Toronto Argonauts quarterback Cleo Lemon runs drills during practice in Mississauga, June 6, 2011. (J.P. Moczulski for The Globe and Mail)J.P. Moczulski/The Globe and Mail
Cleo Lemon will be the first quarterback on the field to open the Toronto Argonauts' first preseason game on Saturday against the visiting Hamilton Tiger-Cats, but the battle to secure the starting pivot's gig is far from over.
Less than three weeks into training camp, it's a two-man race, and Dalton Bell will take over in the second half of the exhibition game to make his case.
"Whatever comes my way, I'll be ready for. I'm not going to be concerned with the number of reps," said Lemon after Friday's walkthrough in Mississauga. "Whatever coach decides, I have to roll with."
The Argos plan to have Lemon start at the Rogers Centre and bring in Canadian Danny Brannagan to finish out the first half. Bell will enter the game in the third quarter, and then B.J. Hall, who is battling Brannagan for the No. 4 spot, will come in toward the end of the fourth quarter. Steven Jyles, acquired in an off-season trade to shake up the competition, will not dress Saturday, as the team continues caution with his surgically repaired shoulder.
"It's a big thing to get out of these practices and show coach [Jim]Barker and these coaches that I can make things happen when it really counts," said Bell, who was the primary backup to Lemon last year. "I feel more elusive this year, more agile with my feet."
Lemon completed 285 passes for 3,433 yards and 15 touchdowns as the Argos' starter last season. He threw 19 picks, and Toronto's passing game never really got off the ground. Bell had better statistics than Lemon in last year's preseason games but did not win the starting job. Bell started just one game, in Week 13.
Barker advised the quarterbacks in the off-season that this year's offence would call for more opportunities to use their legs. Barker has not set a date for making his decision on a starting quarterback.
"I wish I knew right now, but I'm hoping it will just come to me," Barker said with a laugh. "My preference is for it to just hit me, 'this is our guy.' I'm a different bird, so it might just be an epiphany. It might just strike me in the middle of the night."
The Argos have chosen to shelve several key players for the first preseason game, some with small injuries, most just to give younger players a chance. The offence will be missing workhorse running back Cory Boyd, wide receiver and kick-return specialist Chad Owens, offensive linemen Rob Murphy, Nasser Jamal and Chris Van Zeyl, and receiver Mike Bradwell. The defence will be without defensive lineman Kevin Huntley and linebacker Anthony Cannon.
With Boyd sitting out the first game, there will be plenty of carries for the running backs competing to back him up, newcomer Chad Kackert and Dwayne Wright, who had some experience on the Argos' practice roster.
"It's a good battle. I've seen Dwayne, so obviously he has an advantage, and Kackert has to be better," Barker said. "It's going to be good to watch those two run the ball some without Cory [Boyd]in there."
For the Ticats, the key initiative on Saturday will be evaluating younger players, so 12 of 24 starters will sit out the game. Last year's backup, Quinton Porter, will start at quarterback and share the game with Jason Boltus, while Kevin Glenn sits out.