Our Leos beat the Eskimos 32-25, as we held off a strong second half charge by the Eskimos to hang on to the victory in a game in which we led all the way. Our Leos had lost two games in a row to the Bombers and had lost three of their last four games. At the same time we put an end to the Eskimos three game winnings streak
Manny Arceneaux's two touchdown led our Leos offence 32-25 in a crucial West Division matchup. Our defence played a very good first half but struggled at times in the second half of the game. Our Leo players played hard all game and were worthy of the victory.
Here are some post game thoughts:
THE GOOD
1. Jennings Impresses
Jonathan Jennings was determined not to throw interceptions or be the scapegoat this game. Restricted by our passing offensive scheme in the first half, Jennings made some incredibly accurate and difficult throws. He hit Arseneaux off this back foot for a huge touchdown run.
He made a throw to Bryan Burnham that had to be thrown at just the right place before the double cover safety came over. His throw to Arseneaux against the blitz, with a lineman in his face was pure talent and poise under pressure. Jennings completed 75% of fhis passes for 273 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions.
My only fault in this game, was that Jennings was willing to take a huge sack rather than risk an interception. He was unusually conservative at times that way. But who can blame him as heaps of abuse was placed on him this week. Beamish even tried to bring up a little quarterback controversy but Buono shut it down quickly and wisely. He's learned from the past.
As I said, before this game, if we got Jennings outside, there would be lots of room for him to run. There was - as he scampered for a 20 yard touchdown run. Jones really should have called more bootleg passes against this defence.
Jennings has an amazing arm. The consistency of the accuracy of his throws is impressive. The placement of his passes is often astounding.
2. The Manny Show
Manny took some very difficult throws from Jennings and made sure he rewarded his quarterback for his confidence. Manny had 8 catches for 132 yds. His 70 yard catch and run was special to watch. Manny played this game with incredible heart to match his impressive talent.
3. Believe in Burnham
Bryan Burnham made two catches in this game that alone were worth the price of admission. In the first half, he went vertical to make a great catch and held the football after a wicked hit. In the second half, his one handed catch, while being tackled, was spectacular.
4 Jeremiah A Joy/Rainey Adds to Running Game
Jeremiah Johnson had 108 yds on 17 carries (6.4 yd. average). With our passing game having some struggles in the first half, Johnson ran fast and hard. He exploded throgh the line when there were openings and when there weren't on a couple of occasions, he made his own. Rainey averaged 9. 3 yds. per carry on his 3 rushes.
5. Wally Gambles
Buono, notorious for often refusing to gamble on third and one, gambled on third and one in our own end of the field and also gambled on third and two, on the Edmonton 37 yard line, rather than kicking a field goal. Lulay was successful on the first gamble and we went on to kick a field goal. Johnson ran the football on our second and two play and and two and it paid off, as our offence went on to scorea touchdown. The two gambles would lead to 10 points on the scoreboard.
6. Khari Adjusts (Slowly)
Khari Jones game plan, coming into this game, was as if he had no idea that Edmonton would play Man/Cover 2. Ouir first half passing attack had a lot of vertical deep intermediate and deep patterns and we struggled against it at times. But, with our running game going Jones used it, which was wise an necessary.
Jones ran a lot more crossing patterns as the game progressed and that opened things up for our offence. We also used a bunch formation on our convert. I knew if we used the bunch agaisnt man defence it would create confusion and it did. Burnham was wide open.
But Khari is starting to do some things recently that show that he is not just sticking to same old. For example, he used Arseneaux and Burnham togetehr on the boundary side on a couple of pass plays this game. He lined up Sinkfield in the tight slot for a short crossing route. Our receivers were not just stuck in their usual spots. He adjusted in the second half - all positive things.
7. Aragki Hustles and It Pays Off
On a missed field goal, Jason Aragki looked out of the play but his hustle and determination would lead to a fumble that Vaillencour recovered. Instead of Edmonton having good field postiion, the hustle play would lead to a Leone field goal. It was a key play early in the fourth quarter.
