OverDrive - OverDrive - August 21, 2025 - Hour 2

Episode Date: August 21, 2025

Join Jim Tatti, Jason Strudwick and Dave Feschuk for Hour 2 on OverDrive! MLB.com Blue Jays Reporter Keegan Matheson joins to discuss Shane Bieber nearing his debut with the team, George Springer at the lead-off spot and Max Scherzer's playoff level. BC Lions Quarterback Nathan Rourke joins to discuss his season with the Lions, the performance with the team and the Canadian roots for quarterback and dive back in Yes Guy, No Guy going into the sports world.

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apply. Overdrive on a Thursday, Jim Taddy in studio alongside Dave Feschuk from the Toronto Star and strutty in his man cave in Edmonton contributing nicely. We had a lot of hockey talk there. Overdrive is brought you by Fandul, bringing you everything from the opening line to the final score. And one other bit of news that broke over the commercial break at the top of the hour. This comes from London, Ontario. The Crown elects not to appeal the acquittals in the London hockey trial. So that's the end of that case. That is over. Thank God. I think we've had just about enough of that case

and we can all move on. Yep, I mean, that's it. Well, I guess the next big thing for that is how does the NHL handle them, right? Right. And the NHL and the union, you know, there's a dispute obviously which started pretty much right away. You know, what happens

are teams interested and are willing to sign these players? Where are their games at? Like there's a lot going on here. that has to be sorted out in, you know, I'm not sure there's a time limit on any of this stuff. No, it's an interesting, I'm going to call it a dilemma because everybody has the right to make an income or a living and earn a wage. Everybody has that legal right and these people were acquitted, but then there's the moral issue of how do you package that association and sell it in a family environment? Difficult. It's a difficult to say it.

It's not simple, but strutty, I mean, you know as well as anybody haven't been a player that, you know, the weight of your sins is always measured against the weight of your skills, right? If one of these players had been an NHL All-Star, a no-doubt, you know, MVP candidate, it would be a lot different than who these guys really are, many of whom were kind of marginal guys. And that is a factor when it comes to teams making decisions about are you worth it? Are you worth the hassle, let alone the contract, and do you deserve a spot on our team? Oh, 100%. And that's, I mean, this isn't just a coach thing, I believe, or a GM thing. This doesn't go higher up, your president to your owner. I mean, they all are involved in this conversation because this is bigger than, you know,

a guy blew his knee out last year. This is way bigger than that. And so, and then the players themselves, you know, they have to kind of figure out what what their future looks like and how if and when they do. get signed, what do they do to, you know, that first introductory of press conference isn't going to be an easy one. And so I think that there's a lot to sort out here. But we have to keep in mind, these guys haven't played in quite a while some of them. And that does matter. I remember the year that we lost the Lockout World 405. I missed a half year that I went and

dominated in the Hungarian hockey league. And it was Joe from the bridge over there? I think I actually played against Joe from the bridge, actually. I think he made one pass in warm-up, which was really good. But I just wanted to play. I didn't care of that level. I just wanted to play to kind of keep, you know, even not so much of skills, just that routine of playing and what it's like competing and all that. And when you've missed time, it just gets harder as you go back.

Now, can you get it back? Yeah, sure you can, but there's a whole other layer on top of this. You know, this isn't just, he has, they haven't played for 18 months. Like Milan Luchich, you know, Luchich, getting the tryout with St. Louis, you know, he attended some off-ice situations that he wanted to change his lifestyle and now he's moved forward but he hasn't played in a while either he's a big guy so what does that look like for him i'm really interested to see what he can do whether that that turns into a contract with st louis or another team you know i think it boils down to uh the league at some point clarifying

because they've had other issues with other people that have um i don't i want to use the wrong term but but you're looking for what is what would what would create the bridge to the road back What do you have to do to get to get back? What sort of moral and social obligation do you have to meet to be deemed NHL capable after that? Well, yeah, time's a factor, right? Like the sensitivity of this, the scope of this, the national scope of how this trial got attention for as long as it did at the level that it did is a factor here for sure. let's not kid ourselves. But ultimately it does come down to, you know, like time will pass.

There will be, you have to believe there will be opportunities for these guys. But again, it's going to be a team is going to have to explain itself. And I think, look, Carter Hart is the guy that everybody talks about because getting a goaltender, you know, of his potential. And clearly, to your point, straight, he hasn't played since 2024. But he's obviously a guy who's been highly thought of at different times during his career. and it's obviously a very attractive prospect for a team to like outside of the story attached here and all the implications to come with it.

It's just the idea that you could get a guy like that for free essentially has to be attractive to general managers. But to your point straight, it's probably one you're going to have to run by your owner and run by your, you know, various levels of your board before it happens. And then it's all going to come down to whether the commissioner and the league and the union can come to an agreement about the status of these players anytime soon. Yeah, it's going to be, it's really is an interesting way to, to look at what could happen with these players,

and is it worth it? Is all this worth it for this, a player that may be, you know, a second, third, fourth liner on your team? Yeah, I think it's as simple as all, all corporations, excuse me, have core values, and if you violate them, if your behavior violates them,

where does that leave you? Yeah. I think it's as simple as that. It's a great way to put it. Yeah. Let's move on to baseball. So the Jays are idle tonight in Miami. Bieber will debut as the Jays starting pitcher tomorrow night.

