Buck Off to Great Start

[PigSkin_53]

http://www.tsn.ca/cfl/story/?id=326442

It is rewarding to see Buck starting his career again with such great success.

Many happy returns Buck!

[Stresd]

Have to say he looked better than CP did in his first start.

[Toppy Vann]

Have to say he looked better than CP did in his first start.

He did indeed but you have to remember that Casey has just had a few games last year and now this one to really get his career back on track whereas Buck simply had to heal. I also think the offense that Buck is running helped as well as his success at less dangerous runs. He did have a very good game both passing and running including the longest TD pass of his CFL career.

CP will have a ways to go to get his old form (pre- KC and pre-Hamilton). If he was not going to make it, I'd say his numbers would have been far worse than they were and they were not bad. If the Lions offense can gel with their new players and revamped O line, who knows what they might do.

I think if Buck got the numbers that Casey did last year he'd have to been beaten black and blue in the game. The Lions O line with all those changes is getting some raves for not being sieves like before. Maybe the Lions learned something from last year too about their role in beating up QBs.

Buck is very motivated it seems and is fitting into the Bombers new regime very well. It looks like a club on the way up.

I

[Spud387]

I am not surprised by Buck's outing. He is a great QB and can tear it up in this league if healthy. If Buck utilizes that hook slide and gets protection, look out

[DJ Rider MJ]

Great QB. No denying that.. just hope he can stay healthy all season. Many people believe that he won't

[Toppy Vann]

Great QB. No denying that.. just hope he can stay healthy all season. Many people believe that he won't

By the looks of things both in their offensive schemes and in how Buck ran I'd suggest that the Bombers look to have this same concern and the theme seems to be let him keep the fire as the TSN crew refers to it but play safe which he did. The play book for the Bombers doesn't yet seem to expose their QB like the Lions does to the big hits and Buck no doubt is year older and wiser. I think he realizes how critical it is to stay healthy.

That was just one game where Buck went all the way despite the game being over and you'd have thought they'd give way to Jyles for some time - but it did set the tone for the start of their season.

As much as I'd prefer that Buck stayed in BC it is looking like he has landed in a good situation with a coach who so far looks to be a believer in him and an offense that will expose him to less brutal hits - at least so far.

When players move to new teams like QBs one of two thngs can happen. They fit like Buck seems to or it falls apart like it has for many ex-Lions who moved on. When it doesn't work it is attributed to be a great call by the HC to dump the guy but it is much more complex issue than that as players do not go from being good player to mediocre or bad just because he moved teams.

What I like about Buck with the Bombers now is that he seems less exposed to the big hits and his coach has managed the issue of his safety better than the Lions did or could or whatever.

It is a long season and none of these guys get out of it without some big hits and a lot of bruises. I suspect Buck won't either but he does seem to have healed up that shoulder and I do believe the injury issues were blown up possibly even by the Lions to justify dumping a popular guy for Casey - and we all know they couldn't have kept Buck, Travis, Lulay et al. SMS and reps just don't allow that nor would it have been healthy in my view.

[Blitz]

I think Buck will play a lot better in the Bomber style offence. Buck also looks healthy right now, perhaps more healthy than he's been in years.

I don't really believe Buck ever felt relaxed in B.C., as our starter. Wally puts a lot of pressure on quarterbacks and plays them injured. Chap's offence took away the natural abilities of Buck and made him more robotic. Buck played very well at times in B.C. and at other times he appeared too conservative with his passing...likely due to the pressure put on to 'manage the game', not throw interceptions, etc. Sometimes you just have to let a quarterback go out and play his game.

I see a more relaxed Buck in Winnipeg, running an offence that seems to suit his style better...at least that's what I see so far. Its a long season. Happy for Buck's early success...and looking more like the guy in his earlier seasons with us....more instinctive, less robotic, more athletic, more confident...all good signs.