Lions @ Stampeders, Game Day Thread, August 4, 2018

[WestCoastJoe]

OK. Time to fire up a game day thread.

[WestCoastJoe]

https://www.cfl.ca/2018/08/04/morris-jo ... ound-game/

Some excerpts from the article by Jim Morris ...

“I’m ready to go,” said Johnson, who has 222 yards and two touchdowns on 37 carries this year. “I’m very optimistic about this game and my health and I’m ready to let loose.”

Lions head coach Wally Buono likes the energy Johnson brings.

“To get Jeremiah back is a big plus,” said Buono. “He’s anxious to go and he’s fresh.

“Against a good team like Calgary you have to be productive on first down.”

The Stampeders are rolling through the CFL like rocks down a mountain. The Calgary defence has allowed a miserly 68 points all season and the offence is second in the league scoring almost 30 points a game.

The Lions are scoring an average 21.6 points a game, third worst in the league, and average 107.2 rushing yards, fourth best. Calgary has allowed an average 75.3 rushing yards, second best in the CFL.

Having Johnson and Van in the backfield offers a one-two punch. At five-foot-nine and 210 pounds, Johnson is two inches shorter than Van and about five pounds heavier.

Johnson prefers to run over people. Van relies more on speed to find open space.

Quarterback Travis Lulay likes what Van brings.

“He’s a very explosive back,” said Lulay. “He’s really pretty multiple in what he can do.

“He’s good on the return game. He’s a good change-of-pace back because he is different than Jeremiah.”

“Him getting the ball in his hands is kind of like waiting for the movie to start,” Johnson said. “Having him on our team is most definitely a thumbs up.

“We are kind of cut from the same cloth. We both have speed, he more than me. We’re just hardnosed. We are going to get up there and block. On second-and-one we are going to put our head down to get that first down.”

[WestCoastJoe]

https://www.cfl.ca/2018/08/03/lions-wan ... own-slump/

Excerpts from Matt Baker's article ...

“Aw man, it’s been a long time coming,” remarked Bryan Burnham on the Cowtown slump.

Burnham’s CFL debut came five weeks after the Lions’ most recent win there in 2014. Like many of his veteran teammates, he is of the mind they just need a win to help themselves in the present and that it’s not all about exercising past demons.

“It will feel good to get a win and we need one on the road. It’s gotta happen,” added the former Tulsa Golden Hurricane.

“It would be a huge boost. There isn’t really too many words to describe it but it would be very big for this team moving forward to get a road win in this division.”

“We have to do our best to extend drives, stay on the field and give our defence a rest when they need it because they’ve really been great all season, ” said Burnham.

“As an offence, we haven’t been helping them. (special teams coordinator) Jeff Reinebold always talks about complementary football and that’s the offence helping out the defence when we can and staying on the field. We just have to move the ball, pick up first downs and we’ll be alright.”

Bo Levi Mitchell, a couple of elite receivers and solid running game have made the Stamps click on offence, but so far in 2018, it has been the play of their defence that has separated them from the rest of the pack. The unit led by coordinator Devon Claybrooks has allowed just 61 points and an average of 10.2 per game, numbers almost unheard of when it comes to the CFL. Alex Singleton leads the way with 35 defensive tackles while Micah Johnson has once again been a force up front, registering a team-high four quarterback sacks.

“They’re just disciplined and not going to give in to the little tricks, motions and all the movements,” said Burnham of Calgary’s defence.

“They’re going to sit back, play their defence and play it well. It’s a team you can’t make mistakes against.”

[WestCoastJoe]

https://www.cfl.ca/games/2496/bc-lions- ... tampeders/

Some excerpts from the article by CFL Staff.

Crunchin’ Numbers:

8 – Of previous nine meetings between the two teams have been won by Calgary.

12 – Defensive tackles for BC’s Jordan Herdman in his team’s Week 6 loss at Ottawa. That number was the highest in league history for a first-year starter since the stat began being tracked in 1987.

14– Points or more the Stamps have led by in each of their first six games this season. Only two teams in CFL history have led by that number of points in more than six consecutive games: 1982 Winnipeg Blue Bombers (seven), 2011 BC Lions (seven).

[WestCoastJoe]

Keys to the game ... OMG

Effective pass blocking. Preferably a simple scheme with high level individual performances. No cut blocks, please.

Solid running game. Get a man on Alex Singleton. He can really run to the ball.

Confident receivers. Get in space. Make plays.

Pressure on Mitchell. We need some sacks. Blitzing? Not sure if Mark W will go there beyond the usual.

Not sure what to advise re our soft zone. But I expect that is what we will see. If we do see a soft zone, one can expect Mitchell to carve it up. Mix things up, at least.

Can we win? Yes. Lulay will have to play lights out. All units must be on top of their games. Calgary must be less than their best.

[Blitz]

Keys to the game ... OMG

Effective pass blocking. Preferably a simple scheme with high level individual performances. No cut blocks, please.

Solid running game. Get a man on Alex Singleton. He can really run to the ball.

Confident receivers. Get in space. Make plays.

Pressure on Mitchell. We need some sacks. Blitzing? Not sure if Mark W will go there beyond the usual.

Not sure what to advise re our soft zone. But I expect that is what we will see. If we do see a soft zone, one can expect Mitchell to carve it up. Mix things up, at least.

Can we win? Yes. Lulay will have to play lights out. All units must be on top of their games. Calgary must be less than their best.

Havent' seen those cut blocks for two games now. We've been pass blocking on most pass plays.

First down yardage is the key on offence. Travis is tough to stop when that happens and he will march the offence. He is going into this game believing. Confidence is such a key at the quarterback position.

Defensively, we have to play smart and mix it up, as you note WCJ. A defense can't give Calgary's offence a steady diet of the same thing...especially straight up zone. Dickenson and Bo Levi know how to exploit that.

Not much separates these two teams in terms of talent. Its going to be a very interesting game to watch, strategy wise.

We've had two weeks to come up with a game plan.

[TheLionKing]

Lions draw first blood on a field goal by Ty Long

[TheLionKing]

Lions got beaten long for a touchdown. A familar sight

[David]

Same 'ole Lions.


DH

[TheLionKing]

Nice to see Lions' willingness to stretch the field

[TheLionKing]

Oh. Oh interception

[WestCoastJoe]

Pass interference. DB was all over the back, with contact.

[TheLionKing]

Defence holds

[David]

Pass interference. DB was all over the back, with contact.

Why didn't they challenge that PI on Berger?


DH

[TheLionKing]

Good reaction by Lee