Tonight you can watch baseball on TSN. We've got the Yankees and Red Sox, and that's on TSN4 later tonight. Kegan Matheson, MLB.com, baseball insiders with us now. Kegan, welcome. How are you today, sir? I'm doing well, Jim. How are we doing? Good.

I mean, I'm going to tip my pitch, fastball inside. you were seated here last week with us and I don't remember anybody ever talking about Eric Lauer going to the bullpen but there he is. Is that the move you would make? We must have lost the audio, Jim, of me predicting that accurately. There you go, okay.

But let me tell you, this is surprising how they're structuring it, but I do see the sense in it now that I've heard John Schneider talk through it now that I've heard Eric Lauer talk through it in that it's going to probably look different every single week. And the best way to look at it now, guys, is that there's going to be Shane

Bieber, and I would argue probably Max Scherzer, who you prioritize. You're going to keep Shane Bieber on his start day. He comes first. He's coming back from Tommy John, and he's really good. He's going to get first dibs on when his next start day is. Next week,

Eric Lauer might not line up on that day. It might be Chris Bassett. Maybe Chris Bassett is the guy available out of the bull pen for one week. Maybe after that it's Jose Barrios for one trip through. And in a perfect world, I think on Friday against the Marlins, they're up 100 to nothing in the fifth inning, and you can make Eric Lauer pitch the rest of the game, make it work that way, keep it being a start. But this is really going to look a little different every week, at least for the first few weeks until somebody really stumbles. And I can see the sense in it. It's a little complicated. It's going to take some

some puzzles being put together, I think by John Schneider and Pete Walker, but it's an interesting approach, creative. So, Kagan, what's your level of concern? The fact that they come out of Pittsburgh, having dropped two of three against the last place team, that's the fourth series loss to a last place team this season. They dropped two or three to the A's in July,

three of four to the Orioles in July, two of three to the White Sox in July. I mean, they've been punching up to the good, teams and playing really well against their fellow contenders and yet they've dropped some games that maybe they shouldn't against these bottom feeders is it like does that bother you or how do you explain it it does for right now and you're right when you say they've been punching up with the good teams too and that's good because nobody sucks in october you're going to be playing good teams and they've been playing good ball against them

but you need to get there you need to take these gimmies along the way they did that in Colorado. The Rockies are really bad, and they made them look really bad. But since then and around that series, guys, it's been pretty average, average baseball for the Blue Jays lately. And that's not who they are as a team. They are a better team than average. But we're seeing not a slump, not a cold streak by any means, but just failure to launch lately. Because this stretch, and it's going to continue against the Marlins, continue back home against the twins, who are another team that has sold off all of its pieces. They're not going for the playoffs this year at all. You need to win these games. You need to win five of these next six because one bad

series can really flip this back into a division race. I think the Blue Jays holding the AL East lead for as long as they have now these past several weeks. You get comfortable. This is the way it's going to be. Even when the Blue Jays have lost two in a row, so do the Red Sox, so to the Yankees. Nothing's changed really in that division race, but it can change. It can change really quickly. And it can snowball. So I think the Blue Jays, this is life as a frontrunner. You need to stay out in front of people when they're chasing you. You're not chasing anybody anymore. The Blue Jays have spent a decade chasing the rest of Major League Baseball. They haven't caught them. Now they're the team out in front. And it's hard to be out in front because you have nothing to chase now other than your own lead. And that's a little different than having the Yankees, the Red Sox out ahead of you. They need to get this kind of, it's not off track, but back on the track they were on. Keegan, I've got a scheduling question for you. So they played an early game Wednesday, they don't play until Friday. So what would the team do?

Do they fly home Wednesday to get some clean socks and fly down at Tampa? Like, what does that look like for the Blue Jays in their travel itinerary? Offnight Miami, which I think would have been well received from the players. I guess that turns into two off nights in Miami, which look out. Maybe have a little fun with off night number one. That would be my strategy. midnight, night one in Miami, maybe a rounded golf and you calm down for night two and have a smoothie or two. But the Blue Jays, they typically don't go back to Toronto. So they stay

on the road right into Miami. And a lot of guys live local-ish in Florida as well, either for tax reasons or lifestyle reasons. But a lot of guys have properties down there. I'd assume a few of them would jump over to those. I bet you a lot of guys are on the golf course right now or just got off of it with a day off. Those guys like to look for a reason. But, Yeah, a day and a half off in Miami after playing 120 baseball games with a few bucks in your pocket, probably not the worst thing. So let's go back to what you're saying about sort of maintaining where they are. Everybody's chasing them as opposed to the way they were in the past number of years.

