What is Wrong With This Picture?

[Blitz]

What is wrong with this picture?

Henry Burris leads the CFL in passing yards. Two Ottawa receivers, Williams and Ernest Jackson are in the Top 10 in receiving and our Leos don’t have a Top 10 receiver.
Saskatchewan’s offence, led by offensive coordinator Jaques Chapdelaine, leads the CFL in rushing yards and average yards rushing per game whereas B.C. is 6th in rushing in the CFL.

Our B.C. Lions have given up the least sacks of any CFL team and yet we are only 7th in passing yards. Toronto has the best completion pass percentage in the CFL while our B.C. Lions rank 8th in passing percentage.

Ottawa ranks 1st in time of possession, followed by Calgary, while our Leos are dead last in time of possession.

Hamilton has committed the least turnovers and our Leos have turned the football over most in the CFL. We’re tied with Montreal for throwing the most interceptions this season. We’re 8th in the CFL in creating fumbles and our defense has only recovered 2 fumbles so far this season.

Defensively, Edmonton has the best defense in the CFL, giving up the least average yards per game while our Leos are dead last in this statistic. Edmonton gives up the least amount of rushing yards per game and our Mark Washington defense gives up the most rushing yards per game. Montreal gives up the least average yard per rush (4.3 yds. while our defense gives up the most average yards per rush (5.8 yds)

Edmonton defends the pass best in the CFL while our Leos rank 7th against the pass – a stat that is at least better than our usual bottom of the barrel placement.

Ottawa leads the CFL in sacks and you guessed it – our Leos are dead last. On defense we also have the worst red zone defense in the CFL.

And to add insult to the whole thing Stefan Logan leads the CFL in punt returns and kickoff returns.

Add all this up and our Leos offence ranks 8th in the CFL and our defense ranks 9th and dead last.

It’s a much more depressing picture, statistically, than one can imagine.

The fact that we have a chance to make the playoffs, with the performances of both our offence and our defense so for this season is mind boggling.

This is a badly performing football team across the board.

How we got to this sorry state is a travesty.

[InUrFace]

What is wrong with this picture?

Henry Burris leads the CFL in passing yards. Two Ottawa receivers, Williams and Ernest Jackson are in the Top 10 in receiving and our Leos don’t have a Top 10 receiver.
Saskatchewan’s offence, led by offensive coordinator Jaques Chapdelaine, leads the CFL in rushing yards and average yards rushing per game whereas B.C. is 6th in rushing in the CFL.

Our B.C. Lions have given up the least sacks of any CFL team and yet we are only 7th in passing yards. Toronto has the best completion pass percentage in the CFL while our B.C. Lions rank 8th in passing percentage.

Ottawa ranks 1st in time of possession, followed by Calgary, while our Leos are dead last in time of possession.

Hamilton has committed the least turnovers and our Leos have turned the football over most in the CFL. We’re tied with Montreal for throwing the most interceptions this season. We’re 8th in the CFL in creating fumbles and our defense has only recovered 2 fumbles so far this season.

Defensively, Edmonton has the best defense in the CFL, giving up the least average yards per game while our Leos are dead last in this statistic. Edmonton gives up the least amount of rushing yards per game and our Mark Washington defense gives up the most rushing yards per game. Montreal gives up the least average yard per rush (4.3 yds. while our defense gives up the most average yards per rush (5.8 yds)

Edmonton defends the pass best in the CFL while our Leos rank 7th against the pass – a stat that is at least better than our usual bottom of the barrel placement.

Ottawa leads the CFL in sacks and you guessed it – our Leos are dead last. On defense we also have the worst red zone defense in the CFL.

And to add insult to the whole thing Stefan Logan leads the CFL in punt returns and kickoff returns.

Add all this up and our Leos offence ranks 8th in the CFL and our defense ranks 9th and dead last.

It’s a much more depressing picture, statistically, than one can imagine.

