Long Time Coming For Lucas

ARGONAUTS.CA STAFF

MISSISSAUGA — Second-year Argos WR Chad Lucas is just happy to be back in the lineup.  The soft-spoken wideout will make his first start of the 2010 campaign Friday night versus B.C. after an injury sidelined rookie WR Jeffery Webb.

“I’m just excited for (Friday) night,” Lucas said when asked about finally being placed in the lineup after being a scratch the last three weeks.  “All that matters is that I will be out there tomorrow night and I can’t wait to play.”

Lucas joined the Argos four weeks into last year’s regular season and instantly became the Boatmen’s most productive receiver, finishing the season only 50 yards short of 1000 yards on 69 catches.

Naturally, he has not been pleased with being out of the lineup but Head Coach Jim Barker would have it no other way.

“I want him to have an urgency to play,” Barker said of Lucas.  “Had he gone through this week and not prepared to play, he would have gone out there tomorrow and looked awful.  It speaks to the type of competitor that he is.”

Lucas admits that it has indeed been frustrating, but the coaching staff has created an environment in Toronto that is tough to discredit.

“The coaches have created a great atmosphere around here so it has been a little easier to deal with (not playing),” Lucas said.

The atmosphere that Lucas speaks of is based primarily around honesty between player and coach.  When asked about how Barker told Lucas when he was  not going to play every week up until this point, the Argos sideline boss simply said, “I was totally honest with him about the situation and told him that once he was healthy he would compete.  Now that he has done that he gets his opportunity.”

Defensively, the Argos will be going up against a Lions team that has struggled in recent weeks and will likely be leaning heavily on veteran running back and former Argo Jamal Robertson.  Robertson will have to be on his ‘A’ game as the Lions try to take pressure off QB Travis Lulay, who starts in place of an injured Casey Printers (who will dress as a backup).

Lulay has only attempted 51 passes in limited CFL action but says he is excited for the challenge of making his first career start.

“It’s unfortunate for Casey that he is dinged up. That’s the nature of the business sometimes. I have been preparing myself mentally to be ready whenever I get the call. It’s this week and it’s time to go,” the pivot told The Canadian Press Wednesday.

Lulay will test his arm against an Argos secondary that, despite being criticized for missing open-field tackles, really came together last week, especially in the first half against Calgary.  They will receive a boost as veteran CB Byron Parker returns to the lineup at wide-side corner after missing two weeks with a shoulder injury. On the other side of the secondary, rookie DB Evan McCollough will start at short-side halfback in place of injured DB Sammy Joseph.

Other roster moves include LB Jeremy Unertl and DB Matt Black returning to the 46-man roster while rookie DB Michael Grant, who started at cornerback in the first three weeks, has been placed on the one-game suspended list.

Kickoff is at 7:30 p.m. at Rogers Centre and tickets can be purchased by calling 416-341-ARGO (2746) or by clicking here.  Following Friday’s game, the Argos will head to Montreal to take on the defending Grey Cup champion Alouettes.