What has to happen to keep them there? Like what do they have to absolutely not have happened? They've lost their identity a little bit in these last few games. And I don't mean that to be big and dramatic. But the Blue Jays are a great defensive team. we've seen that lose them for the last five, six days. They've made some uncharacteristic errors. They've gotten away from who they are as a baseball team.

And that's going to happen to anybody. I mean, the Dodgers just lost to the Rockies. It's going to happen. But they need to get back to why they were winning. And that's a confidence thing. I think this Blue Jay's team does have. They're not surprised by winning. There are teams who go on these streaks and it's kind of, whoa, how's this happening?

Let's keep this luck rolling. The Blue Jays believe, and I think they're right, that they're winning because they're really good. And they're winning because they are consciously being a creative offense that pitches really well and fields the ball really, really well. They just got to get back to that. This team is good enough. They're in first place for a reason.

But some sloppy defense lately, the base running hasn't quite been there. A couple of tough starts as well, honestly, from the starting rotation, which is full of veterans. And you have not seen that big offense about burst recently against a good team or a mid-range team. So I think they're close. I feel like I'm doing my best John Schneider impression. I think they're close.

I promise they're close. But it's just an identity issue for the Blue Jays right now, not losing it by any means. They're just one inch off to the side. They just need to get back onto that path. I think they're right there. But this is the first time in a couple of months. We've seen them just struggle a little bit to get that momentum rolling.

because before it was all momentum through June, July, the most momentum in Major League Baseball. Then we saw the Brewers do that as well, and they fell off a little bit. They've just got to get it back. Speaking of a team that does not lack an identity, Keegan, the Yankees, they truly are the Bronx bombers. I mean, leading the Major League's and home runs by a considerable margin, just reeled off 14 home runs in two games against the raise down in their spring training facility of all places. Now, how close are they, in your estimation, to make it a run here and making it difficult for the Blue Jays, you know, judge has been hurt and they've had their pitching problems, not to mention their defensive ones,

but man, are they mashing? And it's getting a little intimidating, isn't it? Yeah, they've got a lot of problems, but they do one thing, damn well. They hit home runs. And when you do that, you can go in a hot streak just like this. And if you get into a postseason series and you're the Yankees, that's the beautiful. of home runs. You can do five things wrong, but if you hit a couple of home runs, you win, and I'm writing a story about home runs. You forget about the errors. You forget about the manager and whatever thing he said that day. You forget about starting pitching in the bullpen. Power can wipe away everything. Now, at the same time, the reason the teams aren't selling

out for power like this, you could also get shut out for four games in a row. But when you're hot, you're hot. And the Yankees have been there and done that. They know how this works. Nothing is new to them. And anytime they're getting hot, just a little bit of momentum. You need to worry about that. Same thing with the Red Sox. They have not gone away either. But New York, especially guys, when we start to look at playoff matchups, it's August 21st right now. In the September, every game after the Blue Jays, win or lose will be saying, listen, they're three and a half up in the ALE East. If the playoffs ended today, blah, blah, blah. They'd be facing the Yankees, the Red Sox, the Astros. If they match up against the Yankees, the Blue Jay's

starting pitchers give up a ton of home runs. One of the highest numbers in baseball, I think only behind the A's still. That's a scary matchup. I think the Blue Jays are still the better baseball team in most ways, but home runs are loud. Man, if you hit the most home runs in a game, you've got a real good chance. And the Yankees will always be scary because of that. They are, I don't think, a great team, but they do one thing really well. Kegan, what have you thought of Bieber so far?

and what will, you know, all the fans and then their management group be looking for in his start tomorrow night? This is a big one, guys, and he is a really, really smart pitcher, and he's not going to blow guys away. He's not going to throw 99. He's not going to snap a slider across the zone that makes a guy fall down. That's not him. But there's an incredible amount of precision to his game. He's probably throwing more 92, 93 with his fastball. But when he is good and when he's healthy,

He's one of the eight or ten best starting pitchers in baseball, and we've seen him do that a couple of times. He's also someone capable of going deep into a game. There's some old school. There's some throwback to Shane Bieber, which you see in Scherzer, Gosman, Berrios, Bassett, on and on. He really fits in this rotation. He's not the modern young starter who might give you four innings with 11 strikeouts,

but throw 110 pitches that quickly. He's a throwback. He can go deep. And the thing I'll be watching for, guys, this is really getting down to control versus command. If he wants to throw a high fastball, he's going to be able to throw a high fastball. No problem. He's Shane Bieber. He's in the big leagues.

