Casey Starts Against Calgary!!

[Blitz]

Casey Printers will be the starter against Calgary. Wally made the decision quickly and wisely. Printers is not only our healthiest quarterback, along with Zac Champion but his first start against the Riders was an impressive performance. It was impressive not only because Printers passed for the second most yards of any quarterback this season but also because he had some magical moments out there.

The difference between a great quarterback and a good one comes down to four or five plays each game. They are plays that are not scripted and the situation calls for the quarterback to beat the odds and make a play out of one that is headed for disaster. Aganst the Riders, in the first quarter Printers escaped a sure sack, zigged right and left, and then hit Simon downfield for a huge gain. Later, he escaped a second blitz, raced hard to his right and then threw a dart across the grain to Simon.

A third play involved Printers escaping hard to his left and hitting Bumpus on a beautiful throw that had to be purrfect.They were plays none of our other quarterbacks could make. Printers hit the short, the intermediate, and the long throws against the Riders..something our other quarterbacks have weaknesses in one area or the other.

Printers showed his rust at times but until overtime he had also showed tremendous smarts by throwing the football out of bounds when he didn't have a receiver open and he did not have any turnovers in regulation time. That was why his interception in overtime was such a shame and shouldn't have been thrown, even though Simon was badly interfered with and a penalty should have been called.

However, as Wally noted, the game was not lost in overtime but in regulation time, when our defense allowed an easy touchdown drive and the two point convert with time running out. It shouldn't have happened, even with Miles out of the game.

It's been gratifying to read so many positve posts on Lionbackers regarding Printers performance aginst the Riders because Printers played so much better than any quarterback who had not played for a year, who had missed training camp and only a month ago was still practicing scout team with our Leos and not practicing our offence, should have been able to. However, a few detractors remain and the press will be prepared to bring him down at the first opportunity.

Printers has never been the distraction amongst the players that he has been made out to be. Simon thinks highly of him and always has. Brent Johnson said he's still the same Casey in the dressing room but he has matured as well. Angus Ried manned up for Printers.

Perhaps the msot frustrating comments I read are that Casey doesn't read a defense well or only goes to his first read and then scrambles. You don't throw for over 5,000 yards in your first CFL pro season as a starter if you can't read a defense. NFL pro socuts don't recommend signing a CFL quarterback who can't read a defense...those guys aren't stupid. Wally said that Printers is the fastest learner as a quarterback after Doug Flutie and he's seen more than his share of good ones.

There is also a notion that a quarterback who scrambles at times is not a smart quaeterback who can read a defense. The CFL is made for mobile quarterbacks and they are so much more difficult to defend that just a pocket quarterback. Somehow a quarterback sitiing in the pocket playing dink and dunk is viewed by a few as the best way to play the position. Ask our defense how much they hate playing against a quarterback like Henry Burris. At the same time ouir LEOS have to help Printers by utilizinfg some misdirection screens, swing screens, designed queterbck draws, and hot reads to help him with the blitz rather than having to be Houdini to escape the blitz. Printers throws out of the pocket well (count the throws he made out of the pocket agisnst the Riders...most of them) but we have to either give him more time or quicker options when he is under quick pressure.

Wally said we'd see the magic again when Printers played. He was forced to start Printers last week before he was prespared to but he was still right!! Printers is the obvious choice to start against Calgary. Hoepfully he can kncok off some more rust and improve on his performance. There should be a great crowd. There is a feeling again with our Leos that we could go all the way to the Big Dance. It's still a longshot but the odds just got better.

[Wakesbetterthanyou]

Let's all change our screeennames to 120db!!! Go CP!

[The_Pauser]

Let's all change our screeennames to 120db!!! Go CP!

120chimp150db's?

[KnowItAll]

just wonder who would start if Casey couldnt.

[pennw]

just wonder who would start if Casey couldnt.

Zac?

[Blitz]

just wonder who would start if Casey couldnt.

Zac Champion would likely start. Jarious is still at least another week away. Buck could play but likely wouldn't finish, with his shoulder injury. We'll find out this week if Lulay's shoulder is improved.

[Lion Guy]

This is good news. I was most impresssed with CP last Sat. If he continues his play and we can step it up on D we could be dangerous in the playoffs. Assuming we get there fo course.

[Ness]

I would have been disappointed if Printers didn't start even if Pierce and Jackson were both healthy. He was great last game.

[KnowItAll]

pierce should retire for his own good. I would still take a healthy JJ over CP.

[Rammer]

I would have been disappointed if Printers didn't start even if Pierce and Jackson were both healthy. He was great last game.

Casey also holds the attention of the casual fan, enticing more ticket sales, why else would Wally announce CP to start right after the game in Regina?

[Rodu]

good for Casey, he not only earned the start, he earned a lot of respect for that showing Saturday

[OV - 54:40]

Why didn't Wally sign Casey in the off-season, for TC or a lot sooner than he did, anyways?

[sj-roc]

Why didn't Wally sign Casey in the off-season, for TC or a lot sooner than he did, anyways?

You can ask seven other teams the same question. Well, six, I guess, since it was clear Hamilton didn't want him back.

[The_Pauser]

What happened to all the "Casey isn't the answer" people? What happened to all the people who said "if we bring Casey in we're writing off this season?" All those people who flamed me at the suggestion of bringing in a new quarterback, such as Casey Printers. Where are you now?

Now I'm not saying I'm always right, because we're all wrong sometimes...I just would like all those people who flamed me to own up and apologize.

Wouldn't it be ever so sweet if Casey does indeed lead us to the promise land this year?