The Trade Coming Back to Haunt Lions by Canadian Press with Edmonton in June, 1988
Total Page：16
File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb
The Prince George Citizen — Tuesday, August 15, 1989 — 13 DEFENCE WEAKENED TO LAND DUNIGAN The Trade coming back to haunt Lions by Canadian Press with Edmonton in June, 1988. Even a one-point loss to Winnipeg in the bell apparently decided that championship rofile linebacker Leroy Blugh of Bishop’s The CFL’s biggest trade in years has To recap: The Lions got Dunigan from Grey Cup, when Dunigan threw an teams are molded from the defensive side Ediversity who will be a starter because come back to haunt the B.C. Lions. the Esks after he spent five years learning untimely interception late in the game, of the football, so he cut the heart out of the 230-pounder has great running speed. Sending three key defensive starters — his trade in Edmonton. Dunigan was didn’t dull his accomplishments. the Lions’ defence. The final tally in the Dunigan trade is and six players in total — to the Edmon unhappy sharing the starting position with During the off-season the Lions faced re Edmonton took import linebackers six players for one, although the Eskimos ton Eskimos for quarterback Matt Duni Damon Allen (later traded to Ottawa). ality. Gregg Stumon and Jeff Braswell, plus cor- threw in lineman Kevin Powell. gan has left the winless Lions in deep The Dunigan portfolio carried a hefty It was time to pay their debts. B.C. was nerback Andre Francis. All were in the The Lions are woefully weak on defence. trouble after first two months of the sea price. Last year the Lions gave Edmonton allowed to protect two players on its ros prime of their careers and their departure They’re giving up almost 34 points a son. wide receiver Jim Sandusky and a first- ter besides Dunigan — rumored to be star left the Lions vulnerable at key positions. game, while Dunigan’s offence has sput Dunigan and the Lions are 0-5, while the round draft choice, plus future considera receiver David Williams and running back “They wanted Matt and they got Matt,” tered because suddenly there’s no running Eskimos are a healthy 4-1 with a defence tions. Sandusky played out his option and Tony Cherry — before the Esks got tc the abrasive Braswell said after Edmon game. fortified by former B.C. stars. pick four players. ton’s 33-13 taming of the Lions last week. signed as a free agent with the NFL Seat Cherry is on the injured list for 30 days B.C. is off to its slowest start in 20 tle Seahawks. It’s believed that Edmonton wanted one “Now they have to find some more guys years. The Lions went 0-6 in 1969; the of B.C.’s huge offensive tackles, but then to replace us.” — a broken jaw suffered in the Edmonton The Lions were the clear early winners loss — and Dunigan has been a sitting team record for futility is an 0-10 begin in this deal. changed its mind. All-star Jim Mills was And, for good measure, the Esks also recovering from knee surgery, while fel took Cherry’s backup at running back. duck for the pass rush, sacked 18 times in ning to the 1958 season. Dunigan had a banner season directing five games. The party line from the Lions is that the the surprisingly balanced B.C. attack. In low lineman Larry Clarkson became a Reggie Taylor was thrown in for good price lor an established quarterback can the western playoffs, the Lions prevailed free agent and signed with the Super Bowl measure — and suddenly he’s much more Unless there’s a sudden change in the never be too high and that’s why general over Edmonton and made it to the Grey champion San Francisco 49ers in the NFL. productive than Cherry. emotional tide, this trade could naunt the manager Joe Galat engineered the swap Cup during a rebuilding season. Eskimos general manager Hugh Camp The draft choice turned out to be high- Lions well past Halloween. E s k i m o s Argos seem to hold edge by GRANT KERR several newcomers, including linebackers Quency Wil Canadian Press liams and Paul Randolph. The offence failed to pro s h o w i n g The early-season favorites in the CFL have found it duce a touchdown last week. Quarterback Sean Salis difficult to live up to their billing through the first bury is having trouble hooking up with star receiver third of the schedule. James Murphy. The Toronto Argos and the B.C. Lions were thought Prediction: Winnipeg by four points Wednesday. n o p i t y to be the best teams in their divisions before play be EDMONTON (4-1) at OTTAWA (0-5) gan. Both had the offensive weapons that seemed to by CAME COLE The Eskimos have success when