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McNeal latest WR on Andrus’ radar
Courtesy Toronto Star:
The departure of Arland Bruce III hasn’t closed the chapter on changes in the Argonauts passing game.
Wide receiver Reggie McNeal, the team’s leading receiver, has been moved to a backup role for tomorrow’s game against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. While head coach Bart Andrus didn’t single out the quarterback-turned-receiver, he did blame dropped passes for part of the Argos’ lack of offensive production the past two games.
“We need to catch the ball when it’s there and make the play and get the second down converted,” Andrus said. While McNeal leads the team with 15 receptions for 231 yards, he has had trouble hanging on to the ball.
But if anyone was expecting the former Texas A&M quarterback to follow Bruce’s lead and rip the coach for his decision, McNeal put that to rest quickly.
“Whatever happens, happens,” he said yesterday. “You just got to go out and just continue to work.
“If I let it get me down, I might not be here next week so I just got to keep my head up and keep going. They got me back a row, so be it. I’m going to continue to work as if I was starting.”
Asked why he was out of the starting lineup, McNeal said he’d prefer to leave that between himself and Andrus.
“I wasn’t making enough plays myself, I think,” he said, adding that he needs to work on his concentration.
“With me, I feel so confident in myself that I tend to turn my head. Once it hits my hands I feel I got it, so I turn my head.”
That opens the door for ex-NFLer Chad Lucas, who will join former B.C. Lion Cory Rodgers as the two newcomers in the starting receiving corps.
Lucas, who was released by the St. Louis Rams last week, is looking forward to the opportunity.
“It’s a small window and when you get opportunities you’ve got to take advantage of them,” said Lucas, who played in three NFL games with Tampa Bay and Green Bay. “If you don’t you bounce around, get cut, start another career.”
Lucas says the Canadian rules suit his game, especially the unlimited motion.
“I can use it to my advantage,” he said. “Can’t wait to do it.”
Andrus, who coached Lucas in Amsterdam three years ago, says Lucas gives the Argos the kind of deep threat they haven’t had this season.
“He’s a crafty route-runner,” Andrus said. “He understands coverage and he understands how guys cover him. He understands how he can set guys up and exploit certain things and get the defender turned the way he wants him turned.”
