Alouettes vs. Lions Game Day Thread

[TheLionKing]

After a successful 2 game Eastern swing, Lions return home to face yet another Eastern opponent - the Montreal Alouettes a team in turmoil. Couple of significant changes for the Lions. Antonio Johnson returns to right tackle replacing Levi Adcock who was released and Hunter Steward replaces Tim O'Neil at left guard. BC Place has not being kind to the Alouettes in recent years. Hope it continues. Important game for the Lions as they need the win to keep their distance between them and the red hot Blue Bombers.

[B.C.FAN]

All eyes should be on Montreal QB Rakeem Cato. Last year he did something that Anthony Calvillo did only once in his career. Cato won a game at B.C. Place as Montreal's starting QB. Cato completed 16 of 19 passes (84.2%) for a modest 154 yards, 1 TD and 1 INT in leading the Als to a 23-13 victory, their first at B.C. Place since Calvillo won a game (also by a 10-point margin) on Aug. 31, 2000.

Cato and B.C. QB Jonathon Jennings are both second-year players with similar skill sets. Cato is making just his second start of the year and 12th of his career. Jennings is making his 11th straight start this year and 17th of his career. They both have strong, accurate arms and can release the ball quickly. Jennings is more likely to have a big game passing. Cato has thrown for 300 yards only twice in his 11 previous starts. Cato is more likely to run with the ball when he can't find a receiver open.

Turnovers, as usual, will be crucial, especially with two young quarterbacks facing strong defences. B.C. is undefeated this year when winning the turnover battle. Montreal is winless when losing the turnover battle. Whichever quarterback can get in rhythm early and avoid costly mistakes will likely come out on top.

[Blitz]

Mike Edem comments on Kato:

Edem knows a thing or two regarding Cato’s attributes after spending time in Montreal last season. “He’s a real athletic quarterback, he’s got some quickness to him,” Edem said. “At the same time he has a great arm. He can put the ball where he wants, he’s pretty accurate and you have to make sure he doesn’t scramble

He's good at adapting," Calvillo aid. "He doesn't want to just settle on what you did the week before. He's very demanding in terms of making sure that you're ready for the next week.

Montreal will bring the blitz. Hopefully Khari Jones will have some adaptions to our offence in our game plan. Likely not but hoping.

Here is what Anthony Cavillo said of Marc Trestmann, in terms of why Montreal's offence was so good when Trestmann was coaching in the CFL.

"He's always changing things up. I had to study so much week-in and week-out because he wants to challenge you and he wants to make sure the defense doesn't get comfortable with what we're doing. There are always a bunch of new plays going in week-in and week-out simply because he doesn't want to be this vanilla offense."

[Blitz]

Should Kato struggle, Vernon Adams is the backup quarterback for tonight's game.

“More than likely, we’d see Vernon (as the No. 2 option),” Popp said. “They all could be in there. But I want to see what these younger guys can do. Cato and Adams are Jonathon Jennings type guys. They can get back in the pocket. They can throw. They’re going to scramble. They’re going to keep you on your toes. Cato is an extremely dangerous runner. The difference? Cato has started 11 games. He’s won for us.

“I never got to sack him when I was in college,” said Lions nose tackle Mic’hael Brooks, who played at East Carolina when Cato was at Marshall. “I played him four times. He was one of those guys who just got the ball out quick. I want to finally get one against him.”

Since losing the stabilizing influence of perennial all-star Josh Bourke at left tackle (he left for the Argos in free agency), the Alouettes have struggled to replace him. Rookie first round draft choice (9th) Jacob Ruby starts at left tackle for the Als.

While Kato beat our Leos, in his start against us last year, Jennings led us to victory in Montreal in August. Jennings threw for 331 yards and a touchdown. He has an 84.4 per cent in that game.

Montreal linebacker Bear Woods on Jennings:

“What I mean is he makes big plays. He executes on the riskier plays. All the positives of being a young quarterback he has. It’s just about us getting to him. If we can rattle him early, maybe that will help us.”

