Shot heard around the CFL

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This article was published 03/07/2011 (5245 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Let’s talk about the hit on Buck.

You know the one.

The crack Winnipeg Blue Bombers QB Buck Pierce took from Hamilton LB Jamall Johnson with five minutes to go in the third quarter; the one that saw Pierce focused on his left before getting pancaked by the hard-charging Tiger-Cats defender coming from the right.

A free shot on a quarterback who played just five games in 2010 due to injury.

A shot heard around the CFL.

How could this happen?

For starters, rule out the offensive line in this case. The five linemen can only block five guys, so when a sixth defender creeps up to attack the backfield, as was the case in this instance, you can’t point the finger at someone who is already occupied in his block.

Which brings us to the help.

The speculation was that the blown pass protection was the fault of slotback Terence Jeffers-Harris, who many felt should have slid towards the line to assist in the blocking once it was known Hamilton had a numbers advantage. With an empty backfield, some suggested that Jeffers-Harris blew the assignment, allowing Johnson a clear path and a full head of steam to lay a shot on Pierce’s unsuspecting chest.

Not the case, according to Paul LaPolice. The head coach also threw cold water on the suggestion a receiver (rookie slotback Perry Floyd) ran the wrong route, which caused Pierce to hesitate slightly.

That leaves one person: Pierce himself.

“The ball has got to be out of his hand. He’s just got to throw it,” LaPolice said moments after touching down at James Richardson International airport Saturday. “When I watched it (live), I thought we weren’t in the right spot. I think we were (in the right spot), now that I’ve seen it on film. You just can’t hold the ball. Buck’s usually been real good with that.”

There were a few times in Winnipeg’s 24-16 win that Pierce was guilty of holding onto the ball for too long, LaPolice said. Hamilton had five sacks in the game — a total that must make the coaching staff very uncomfortable given Pierce’s medical chart — and there were a number of times when the Winnipeg pivot had to lift himself off the turf after disposing of the ball, thanks to another blitz package from the Ticats.

This is the world the Bombers live in now. Teams are going to come after No. 4 harder than ever, knowing his history of leaving games early.

Right tackle Glenn January says he’s seen a trend from the two games he’s been in this season (the Hamilton contest and an exhibition tilt against Toronto): Opponents are bringing the heat.

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“They’re trying to overload us and trying to bring more guys than we have to block,” he said. “That’s what happened when Buck took that big hit. In a way, we’re kind of glad to get that out of the way; maybe you guys will stop talking about him not being able to take a hit.

“I doubt he takes a bigger one than that all year, and he got up smiling.”

No one doubts Pierce’s toughness.

But with five sacks against, including one that will live on in YouTube infamy, it’s doubtful the Bombers want to continue to see just how tough Pierce can be in these early stages of the season.

adam.wazny@freepress.mb.ca