Buck looks ready to roll out

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This article was published 12/08/2010 (5869 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

He rolled to his left, sprinted out to his right. And when he lofted a 45-yard spiral that dropped perfectly into receiver Jamayel Smith’s mitts in the end zone, the diehards in attendance at Winnipeg Blue Bombers practice erupted in applause.

Yes, Buck Pierce looks good to go.

Buck Pierce says he’s ready to go.

And head coach Paul LaPolice… well, he’ll keep wearing his poker face for as long as possible in the hours leading up to Friday’s critical home date against the Hamilton Tiger-Cats.

"He had a good day," began LaPolice, trying to under-sell his starter’s handiwork after Wednesday’s practice. "We’ve got to go back and watch it as a staff together, but I thought he moved well and was able to throw the ball well."

LaPolice did offer up this nugget: Pierce will dress and it’s 50-50 as to whether he or Steven Jyles will take the first snap against the Tabbies. As well, he added that the team will be told — ‘possibly nobody else’ — in advance of kickoff.

Not surprisingly, Pierce has been tapping on LaPolice’s office door and tugging on his shirt and campaigning for a chance to get back into the action ever since he suffered the knee injury back on July 16 in Hamilton.

"Oh absolutely," said LaPolice with a grin. "He’s been good to go since it happened, the next series. Like I told him, ‘You’re not the most qualified guy for that decision, but I appreciate your go-get-’em attitude.’ He’s a good pro."

Jyles did take most of the early reps with the No. 1 offence Wednesday, but as practice continued Pierce was more involved. He was wearing a brace on his right knee and has experienced no swelling all week.

"It felt pretty good today. I was moving around fine," Pierce said. "I think they wanted to see me go out there and run and I was able to do a lot of things like that. It was a positive sign for me. I’m feeling pretty good right now. We’re still a few days a way, it’s going to be their decision still, but I’ll prepare like I’m going to go play.

‘Get the job done’

"I think I can go out there and get the job done… I always think I can do that. It’s out of my hands, it’s up to them. They know what the right thing to do is and whatever decision they make I’ll be fine with.

"People were second-guessing my mobility before the season, saying I take too many hits," Pierce added. "I can still move, I can still run, I can still do things… I’m a pretty good passer as well. I can still go out there and execute."

The Bombers are 1-2 under Pierce this season and 1-2 with Jyles at the controls. Over the last two games, both losses, Jyles has moved the team effectively and not thrown an interception, but the team has been unable to finish opportunities to win late.

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Pierce has a QB-efficency rating of 108.3 — second-best in the CFL to Montreal’s Anthony Calvillo (110.2); Jyles rating is 99.1.

"I feel pretty good. I feel I accomplished some things," said Jyles of his growth over the last three starts. "I got better as a quarterback and as a leader on the team.

"Right now they’re letting Buck get some reps and I’m getting half the reps, so mentally I have to prepare myself to start. It’s difficult, but you have no control over that. If the coach wants to give him reps, he’s going to give him reps. All I can do is take my reps and try to make the best of it."

ed.tait@freepress.mb.ca