ARGONAUTS.CA STAFF
MISSISSAUGA – Script writers could not have drafted up a situation more fitting for Dalton Bell to get his first CFL start – against the team that traded him in the off-season.
Argos Head Coach Jim Barker announced this afternoon that the concussion sustained by QB Cleo Lemon will keep him out of Saturday’s contest versus the Saskatchewan Roughriders, paving the way for Bell to make his first professional start under centre.
“When we got the report that Cleo was still cloudy, we said that Dalton was going to be our guy this week,” Barker said. “He has been preparing all week and we are excited to see him play.”
Bell relieved Lemon late in Sunday’s contest when the Argos’ number one was knocked out of the game. With Lemon attending practice, but not participating, Bell says he had no choice but to prepare as if he was going to be the one taking snaps this week behind centre.
“I have been preparing like I was going to start all week,” Bell said. “They told me on Monday and Tuesday that Cleo wasn’t going to practice and I have prepared myself mentally and physically from that time just so I know that I could be ready if I did get the nod.”
Statistically, Bell was the Argos’ most productive pivot in pre-season having completed 18 of 26 passes for 341 yards and one touchdown in three quarters of work.
Although the reps have been limited, Bell feels like there should be no reason why he isn’t prepared to lead the Boatmen on Saturday.
“With the reps that I have had throughout the pre-season and the regular season, it has helped me mostly with adjusting to the speed of the game,” said Bell.
The first-year Argo will have little time to get comfortable, facing a Roughriders squad that has been arguably the hottest team in the league, and as Barker explains, there will be no let-up from Saskatchewan’s defence, regardless of who is playing quarterback for the Argos.
“Nobody is going to give Dalton any leeway or time to get accustomed to the speed of the game. He is as prepared as he can be. We don’t see him easing into it. We see it as Dalton has been preparing for 12 weeks now to be the starting quarterback and we are going to run with the hot quarterback.”
Barker’s reference to the ‘hot quarterback’ was his response to the question that if Bell plays well there may be a situation where he will start ahead of Lemon, even when injuries no longer plague the quarterbacks. That, however, is something that Bell says is not even on his radar.
“I haven’t been focusing on whether or not my performance can potentially win me the starting job,” Bell said. “All I want to do is go out there and help my team win and not let my teammates down.”