Let Us Praise Bret Anderson

[WestCoastJoe]

http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/news ... 931622430b

Lions' Anderson a man for all seasons

'Big Smooth' is living up to his nickname

Mike Beamish Vancouver Sun Wednesday, October 10, 2007

When he bursts into somebody's backyard to put out a barbecue fire, Bret Anderson gets stared at, with a puzzled hey-don't-I-know-you-from-someplace? look.

No wonder. Homeowners don't expect a professional football player to show up when a call is put in to Port Coquitlam fire and rescue. Besides, Anderson has kept such a low profile in his years with the B.C. Lions that it's difficult to believe he's the team's longest-serving player in terms of continual service.

Though a stranger to hoopla, Anderson handled his 157th game with the Lions last Friday with typical aplomb and nonchalance. Asked to step in and replace ailing kicker Paul McCallum against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, Anderson calmly stroked a pair of field goals in the turbulent, windswept, viper's pit for kickers known as Canad Inns Stadium.

Anderson, or "Big Smooth" to his teammates, indeed looked like an old smoothie as he used textbook form and a favourable northeast gale to manage field goals from 44 and 41 yards, which added up to the difference in a 26-20 Lions' win.

The kicks weren't cheapies either. They were no doubters, impressing even a tough critic like McCallum who has kicked 420 of them throughout his 15-year career.

"He's very -- what's the word -- direct in what he does," McCallum said. "He's always very consistent. He doesn't seem to get rattled. It's just his nature. He doesn't seem to worry about outside forces. He just goes out and does what he's asked to do."

Anderson was tickled to boot the first two FGs of his CFL career with plenty of air to spare, coming six days after he made his first two career converts -- in a relief of an injured McCallum -- in the Lions 42-9 win over Calgary.

Anderson normally handles kickoffs, plays as the team's sixth receiver and plays "field hawk" on punt coverage teams, the last-chance defender expected to make the tackle so that McCallum -- the punter -- isn't forced to.

He has 84 receptions, 92 tackles, five singles, four touchdowns, two converts and now two field goals on his career resume, which includes one game as the designated third-string quarterback when starter Dave Dickenson injured his knee in the week leading up to a 2003 playoff game in Toronto.

At 32, Anderson is at a stage of life where many football careers end but kicking careers are just getting started. He was two-time all-conference all-star as a punter and kicker at Simon Fraser. The Lions, however, had a legend at the position -- Lui Passaglia -- when Anderson was drafted in 1997, so he happily has made his mark as a complementary player.

"I don't know if I extended my career the other night, but we'll see how the body feels at the end of the year," Anderson says. "My value to the team right now is to be able to do everything. Maybe, down the road, I'll work with Paul, and he can get me up to speed as a full-time kicker."

Though McCallum (bruised hip) didn't practice again Tuesday, he is expected to resume both punting and placekicking duties Saturday when the Lions play in Edmonton.

"The pain is still acute in one area," McCallum admitted. "I wasn't near ready to play [last Friday] but I tried to play through the pain. I should be fine to do both [kick and punt against Edmonton]. If I can't, well, we have Bret."

And Anderson -- if it comes to that -- will coolly seize the opportunity to be more useful than he already is.

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[WestCoastJoe]

Some call him Big Smooth, Casey Printers (Boo) called him The Big Easy. Wally Buono had some doubts about his value until he got to coach him.

He is deceptive. Nonchalant appearing. Relaxed.

He is very polite and friendly to all observers at practice. He does not look fast as a receiver, but he is fast enough.

Even though you know he is versatile, it still amazes you how he can do the things he does. I saw him try punting at practice. He had not done so in the 4 - 5 years I have observed practice. He was absolutely killing the ball: tight, long, high spiral punts.

One of the most exciting athletic events I have ever seen was when his high school team, Terry Fox, won the Triple A Boys Basketball championship for B.C. Just another day at the office for Bret.

In a close, tough game his team trailed by a point with a few seconds left. His coaches were going crazy, screaming out directions. Bret moved close to the bench, signalled the coaches to calm down, took the ball downcourt, entered the key, put up a shot, and scored. His team now was now ahead by one point and the clock ran out. Game over. And through it all, he was just as we see him with the Lions: seemingly nonchalant. The Big Easy. Big Smooth

[Rammer]

One of the nicest players ever to hit the CFL. One thing that the article doesn't mention is BA's heart belonging to the BC Lions. He has taken on a lesser role with the Lions than he would have had an opportunity with another organization, had he waded into the FA market.

[dmoney]

His father coached me when I played community ball for North Delta many years ago..

[Shaggy]

Even though you know he is versatile, it still amazes you how he can do the things he does. I saw him try punting at practice. He had not done so in the 4 - 5 years I have observed practice. He was absolutely killing the ball: tight, long, high spiral punts.

WestCoastJoe...next home game, keep an eye peeled as the Lions come out to start the 2nd half. Typically, Anderson and McCallum punt the ball back and forth to each other. I've only missed one game this year live ( holidays ) and they have done it every game I've attended so far. Anderson can punt, but McCallum starts to move him back 5 yards at a time after the first few punts. Hopefully McCallum's healed up by the Edmonton game here on the 20th and you'll see what I mean.

Kudos to Bret, he's definitely a great guy to have...he's worth about 5 players with all the positions he can back up.

[Bobbyp]

Yay Anderson

[Blitz]

Some call him Big Smooth, Casey Printers called him The Big Easy

Printers was actually very witty about some of the nicknames he gave out to teamates incluing guys like Ty Williams!

The Big Easy is a great name for Anderson but underneath that composed, laid back demeanor is a tremendous competitor!!

[PigSkin_53]

The Big Easy is a great name for Anderson but underneath that composed, laid back demeanor is a tremendous competitor!!

And a fearless hero!!!

[Grandmaster C]

Bret Anderson can't be praised enough in my view. He's a valuable asset and I'm glad the Lions have him.

[Robbie]

After Lui Passaglia retired, there was a big hole to fill with regards to placekicking. Matt Kellett couldn't fill the position and neither could Duncan O'Mahony before some consistency was finally achieved with Paul McCallum. Does anybody know if Bret Anderson was ever considered for or offered the full-time placekicking job?

[Rammer]

After Lui Passaglia retired, there was a big hole to fill with regards to placekicking. Matt Kellett couldn't fill the position and neither could Duncan O'Mahony before some consistency was finally achieved with Paul McCallum. Does anybody know if Bret Anderson was ever considered for or offered the full-time placekicking job?

You forgot Curtis Head, who was a decent addition that would have got much better with more seasoning. As for Anderson, he is a solid asset on the team at other functions, with the capability to help out if an injury occured, so I doubt he was looked at as a long term solution for P/K.