That'll work. It's about the pinpoint control. Do you want it to be in on the hands? Maybe out a bit over the plate, outside edge. That's the challenge coming back from Tommy John surgery. Getting able to pick which inch of the plate you want that ball to be on. And that's the difference between a pop up and a home run. sometimes. So we'll see how that goes with Bieber, but he's nailed this, guys. He looked

incredible last time in AAA Buffalo. And when he gets home next week, I think against the Brewers, it's, I don't think it'll be quite to the level of David Price 2015, because I don't think Shane Bieber has that name value celebrity factor that Price did back then. But it'll be pretty close, man. He is a really, really good pitcher. I think still underrated because he was stuck in Cleveland, which is not exactly a team you see on Sunday night baseball. all the time. So while we're on pitchers, Alec Munoa is doing well on his way back. Can you project

him at any point during the course of this, what's left of the regular season? I still don't think we'll see Manoa in the big leagues this year, and that's not a knock on his rehab. He has also nailed this. It's been a long road for Manoa to get back from this, but I think a success story, guys,

is if he gets some innings in, he looked better. Yesterday, I believe it wasn't AAA. Better than the last time. That's what you want. He is competing or winning, ideally, that number four or five job in the rotation next spring, total success story. And he does not need to be who he was back in 2022, I believe it was, finishing third in the AL-Sai Young Award race. If he is fantastic, great. But the Blue Jays don't need to expect that.

If he can be an innings eater at the back end of the bullpen who gives them a 3.95 or a 4.2 ERA, whatever it is, that's good. That's a win. But at this point, I don't see how he fits guys in a bullpen role. He doesn't overwhelm hitters, not a lot of swing and miss. And he'd be at least two injuries in the starting rotation away from making the start. So this is probably a 2026 thing. Next spring training, we're talking about him. But overall, it's still a success story and good to see him back on the mound.

But Kagan, you look at the way Scherzer got about his business at his age. Is he your number one starter of the playoffs start today? I think he is. If they literally start today, I think it's him. Now, Shane Bieber's got a good chance to overtake him these next five, six weeks. I think he's the one guy with that upside. Kevin Gosman, I think, is still in that top three conversation, absolutely. But Scherzer is doing it different ways, and that excites me.

Because normally you see someone when they're getting to the end of their career. Number one, end of their career is typically age 34, not 41, so he's already an anomaly. but they've typically got one trick left. For a lot of guys, all they've got is their control left. They're trying to pinpoint everybody. Max Scherzer can still overwhelm people. He can still miss bats in the zone, which is hard to do when you're 25, forget 41.

So this is a better version of Max Scherzer than I thought we'd see at all with the Blue Jays. Like he has exceeded every expectation for me in Toronto. And it's happened in a strange way. but I think he has a full tank of gas now because of that thumb injury. And if you ask Max Scher, I'm sure he would say, shut up. I would have rather been pitching. But it's worked out. It's worked out okay.

And I think he's going to be fresh for the playoffs, which no other starting pitchers are at this point. He can pinpoint you. He can overwhelm you. We just saw he can throw 104 pitches in a game. I have not talked about Max Scherzer's thumb in weeks, which is good for him and my sanity. Everything's good.

So this is incredible for the Jsler's. guys. And two months ago, this looked messy. If Max Scher goes and wins them a playoff game, this is one of the better deals. This front office is done, period. Because the ceiling, the upside is there on a one-year deal. They might just pull this off as a really, really big win. As we get closer to the end of the season, are you going to see this lineup kind of get more standardized? And does that include George Springer as the leadoff man?

I think so, guys. I didn't think think I would see George as the lead-off man again, but this has been the season of surprises and being wrong about stuff. But he looks very comfortable there. And he is one of those all-time classic lead-off guys. He just dipped for the last year and a half in Toronto, 24 and much of 23. But the power he has from that lead-off spot is pretty unique. We've seen the base running as well. And George Springer, I mean, I can't talk about it enough what an incredible athlete he is. I mean, forget baseball player, but we're talking like NFL free. safety, even at 35, the best athlete across the board in that clubhouse. And that's what's

helping him hold up right now. So I think he fits in there again, which is a big win for the Blue Jays, because that lets you free up Boba Shett to hit cleanup. And I like him there. That allows you to have Addison Barger in the two spots sometimes and Vladdy in the three spot where he belongs. And I do think, like you mentioned, that we will see more standardized lineups. You're not going to see as much experimenting day to day. You'll see something more like their lefty lineup and the righty lineup. You want guys to get used to this. And there'll still be the pinch hitting, the line changes.

They like to call it now in baseball. That's the buzzwordy thing. But I think you'll see it be pared down a little bit and be very standard in the playoffs. It's no longer about keeping guys fresh, keeping them involved. Your best guys have got to play. You've got to make the playoffs. You've got to win the AL East. Kagan, one more before we let you go.

Fisher was optioned to AAA Buffalo the other day yesterday, in fact. Your thoughts on that and how that alters everything? It's a tough one for Braden Fisher because he's been one of the best stories of the season. But a few tough ones lately so he can go down, get a breather, 10 days in Buffalo. I bet a lot of money that on September 1st he's back up when they expand rosters back again. And that's where he belongs in the big leagues. But this is the nature of having a very deep roster. The other option would have been maybe Tommy Nance out of options.

So the Jays were in a tough spot. But Braden Fisher, I think along with Joey Lope, Profito, probably come back on September 1st when you expand rosters again. And, man, when you're optioning a guy with a low 3ERA, who is 24, 25, you're in a pretty good place. Season of good problems lately for this team. Kagan, thanks very much. Appreciate it. You got it, guys. Take care.