The fact that we have a chance to make the playoffs, with the performances of both our offence and our defense so for this season is mind boggling.

This is a badly performing football team across the board.

How we got to this sorry state is a travesty.

After hearing Wally on the radio on 1040 last night ... He sounds like he doesnt care. Thats what I get out of him. If he cant see what Jennings is bringing to this team instead of boring Lulay. States Lulay is his number 1. He is delusional ..dont get me wrong Lulay is a warrior but one of the past. Wally great coach back in the day and GM he has now done lost it. We ask ourselves why we dont rank in top 10 ..its easy ... Wally lets go or wont resign play makers ..cheap as F*** and cant get free agents because of his rep. I feel if we used Jennings when Lulay struggled we would of had some numbers up there in top 10. He makes a difference for the team. Now the oline has to get Harris routs to run threw. Also comes down to the schemes and creative play book which our OC is garbage at making happen. So being in the top 10 .. most likely be a negative category lol ... All Wally and on Wally.

[Sir Purrcival]

I think that pretty much sums it up. The coaching and the loss of personnel over the years has come home to roost. We used to be good at finding new young talent. Not so much anymore. We also seemed to be good at judging who to retain and who to let go. Now it seems as though some of the best that we have is let go only to be picked up by other teams.

[B.C.FAN]

According to bclions.com, Tedford blamed the fourth quarter collapse on penalties and poor field position. No, it was overly conservative play-calling while trying to protect the lead.

[WestCoastJoe]

It’s a much more depressing picture, statistically, than one can imagine.

This is a badly performing football team across the board.

True.

The product on the field is poor.

This fan finds it hard to fault the players. They put their bodies on the line. Most are giving good effort.

Ultra conservative systems. Cronyism with staff. Lack of oversight by ownership. Inadequate recruiting. Allocation of players to unsuited positions. Ineffectual drafting. Lack of development of young talent. Inability to sign top free agents. Inability to keep top players. Veterans leaving on hostile terms. Lack of responsibility by management (passing blame, making excuses). Stuck in the mud. Head in the sand. Dying on the vine.

Classic problems in sports management. A case study in the decline of a sports organization.

Have we slid back to pre-Bob Ackles levels?

[MexicoLionFan]

According to bclions.com, Tedford blamed the fourth quarter collapse on penalties and poor field position. No, it was overly conservative play-calling while trying to protect the lead.

Yep...and this is how you build character in a young QB and team...by showing confidence in them in the 4th quarter with the game on the line.

[MexicoLionFan]

It’s a much more depressing picture, statistically, than one can imagine.

This is a badly performing football team across the board.

True.

The product on the field is poor.

This fan finds it hard to fault the players. They put their bodies on the line. Most are giving good effort.

Ultra conservative systems. Cronyism with staff. Lack of oversight by ownership. Inadequate recruiting. Allocation of players to unsuited positions. Ineffectual drafting. Lack of development of young talent. Inability to sign top free agents. Inability to keep top players. Veterans leaving on hostile terms. Lack of responsibility by management (passing blame, making excuses). Stuck in the mud. Head in the sand. Dying on the vine.

Classic problems in sports management. A case study in the decline of a sports organization.

Have we slid back to pre-Bob Ackles levels?

Yes we have, because Wally Buono cuts corners and Bob Ackles never did. Everything was done with thought, accuracy and precision. These Lions don't even stay connected with their HOF players and do nothing to promote a culture of perpetual winning.

[Blitz]

Obviously Wally is well past his due date and Cortez and Washington need to be gone. Will any of those happen? Not likely. Wallly will coast until the end of his contract, Washington will be here as long as Buono is, and while its hard to know about Cortez - he worked for Wallly in Calgary and Tedford in California and he is a spread offence devotee, the chances are that he will be back.

Personell wise, though, we really could make some changes. On defense, we should continue to go with Minter and Westerman at tackle and Roh on the outside. But we could go with a different defensive lineup, using Brooks when he comes back in a rotation at tackle and then go with a Canadian defensive end with Menard starting at defensive end, backed up by either Foord or first round draft Ese Mrabure-Ajufo.

