Excuses, et cetera

[WestCoastJoe]

Excuses, explanations, justifications, reasons ...

Is this what we expected this year?

Does our record accurately reflect the state of our team?

Were we just unlucky?

Is our talent insufficient?

Too many rookies?

Just give us time, and we will dominate later this year?

If only Casey hadn't been hurt?

If only Travis hadn't made that pass into the flats?

If only Arceneaux had caught that ball?

If only Robertson had not had the ball stipped?
............

How does our talent stack up?

How does our coaching stack up?

How do our schemes stack up?

[Rammer]

Our QB position has been difficult, first off with Printers pulling up lame in the Rider game, then playing under trying circumstances through the Aloette game. Finally Lulay starting his first start and predictably the new QB had good and bad moments, unfortunately the bad outweighed the good as it was the second half.

With the QB position being the key to any success, is it any doubt why the Lions are 1 - 3. Our D is head and shoulders above the 09 version, the O and ST has to begin to find the same success in order for the Lions to make a playoff run for 2010.

[ed_lunsford]

Excuses, explanations, justifications, reasons ...

Is this what we expected this year?

Does our record accurately reflect the state of our team?

Were we just unlucky?

Is our talent insufficient?

Too many rookies?

Just give us time, and we will dominate later this year?

If only Casey hadn't been hurt?

If only Travis hadn't made that pass into the flats?

If only Arceneaux had caught that ball?

If only Robertson had not had the ball stipped?
............

How does our talent stack up?

How does our coaching stack up?

How do our schemes stack up?

"Your record says what you are"

-Bill Parcells.

We are 1-3, the backup Qb just flamed out, it is what it is.

[WestCoastJoe]

Some attempted answers, from this fan ...

I had higher hopes this year. Wally had talked about change.

Considering the way the team has played, 1 win and 3 losses is not a shocker.

Can't blame bad luck.

I think our talent is good. Still not sold on Jordan, since exhibition game 1. Still not sold on Pittman. Think Henderson, Elimimian, Franks, Riddick are great additions. Might be time to ease out guys like Marsh and Phillips by next year. Brent Johnson seems done. Wilson is borderline talented enough, perhaps less. Paris is not the Paris we have come to know.

I wouldn't use the rookie excuse. The rookies look pretty good.

Need more time? 4 games not enough to make an assessment? The last 2 years not enough to make an assessment?

Lulay probably did better than Casey could have done, even the Casey from game 1, before the injuries started to accumulate. IMO ... Casey is not the guy from 2004 or 2009. Dunno why ...

The Travis throw to the flats was a killer. But we had screwed up any number of times before that. IMO mistakes are like the flu ... when they start, they are contagious. If we had won, who would have done the most to secure victory? I would say Travis.

Arceneaux, Robertson ... killer mistakes ... but good teams find ways, etc.

I thought our O scheming was pretty good. Our second half performance was not as good as our first. Why? What attitude did we have in the locker room? Dunno. Were we protecting a lead? Or were we going for it, as if the game was tied? Probably protecting.

Coaching? God Bless him, but I wish Wally had retired after the Grey Cup win. It seems to me that new coaches entered the league, and the level of coaching went through the roof ... IMO I think Trestman, Hufnagel, Austin and Miller have raised the bar above what Wally can deliver.

Can Wally deliver a team that challenges for the Grey Cup this year? IMO the evidence so far is that he cannot. Is 4 games too few to make such a judgment? I don't think so. Just IMO ...

[JohnHenry]

I think the Lions have improved over last season, but so has everyone else. We would of beaten last years Argo's or Lions tonight, but the bar has moved higher. We were perhaps 2 or 3 plays away from victory, but the same could be said for some of the Esks and Ticat losses. It is a fine line between winning and losing. With so many rookies and new players in the Lions lineup, they have to experience defeat before they can taste victory...and learn "not to do that again". Speaking of excuses, I wonder if the humidity and heat took a toll on the west coasters in the second half? The Argos are used to it, that's why they opened the stadium lid.

[TheLionKing]

I like the addition of Eliminian, Henderson, Williams, Franks. Not totally sold on Duckett and Pittman just yet. The return of Angus Reid and having Valli at guard seem to have stabilized the offensive line. Buono wanted a more aggressive offensive line. He got it but IMO should take advantage of their aggressiveness by pounding on the defensive line by running the football instead of having them passive blocking on passing plays. The play calling in the first half was the best this year. They had the Argo defence guessing by running the football, screens, rolling out, end around, swing passes and the utilization of Jamall Lee. They failed to make the necessary adjustments at half time and went back to their bland predictable offence again. Had they establish the running game they could have ran out the clock instead of having to pass. Three things can happen on a passing play and two of them are bad. This was never more evident than tonight. Robert Jordan has had more than enough opportunities to prove he can return kicks. This has to improve. Having your offence start at their 30 yard line is a killer.