Kagan Matheson, MLV.com. The thing you love about the Blue J story, there's two things. The different participants with the game on the line on a nightly basis in the depth. I mean, there's just so many layers. Yeah, Kegan brought it up there. I mean, Fisher gets sent down to Buffalo, even though he probably doesn't deserve it. Joey Little Perfito's in Buffalo, even though he doesn't deserve it. He's been a great contributor to this team, and we'll be back when the roster's expand by a lot of projections and rightly so.

And then Eric Lauer gets demoted to the bullpen and he's got the best ERA of any starting pitcher on the club. So it's one of those years' strutty where, you know, these guys are sort of, you can be punished, you know, and I'm using the air quotes around punished, when you don't really deserve it because the team is just so deep and everybody's coming up, showing up to play every day. That's really hard conversation to have as a manager to a player saying,

hey, you're playing really well, but it's just a numbers game and you're out. But I think they still have a role to play. You know, he mentioned them coming back. But that's a good problem to have. Like everyone's contributing. And when I watch this team, and tomorrow's to me is much watch game for Bieber

and to see how he fits in. But everyone contributes to having so much fun. Like it's crazy. Every night you look at the who had hits, who did this, who made us save, whatever. It's all these great things. And it just feels like they're just having so much fun playing for each other.

And that's a recipe for successful, you know, any team in any sport. Certainly has a fun story. Nobody would argue with that. And the ball yard is full. on a nightly basis. So they're in Miami this weekend, then come home to play Minnesota in Milwaukee. That Milwaukee weekend is going to be tough. No question about that. Coming up next, Nathan Rourke, BC Lions quarterback, will join us on you on Overdrive, live on YouTube, TSN 1050, TSN4.

Overdrive on Thursday, Kim Taddy, and Dave Fast Check from the Toronto Star and Studio Struddy is with us online from Edmonton. And I just want to thank Keegan Matheson, who is with us in the final or the previous segment, joining us in the Maple Toyota Hotline, and drive the built-in-canada fuel-efficient, fun-to-drive-Rav-4, gasser-hybrid models available. Visit maple-toyota.com. CFL action tonight, Winnipeg in Montreal. You can watch that on TSN-1-3 or 5.

We've got NFL action as well, the Patriots against the Giants and TSN2 to more night CFL football, Edmonton in Ottawa, Saturday afternoon on TSN and C-TV as well. The BC lines at 5-and-5 visiting the Toronto Argonauts at 2-8, and we're pleased to have with us now from the BC lines Nathan Roark, the quarterback, Nathan, welcome. How are you? I'm doing well. Thanks for having me.

Our pleasure to have you. I mean, this year for you, I guess, calm, I'm happy. I mean, settled as opposed to last year when you sort of jumped in as the season was in progress. So what are your thoughts on that contrast? Yeah, I mean, I'm feeling good. Obviously, you know, there's always something to improve

on. You know, we're at 500 right now and, you know, we still see that, we still feel like there's a lot for this team to grow. We're expecting to continue to build on what we did last week and the week before that. Hopefully continue to make steps to where we want to go eventually at the end of the year. Nathan, you came back from that oblique injury, and you've been lights out ever since.

Keon Hatcher's been a guy who's you've been targeting an awful lot. He's leading the CFL and receiving yards. What's it been like developing the chemistry with Keon this season? yeah i mean he's uh he's a tremendous player uh you know a great teammate a very hard worker um very has very high standards for himself so all this kind of stuff the people that know him um the kind of production he's had this isn't a surprise at all he's everything that he's been doing is well deserved it's just a it's just really a project of all the work he puts in during the week so um you know we've been together we've been working together since 2021 we came

into the CFL at the same time and um it's just been a pleasure to be able to work with him and to see his growth as a player and a person. Nathan, what are the kind of details you're talking about there that you and a wide receiver have to develop over the course of, you know, that's four years we're nearly talking about. I know you're gone for a bit of it, though. Yeah, I mean, you just learn their body language, right? How they see certain things, right?

You talk it out, you know, you're able to, you know, figure out how you see different looks and how you see different routes, the timing of things. I think that's the biggest thing is, you know, we've got, you know, five of our starting receivers. They all run routes just a little bit different, right? So learning their strides and learning, you know, when they're going to be coming out of a break

and talking to them about hot and play to adjusts and all that kind of stuff, you know, that kind of thing. And I just trust that. I trust the way he sees the game. He's very high football IQ. And so, you know, we're on the same page more often than not. And I trust where he's going to be. So obviously last week as well, you know,

with, you know, his targets, you know, he was 11-4. and so you trust his hands while they're going to come down or even if the ball is not exactly where it needs to be so that's comforting the quarterback so Nathan you're at 5 and 5 the second half of the season is is already launched how would you describe the 5 and 5 and where do you see this thing going in the second half yeah I mean I think there's been a lot of well highs a lot of lows right you know I think we've shown at time

you know that we can be a very very good football team we just haven't you know put it together necessarily at times during games. You know, some, you know, at some tough times, you know, with some injuries early in the year, you know, that reflected poorly on the, on the win loss. But ultimately, you know, we got to figure out ways offensively to, you know, to minimize the amount of penalties and turnovers, things that we can control, right? And, you know, I think we've shown throughout the year the majority of the time, you know, we stop up, you know, we're stopping us rather than the defense.

