Blue getting full value from Buck

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This article was published 21/09/2011 (5416 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Quarterback Buck Pierce’s reputation is built on intangibles but it’s the numbers — or at least one of them — that matter most to the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.

Pierce, fresh off being named the CFL’s offensive player of the week following his 312-yard, two touchdown performance in Winnipeg’s 25-23 victory over the Montreal Alouettes at Molson Stadium Sunday, spoke to members of the media Tuesday. It’s the second time Pierce has picked up the weekly league honour this season.

The 29-year-old spoke on things such as focusing on the next opponent and continuing to improve, talking points that are mundane enough to make even the most crazed football fan’s eyes glaze over, but then Pierce shifted gears.

Beating Montreal wasn’t just about national awards nor was it just about the most recent statement game in a season filled with statement games for Winnipeg; it was a personal benchmark for the pivot.

Eleven — the number of straight starts Pierce has made this year.

As amazing as that sounds (given his seven years in the CFL), it’s a new career standard for the New Mexico State product and a needed response to a common durability concern about Pierce and the punishment he takes.

“We (himself and the club) talked about that probably all off-season,” Pierce said Tuesday, as the Bombers took another day off from the field. “If we want to get to where we want to get, I need to be ‘the guy’ on a consistent basis. I’ve done everything in my power to be in this spot right now and continue to lead this organization. It’s a great feeling for me.

“Is the job done? Not even close, but I’m going to continue to do what I’ve done and hopefully it will work out.”

The great 2011 starting streak of redemption hasn’t survived without incident, though. There were the calf injuries, a quad problem, and speculation about a concussion. His latest ailment, a few bruised ribs that he said will continue to be an issue heading into Saturday’s game with the Toronto Argonauts, put him in some peril but that’s where the famous Pierce intangibles come in.

For all his time away from the field, he’s a leader willing to get back up off the deck and drive through the pain of injury. Excuse the tired military metaphor, but Pierce is the unflappable four-star general, the captain who won’t let his ship go down without a fight.

Not only that, he relishes the role of the underdog. Eleven games — soon to be 12 games — into 2011 and people still don’t believe he can stay upright for a season. ‘If Pierce can stay healthy’ continues to be a popular sentence starter and those opinions on his reliability are why Pierce’s post-game comments after the Montreal game carried such an interesting personal tone to them.

Lots of people counted the Bombers out, Pierce said with a chip on his shoulder following the win. Some counted him out, too, especially with the rib injury and the five interceptions he tossed up there in a terrible home loss against Saskatchewan.

His response: Offensive player of the week and a road win against the defending Grey Cup champs.

That level of redemption is why the Bombers have gone all in with Pierce — bruises and everything — as their quarterback. So far, it’s paid off beautifully with a 8-3 record and a first-place position in the standings.

So valuable is Pierce that head coach Paul LaPolice has already dubbed him as the club’s “best chance to win.” Earlier this week, LaPolice said Pierce, who’s ranked seventh with 2,612 passing yards, has a chance to be the best quarterback in the league — a high compliment considering the gaudy numbers of Anthony Calvillo and Henry Burris.

“I’ve always felt that myself — whether it’s true by the end of my career, I don’t know,” Pierce offered, “but I’m always striving for that.”

Given the formula for success the Bombers have had with Pierce under centre, Bomber fans would be happy if he just worried about one simple thing for the remaining seven games: Keeping the personal start streak alive.

adam.wazny@freepress.mb.ca

PIERCE ON PACE

Given his ability to stay on the field in this, his seventh CFL year, it should come as no surprise that Buck Pierce is on pace for new highs in many statistical categories. A look at his career highs (all with the B.C. Lions), where he is right now, and what he’s projected to finish the 2011 season with:

ATTEMPTS: Career high: 362 (2008); Current total: 296; Final projection: 484

COMPLETIONS: Career high: 232 (2008); Current total: 193; Final projection: 315

PASSING: Career high: 3,018 yards (2008); Current total: 2,612 yards; Final projection: 4,274 yards

TOUCHDOWNS: Career high: 19 (2008); Current total: 12; Final projection: 20

INTERCEPTIONS: Career high: 12 (2009); Current total: 12; Final projection: 20

RUSHING: Career high: 294 yards (2006); Current total: 244 yards; Final projection: 399 yards