Gary Kingston
Vancouver Sun

VANCOUVER -- At this stage of his life, we're not sure even a stint on Oprah Winfrey's couch could get Casey Printers to open up.

Nor, it seems, would an appearance in Supreme Court, after he's put his hand on the Bible and sworn to tell the whole truth and nothing but the truth, force the B.C. Lions quarterback to give straight answers about the state of his game.

After directing the Lions to a sorely needed win in Montreal -- just a third victory in his 10 starts during a second tour of duty in B.C. -- Printers was once again loath on Tuesday to say he's feeling: (a) different, (b) better, (c) more confident, (d) ready to get on a roll, or (e) all of the above.

The CFL is a quarterback-driven circuit, as the Alouettes clearly understand after their A.C. was out at Molson Stadium on Friday. But Printers steadfastly adheres to the belief that his play can't be singled out and examined in isolation. He is, he insists, just one spoke in the wheel that is the Lions offence.

The two touchdowns he threw in the 38-17 beat down of the Chris Leak(y)-led Alouettes marked only the second time in the past 10 starts that Printers had tossed for more than one major score. His completion rate of 50 per cent -- 14 of 28 against the Als -- dropped his season number to 52.1 per cent. Of the nine CFL quarterbacks with 120 or more pass attempts this season, only Saskatchewan's Darian Durant at 59.5 per cent, has a completion rate lower than 62.3.

Given the short fields that the turnover-prone Leak handed the Lions, Printers didn't need to be more accurate than he was. But to sustain drives in the CFL, where so many defences are taking away the deep ball, quarterbacks need to consistently complete 60-plus per cent of their passes.

"Sure, everybody would love to be [a 65-per-cent passer], of course," said Printers, who was just that in his 2004 MVP season.

And if he's not?

"Sometimes it's me, sometimes it's not. Sometimes it's up to the gods. You just got to kind of keep going."

Aarrgh! Ask him if he's ready to deliver on the consistency that head coach Wally Buono has desperately been seeking from the quarterback position, Printers just rolls his eyes at the question and never does answer.

The thing is, Printers and the much-maligned B.C. offence did look better in Montreal. The protection from the offensive line was solid, Printers rolled out comfortably to make big plays and the move of Paris Jackson to the same side of the field as slotback Geroy Simon seemed to open things up for both pass catchers.

"That was a great shift," said Printers, who threw for 235 yards before leaving in the third quarter with cramping in the legs. "Those are two veterans who know what's going on with this offence, how to expose different looks. That just makes for a good combination.

"We got skill all over the field and to be able to access it, you do need a little bit of time. But it's not just the offensive line, it's everybody, seeing the looks, feeling what to do, throwing the ball with anticipation, all that kind of stuff. It's all starting to come full circle."

Buono senses that Printers, who missed four games this season with a knee injury, is starting to find a groove and to believe in the offence.

"As a quarterback, you definitely want to know that the guys in front of you are good at what they're doing, the receivers know what they're doing. With the changes that we made, that's going to take time. When you play a good defence like Montreal and you execute well, it gives you the confidence and the foundation to work from."

Printers said it wasn't difficult to maintain an even keel emotionally as the Lions endured the seven-game losing streak.

"I was on a team that didn't have a chance to win [Hamilton] in 2007-08. I know what that looks like. I know we are a stride or two away from clicking for real."

Courtesy: www.vancouversun.com