LEAP OF FAITH
Lions coach Wally Buono is hoping that Shawn Gore and Manny Arceneaux are available for B.C.’s biggest game in five years
Watching the sport he loves but knows can be injurious to good health, B.C. Lions wide receiver Shawn Gore took in last Sunday’s West Division semifinal against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers from the sidelines with eyes wide open.
His impression: “Man, I can’t believe we do that for a living. When you’re in there, the game slows down and it’s different.”
Nonetheless, Gore, who missed Sunday’s thrilling 32-31 win over the Blue Bombers with concussion symptoms, seems eager to return to the lineup, in time for Sunday’s West Division final against the Calgary Stampeders at McMahon Stadium.
No doubt the Lions need him, with the status of star receiver Manny Arceneaux still uncertain after he lay motionless on the turf against Winnipeg, following a thunderous hit by the Blue Bombers safety Taylor Loffler.
When asked if Gore and Arceneaux were “possibilities” for Sunday’s game, head coach Wally Buono responded: “Yes. I can only go with what I’ve been told. Everything’s good (with Arceneaux). Shawn’s actually done physical work — and he did fine. Manny’s in concussion protocol but there haven’t been any concerns about it.”
Without Gore and Arceneaux the Lions were still able to defeat the Blue Bombers, scoring two touchdowns in the final quarter to erase a 31-19 disadvantage against the worst pass defence in the Canadian Football League. Quarterback Jonathon Jennings, known for his downfield rockets, went to his short game, and the Blue Bombers bent and bent and bent, until they broke.
“The game goes fast,” Gore says. “You move on. You can’t be thinking, ‘Is he (Arceneaux) in, is he all right?’ You’re thinking: ‘Hey guys, we’ve got to step it up.’ It kind of lights a fire under guys. ‘We’ve got to do it for him.’ You’re thinking. ‘Hey, guys, we’ve got to step it up, so we can have another game.’ ”
That will happen Sunday, in the fourth meeting this season between the Lions and Stampeders, but the first time they’ve faced each other in three months. The Stamps last defeated the Lions 37-9 on Aug. 19 at B.C. Place, a game in which Jennings was pulled in favour of veteran Travis Lulay after throwing for just 153 yards and no touchdowns.
“I’m just happy to still be playing — whether it was McMahon or here,” said Buono, who met with the media on Tuesday, a scheduled day off for his players.
“I’d rather be playing here, where it’s nice and warm (indoors).”
Following two days away, the Lions return to the practice field Wednesday, when more will be known about the status of Arceneaux and Gore. The fact that Gore is working out at the team’s training facility is a positive sign, an indication that he has progressed through another phase of the concussion protocol.
As for Arceneaux, he was surprisingly coherent and thoroughly emotional after Sunday’s game, overcome with the manner in which his teammates rallied to beat Winnipeg.
“These guys fought and pulled it off,” he said. “This is the first time for me having a little headache like this.”
If only it were a take-two-aspirins-and-you’ll-be-fine situation.
The CFL’s third-leading receiver and touchdown king with 13, Arceneaux is still in the early stages of his concussion protocol. Friday will be the telling day, Buono indicated, if Arceneaux is able to take part in the Lions’ final practice session before leaving for Calgary.
“Sometimes these things linger. Sometimes it’s bang-bang, and they don’t,” Buono said. “We’ll watch Shawn this week to see if there’s progress. If he’s dropping every ball in practice, and he’s struggling for every catch, why would we play him? I not worried about Manny practising tomorrow (Wednesday). I may not worry about him practising on Thursday. I’d rather give him rest, so he can be fresh. I would hope he could do some stuff on Friday.”
The Lions also have the option of activating Doug McNeil, a good-looking import practice roster player. Quick and capable, the 6-foot-3 McNeil was twice on the practice roster of the Seattle Seahawks and was released in the final round of cuts this September.
“You like everything about him,” Buono said of McNeil.
“His work ethic, his size, his physicality, his commitment. He’s a guy with upside.”
Whether McNeil replaces Arceneaux or not, the Lions are anticipating that Loffler, the heavy hitter, will be sanctioned by the CFL for laying out Arceneaux.
“It’s a hit that the league should look into,” Buono said. “I would think the league will be both fair and consistent.”
“Our bodies (receivers) are in a vulnerable position,” Gore added. “It’s one of those things where we need protection. We can’t protect ourselves.”