Brink to start vs. Als

WINNIPEG—Alex Brink is always confident in his abilities, but now his teammates are becoming believers, too.
The third-year Winnipeg Blue Bombers’ quarterback makes his third-straight start tonight when the Bombers (1-4) host the Montreal Alouettes (2-3).

Winnipeg head coach Paul LaPolice said Brink’s confidence isn’t changing much with each start, but there is a different vibe around him.
“I think the confidence of the people around him has changed,” LaPolice said after yesterday’s walk-through.
“And I think that’s what a quarterback’s job is,” he reasoned. “A quarterback is supposed to get everybody to believe, and believe he’s going to take you to the promise land.
“Alex is a very confident individual. . . . When he makes plays and performs well, that gets everybody around him believing in him and wanting to play hard for him.”
Brink, 27, has replaced veteran Buck Pierce, who may be out until September with an ankle injury.
The Eugene, Ore. native helped lead the Bombers to their first victory of the season last week against Edmonton—a 23-22 win that was preserved after a last-minute Eskimos’ fumble.
Brink completed 26-of-38 pass attempts with one touchdown and two interceptions, and also rushed six times for 57 yards.
His performance also included a 40-yard “Hail Mary” TD pass to Chris Matthews as time expired in the first half.
Veteran receiver Terrence Edwards likes what he’s seeing from Brink.
“He’s definitely more comfortable,” Edwards said. “Knowing that you’re going to be the starter for an extended period of time, he can come in and put his own stamp on this offence.”
And that stamp is a bit different than Pierce or back-up Joey Elliott, he noted.
“[Brink] brings versatility, I think,” Edwards said. “He brings a guy that has a real live, strong arm.
“I think he can make all the throws that is necessary to make.
“But I think one of the biggest things is that he doesn’t dwell on the last play≤” Edwards added. “Some guys go and throw two picks and go in there and get shell-shocked and don’t want to zip the ball in there anymore.
“But he stands in there tall, and makes the right reads and makes the throw that he needs to make.”