Head 2 Head: Durie/gore

After being taken 10th overall by the B.C. Lions in the 2010 CFL draft, Shawn Gore struggled for an entire year to find his way in this league.  He made zero catches as a rookie, but his special teams contributions earned him the confidence of head coach Wally Buono.  Coming into 2011, it was crucial for Gore to make an impression early on to entrench himself in the Lions’ future.  Luckily, that’s exactly what he did.
 
Gore started the season with five straight games of over 50 yards receiving.  Behind Geroy Simon, Gore quickly became the second option for quarterback Travis Lulay.  Unfortunately for Gore, the Lions’ acquisition of Arland Bruce III has created a logjam of talent at the receiver/slotback positions.  Between Simon, Bruce, Akeem Foster and Gore, there is no shortage of options for Lulay.  But Bruce’s arrival has forced a subsequent dip in Gore’s production.  In his previous two games, Gore has only made three catches for 36 yards and no touchdowns.  During the same stretch, Bruce has six catches for 163 yards and two touchdowns.  It appears Bruce and Simon are now the primary receiving targets in B.C.
 
Of all of Gore’s strengths as a receiver (speed, route running, and ability to give second and third efforts) there are times when he loses his focus.  His affinity for dropping passes has been well-documented this season and that is a part of his game that will need to improve if he is going to regain the confidence of his quarterback. 
 
However, Gore is a player with loads of potential that Lions fans caught a glimpse of during his hot start to the season.  He remains the leading non-import receiver, he was born in Toronto, in the CFL with 35 catches and 453 yards, so his value to the Lions organization cannot be understated.   If Gore can limit his drops, keep his concentration, and focus on returning to the early season form that made him one of the best receivers in the CFL, the Lions will be adding another loaded weapon to an arsenal that is ready to fire away.
 

2010 was a breakout season for Andre Durie – his first as a full-time starter. He fought through training camp and Head Coach Jim Barker saw something different in Durie’s future. His style, speed, hands, size and commitment to the team reminded Barker of another Double Blue running back who embraced a hybrid role as both a runner and receiver. One for which Barker created a position given his unusual set of skills. That player was a running back/slotback named Michael ‘Pinball’ Clemons.

He grew excited about his new hybrid position and committed himself to his new craft, and it showed. Durie caught 54 passes for 632 yards and one touchdown in 18 games. Through hard work, coaching, and Clemons’ advice, he became a reliable and versatile receiving option for quarterback Cleo Lemon.

Lemon and Durie have picked up where they left off last season. Durie is, arguably, performing as the Argos’ most consistent offensive player to date.  In eight games Durie has hauled in 33 passes for 356 yards.  He has also run 11 times for 82 yards, for an average of 7.5 yards per carry.  That marks the highest yardage gained per rush for any slotback/running back with over ten carries this season. He has 211 yards after catch which is first on the team, second in the East and tied for sixth-most in the CFL.
 
Durie has become a primary playmaker for the Argos and, as such, Lemon has been getting the ball to the 30-year old more often every week.  He had a season-high 76 yards receiving in Week 7 against the Tiger-Cats and his last three games represent three of the four best he has played this season.  Given last year’s success as well as his consistency this season, Durie is well on his way to becoming one of the top players, and Canadians, in this league.  An impressive feat when you consider just how far he has come.