Courtesy Vancouver Province:

There have been times in the past when Dan Dorazio has succumbed to hyperbole, but to this point in his coaching tenure with the Lions it has largely been limited to praise of his offensive linemen.

New job description, new approach.

Ask the man ultimately in charge of the offence about the starting quarterback battle at training camp in Abbotsford starting Sunday between Jarious Jackson and Buck Pierce, arguably the biggest issue created by the CFL club in years, and what comes to mind for Dorazio is boxing.

“It’s going to be a heavyweight fight,” the Lions offensive co-ordinator said. “It’s going to be like going to watch Mike Tyson box Evander Holyfield.”

Unlike heavyweight bouts, which are far from tightly scripted events, everything that Jackson and Pierce will do at camp has already been planned for some time.

The two will get exactly the same number of practice reps over the three weeks of camp.

A winner will be declared by coach Wally Buono. The loser will be consoled but not coddled.

And both Jackson and Pierce, eager for truly the first legitimate chance to claim the starting job with Dave Dickenson no longer casting a dominant shadow, say they wouldn’t want it any other way.

“What everybody on this team and outside the organization needs to understand is that this is a workable situation,” said Pierce, who had prime seating during his rookie season in 2005 and saw the trouble that came from a perceived camp battle between Dickenson and Casey Printers.

“I know the outside world would see us as not getting along, but we do. We’re friends.

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