Can Winnipeg QB Brian Brohm succeed in his first CFL start, against a tough Calgary team?

Brian Brohm is no stranger to the spotlight. He led his high school team in Kentucky to three straight 4A championships, was featured on the cover of Sports Illustrated while still a high school junior, led Louisville to several great seasons and a 2007 Orange Bowl win, and was drafted in the second round by the Green Bay Packers. However, he's facing a new high-pressure situation Saturday against Calgary (7 p.m. Eastern, TSN/ESPN3): his first CFL start. It's coming under tough circumstances, too, as his Winnipeg Blue Bombers are 6-9, have lost six straight, and are on the outside of the playoff picture looking in; they're also playing the league's top team, the 12-2 Calgary Stampeders. How will Brohm handle being thrown into the fire?

It's been a long and winding road to this point for Brohm. Despite Green Bay drafting him so high, he was stuck behind Aaron Rodgers and Matt Flynn, and he was sent to their practice squad in 2009. Buffalo signed him off that squad, and he occasionally started for the Bills in 2009 and 2010, but wasn't terribly effective and wasn't resigned in 2011. That led him to the UFL for two years before he came to the CFL with Hamilton last season, but he didn't play at all there behind Henry Burris and Dan LeFevour. This offseason, Winnipeg traded for Brohm to back up Drew Willy, but he hasn't seen much action yet; on the year, he's thrown just 47 passes, completing 25 (53.2 per cent) for 260 yards with no touchdowns and an interception. With Willy hurt in last week's 41-9 loss to Edmonton, though, the spotlight's now on Brohm again.

Brohm did show some potential after Willy went down, completing 18 of his 33 passes (54.5 per cent) last week on the road against a tough Edmonton defence. However, the Eskimos were well in control by that point, and that may have played a role in his stats. Moreover, he only threw for 219 yards and tossed one interception, so he clearly still has some work to do. He'll also be without one important weapon thanks to the team's release of talented RB Nic Grigsby this week.

It is helpful that Brohm's at least been in this league for two years now. Learning the CFL's differences can be a long process, and while he hasn't thrown many passes in games, he's at least had a lot of time in practice with both Hamilton and Winnipeg. Moreover, the Bombers acquired him relatively early this offseason (in March), giving him lots of time to acclimatize to the team and its playbook (unlike, say, Kerry Joseph, who the Saskatchewan Roughriders will start Sunday despite just signing him last week).

Brohm also gets to start at home, and Calgary's bringing back quarterback Bo Levi Mitchell, who might be rusty after an injury layoff. If the Winnipeg fans can get on Mitchell and the Bombers' defence can make some plays, that could put Brohm in a position to succeed. Going up against Calgary in his first CFL start will be difficult, though. Brohm's done well under the spotlight before, but will he able to do that again against a tough Stampeders' defence? We'll find out Saturday.