Lions vs. Hamilton, Oct. 23, 2015 - Game Day Thread

[B.C.FAN]

The 5-10 Lions host the 10-5 Tiger-Cats, with both teams fighting for playoff positions. The Tiger-Cats handed the Lions their worst loss of the season, 52-22, on Aug. 15 in Steeltown, capitalizing on turnovers and big pays to build a huge early lead and cruise to victory.

The Tiger-Cats have won four straight road games this year but they have not won in B.C. since 2011 at Empire Field. Eastern teams typically do not play well in night games on the West Coast.

The Lions have made two changes to the depth chart. Injured OT Hunter Steward, who hasn't played in over a year, returns to the roster as backup RG, with T-Dre Player bumped to the one-game injured list. On defence, Alex Bazzie is activated as a backup defensive end, giving the Lions 7 DL. Either he or Zach Minter will likely be a game-time scratch. Unused backup DB Cord Parks moves to the one-game injured list to make room.

League statisticians have updated Jonathon Jennings' stats for his first four starts. He ranks fourth all-time, behind Tobin Rote, Jeff Garcia and David Archer, with 1,246 yards passing yards in those four starts, just ahead of fifth-place Dave Dickenson:

Tobin Rote, Toronto 1961 1,554 yds 14 TD
Jeff Garcia, Calgary 1995 1,485 yds 13 TD
David Archer, Sacramento 1992 1,400 yds 8 TD
Jonathan Jennings, BC 2015 1,246 yds 10 TD
Dave Dickenson, Calgary 1997-99 1,237 yds 10 TD

The biggest stat affecting the Lions this year, as we've noted before, is the number of fourth-quarter leads they've blown. The Lions are just 3-6 when leading after three quarters in 2015. According to the Game Notes posted at bclions.com, that compares to a record of 39-2 across the 2011-2014 seasons.

Special teams should be a special concern for the Lions in this game. According to the Game Notes, the Ti-Cats have now blocked six kicks in 2015, the most in the CFL by any team since 2001. The Hamilton club record is seven in 2000. The CFL record of eight set in 1986 by Edmonton. Hamilton PR Brandon Banks has four punt return TDs this year, including a 96-yarder against the Lions in their earlier meeting.

[WestCoastJoe]

“They’re a very good football team in all three phases of the game,” said rookie head coach Jeff Tedford. “They’re very aggressive on defence, they lead the league in turnovers – by a lot – they’re plus-20 in turnover ratio and the next best team is plus-six.

“They outscore their opponents in the first half by a large amount and that’s really a lot to do with the turnovers they get,” Tedford continued. “They make big plays but they make plays in all phases of the game.”

Cfl.ca

[B.C.FAN]

Mike Beamish, who was 4-0 in his CFL picks last week and is 44-25 on the season, is picking the Lions in this one.

Hamilton at B.C., 7 p.m. PT, TSN

At the time slotback Courtney Taylor suffered a season-ending foot injury last year, the B.C. Lions were 7-4. Since that Sept. 13, 2014, game, the team has lost 16 of 23 starts. Taylor, now healthy, can't get in the lineup - another peculiarity of the idiosyncratic Lions. As with most losing teams, B.C. does just enough to get close before making that one fatal mistake (a goal-line fumble by backup QB Greg McGhee last game) that keeps them from gaining traction. Still, they're inching closer to a complete effort.

Pick: Lions.

CFL Week 18: Picks and power rankings

[WestCoastJoe]

Preview ...

The Ticats now have six blocked kicks in 2015, the most by any CFL team since 2001. The Hamilton club record is seven set in 2000, while the CFL record of eight was set by Edmonton in 1986.

This will have peoples' attention.

[TheLionKing]

Wonder if Buono will close the roof tonight ?

[peeby]

Tobin Rote? Tobin Rote? Boy, that's a magical football name for me. I was a Blue Bomber fan growing up, but jeez, Tobin Rote was one of my favourite players of all time. What a great QB. Just looked him up on the internet. I knew he went from the CFL to the AFL and did well, but I didn't know about his NFL career prior to the Argonauts. Anyone interested in what the CFL was like in the day where teams competed with the NFL for players should have a look. Technically, not one of those guys where the CFL outbid the NFL (probably like Bud Grant, Ken Ploen, Bernie Faloney, Joe Kapp, etc), but still, there were some mighty good Americans playing up here in the 50s and 60s.

Tobin Rote, Dick Shatto, Cookie Gilchrist. Great Argos.

[aklawitter]

Wonder if Buono will close the roof tonight ?

Roof will be closed due to excessive blue sky

[Alputt]

Well I think this is a pretty make or break game for the Lions tonight as far as playoff hopes are concerned, although to be honest I don't see much chance against Edmonton and Calgary this year on the road anyway, but for prides sake I hope they get it done!

Off to BC Place.

Go Lions!

[B.C.FAN]

Wonder if Buono will close the roof tonight ?

Roof will be closed due to excessive blue sky

The roof is indeed closed and it's cool inside. With Montreal leading Toronto 28-2 in the fourth quarter, this game takes on more importance for the Lions and less importance for the Ticats. The Lions came out flat when they visited Hamilton in August. The first quarter will be important to set a tone for this game.

[B.C.FAN]

It looks like Craig Roh is being scratched on defence. Khreem Smith, Alex Bazzie, Jabar Westerman, Mic'hael Brooks, David Menard and Zach Minter are taking warmups on the DL.

[TheLionKing]

Looks like another small crowd tonight

[TheLionKing]

Do or die tonight. Montreal over Toronto 34-2

[KnowItAll]

Looks like another small crowd tonight

one can only hope that the blue jays lose tonight.

[TheLionKing]

Lions line up offside on the kickoff

[TheLionKing]

Brutal start