / 4 p.m. PT: Perfect time for the Ticats to win their first of the season vs. their QEW rival. PICK: Hamilton

2023 Picks Record: 32-27

All odds from FanDuel as of Thursday.