So if we can minimize the mistakes and minimize the self-sabotage, I think we'll be in a good place. Hey, Nathan, for Canadian fans, has been a lot of fun talking about Canadian quarterbacks having success at the pro level. You and your brother, obviously, have been a big conversation over the past few years. And now we've been talking about this young man

who's come out of Wilford-Loree University, the MVP of the Canadian University ranks last year in Taylor Elgrzma, who's down challenging for a top three spot with the Green Bay Packers. I was wondering, like, have you crossed past with Taylor over the years, and what do you make of the way he's turned heads at Packers' camp? Yeah, I haven't had the chance to meet him in person, but, you know, obviously, rooting for all, like, Indians, you know, in the NFL or in the CFL. You know, I think you recognize that there's not a ton of us,

especially at the quarterback position. And so certainly, you know, rooting for him and hoping that, you know, that he continues to have success. I'm glad that he's been given a chance. I know that he went down initially as a UDFA signing with Green Bay. And sometimes, you know, those are just bodies. And he made the most of his opportunity and was able to get an invite to camp, which was incredible.

And so hats off to the organization to give him for giving them a chance. and hats off to him for taking advantage of it so we'll continue to keep an eye on him in the preseason and hopefully it goes his way and yeah like I said I'm rooting for him I'm a big fan of him and the rest of the Canadians down there Nathan

there are any challenges when you're coming to play a team and the Argos have had a struggling season so far and just maybe the prep a risk of looking past them or maybe not as sharp as you should be or your team should be heading into the game Saturday yeah I think you always

run the risk there, but I think ultimately, like, when you watch the film on these guys, like, they are, they don't really show as a, as their record does. You know, we, we, we know that they're playing hard. They have some very good players, very experienced players on that defense. You know, obviously, winning the Grey Cup last year, right? There's a lot of players who have won. And so they've been in a lot of tight games, a lot of plays that could have impacted the record a lot more. So we don't, we're trying not to put a lot of stake. to that because we know that they're a better team than that and if we're in this league

in the CFL anybody can beat anybody on any given day and so it's important for us to be able to make sure that we're coming out with the right attitude and making sure that we play our best football because that's what's going to take against a team like Toronto. I want to go back to your NFL experience I mean obviously things always move forward

but when you look back in that experience what did you learn and maybe about yourself and also about football what was that like? Yeah I think you ultimately you learn a lot about football, right? You learn a lot about that NFL perspective, right? A lot more of, you know, maybe the protections or, you know, I guess just different languages that people are talking about the game

has always always been interesting. And I think watching, being in different buildings and watching how all they're starting quarterbacks in the league, you know, the Trevor Lawrence is, you know, the Daniel Jones, the Kirk Cousins of the world, how they're. able to, you know, how they lead, what their process is like. Just picking up things like that has been very impactful to me. And I think there's things that you can look at that. Whether you agree with them or not, you're able to apply them in a way or not apply them. You know, you're able to build your only type of leadership, one type of process of preparation throughout

the week. There's little things you can take from anybody. So I'm appreciative to that process and the fact that, you know, I was able to go through it and learn a lot. But I'm so glad to be here back to be to you and CFO, which is an opportunity. I'm very grateful to be back in and that league that I truly love. I mean, when you look at, you know, the success you've had and your brother and now we get Elgersma down there making a run, I mean, what does that say about the state of Canadian quarterbacking, Nathan? Are we seeing something that is the beginning of a trend where, you know, Canada can produce

players, is that a position it hasn't traditionally produced them? Or what do you make of it? Yeah, I'm optimistic, as I think anyone should be. You know, I think what, you know, I think like my brother and I, we were Canadians who went down, you know, and went and played in the NCAA. And I think that's certainly one aspect of it, to be able to have recruiters in the states go up north of the border and be able to bring in, you know, players, especially quarterbacks, you know, I think for a long time that's happened for other positions maybe

because you can't necessarily teach athleticism or size or anything like that. So for them to go and get quarterbacks, I think is certainly a good sign. But I think we're taking a step further with someone like Taylor who's played U-Sports, you know, who played he didn't play down the American game. And for them to see that, you know, that type of player can translate to the, the NFL game, if just given the chance, you know, I think is a great testament to not only, you know, use sports in general, but, but to the players that, you know, they're producing. So I think it's a great sign for Canadian football and hopefully, you know, players like him

and players like my brother are able to, you know, continue to pave that way with their performance on the field and hopefully that would just take care of itself. And for the next player coming up, then, you know, that won't be given. given a second thought. Nathan, you're a guy that loves to throw the ball. Obviously, get it deep in there, as does Bo Levi-Mitchell. And, I mean, speak to what you see from him. I know he's not on your team, but a very talented player in this league for a long

time and having a really good year there in Hamilton. Yeah, yeah, a lot of respect for Bo. I think he's a great guy, kind of been able to take some time to talk to him, take his brain a little bit in the years past. So I've got a lot of respect for him, a lot of respect for his game. Obviously, in the CFL with all the games, I guess all the few teams that you do have in the CFL, you're able to kind of watch everybody and see what they're doing, and he's having an incredible year. He's got a great arsenal of weapons there in Hamilton, and he's doing a great job spreading the ball around.

