Buck Pierce brings back memories of past QB greats Matt Dunigan and Dave Dickenson.
You've got to give B.C. quarterback Buck Pierce credit.
To paraphrase a line from a TV commercial from way back when, he takes a licking but keeps on ticking.
Pierce took a pounding in the Lions' game against Saskatchewan, but survived it to lead his team to a 19-16 victory.
Even late in the game after he had been battered and bruised, he still refused to slide after running 20 yards with the ball to extend the drive that resulted in the winning field goal. If the Canadian Football League had an award for heart, it would surely have to go to Pierce.
Pierce is reminiscent in many ways to Matt Dunigan and Dave Dickenson, neither of whom shunned the physical aspect of the game. Both players were forced to retire after suffering numerous concussions resulting from hellacious hits. It is hard to predict how long Pierce's career will last. He's had to deal with an assortment of injuries this year and last year, including various concussions.
Lions' head coach/general manager Wally Buono openly criticized Pierce the day before the Saskatchewan game, saying he needed to step up his play. Buono anointed Pierce as his starter before training camp began, despite Jarious Jackson showing signs last year that he could be the team's starter this year. Jackson has been the team's starter this year in games in which Pierce has been sidelined. Jackson is currently sidelined with a shoulder injury, but is nearing a return. Meanwhile, the Lions are taking their time with quarterback Casey Printers, who is looking to re-start his career in B.C. The onetime CFL's Most Outstanding Player with B.C. in 2004 can best be described as a reclamation project. He'll likely fit into the team's plans next season.
With their depth at quarterback - and that's not to exclude rookie Travis Lulay - it wouldn't be surprising if the Lions are involved in a trade in the off-season. The prediction here is that one of either Pierce, Jackson or Printers will be with the Argos next season.
IN PRAISE OF THE BOMBERS: It was hardly surprising that the Winnipeg Blue Bombers beat the Edmonton Eskimos. I picked them to win largely because Edmonton is battling some injury issues on defence, while quarterback Michael Bishop has developed into a leader, particularly in how he rallied his team together after the fight against Toronto the game before. Bishop didn't light it up statistically against Edmonton, but he showed poise. I have been openly critical of rookie head coach Mike Kelly for some of the things that he has done this year on and off the field, but I'll give him credit for one thing: he allowed an assistant, Manny Matsakis, to take over the offensive play-calling and the team has a record of 2-2 since the move, compared to 3-6 before that. The team has a record of 4-5 with Bishop starting. It would not be surprising if the Bombers made a serious run for second place in the East. They play the Ticats in Hamilton on Thanksgiving and could tie them for second place with a win.
LET'S PLAY THE FEUD: You had to admire the friendly battle between Winnipeg's Jonathan Hefney and Edmonton's Arkee Whitlock. The two longtime friends had a personal battle in their first professional game against one another. It was actually funny watching the two trash talk one another, given how they compare themselves to brothers. A week before Hefney became one of the principals in the brawl against the Argos. This time it was just good-natured jawing without any fisticuffs.
PROBLEMS IN EDMONTON: Clearly there is an issue with Edmonton quarterback Ricky Ray, who had a perfect half three games ago completing all 16 passes in a 31-27 win over Saskatchewan. But his statistics and play have plummeted in the last 10 quarters.
The Eskimos fired offensive co-ordinator Rick Worman because of philosophical differences following a 32-8 loss to Calgary on September 7. The team had a record of 5-4 at the time and are now 1-3 since promoting senior offensive consultant Kevin Strasser, who was hired in late July, to co-ordinator. The Eskimos play host to the Lions this Friday and the spotlight will surely be on Ray, who was replaced in the loss to Winnipeg after completing 24 of 39 passes for only 188 yards and throwing one touchdown and one interception. Bishop completed 20 of 34 passes for only 184 yards and also had one touchdown and one interception. But Bishop looked more steady than Ray.
BURRIS IN A SLUMP: By now it is apparent that Calgary quarterback Henry Burris is in a slump. He has completed only 38 of 82 passes in his last three games and has one touchdown and two interceptions. Two plays in the team's 15-14 win over Hamilton summed up what has happened this year: He threw to Jeremaine Copeland, who had blanket coverage, in the red zone instead of seeing Nik Lewis, standing alone near the goal line. On another play, he scrambled wildly to avoid pressure and threw to running back Joffrey Reynolds, who was wide open but quit on the play as though the play had been blown dead. The Stamps addressed some defensive issues earlier in the season and now may have to address the offence having lost two receivers to season-ending injuries.
EERILY FAMILIAR: Montreal running back Avon Cobourne is sidelined with a groin injury incurred in the team's 27-8 win over Toronto. It happened in the 13th game of the season while leading the league in rushing yardage. Last year, he suffered an ankle injury in the 12th game of the season, while also leading the league in rushing. Last year the team gave him plenty of time to heal having clinched first place in the East and the same scenario has happened again.
PORTER MAKES MISTAKE: The Hamilton Tiger-Cats are giving young quarterback Quinton Porter time to develop into a bonafide starter. He shows all the physical tools of becoming a future star, particularly with his mobility, but his decision to take a sack instead of throwing the ball away late in the game cost his team a chance to kick a winning field goal against Calgary. You have to admire head coach Marcel Bellefeuille, who took the time to comfort the shaken player. Clearly, Porter will learn from the experience.
THOSE CRAZY KICKERS: Edmonton's Noel Prefontaine, Saskatchewan's Jamie Boreham and Toronto's Jason Medlock showed their athletic ability in running for first downs after pulling the ball down in punting situations. As Prefontaine will tell you, he's an athlete who kicks, not a kicker who is an athlete.
PERRY'S POWER RANKINGS: (1) Montreal: Didn't dominate the Argos the way they dominated the Ticats the game before, but did enough to win, in particular on defence. (2) Calgary: Defence played outstanding to bail out the offence. Stamps are 5-1 in last six games and 4-1 since Labour Day. Imagine how dynamic the team would be if the offence found its stride again. (3) Saskatchewan: Offence fell apart in the loss to the Lions and defence failed to prevent the final drive that led to the winning field goal. (4) B.C. Give the team credit for a gusty effort against the Roughriders. The defence really did the job in this one, along with Pierce's gritty play. (5) Hamilton: Hung tough against Calgary and with a little luck might have pulled off the upset. (6) Winnipeg: A nice little two-game win streak for the Bombers. (7) Edmonton: This team clearly has some offensive issues, not to mention some defensive problems caused by injuries. (8) Toronto: There is little hope for this team. While the defence continues to play its heart out, the offence has not made any strides all season under rookie head coach Bart Andrus.