At linebacker, we could start Lokombo with Bighill.

I like our secondary but under Washington they have lost their natural aggressiveness. Cord Parks is not the same aggressive player as he was under Stubler. Josh Johnson was impressive and aggressive at nickel but he is less so now. Ball hawks like Ronnie Yell and T.J. Lee don't take the same chances to go for interceptions. Fraser is fine at safety.

On offence, the most important thing we should do is to go after Brett Jones if he becomes available and open up the wallet if necessary and overpay to do so. He would enable us to play another International at receiver. Of course the odds of that are so low with Wally here. Heck, Nick Moore chose to leave B.C. to play on the frozen tundra in Winnipeg. Ernest Jackson left here for Ottawa, where is is 5th in CFL receiving on a talented receiving corps. Jamal Westerman chose to sign with Winnipeg and face freezing winters rather than sign here in B.C. Jamal Westerman leads the CFL in sacks and would have been a great addition here. We have a great climate, lots of attractions, a great stadium but free agents don't want a part of Wally. They don't want to come here and they are more than willing to leave B.C. too.

In the meantime its really time to give Jeffers-Harris a shot at slot back. He's 6'2" and 220 pounds, has good speed and hes' tough. He is more designed for the vertical passing game we run. We should also give Adekelu a shot at wideout. If we lined up three deep threats in Arsenault, Hawkins, and Jeffers Harris at receiver, with Adekelo, with his athleticism and Iannuzzi with his deep speed rotating on the wide side our receiving crew would create more worries for defenses. Gore should only be a depth player now - he's had his chances.

Lochard is also more athletic than Ronnie Lumbala and could be sued in certain situations as a blocker and to used on a fullback screen play. Lochard should have been used in the place of Harris, last week, after he got injured. With Harris at tailback and Rainey given rotational reps at tailback, it would allow us to do more things and stretch the field more often.

Offensively and defensively we lack such imagination. But as we've seen recently, the addition of some new hungry players could change the mindset. Jennings is excited to play. Jeffers Harris and Adekelu would add a different dimension.

On defense, Westerman looked rejuvenated at tackle and got a sack as well. Menard brings a strong motor whenever he gets his reps. Lokombo deserves a chance to start based on his play. Jeffers Harris, with his skill set is being wasted just like Ernest Jackson was mostly wasted here.

We need to develop Nationals and we need to give players who have earned their chances to be given opportunities. Andrew Harris only got his opportunity due to our starting tailback being injured in 2011. We kill enthusiasm when players are stuck on special teams forever, especially when their dedication and skill set say they deserve a shot at their position.

[TheLionKing]

What is wrong with this picture?

Henry Burris leads the CFL in passing yards. Two Ottawa receivers, Williams and Ernest Jackson are in the Top 10 in receiving and our Leos don’t have a Top 10 receiver.
Saskatchewan’s offence, led by offensive coordinator Jaques Chapdelaine, leads the CFL in rushing yards and average yards rushing per game whereas B.C. is 6th in rushing in the CFL.

Our B.C. Lions have given up the least sacks of any CFL team and yet we are only 7th in passing yards. Toronto has the best completion pass percentage in the CFL while our B.C. Lions rank 8th in passing percentage.

Ottawa ranks 1st in time of possession, followed by Calgary, while our Leos are dead last in time of possession.

Hamilton has committed the least turnovers and our Leos have turned the football over most in the CFL. We’re tied with Montreal for throwing the most interceptions this season. We’re 8th in the CFL in creating fumbles and our defense has only recovered 2 fumbles so far this season.

