Buck in the saddle again

Pierce looks sharp in his debut, but scares fans with running

By: Adam Wazny Posted: 1:00 AM CDT Monday, Jun. 14, 2010

Let the record show that Buck Pierce's first play from scrimmage in a Winnipeg Blue Bombers uniform was a broken play where he scrambled up the middle for four yards.

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Let the record show that Buck Pierce's first play from scrimmage in a Winnipeg Blue Bombers uniform was a broken play where he scrambled up the middle for four yards.

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Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 14/06/2010 (5653 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Let the record show that Buck Pierce’s first play from scrimmage in a Winnipeg Blue Bombers uniform was a broken play where he scrambled up the middle for four yards.

So that’s what a collective gasp from 28,792 at Canad Inns Stadium sounds like.

"I’m sure a lot of people in Winnipeg are kind of holding their breath when I run a little bit, but that is my style," the 28-year-old said after Winnipeg’s 34-10 thumping of the Alouettes. "I’m not going to take a hellacious hit — I’ll get down or I’ll put myself in a position to where I’m not going to get hit. I did want to score when I got down to the (four-yard) line… but it’s good for me and it gives confidence to me that I can get out there and still run and have that part of my game."

TREVOR HAGAN / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS
Winnipeg Blue Bombers quarterback Steven Jyles scrambles away from Montreal Alouettes defenders Sunday. QBs on the run had Bomber fans worried, but excited. — TREVOR HAGAN / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Winnipeg Blue Bombers quarterback Steven Jyles scrambles away from Montreal Alouettes defenders Sunday. QBs on the run had Bomber fans worried, but excited.

Pierce, cut adrift by the B.C. Lions in the off-season after doubts on how long his passionate, never-back-down quarterback style could continue to pay dividends in the CFL game, is getting tired of hearing the questions about his injury frequency and the number of concussions he had in his five years in Vancouver. The fact remains, though, that as he settles into the Blue and Gold environment, each time he scrambles out of the pocket the Bomber faithful will continue to cover their faces and peer between their fingers, bracing for something bad to happen.

Until that day comes — if it ever does — Winnipeg football fans can begin the process of cleansing their palette from the bad taste of the 2009 quarterbacking experience, if Pierce’s debut against a short-handed Montreal defence is any indication.

Look no further than the first drive, when he guided the Winnipeg offence through a methodical, 11-play 104-yard trek down the field to a touchdown, showing a variety of looks from the limited exhibition play book put together by head coach Paul LaPolice.

Among the highlights of that first march: a 16-yard completion to slotback Brock Ralph in the flat; a 27-yard catch and run completion to rookie wideout Terence Jeffers-Harris (that was called back due to a facemask penalty); and a 21-yard scramble by Pierce himself, a run where he chose to look for the end zone past four Alouettes defenders rather than slide into the turf at the four-yard line.

Insert another gasp here.

"You forget how much fun it is when you go out there and play again," offered Pierce, finishing his quarter-plus day 6-of-10 for 105 yards passing and 34 yards rushing on three carries. Another stat of note: zero slides.

JOHN WOODS / THE CANADIAN PRESS
Bombers QB Buck Pierce (left) celebrates a TD with running back Fred Reid (32). — JOHN WOODS / THE CANADIAN PRESS Bombers QB Buck Pierce (left) celebrates a TD with running back Fred Reid (32).

LaPolice talked around the Pierce play after the game, offering this safe take to reporters:

"The guy has also got to play the game of football," he said. "You can’t harness him too much."

Not to be outdone in the battle for the Bombers’ starting quarterback gig was Steven Jyles.

While Pierce garnered most of the attention on the day, the former Saskatchewan backup asserted himself in his quarter-plus of work on the ground, moving the ball with his scrambling and rollouts. His numbers weren’t as good — just 2-of-8 for 42 yards (with an interception) and a team-high 54 yards rushing — but Jyles told reporters he wasn’t pressing after watching Pierce.

"I made the right reads and I’m going to the right places with the ball, I just have to make a few throws," he said, lamenting two missed pass opportunities to open receivers. "Overall, I was pretty satisfied."

LaPolice has yet to name his No. 1 QB, and indicated that decision won’t be made anytime soon.

TREVOR HAGAN / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS
QB hopeful Adam DiMichele also had some productive series for the Bombers. — TREVOR HAGAN / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS QB hopeful Adam DiMichele also had some productive series for the Bombers.

In the fight for the No. 3 quarterback spot, Adam DiMichele and Alex Brink were to split time in the second half, but DiMichele wound up seeing a lot more action due to a coach’s error. Brink barely saw the field and finished the game 0-of-2 in the passing department, thanks to a pair of drops, while DiMichele closed out his afternoon with a productive 5-of-7 for 91 yards.

adam.wazny@freepress.mb.ca