And I think, you know, I think it's just a real treat to be able to watch a lot of it. I think there's a lot of great talent in the CFL. and, you know, I just feel like, just like I said, you know, with the NFL, there's things that you can pick up from each person. And I think Bo's got great poise. He's got great feet. He's, I love his style of play. He plays with a controlled type of aggression where he's, he's aggressive,

but he's not sloppy. And I think he, you know, has shown that he's still playing at a very, very high level, which is amazing. He's been doing it for such a long time. So you admire his longevity as well. So I want to take you back to when you were sort of forming your game. I mean, obviously there was a void of Canadian quarterbacks, even in the CFL when you were a kid.

So what sort of inspired you? Yeah, I've always been a football fan. I was a fan of the NFL growing up. I was a big Green Bay Packers fan. And, you know, I just, I never really, you know, was told, you know, exactly like, I never, I've never told no. You know, I was always, you know, people were always very supportive, you know, coaches, family of my dreams and my aspirations to play professionally.

And, you know, I had to work ethic to back it up, right? So, you know, I've always been something I've wanted to do. And, you know, I'm incredibly grateful for the opportunity to do it for a living now. And what's it been like playing for a coach in Buck Pierce, Nathan, who got a hell of a resume as a quarterback in his past, and certainly is one issue. share of great Cups. Yeah, Buck's been great to work with. Just very, very impressed with just his process and, you know, it's been great working

with him. I think we've got a lot of trust in each other, and I think he's just been great for the program. I think that the organization is lucky to have someone like him. I think he's just, the players really gravitate him towards him because of his his joy for the game. He comes to work every day with a smile, and he's got a lot of passion for the game.

Really, it's just been fun to learn from someone like that with that type of mentality. So I just take it day by day knowing that I'm going to be learning something new, and just been appreciative of the ride so far. That's been a good ride so far. Nathan, thanks very much. Really appreciate your time. Yeah, of course.

Thanks, Chris. Nathan Rourke, quarterback for the BC lines who are in Toronto on Saturday, 3 o'clock, TSN, CTV, visiting the Argonauts. Tonight, we have Winnipeg in Montreal, tomorrow night, Edmonton and Ottawa, and the game that finishes off the weekend.

Saskatchewan at 8-1, visiting the Stampedeters at 6 and 3. Could that be a Western final preview? Tell you what, these lines are heating up, man. Since Rourke got back from injury, they're 5 and 5, but they're 4 and 2 since he came back from the oblique. And he's just lighting it up.

He really is. Him and that, you know, Kian Hatcher are the biggest one-two punch in a league these past few weeks. And, you know, don't sleep on the blind. Don't sleep on the lions would be the answer to that question. The Argos can't afford to sleep on anything. They've got to get going. They are asleep.

Long here. Yeah, well, a lot of turnover. That's what happens. Coming up next is going to revisit, yes, guy, no guy, as we continue here on Overdrive, TSN4, TSN1050, and live on YouTube. Overdrive, final segment of hour number two. TSN4, we moved to TSN2 at the top of the hour. Coming up in hour number three, David Niller, CofL, NFL Insider, Mark Sikino, TSN Golf Analyst, and, of course, golf.

com, Canada. Jim Taddy and Dave Festchak here, strutty with us, and time now for... Yes, guy, no guy. Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, drivers and passengers. Time now for yes guy, no guy, take two. So here we go. throw this up because this has personal implications. Yes, Guy, no guy.

The Packers will finish with a better record than the Detroit Lions this season. Oh, doogie threw that one in there to give you a little shot. Oh, yeah. Yeah. You're lions. Now, look, I mean, I don't want to say yes, guy. I don't want to say yes, guy. But you will.

But I might have to say yes, guy, because I'm concerned about your lions when you lose both your coordinators. That's tough. It's difficult, man. Especially that, you know, the Ben, John, Johnson, the vaunted Ben Johnson, the guru, I mean, that, that scares me. I don't know how, I don't know how you feel about it. I'm not happy about it.

Same division, right? Yeah. Yeah, not good. How do you see it, strutty? Yeah, I'm just saying no, guy. Listen, you know, last year, the Lions ran into some pretty big injury issues. Obviously, was it, Aiden Hutchinson or whatever. And I think the Campbell sets a tone for that organization.