8. Rolly Rolls
Lumbala made some great blocks in this game to open up runs for our tailback. He also took a short swing pass and turned it into a big play. I wish we would run a fullback screen for him.
The key to this game was that our star players made plays. Jennings, Arseneaux, Burnham, Johnson, Rainey on offence and Aragki all applied their trades with very high level skill and determination. Team 100 now both have 100 tackles on the season. Gaitor was beaten once by Bowman but overall they played a very good game.
Fenner made some really good plays. Phillips has been working with Gaitor and Fenner. Edem had two excellent plays in the secondary after two interceptions last week. With Jennings and Lulay helping Edem out in practice a couple of weeks ago, working on his angles (that doesn't say much for Washington) Edem's play has really mproved the last two games. Menard was solid in this game.
THE BAD
There are always things to look at, that need improvement, even in victory
1. Khari Confuses
Before this game, I wrote that the last type of play that Karhi should call agains Man/Cover 2 is a hitch screen. It almost cost us an interception the last time we played Edmonton and also cost us a 7 yard loss. So what does he call for his first play of the game. A motion hitch to Arseneaux that went nowhere.
Sometimes he's a very slow learner. His quarterback draw play that netted nothing was a completely unnecessary call on that specific drive. Even his fade play to Arseneauzx involved a 40 yd. yard potentially dangerous pass for a 4 yd. touchdown reception when a quick slant would have sufficed (from a bunch formation).
His passing atack began the game vertically, with deep routes, which was very unwide but thankfully we shortened our routes or used more horizontal patterns as the game went on. When Khari called a bootleg, with a Burnham crossing pattern coming underneath, Jennings took off for a 20 yard touchdown, It was obvious that, if we got Jennnings outside the pocket it would put Edmonton in a bind. But Khari did not try another bootleg. Confusing.
2. Antonio Stuggles
Antonio Johnson had his worst game as a Leo. He really struggled in pass protection at times, getting beaten cleanly and taking penalties to boot.
4. Bighill is a Linebacker
We're asking for too much of Bighill. Dropping him off as a two deep safety and a three deep middle safety, as well as using him as a linebacker and blitzer is effecting his game. Bighill did not wrap up on White and it led to a big gain. Bighill looked lost for most of the first half.
5. Sinkfield Out of Sync
We took Boldewijn out of our offence and he was contributing, Sinkfield only had 21 yds on 3 receptions. If he wasn't so fast, I would have Boldwign back in the lineup. Sinkfied played well against Winnipeg but this game, we didn't use him much and Jennings is always talking to him to get him to adjust his patterns. But then again, the jet sweep would have been a great play to run this game and we didn;t and we also didn;t hit Sinkfield when we could have with some short crosses in the second half.
6. Lack of Defensive Adjustments in the Second Half
Our defense had a very good first half, holding Edmonton to 5 points. We held Bowman to 89 yards and Walker to 46 yards. But our defence gave up 20 second half points and once again did a poor job of covering the tailback in the flat, as we dropped Eliminian into the hook zone again, Fortunately Edmonton did not exploit it as often as it could have. We played Bighill mostly as a linebacker in the fourth quarter and that helped.
THE UGLY
1. Wally's Challenges
Wally's two challenges were collosal errors and the one he didn't challenge and should have led to an Edmonton touchdown. Buono's first challenge obviosly should not have been challenged. Wally burned his second challenge with no call yet it cost us a time out. When Bowman tripped over his own receiver in the end zone, Buono didn;t even challenge the call.
2. Kick Off Cover Team
Its still horrible. Its been horrible all season. It needs to get fixed. Time is running out.
WRAP
A huge win for our Leos. Still lots of hope for a home playoff game. Our Leo players really wanted this one. They gave it their all.
A big home win and turning things around, hopefully at the right time.
Its time to give our Leo players
5 star Benny Belly Bumps!!