Fleming Out as Punter ?
Fleming out as punter?
Leblanc, Nowacki working out as punters in case quad injury sidelines Eskimos' main man
By JONATHAN HUNTINGTON, EDMONTON SUN
VANCOUVER -- It was an ugly scene.
Backup receiver Rob Leblanc punted the ball off the side of his foot during Edmonton Eskimo practice yesterday and it sailed out of bounds.
It was one of the ugliest shanks of the season inside B.C. Place.
Then it was Andrew Nowacki's turn. He only fared slightly better.
With regular punter Sean Fleming doing the square root of nothing at practice yesterday, suddenly thoughts were whirling around the large media gathering on what was essentially the first real day of Grey Cup week.
Is Fleming hurt?
Is the Eskimos' red-hot kicking machine - who has been nothing short of brilliant down the stretch this season - suddenly questionable for Sunday's Grey Cup against the Montreal Alouettes?
Is former punter Hayden Epstein on a flight north from California?
But the Eskimos say there is no need to panic.
Within seconds of practice being over, Fleming started his explanation.
"I'm just taking it easy," he explained.
"Don't make it an issue.
"I don't want to hear anything.
"I thought I would take a rest. I have done a lot of kicking the last few weeks. I want to make sure I am as fresh as possible.
"There is no injury."
That is debatable - but with it being Grey Cup week, there is no way the Eskimos will reveal any major news until the last possible moment before the roster deadline on Friday.
HAD A PROBLEM
What is known is this: head coach Danny Maciocia admitted after last weekend's West final victory over the B.C. Lions that Fleming did have a problem.
"Sean Fleming was having a little bit of trouble with his quad," Maciocia told the Edmonton Sun.
At the time it didn't appear to be anything serious.
But that concern level jumped a little higher yesterday.
Fleming didn't try a field goal attempt after booming the ball through the uprights just last week at practice in advance of the West final at B.C. Place.
Third-string quarterback Jason Johnson became Fleming's replacement on kickoff duties yesterday, simply chucking the ball as far as he could.
When pressed even more, Fleming wouldn't waver.
NOTHING WRONG
"Seriously, there is nothing wrong, you will see (today)," he said.
"I'll do some (field goal kicking today)."
Maciocia was sticking to the same story.
"At his age you have to give him the day off," said Maciocia.
"That is all it is."
When Maciocia was reminded about his reference just a few days ago to Fleming's quad problem, he replied: "What quad injury?
"(Fleming) will play on Sunday.
"He'll kick and he'll kick well."
Eskimo fans will be clinging to that hope for the rest of the week. Fleming has been the deciding factor in a number of games down the stretch this year.
He booted six field goals to play a key role in the club's West semifinal win over Calgary.
Two weeks earlier he nailed five field goals in a one-point victory against B.C.
In the last seven games he is 20-for-23.
His punting average in his last three games is almost 42 yards.
Nowacki or Leblanc wouldn't come close to that.
"I have a lot more respect for what Sean does after today, that's for sure," said Nowacki, who last punted in high school.
Nowacki and Leblanc wouldn't go near the subject of Fleming being hurt.
"Mathieu Bertrand is our backup kicker, but with some of the injuries (to him), we took the opportunity to hold an open tryout," explained Nowacki, knowing Bertrand is questionable this week. He has an ankle sprain.
"But Sean is going to be kicking in the game."
Added Leblanc: "There is nothing wrong with Sean but there is apparently a lot wrong with Andrew and I think it's because we don't kick very well."
If Fleming doesn't kick very well tomorrow, this Grey Cup is suddenly going to have its first real big story of the week.
Leblanc, Nowacki working out as punters in case quad injury sidelines Eskimos' main man
By JONATHAN HUNTINGTON, EDMONTON SUN
VANCOUVER -- It was an ugly scene.
Backup receiver Rob Leblanc punted the ball off the side of his foot during Edmonton Eskimo practice yesterday and it sailed out of bounds.
It was one of the ugliest shanks of the season inside B.C. Place.
Then it was Andrew Nowacki's turn. He only fared slightly better.
With regular punter Sean Fleming doing the square root of nothing at practice yesterday, suddenly thoughts were whirling around the large media gathering on what was essentially the first real day of Grey Cup week.
Is Fleming hurt?
Is the Eskimos' red-hot kicking machine - who has been nothing short of brilliant down the stretch this season - suddenly questionable for Sunday's Grey Cup against the Montreal Alouettes?
Is former punter Hayden Epstein on a flight north from California?
But the Eskimos say there is no need to panic.
Within seconds of practice being over, Fleming started his explanation.
"I'm just taking it easy," he explained.
"Don't make it an issue.
"I don't want to hear anything.
"I thought I would take a rest. I have done a lot of kicking the last few weeks. I want to make sure I am as fresh as possible.
"There is no injury."
That is debatable - but with it being Grey Cup week, there is no way the Eskimos will reveal any major news until the last possible moment before the roster deadline on Friday.
HAD A PROBLEM
What is known is this: head coach Danny Maciocia admitted after last weekend's West final victory over the B.C. Lions that Fleming did have a problem.
"Sean Fleming was having a little bit of trouble with his quad," Maciocia told the Edmonton Sun.
At the time it didn't appear to be anything serious.
But that concern level jumped a little higher yesterday.
Fleming didn't try a field goal attempt after booming the ball through the uprights just last week at practice in advance of the West final at B.C. Place.
Third-string quarterback Jason Johnson became Fleming's replacement on kickoff duties yesterday, simply chucking the ball as far as he could.
When pressed even more, Fleming wouldn't waver.
NOTHING WRONG
"Seriously, there is nothing wrong, you will see (today)," he said.
"I'll do some (field goal kicking today)."
Maciocia was sticking to the same story.
"At his age you have to give him the day off," said Maciocia.
"That is all it is."
When Maciocia was reminded about his reference just a few days ago to Fleming's quad problem, he replied: "What quad injury?
"(Fleming) will play on Sunday.
"He'll kick and he'll kick well."
Eskimo fans will be clinging to that hope for the rest of the week. Fleming has been the deciding factor in a number of games down the stretch this year.
He booted six field goals to play a key role in the club's West semifinal win over Calgary.
Two weeks earlier he nailed five field goals in a one-point victory against B.C.
In the last seven games he is 20-for-23.
His punting average in his last three games is almost 42 yards.
Nowacki or Leblanc wouldn't come close to that.
"I have a lot more respect for what Sean does after today, that's for sure," said Nowacki, who last punted in high school.
Nowacki and Leblanc wouldn't go near the subject of Fleming being hurt.
"Mathieu Bertrand is our backup kicker, but with some of the injuries (to him), we took the opportunity to hold an open tryout," explained Nowacki, knowing Bertrand is questionable this week. He has an ankle sprain.
"But Sean is going to be kicking in the game."
Added Leblanc: "There is nothing wrong with Sean but there is apparently a lot wrong with Andrew and I think it's because we don't kick very well."
If Fleming doesn't kick very well tomorrow, this Grey Cup is suddenly going to have its first real big story of the week.
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