“He (Jennings) shows a lot of poise in the pocket,” said Alouettes defensive coordinator Noel Thorpe

Buono on protecting Jennings and our offensive line changes for this game:

While B.C.’s offensive line has been adequate, according to coach Wally Buono, he frets that Jennings has been absorbing excessive and needless punishment. The coach changed things up this week by releasing veteran right tackle Levy Adcock, starting rookie Antonio Johnson in his place, and moving Hunter Steward back to left guard at the expense of another veteran, Tim O’Neill.

*all quotes from Vancouver Sun

[Blitz]

As we are already aware on Lionbackers, our Leos will start Antonio Johnson at tailback for this game and Parker will start at wideside corner, with Chandler Fenner dressing and likely seeing action.

However, our Leos have changed personell for this game on the defensive line. For the past two weeks, we've dressed two International defensive ends (Bazzie, Roh) and two International defensive tackles (Brooks, Bryant Turner Jr).

For this game, at least right now, it looks as if Hudson will draw into the lineup at defensive end, in favor of Bryant Turner Jr. as an additional International defensive tackle. Menard and Forde are listed as the two backup defensive tackles.

With the more athletic Kato at quarterback and the possibility of Adams seeing action, we have adapted our defensive line lineup. But it will still be led by Alex Bazzie. Even though Bazzie had a more limited role in 2015, Bazzie has 27 sacks in his last 32 games. Only the Als’ John Bowman and Hamilton’s John Chick have produced more sacks during that time.

On offence, we'll have to be aware of Jovan Johnson on the halfback blitz. Johnson has 5 sacks so far this season.

Montreal, like Calgary, will focus on shutting down our key weapons.

Jovan Johnson believes the key to stopping the Leos lies in shutting down three major players. “Their offence is good across the board, but we know who their big-play guys are: Chris Rainey, Bryan Burnham and Emmanuel Arceneaux,” said the Montreal DB. “If we can limit those guys, keep them contained, we’ll be okay.” (cfl.ca)

We'll need to do the same. We'll need to contain Kato while having a keen focus on Duron Carter and Nick Lewis. Montreal will likely run the football more often this game.

“We need this bad,” comments Montreal tailback Tyrell Sutton: “We have to win.”

[Blitz]

Jennings is 7-3 this season and has reached 10-6 after his first starts as a BC Lion.

Here is how that ranks across club history:

Casey Printers 13-3
Buck Pierce 11-5
Jarious Jackson 12-4
Jonathon Jennings 10-6
Jerry Tagge 11-5
Danny McManus 10-6
Dave Dickenson 11-5

Nik Lewis on 2nd down:

The CFL began recording 2nd down conversion catches in 2009 and since then no player has matched Nik Lewis’ production. In 2016 he leads the CFL with 25 receptions for first downs on 2nd down plays – 37% of his 67 receptions have produced key first downs. Here is his record year-by-year making those clutch catches:

From 2008-2016 the following have been the CFL's best clutch receivers on second down:

Nik Lewis 153
Weston Dressler 142
Andy Fantuz 141
Adarius Bowman 133
Marquay McDaniel 126

[Alputt]

Alright, glad to be heading back to BC Place tonight! As mentioned Rakeem Cato has the start for Montreal, we'll see how he does...

Looking for a big game from Jennings (obviously) but also to see if the O-line (with Hunter Steward, Antonio Johnson) can better protect against the blitz and help Jeremiah Johnson on the ground.

I believe something like 95% of players on "Pick em" picked the Lions this week.

Jennings, Johnson, Arceneaux, Burnham.

Go Lions!

[Sir Purrcival]

I believe something like 95% of players on "Pick em" picked the Lions this week.

And the other 5% were Als staff.

Now having been a bit disrespectful, lets hope that Cato doesn't have a career game and that the Jennings does.

[TheLionKing]

Andre Proulx ref tonight against the Als

[TheLionKing]

2 and out. Good start

[TheLionKing]

Touchdown Arceneaux

[PigSkin_53]

There is no more dangerous kick / punt returner in the CFL now than Chris Rainey . He has an instinctive talent at finding and exploiting vulnerable seams

[swervynmerv]

The Lions are a good team with an exciting young QB. Where is everyone?

[TheLionKing]

The Lions are a good team with an exciting young QB. Where is everyone?

Lots of empty seats

[PigSkin_53]

Right here Merv...If Cato doesn't improve his delivery time, like that last last reception, it will be with be our next interception