Back in action

Injury to Jones opens door for Crandell to make first start since losing top spot

Marcus Crandell says he was born to play quarterback so you have to think he was dying a little the last three weeks, watching from the sidelines.

The Calgary Stampeders pivot will get new life tomorrow as all signs point toward his return to the starting role when the B.C. Lions visit McMahon Stadium.

Crandell took the majority of practice reps with the offence yesterday while Tommy Jones, the starter for the last three weeks, returns to the sidelines, his left knee in a brace.

"Every start is very exciting for me, so I'm always excited about getting out there and playing football because I love it so much," Crandell said yesterday of his return after being sidelined and taking much of the heat for the team's dismal 1-4 start.

"It's something I was born to do and I try to do it to the best of my ability, so I'm very excited about it."

Stamps GM-head coach Matt Dunigan was a little elusive yesterday about naming a starter.

"More than likely," he nodded when asked if Crandell will start against the first-place Lions.

"Marcus is certainly capable and had a great week of practice. He's taken a lot of reps, (third-stringer Mike) Souza's taken a lot of reps."

Crandell's return, ostensibly because of Jones' injury, could also spur on another quarterbacking controversy. Although Jones suffered a first-degree sprain of the MCL in his left knee, his horrible 13-of-32 performance against the 'Riders, including three interceptions, could also have played a role in the decision.

Jones said as far as he's concerned, the QB switch is based solely on his knee injury and not performance, while Dunigan reiterated Wednesday Jones was now the team's No. 1 pivot.

Crandell yesterday downplayed the opportunity to win back his job, focusing instead on earning two points to rekindle the club's playoff chances.

"It's more than another start because we need a win," said Crandell, who had been the Stampeders No. 1 quarterback since the start of the 2001 season. "We're 2-6 and we need wins to stay in the hunt. The West is tight right now and we need to win some games to stay in it."

Crandell said watching from the bench as the team won just one of its last three outings was a tough part of the job he hadn't experience since coming to Calgary as a free agent four seasons ago. That year he led the Stamps to an unlikely Grey Cup title after an 8-10 campaign before signing a contract extension that runs out after this season.

He has been dangled in trade talks, most notably with Toronto last week after the injury to Argos starter Damon Allen, but Jones' injury suddenly raises Crandell's value in Calgary.

"Mentally, it's tough but we have to do our job as professionals," Crandell, 30, said about his time holding the clipboard. "If we're asked to be a backup, we have to be a backup. It's been hard but I've sat back and watched and tried to learn as much as I can over the last two weeks from this offence we've installed.

"(We have to) try to focus and execute on the offensive side of the ball, help our defence out as much as we can and try to put some points up.

"We need to get better as far as making plays and executing but we've just got to be patient with it and try to show up on Saturday."

It will be Crandell's first start this season without former offensive co-ordinator John Jenkins, whose pass-oriented offence handcuffed the quarterback and led to his dismissal after the last-minute loss to Ottawa three weeks ago.

The introduction of a running game, including 152 yards rushing in a recent win over Winnipeg, leaves Crandell optimistic.

"Hopefully we can repeat the first time we brought this offence out and they'll put up 150 yards rushing," Crandell said."That would help out a lot."