VANCOUVER — Long after the rest of the B.C. Lions offence had left the field Monday quarterback Travis Lulay and receiver Arland Bruce remained.
Working without a helmet or shoulder pads, Bruce ran extra routes in his first day of practise with his new team. Showing his sure hands, the 33-year-old slotback snagged everything Lulay fired his way.
Pitch and catch.
Sometimes the pair would take a break. Lulay would talk. Bruce, obtained in a trade from Hamilton last week, would listen and nod his head.
The hope is that once Bruce fully understands the Lions’ system he will bring some bite to a B.C. offence that has lacked teeth for a lot of this season.
“I get in where I fit in,” Bruce said later, his T-shirt drenched in sweat. “Any time you come to a team and you’re a receiver . . .you have to get with the quarterback first.
“I want to be involved and do what I do, and that’s help teams win and contribute.”
Lulay said Bruce is like a sponge.
“He’s eager to learn,” Lulay said. “I want to help him out as best I can (and) just make the transition as smooth as it can be.”
The Lions snapped a five-game CFL losing streak Friday night with a 24-11 victory over the Saskatchewan Roughriders. B.C. and Saskatchewan now both have 1-5 records.
With that first win under their belt, and Bruce anxious to prove himself on the West Coast, B.C. could be ready to turn the corner on the season.
The Lions might also get a taste of reality Saturday night when the 5-1 Winnipeg Blue Bombers, the league’s hottest team, visits Empire Field.
“We’re not out of the woods by any stretch,” said veteran slotback Geroy Simon, who had 134 receiving yards and a touchdown against the Riders.
“We have been working hard all season. It’s just a matter of playing smarter. We started to do that the other day.”
Wally Buono, the Lions coach and general manager, said with a third of the season over, his team doesn’t have much margin for error.
“We don’t have a lot of leverage or probability because we are so far behind the eight ball right now,” said a gruff Buono.
“You have to take it one game at a time and get confidence in the sense we did a lot of things better this week and as a team we are better.”
Having both Simon and Bruce playing slotback gives the Lions a formidable one-two punch that defences will have to defend against.
To make it work, the Lions must devise a scheme to best utilize both players.
Bruce didn’t hesitate when asked whether he or Simon will be the Lions’ No. 1 receiver.
“I think we are both No. 1,” he said, bringing a long, silent pause from the media gathered around him.
“He understands we are both No. 1.
“The offence they have is a patient offence. It’s not really about a guy being No. 1. It’s about being in the right place at the right time. Geroy is just able to make more plays than other guys because there has been a revolving door with receivers here. I wouldn’t go into a practice week thinking I am the No. 1 or No. 2 or No. 3. I am here to help this team win.”
Simon, who needs 881 yards to pass Milt Stegall as the CFL’s all-time leading receiver, doesn’t seem concerned fewer balls may come his way with Bruce in the lineup.
“I’m not worried about me as much as the offence,” said Simon, who has 536 yards and two touchdowns from 30 catches this season.
“He brings a lot of experience, a lot of success. He’s someone who has proven (himself) in this league. He’s going to balance the field for us (and) that will open it up for a lot of people. Hopefully it will free up guys a little more and have other guys making big plays. It will free myself up.”
How long it might take Bruce to become effective is another question. He had just nine catches for 104 yards with Hamilton.
He missed one game with a knee injury and wasn’t scheduled to play last week due to a bruised hamstring.
Bruce was evasive when asked if he will dress against the Bombers.
“It’s one step at a time,” he said.
The addition of Bruce resulted in the Lions releasing wide receiver Dobson Collins.
The rookie came in highly touted by Buono, but dropped several catchable passes during the B.C. losing streak.
Bruce can be brash and outspoken, but so far he’s been accepted by his teammates.
Hard-hitting linebacker Solomon Elimimian was impressed that when he showed up early to workout, Bruce was already in the weightroom.
“One thing I can say about Arland is, in the short time he has been here, he’s a hard worker,” said Elimimian, who leads the league with 43 tackles.
Simon said Bruce’s acquisition sent a clear message to the team.
“Guys started picking up their energy level and their effort,” he said. “When you bring in a guy like him in, somebody has to sit.
“Everybody is trying to make sure it’s not them. You see the intensity pick up.”