Cleo Lemon suffered the head shot, but maybe it was Jim Barker who got the concussion. How else can you explain the Argo head coach’s insistence that Lemon is still the No. 1 QB in Toronto?
Lemon’s injury in the Touchdown Atlantic game last Sunday should give backup Dalton Bell a chance to finally show what he can do in his first start in four seasons as a pro. Under Lemon’s guidance, the Argos have fielded one of the poorest performing offences in the CFL.
In fact, in their last five games the Boatmen have failed to score at least 18 points and are second last in average points scored per game. Bell seemed to out-perform Lemon in training camp, yet Barker still gave the starting role to Lemon.
The Argos were successful early on this season because of big plays from a solid defence and special teams but the reality of the team’s amemic offence has struck like a blow to the head. Now it’s Bell’s chance to shake out the cobwebs.
QB changes in B.C.
The B.C. Lions have a three-way quarterback controversy on their hands. Casey Printers was pulled from their Saturday win over Calgary in favour of backup Travis Lulay, and now even third-stringer Jarius Jackson is feeling like a forgotten man.
Printers was benched late in the first half against the Stampeders after carelessly fumbling away the ball once again. Printers also lost two fumbles the previous weekend in a late collapse against the Hamilton Tiger-Cats. Lulay completed just five of 12 passes against Calgary but protected the ball, earning praise from head coach Wally Buono.
Maritime CFL
The excitement over Touchdown Atlantic has died down, and now the CFL has to determine what it all means. While the game in Moncton was sold out and received rave reviews, the success in a one-off event means little or nothing.
The question remains, can that community support a team through 10 home games year after year? CFL commissioner Mark Cohon believes a multi-year commitment to hold one East Coast game per season will allow the CFL to better gauge the potential, both from investors and business partners.
Bottom line is the Maritimes must find a well-heeled investor if it ever hopes to land a CFL franchise.