So I think you find a way to continue to move forward. they're a good team so I'd rest I'm a Giants fan I'm hoping to be loose so I the Lions are a team I'm actually looking at trying to you know cheer for them kind of you know as a second or third team I guess that's so Sturdy let me throw this at you know and when you're playing on a team the main parts of the operation meaning that the general manager and the coach stay but but one of the assistants leave or maybe two of them can you recall a scene where where two assistants left and it was catastrophic Like, you know, I can't think off the top of my head.

I mean, like every coach has a responsibility, right? Generally speaking, the head coach in hockey kind of sets the tone and then he may be involved in one part of the other, but, you know, there's a coach that's in charge of the penalty killed and the power play and maybe the D-Men or something like that. Where I think football is even more specialized than that, it really breaks down again from there. So you get a pretty intimate relationship with that assistant coach who helps, you know, the tone whether you're an offense

or a quarterback or ride receiver or whatever offensive line. So I think it runs deeper in football than would in hockey because the head coach does come in more often. But I mean you got to love what Campbell's done there with that team and the way that he kind of gets them motivated and playing

and they always seem to have that chip on their shoulder that they're the Detroit Alliance. I don't know you're the fantastic. What do you think is going to happen there? I'm going to say yes guy. The Packers will finish with more wins. Really? Well, I have a conflict of interest. I'm a one share owner of the Packers and the Lions are in my blood. I just think that when you lose

both coordinators, try as hard as you will to bring in like coordinators, the new coordinators will have some sort of a clash with somebody on the roster. It's just not good. It's not a perfect thing. The new coordinator doesn't come in and use all the same people because he doesn't see it the same way. Well, yeah, just like, look, I've got all the confidence in the world and Dan Campbell as well, Struddy. Same here.

But the recipe has changed now, right? And the question is, you know, you went 15 and two last year, and it was a historic year, and yet you've lost two of the guys who were the masterminds of it, and it's not going to be easy to replicate that. Yeah, I'm with you on that one. Let's go on this one. Yes, Guy, okay, Matthew Nyes will make the USA Olympic teams. Strattie, what do you think?

I think he's on the outside looking at. I think that there's some players that are further down the road of their NHL careers than he is. But I think that his play between now and Christmas will dictate perhaps maybe where that lands. So I'd have them less than 50% chance, Fastchuk. What about you? I'm going to give me a yes guy. I think, I mean, I think this guy is just, he's breaking out, right? He's becoming the power forward that I'm not sure there's many teams on the planet, let alone the U.S.

team that can afford not to have a guy who is that big, that strong, and has that kind of touch around the net. And I just don't know, I just don't know coaches that don't want a guy that can score from in tight like he can and be the physical presence

that he can. And I just feel like he's going to leapfrog whoever beat him out on the Four Nations team and maybe he wasn't really even in consideration there, but I just feel like he's going to leapfrog enough guys to get there. Yeah. Foxx Crider, maybe? Could be. Could be, yeah.

I'm going to say yes, guy, to that. Let's go back to the Matthews clip from Hockey Night and Brampton last night on Nye's getting the invite to the U.S. Olympic camp. Talk to him a little bit, yeah. Obviously, I think it's well-deserved. I mean, he's a great player, and, you know, just still coming into his own. He's only going to get

better, so I know he's really looking forward to the opportunity, obviously, and it'll be a good a good time for, I think, everybody just to get together and kind of be in that kind of atmosphere with a bunch of other league players. Okay, so, you know, obviously, if Nyes was to have the season he had last year, if he could improve that much again, where are we? Well, yeah, then it's a no-brainer. I mean, and to your point, Strait, like, Criter's 34 years old, and Nise is 22, I mean,

it'll probably be, come down to a coach's preference, you know, do you want the veteran guy or do you want the young up-and-comer? But to your point, Tampman, if he has a sort of a first half before the selection is made, that kind of is undeniable, it seems to me like, you know, he's going to be on that team.

One of the questions is we close off the hour that I'm going to pose to you guys in the next hour. When we're talking about with the lines and how they sort of reconfigure things, different recipe, I mean, that's really where the Leafs are. Without Marner, I mean, we keep talking about

Michelle may be being on that line but really the whole team has to be different right I mean you've got you got depth in the bottom six maybe too many guys but it has to play differently doesn't it? Well that's what Brad Tree Living is try to tell us that they want to change the DNA

and easier said than done when you got a lot of the same pieces. Yeah we'll explore that next as overdrive continue. TSM Plus is taking game day to a whole new level with NFL Red Zone. Absolutely incredible! Subscribe now for Every touchdown from every game, every Sunday afternoon.

NFL Red Zone, available on TSM Plus. Seasoned gamer, or just video game curious, this week in gaming is the podcast for you. We break down the latest in the world of video games, from basics to beyond. The hottest gaming news, insight, and industry leaders, and more weekly. Join me, Naomi Kyle, and stay ahead of the game with all the latest updates. Even if you're a total newbie. this week in gaming on the free iHeart radio app or wherever you get your podcasts