Morris: Lulay with the team, but Glenn likely to lead the way

Travis Lulay will fly to Montreal for the BC Lions’ crossover playoff Sunday and likely will dress for the game against the Alouettes, but if the BC quarterback actually gets on the field it means something has gone terribly wrong for the Lions.

Veteran Kevin Glenn has got the Lions (9-9) to the playoffs. He might not be fastest quarterback left among the remaining six teams, or have the strongest arm, but he is by far the most experienced. The Lions’ fate against Montreal (9-9) rests in Glenn’s 35-year-old hands for at least for one more game.

“It’s a new season,” said Glenn. “Everything that has happened in the past is over.”

“We have to move forward now. It’s a one-game season. You win and you move on. You lose and you’re out.”

Lulay has haunted the Lions this year. Much like a ghost, his presence was felt but he rarely appeared.

The 2011 CFL Most Outstanding Player had surgery on his throwing shoulder last November. He drifted on and off the injured list and materialized for one start in September against Ottawa then – poof – disappeared again when he re-injured the shoulder.

Lulay was taken off the six-game injured list on the weekend and added to the 46-man roster. He has tossed some balls in practice this week but admits he’s a bit like a computer program that hasn’t fully downloaded yet.

“Physically I need to do more than I’ve done to feel comfortable about playing at a high level in a game,” said the 31-year-old, “Mentally I feel good.”

“I have been doing everything I can to stay up to speed. This is just another step forward.”

The Lions could wait until Sunday morning to announce Lulay’s status but the decision will probably be made before the team boards its charter flight Friday.

“I would foresee it happening before then, for sure,” said Lulay. “I would have to do a certain amount of things during the week at practice.”

“It’s not going to be a surprise by any means. We will know if that is even in the realm of possibility over the next couple of days.”

Receiver Shawn Gore isn’t banking on Lulay.

“A lot of people are saying he could play, could come back,” said the Toronto native. “Until I see him play I’m not going to jump to that conclusion.”

“He’s a good friend. I want his health to be paramount. I don’t want him in there if he’s not healthy, if he’s not ready.”

BC has become accustomed to playing without Lulay. He has missed 20 games and 21 starts in the last two seasons. The Lions are 8-4 when he started and 12-12 when he’s sidelined.

Glenn will start against Montreal for the 18^th time this season. NFL veteran John Beck will be the backup and Lulay the third string.

Glenn has run an offence that has shown flashes and experienced some dramatic fizzles.  He has thrown for 3,918 yards, second best in the league, but his completion ration of 63.0 per cent is third worst.

The Detroit native has thrown for over 300 yards four times in 17 games, but has also thrown two or more interceptions in seven games.

It all can’t be blamed on Glenn. He has worked with an offensive line forced to undergo renovations due to injuries. All-star running back Andrew Harris and receiver Courtney Taylor were both lost to season-ending injuries.

The Lions have also been guilty of taking bad penalties at the wrong time. BC was called for nine penalties for 73 yards in their 33-16 season-ending loss to Calgary.

“That’s always an issue,” said head coach Mike Benevides.

“In order to be a champion we can’t let those things occur. If we let that happen again we won’t win. We have to get that out of our system.”

BC had a chance to finish third in the West but ended the year with an embarrassing 37-3 loss to Edmonton before falling to the Stampeders. Overall the Lions lost five of their last eight games.

There were some signs of life against Calgary. BC generated over 400 yards of offence. Speedy Stefan Logan returned from injury to rush for 117 yards on 17 carries and catch six passes for 70 yards.

Are there enough positives to lay a foundation for a win in Montreal?

“I’m not going to sit here and tell you, coming off a game like that, that we are brimming with confidence,” offensive lineman Dean Valli said in the locker room after the Calgary game.

“That’s not to say there isn’t veteran leader guys that are going to step up and help lead these guys in the direction we have to go. Come next week everybody is the same. We have as good a shot as anybody. We just have to take those positives and go from there.”

Glenn has spent the season in the driver’s seat and he will be at the wheel again Sunday.

The Lions will have to hit the ditch for Lulay to play against Montreal. Both Glenn and Beck would have to be knocked out with injury or BC be trailing badly early in the game.

That would put the Lions’ season in the hands of a quarterback who has thrown for less than 200 yards and no touchdowns this year.

“There is no room for rust,” Lulay said. “If I were to play in a game now I would be relying a lot on instinct and trusting the heck out of the guys around me.”

“There is no do-over.”