Jul
Buono questions hit on Pierce
Courtesy Vancouver Province:
B.C. Lions head coach Wally Buono doesn’t think it’s necessary to send a tape to the CFL head office of Edmonton Eskimos safety Elliott Richardson’s hit on Lions quarterback Buck Pierce on Thursday, which knocked Pierce out of the game.
“Why should I send it in, honestly?” Buono asked. “The league should be reviewing it. My point is if I’ve got to send that in we have a major issue.”
Richardson hit Pierce as the quarterback was committing himself to a hook slide on a first quarter draw play, and initially Buono gave the Edmonton defender the benefit of the doubt.
But Buono altered his view after studying game tape, saying that although the play developed quickly, Richardson still had a chance to avoid a collision and appeared to lead his hit with his helmet.
“The defensive player has to be under control,” said Buono.
A helmet-to-helmet hit by Toronto’s Lin-J Shell on Saskatchewan quarterback Darian Durant in a recent game resulted in a fine and the tacit reasoning by the Lions is that Richardson will be docked accordingly if the league’s position on protecting quarterbacks is to be taken seriously.
Numbers game
Yes, the Calgary Stampeders were celebrating the good numbers after Friday night’s 44-9 win over the Toronto Argonauts.
Six sacks of Toronto QB Kerry Joseph. Three defensive touchdowns. Just 36 rushing yards against. Two scores on the first three Stampeders drives.
But the bad numbers — 16 penalties, 141 yards — were a significant part of the post-game team discussions on Saturday.
“Let me make this plain,” said Stamps coach and general manager John Hufnagel on Saturday. “They are very aware of what occurred (Friday) night. You don’t want to take the glitter off the win, but you’re not going to sweep those type of things under the carpet. We were fortunate that we overcame the added opportunities we have the other team. You don’t always do that.
“The fact we were able to win the game, that was the most important thing that occurred. But there is still the process of cleaning some things up.”
Roster juggling
Injuries likely will force some more lineup juggling from the Calgary Stampeders in time for Friday’s game in Vancouver against the B.C. Lions.
Defensive tackle Alain Kashama and backup running back Derek Watson both suffered sprained ankles against Toronto in Friday’s game, and are question marks to suit up against the Lions.
“We’re going to put some players who haven’t been practising back on the field and see how they do,” said Hufnagel. “Hopefully we’ll have some good options going into this game.”
The Stamps have linemen Miguel Robede and Justin Brown available, while Jon Cornish will start practising this week, and would be the logical candidate to take Watson’s place.
Meanwhile, long-snapper Randy Chevrier had to grit his teeth to finish the game Friday despite a first-half knee injury, but he should be good to go in Vancouver.
“His role will be limited to long-snapping and trying not to take roughing penalties,” said Hufnagel, referring to Chevrier’s piling-on penalty in the third quarter.
“He was able to finish the game and I expect he’ll be able to play
