Underachievers under pressure

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 23/07/2011 (5222 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

TORONTO — This is about two quarterbacks in two completely different situations, struggling to find momentum.

Make no mistake, today’s tilt between the Winnipeg Blue Bombers (2-1) and Toronto Argonauts (1-2) at Rogers Centre (3 p.m., TSN, CJOB) features two of the better defensive groups in the CFL — and in any other week that might be how the marquee sells this game — but this one has more to do about the two men under centre.

For Bombers QB Buck Pierce, the task is simple: Find a rhythm and not get hurt. Fans will grumble at this point, no question, but until Pierce is able to string together three (or five or seven) complete games together, the worry is worth the wrinkles.

Stats don’t tell the whole story, some like to say when the numbers are poor, but let’s go through them again: Pierce has a 55 per cent completion rate, 465 yards passing, and a 60.5 QB efficiency rating.

He has yet to throw for over 165 yards this season and is sounding like a player who’s been told to just manage the game for his team.

Pressure to produce? Yes, it made the trip to Toronto.

This past week, coach Paul LaPolice said Pierce needed to raise his game. The quarterback agrees.

“It’s frustrating because we (the offence) aren’t living up to our potential as players,” said Pierce, who had to leave the last game with what the club called a thigh bruise. “We have high expectations of how we should be operating. That’s frustrating. We’re getting there; we’re getting better.”

How do you know a quarterback is struggling to find his way? When he mentions how great the special teams and defence are playing, which is what Pierce did Friday afternoon.

But his search for consistency might have more to do with just staying on the field than finding immediate results. With no seasoned option behind him — a scenario that was in effect well before backup Joey Elliott was lost for the season — Pierce enjoys a long leash to locate that offensive momentum.

The same luxury can’t be said for Cleo Lemon, who’s running out of time to make things right for a Toronto offence that has struggled since he was named the starter in 2010.

Defence and special teams — hey, that sounds familiar — helped carry the Argos through Lemon’s first year, but the training wheels are off.

He needs to find a way to put up more than 20 points a game; he needs to find a way to validate head coach/GM Jim Barker’s faith in his abilities; and with a stable of pivots idling behind him (backup Dalton Bell feels he’s ready to take his turn and an injured Steven Jyles could be ready before August flips over), Lemon needs to do it quick.

“(Consistency) hasn’t come as fast as I was hoping, and I wish I knew the answer for that,” he said after the Argos walk-through. “Yeah, there’s some pressure, but no one can put more pressure on myself than I do. I have all the confidence in the world that I can get it done. That hasn’t changed.”

But has it for Barker? The crafty CFL sideline veteran has been dropping subtle hints that if Lemon (58-of-93 for 670 yards and a 77.8 QB efficiency rating) doesn’t improve soon, a switch could come.

“Last year, he needed to go through the ups, the downs, and all those things,” Barker said, his Argos already down a game in the season series (Winnipeg won 22-16 at Canad Inns Stadium in Week 2). “He’s done that now. He’s seen it now, he understands now. Now he has to produce. Now he has to get the guys around him to play better.

“He needs to provide an energy.”

The two quarterbacks certainly have something to prove. It’s safe to say Lemon has a lot more to lose, though.

FYI: Winnipeg is putting up 275 yards of offence a game, while Toronto is averaging 287 yards per contest.

adam.wazny@freepress.mb.ca