[KnowItAll]

... Robert Jordan has had more than enough opportunities to prove he can return kicks. This has to improve. Having your offence start at their 30 yard line is a killer.

why is it always the returners fault? Maybe the blocking sucks.

[DanoT]

O-line played better than I expected and play calling was better as well. Lulay showed pretty well too--better than Lemon IMO.

Defense is going to be very strong by the end of the season as the rookies and sophomores gain experience.

I'm not too impressed with Jordon on kick returns I would rather see Lee and Harris do KR.

IMO, while this Lions team will not compete for first in the West, they have a shot a making the playoffs.

My guess is that Paris is not yet healthy and I would like to see both him and Printers rest for the next game so they can have a better chance of being 100% later in the season instead of nagging injuries that never really heal all season.

[TheLionKing]

... Robert Jordan has had more than enough opportunities to prove he can return kicks. This has to improve. Having your offence start at their 30 yard line is a killer.

why is it always the returners fault? Maybe the blocking sucks.

Messam returned a kick up to the 40 yard line. Same blockers and Messam weighs over 200 lbs.

[Solar Max]

... Robert Jordan has had more than enough opportunities to prove he can return kicks. This has to improve. Having your offence start at their 30 yard line is a killer.

why is it always the returners fault? Maybe the blocking sucks.

Special Teams have been especially disappointing over the past 4 games.

Perhaps Coach McMann is in over his head here, as is Jordan.

[Lions4ever]

Flubbing 3rd and short again. Same old same old.

[Don Miller]

Ok, we have injuries. Jamal Johnston fumbles once again... Paris Jackson is so far all talk..he is obviously still not a hundred percent. Tell me Ian Smart is not better than what we have running back kicks?? Once again the defence plays good enough to win the game. Lulay played ok made a couple of bad reads. Arceneaux had to catch that ball.. Simon missed one last week. This team will be lucky to get third in the west the way they are playing. Empire Field memories are not so good. WHy can't we make a friggin yard on third down??? We play teams that stack the box on the run. Why can,t we pass against them? Frustrating as heck..we are up 17-3 and we lose the game? Edmonton will likely be 0 and 4 so we might be able to beat them again...

[TheLionKing]

The Lions make it easy for the opposition to stop 3rd and short by keeping the players inside a box instead of spreading them out. Utilize the entire width of the field instead of constricting it a few yards They haven't learn a thing from last year's fiasco. Stupid is when you keep running the same play, scheme and expecting different results.

[Honour Dewalt]

Yes, we have sucked lately, but we are going to be fine. While we did lose the last two games, they are games we would have easily won if we have done the little things right. Robertsons two fumbles might have alone cost us both games, but we also had some dropped passes that were sure TDs. If these things did not take place, we wouldn't be doubting so much. In time, these things will be corrected, and the team will be great.

[Sir Purrcival]

This was inevitable IMO

This team is like a time warp back to 2003 where we were just starting to put together the elements of a good squad. But tonight it wasn't the rookies that screwed up was it. Arcenaux has to make that catch and I have already seen Robertson fumble a couple of times by not securing the ball with 2 arms. Both were costly tonight and shouldn't have happened. The Argo's for their part did their best to help us by committing almost as many mistakes as us. Why do we have Wilson anyway? He seems marginal at best and since we have at least 2 other Canadians who could play that position, I would much rather see them go with youth than him. He isn't clutch, he isn't much of a burner and he seldom finds open space.

Not sold on our kick returner either. Has caught the ball well but does not look at all dangerous on the returns. Adequate at best so far. Goes down easy too. And last but not least, play calling. Oh yes, lets throw an out to the flat and right in the direction of one of the most experienced DB's out there while clinging to a 3 point lead, playing a new QB and so on. That was totally stupid call at that stage of the game. If the timing isn't just right with the throw, it is a quick 6 the other way and that is exactly what we saw. Absolute garbage call by a veteran OC who is the biggest liability on this team bar none. It was a frustrating thing to watch and yet again, another quite winnable game is flushed down the toilet buy questionable coaching and performances by the veterans on this team.