Defensively, Edmonton has the best defense in the CFL, giving up the least average yards per game while our Leos are dead last in this statistic. Edmonton gives up the least amount of rushing yards per game and our Mark Washington defense gives up the most rushing yards per game. Montreal gives up the least average yard per rush (4.3 yds. while our defense gives up the most average yards per rush (5.8 yds)

Edmonton defends the pass best in the CFL while our Leos rank 7th against the pass – a stat that is at least better than our usual bottom of the barrel placement.

Ottawa leads the CFL in sacks and you guessed it – our Leos are dead last. On defense we also have the worst red zone defense in the CFL.

And to add insult to the whole thing Stefan Logan leads the CFL in punt returns and kickoff returns.

Add all this up and our Leos offence ranks 8th in the CFL and our defense ranks 9th and dead last.

It’s a much more depressing picture, statistically, than one can imagine.

The fact that we have a chance to make the playoffs, with the performances of both our offence and our defense so for this season is mind boggling.

This is a badly performing football team across the board.

How we got to this sorry state is a travesty.

Nothing wrong with this picture. We are on the right track. Stats are misleading. Defence and offence doing well. If you don't believe that, let me show you on films

Cheers,

Wally

[Blitz]

Nothing wrong with this picture. We are on the right track. Stats are misleading. Defence and offence doing well. If you don't believe that, let me show you on films

Cheers,

Wally

TheLionKing
Hall of Famer

Wally could run the tape and believe that we are performing well in all categories and just one player, on each play, missed his assignment or we would be leading the CFL....and of course our coaching is great, especially the great job Mark Washington is doing but not being given credit for as he desserves. After all, Wally mentored him.

He could convince himself of that but he is not convincing us.

[cromartie]

Have we slid back to pre-Bob Ackles levels?

Um, no. Back in those days, Adam Rita would parade 20 different receivers through here while defensive players got into fistfights in the locker room and the franchise was barely afloat financially.

So no matter how bad it is, it has been worse.

That isn't to say it's good, because it isn't. Our player personnel, coaching, marketing and business operations apparatuses are all suffering from a substantial amount of decay.

This is a pivotal offseason. Either Tedford gets the wherewithal to bring in his own guys, all of them or he should walk, frankly.

But I'm going to ask a question, again, that I asked in a game thread a couple of weeks ago. Where is the next generation of coaching and front office talent in the CFL coming from? Who that is not recycled is there to walk into these positions and rejuvenate a moribund franchise?

[Honour Dewalt]

Have we slid back to pre-Bob Ackles levels?

But I'm going to ask a question, again, that I asked in a game thread a couple of weeks ago. Where is the next generation of coaching and front office talent in the CFL coming from? Who that is not recycled is there to walk into these positions and rejuvenate a moribund franchise?

This is exactly why I do not like the talk of firing Tedford. He is clearly a football mind, but he needs to have more time learning and getting the right feel for the Canadian game. If we don't let him have this time to learn and adjust, we aren't developing any new coaching minds. They just don't exist like they do in the US, where so many coaches go through the college levels. There are no options other than promoting ex-players, which likely aren't ready yet.

[JohnHenry]

The Lions biggest problem is the poor QB'ing this season. They just haven't played consistently well enough to win many games. You could have the greatest coach, GM, president or owner in the world but if the starting QB is deficient or injured, the team will suffer.

[TheLionKing]

The Lions biggest problem is the poor QB'ing this season. They just haven't played consistently well enough to win many games. You could have the greatest coach, GM, president or owner in the world but if the starting QB is deficient or injured, the team will suffer.

A bland predictable offence isn't helping.

[DanoT]

The Lions biggest problem is the poor QB'ing this season. They just haven't played consistently well enough to win many games. You could have the greatest coach, GM, president or owner in the world but if the starting QB is deficient or injured, the team will suffer.

A bland predictable offence isn't helping.

^^Exactly. Keeping the QB in the pocket when he is a better roll out QB, mostly running between the tackles where the opposition is playing most of their guys when the O should be attaching the perimeter, conservative "play not to lose" when they should attacking and aggressive. In other words poor game planning, poor play calling is on the coaches not the players.