Next Game
@
ARGONAUTS.CA STAFF
There is often an unofficial grace period provided by coaches fans and teammates when a new player joins a football team. Most reasonable football minds understand that a learning curve is often inevitable. Offensively, one cannot discount the importance of chemistry, rhythm and trust, especially when someone joins the club mid-season, and attributes of that nature do not come overnight.
Perhaps that is what makes the addition of WR Chad Lucas to the Argos receiving corps so striking. In his first three games, Lucas has created the illusion that he has been involved in the Argos’ offence since training camp. Despite only being in Double Blue for 21 days, Lucas has become an exception to the unwritten ‘grace period’ rule.
The 6-foot-1, 201-pound receiver has become the Argos’ new go-to playmaker since joining the team three days prior to their Week 5 matchup with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. He made his first CFL start that game and has done nothing but produce since – amassing 240 yards and one touchdown on 15 catches in only 12 quarters of play.
Undoubtedly, his finest effort came this past Friday when he transformed eight catches in to 146 yards, 134 of which came in the first half. Following the game, Lucas was short but to the point, affirming the notion that the aforementioned importance of chemistry was key for his new pivot Cody Pickett, “It was man-to-man coverage and in this league and in any league, you have to know how to beat your man. Cody (Pickett) put the ball in some good spots and I was able to come down with some plays”.
The Alabama State graduate could go a long way in helping this relatively young Argos receiving corps find a new identity. It’s a corps that has lost a number of key faces over the last two years as the team tries to reload itself.
Although new to the CFL, Lucas is no stranger to Head Coach Bart Andrus’ offence after playing under the rookie sideline boss in Amsterdam (NFLE) in 2006 (he was allocated there by the NFL’s Green Bay Packers). Following his time in with the Admirals, Lucas suited up with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and St. Louis Rams of the NFL before signing with the Boatmen on July 28.