I was hoping for an 8-10 season and a win for the fans at home. We are at a point where this is a fragile market and games like this one don't help.maxlion wrote:If the Lions win next week, perhaps the coaches will be vindicated for this poor display. But if they lose, and especially if they fail to put in a strong performance, there will be a lot of hard feelings. I would have liked to see a much better effort for the final home game of the year.
Suitor couldn't stop talking about how Lulay proved he was a viable option in the playoffs. I couldn't disagree more. He's got great leadership qualities and has given a lot to the franchise, but he's been done as a qb for a couple of years now.
A few post- game thoughts.
I was happy to see Lulay complete three long passes in this game. He showed arm strength that I have not seen since 2012. Lulay also found Harris out of the backfield in the first quarter, something Lulay has always been very good at. Lulay went 14/20 and showed that he could back up Jennings next week in the event of injury. But our offence did not score a touchdown in three quarters of play with Lulay at quarterback and only put 7 points on the board. Our offence does not have the same flow with Lulay at quarterback. It looks more 'discombobulated'. (an old Wally term). Lulay still has that tendency to bail to his right when he feels pressure and then throws the football away - a play we have seen too many times over the past number of seasons. Lulay still struggles at times with his second and third reads.
Jennings has the best quarterback efficiency in the CFL over his past 6 games - better than Burris or Bo Levi Mitchell. He changes our offence and makes it much more dangerous. But it was good to see Lulay wanting to play well and to see him smiling on the sidelines. Its not been an easy past three seasons for Lulay.
~I wish we could have seen a little more of McGhee passing the football. He was close to Jennings in training camp, in terms of proficiency. He is very mobile and athletic. He threw the football too hard at times, when he did get the chance to throw it. But in his flashes, he showed some talent and poise. Our future at quarterback looks bright.
~I believed Jeffers Harris should be starting at slotback for us early this season. He is a big receiver with speed and good hands. He played like I expected him to and hopefully our Leos coaching staff recognizes his talent for next season. Jeffers-Harris is a much better threat than Burnham and is a better blocker too.
~Boldewijn showed why Tedford thinks highly of his potential. He glides past defenders. He's a rangy, big bodied receiver with long arms and good speed.
~We played Murray Lawrence at tailback from the first quarter up to the last offensive series. He will never be a replacement for Harris in the future. His future role, at best, is as a change up rotational tailback who could be used in space. I really wish we would have played Lochard - he is a much better option as a National backup.
-The third down gamble, out of the spread, with a fake reverse, delayed handoff was demonstrative of Cortez's weaknesses as an offensive play caller.
~On defense, it was obvious that our defense is very negatively affected when Brooks is out of the lineup. It was hopeful for the future to see Murabre Ajufo get a sack. Bazzie looked impressive and has played very well of late.
~Cord Parks was awful in this game and he's mostly been awful since his rookie season at corner under Stubler. Cord Parks should not be brought back next season. Clarke also made a bonehead play that cost us a touchdown. When a quarterback scrambles, receivers are taught to either come back to the football or take their route deep. Clarke was tight to his receiver 30 yards down field. He should have been playing off with Tate running hard right. The receiver turned upfield and Clarke was bum sniffing. Not a smart play by a pro defensive back.
~McMann, who dodged the spotlight again this week, looked completely confused on the sidelines again and our special teams looked confused at times too. We had no end on a punt. We looked unsure of assignments.
~Fera showed that his punting has improved. He averaged 49.5 yards a punt, which equalled Leones average. But he missed two field goals. Tedford does not have an easy decision next week.
WRAP
Our Leos will have Jennings back next week. Harris will play the entire game. Stubler will have a great game plan for Jennings. Cortez/Tedford will need to have a good one as well or it will be a very challenging game offensively in the Semi-Final. Washington has also better not go conservative and vanilla against Calgary next week because Calgary's offence is designed to take the shorter underneath routes as well as run and chew up yardage.
I really believe we have a good chance for an upset next Sunday. But to do that, we'll need excellent game planning and play calling on both sides of the football, as well as sound special teams, and that is not something we've seen this season in all three phases, in one football game.
Still, I believe we have enough talent to beat Calgary.
We saw how the team ignited when Jennings took the controls in their last game in Calgary...on offence, defence and special teams. The whole team perked up like they flicked on the light switch. They became a team. The Lions were unlucky not to be riding an extended winning streak leading up to, ummm, the snooze-trap on Saturday. So the Stamps will just have to show up and win...but first say hello to our little friend... 
