Dunigan: The revolving door of quarterbacks in the CFL Throughout the CFL season, we have seen 18 different starting quarterbacks. As TSN's Matt Dunigan writes, we will probably see a few more before all is said and done.

Matt Dunigan TSN CFL Analyst Follow|Archive

Throughout the 2014 Canadian Football League season, we have seen 18 different starting quarterbacks.

We started the season with these quarterbacks leading their teams:

Kevin Glenn, B.C. Lions (6-7 as the starter)

Mike Reilly, Edmonton Eskimos (9-3 as the starter)

Bo Levi Mitchell, Calgary Stampeders (10-1 as the starter)

Darian Durant, Saskatchewan Roughriders (8-2 as the starter)

Drew Willy, Winnipeg Blue Bombers (6-8 as the starter)

Zach Collaros, Hamilton Tiger-Cats (5-3 as the starter)

Ricky Ray, Toronto Argonauts (5-8 as the starter)

Henry Burris, Ottawa Redblacks (2-11 as the starter)

Troy Smith, Montreal Alouettes (1-5 as the starter)

We have been introduced to five quarterbacks who made their CFL debuts as starters in 2014. Can you name them?

Hamilton's Jeremiah Masoli, debuted on July 18th vs Calgary and lost. (9-20-107yds-2td-1int)

Hamilton's Dan LeFevour, debuted on July 28th vs Ottawa and won. (21-30-361-1td-1int)

Montreal's Jonathan Crompton, debuted on August 29th vs Ottawa and won. (15-25-245-0td-1int)

Saskatchewan's Tino Sunseri, debuted on September 14th vs Hamilton and lost. (9-21-88yd-0td-1int)

Saskatchewan's Seth Doege debuted on October 3rd vs Calgary and lost. (3-9-28-0td-3int)

The remaining four starters we have seen this season are:

Travis Lulay, 357 days after his last start, made his return on August 29 in a bitter-sweet 7-5 victory over Ottawa. In the last minute of play, Lulay re-injured his right throwing shoulder. Tough to watch this recurring nightmare unfold for the talented signal-caller, who just a few years ago, in 2011, was the CFL's Most Outstanding Player for both the regular season and in the Lions' Grey Cup victory over Winnipeg.

Drew Tate, Calgary's Stampeders fiery and talented signal-caller who is now 2-1 in relief of Bo Levi Mitchell, made his first start of the season on September 21 in a road loss to Montreal. Since then, Tate has settled down and guided the Stampeders to two extremely important West Division victories over the B.C. Lions and the Saskatchewan Roughriders.

Matt Nichols hopped back into the saddle for the Edmonton Eskimos just in time for the back-to-back Labour Day games vs. their arch rivals, the Calgary Stampeders. Unfortunately, the fifth year quarterback out of Eastern Washington, dropped both contests, moving his record this season as a starter to 0-2.

Alex Brink, the fourth year quarterback from Washington State, was the next man up for the Montreal Alouettes when the Troy Smith experiment ended. Brink started two games, the first a loss to Saskatchewan on August 16th and the second start, albeit a brief appearance, was a loss to the Winnipeg Blue Bombers the following week. Alex is 0-2 as a starter in 2014.

There's only been two quarterbacks to start every game for their respective teams, can you name them? Think ageless and come-from-behind victories. If you said the Ottawa Redblacks' Henry Burris and the Winnipeg Blue Bombers' Drew Willy, you would be bang on! These two warriors/quarterbacks have been able to find a way to overcome injury, adversity and a slew of other obstacles to provide their teams with a level of consistency from the most difficult position to play in all of sport.

Who are some other quarterbacks we might see make a start down the stretch in 2014?

Well, with Saskatchewan signing the 41-year-old Kerry Joseph this week, he's a good bet. Remember Joseph has won a Grey Cup in 2007 and won or earned the CFL's MOP that season. The team has struggled under centre with two young and inexperienced quarterbacks in Tino Sunseri and Seth Doege since Darian Durant went down in the Banjo Bowl vs Winnipeg. I believe Sunseri has a bright future in this league, but with five games remaining in the regular season, all the pressures that are innately there in Regina and with the West Division so tightly contested, I believe his time to learn the game and lead this team is going to be put on hold for a bit.

The move to bring in Kerry Joseph is the right one for a few reasons. As stated before, both Sunseri and Doege are young and inexperienced. If Sunseri had not played so spectacularly in the second half of last week's tough loss to Calgary, we would be hearing the chants for another young quarterback by the name of Keith Price, first year player from Washington. That would not be fair to the kid to throw him out there at this time of the season.

Doege was not ready and it would be more of the same for Price. This has little or nothing to do with their skill set and ability as players, but more to do with a team that has the talent to contend and defend their Grey Cup title with a quarterback that has been there and done that. It's about a quarterback that has been groomed for these situations and one that is capable of handling them. That could be the young and talented Sunseri for a bit longer so that Joseph can get brought up to speed. But look for the veteran Joseph to play a large role sooner than later for the Green Machine, down the stretch.

If Drew Willy keeps taking a beating, 54 sacks through the 1st 14 games, and if the Winnipeg Blue Bombers continue to drop games the last third of the season (lost seven of their last eight), I could see the Bombers resting their franchise player. This is all based on playoff contention. If the Bombers do make playoffs, no doubt it's Willy. If they continue to go the direction they have been, seeing what Brian Brohm and Robert Marve have would be in order. With that said, I look for Marve to have the biggest upside in the future. He's explosive and has more tools to suit the Canadian game.

B.C. Lions quarterback Kevin Glenn has been getting banged up this season and the Lions are a few more solid hits and or a few sacks away from seeing what first year player John Beck from Brigham Young has to offer. I hope that doesn't happen, but the Lions are just one play away from that scenario.

Looking at the rest of the teams that are just one play away from quarterbacks making their debuts in 2014 along with the five we have already seen are:

Toronto is one play away from Mitchell Gale, second year player from Abilene Christian or Trevor Harris, third year player from Edinboro. Kinda scary when you think about that! Not to diminish these two young quarterbacks' abilities, but the drop-off would be astronomical.

What about in the Nation's Capital? After the loss of Thomas Demarco on August 24th with a torn ACL, the Redblacks were one play away from Danny O'Brien, first year player from Catawba. GM Marcel Desjardins went out and found an insurance policy, fifth year veteran from Purdue, Joey Elliott. Smart move!

In Hamilton, with the loss of backup quarterback Dan LeFevour for the rest of the season, the options for Kent Austin in a back-up role are now Stephen McGee, first year player from Texas A&M (actually he was in Hamilton last season and knows offensive coordinator Tommy Condell's playbook) and already mentioned Jeremiah Masoli, third year quarterback from Mississippi.

So there you have it, a look at who's been in, who's in and who quite possibly could be in down the stretch.

Bet we will see a few more before all is said and done!

Ready Break!!!