Reggie Taylor runs spell success. the ball 15 or 20 times a game. Taylor can get the Southam Syndicate It hasn’t been quite that simple. The mysterious EDMONTON — In this, their 41st first downs that take the heat off uncertain quarter Lions are winless in five games, while the inconsistent back Tracy Ham. The big mystery is Edmonton coach season of football — a season the Argos — hampered by injuries at quarterback — have team’s marketing department has Joe Faragalli’s limited use of steady backup quarter struggled offensively. back Rick Worman. curiously dubbed “40 Years!” — The Lions were the most potent ground team in the the Edmonton Eskimos still don’t Ottawa continues to experiment on defence. One league last year, rushing for almost 3,000 yards. This week the cornerbacks break down; the next time it’s- really have an official motto. But time around, the total is a meagre 272. The imbalance the inside halfbacks. On offence, Ottawa must run the they are working on one: has left B.C. quarterback Matt Dunigan vulnerable to (Italics)’’Franchise Killers.’’(end ball more with Orville Lee if quarterback Damon the pass rush. To make matters worse, star running Allen hopes to survive the season. italics) back Tony Cherry is on the injured list for 30 days. As the 4-1 Eskimos pause for The Argos have a built-in excuse in that quarter Prediction: Edmonton by seven points Thursday. breath today between episodes of backs Gilbert Renfroe and John Congemi both have SASKATCHEWAN (4-1) at HAMILTON (4-1) destruction, let us reflect on the been sidelined by injury. Renfroe is back in uniform, The Roughriders have a hot quarterback in Tom damage they have already inflicted but the Toronto offence is struggling while he regains Burgess. He gets the job done throwing deep and uses upon the Canadian Football League his sharpness. all his receivers effectively. Saskatchewan is still sus in 1989. This week in the CFL, Dunigan and Renfroe meet in pect on defence, although the inside pass rush of ta Exhibit A: July 21. Normie a matchup of teams with high expectations. ckles James Curry ana Gary Lewis covers up for Kwong Mask Night in Calgary. Big TORONTO (3-2) at B.C. (0-5) weaknesses in the secondary. promo. Big crowd. Final score? 54- The Argos have improved their defence by adding Hamilton needs to re-establish its running game. 4 Edmonton over the winless Stam- former B.C. all-star Larry Crawford in the secondary. Derrick McAdoo got stuffed last week by Calgary peders, who are booed mercilessly Defensive ends Glenn Kulka and Rodney Harding when the blocking broke down. The Ticats seem to get by their fans. could have success against the faltering B.C. offensive the job done defensively when the pass rush of Grover Exhibit B: Aug. 9. Joe Galat line. Gill Fenerty is the key for Toronto. If he rushes Covington and Mike Walker is working. They must "Comeback Night in Vancouver. for big yardage, Renfroe can mix his plays. harass Burgess for Hamilton to win. New head coach, big promises, a B.C. is reeling because the defence can’t stop the Prediction: Hamilton by three points Friday. team $8.9 million in debt trying to run consistently. New linebackers Alondra Johnson woo new ownership, and already 0- OTTAWA at TORONTO Mike Kadar displays his technique with girlfriend Debbie Kinney. and Willis Beasley will have their hands full with Fe The Riders lost by four points to Toronto early in 4. Final score? 33-13 Edmonton nerty. Rookie Darrell Wallace replaces Cherry, while over the Lions, who are booed mer the season. This time they play on the road, making Anthony Parker returns at fullback. an upset even more difficult. Ottawa’s best asset is cilessly by their fans. Prediction: Toronto by six points tonight. Exhibit C: Aug. 17. Pass-The-Hat ARM WRESTLING placekicker Dean Dorsey. CALGARY (3-2) at WINNIPEG (2-3) Prediction: Toronto by seven points Monday. Night in Ottawa. The Rough Rid The Stampeders are on a three-game roll, inspired ers, saved from financial extinc by quarterback Danny Barrett. The Toronto castoff Season record: 9-8. tion by the narrowest possible vote doesn’t have many offensive weapons, but his arsenal Interlocking play: West leads East 5-3. of regional council, with an 0-5 re Kadar tops Soviets does include wide receiver Larry Willis on deep pat Home-field advantage: 11-9. cord, fresh from being slaughtered terns. Middle linebacker Doug Landry anchors an im 58-22 in Regina, return home in VANCOUVER (CP) — Mike Kadar won his personal arms race in The Argos visit B.C. tonight at 7:30 on ITV (ca the Soviet Union recently.