Lions vs Elks Oct 21

[Hambone]

I see the Lions got some more help in the quest for hosting the WSF. Or at least on the surface it would appear to be help.

Edmonton has announced that starting QB Taylor Cornelius is out due to spleen injury. Canadian rookie Tre Ford who has recently come off the injured list will get the start. Ford would be backed up by Kai Locksley who has spent most of the year as a receiver and if they choose to activate him fellow Canadian Mike Beaudry who dressed while Ford was out but never took a snap. Combined the 3 have completed 23 of 41 career passing attempts for 269 yards with 1 TD and 3 INTs.

https://3downnation.com/2022/10/17/tayl ... en-injury/

[B.C.FAN]

Ford has much the same athletic skill set as Winnipeg’s Dru Brown, so the Lions can use their most recent game tape as an example of what can happen when they let a young QB out of the pocket. Ford was seen as the QB of the future in Edmonton. He led the Elks to a rare win in his first start against Hamilton in Week 4 before he hurt his shoulder the following week against Calgary.

[SammyGreene]

Glad Cornelius is okay. Could be a nice break for the Lions. Clinching 2nd Friday and taking a various cautious approach to the game in Winnipeg would be huge. Heck, I would even give Rourke another week off. Him with rust in the semi final still would be our best bet

[Hambone]

Glad Cornelius is okay. Could be a nice break for the Lions. Clinching 2nd Friday and taking a various cautious approach to the game in Winnipeg would be huge. Heck, I would even give Rourke another week off. Him with rust in the semi final still would be our best bet

If Rourke is healthy enough I'd love to see him suit up for the final game vs Winnipeg and get in for 2 or 3 series. If they can come out of this weekend with 2nd wrapped up then they can manage the how and when to give him those reps without the need and urge to play him, if not start him, to get the necessary win to secure 2nd. I'd hate to be in the situation where they need the Riders to knock off the Stamps the next day to earn 2nd.

[Toppy Vann]

I assume if Rourke were healthy enough for that Bomber final game, they might start him as opposed to coming in off the bench later.
This might not be realistic as I think Rick Campbell is in the camp that doesn't want to rattle the healthy starter.

It's sure too bad that these conservative-minded coaches can't bring in plays that suit the QB they have versus the offence that Rourke can run.

You don't like to see QBs or others get hurt but it does give the Elks a chance to see their backups a bit more.

[B.C.FAN]

With only two practices this week, it doesn’t look like the Lions will get many injured players back for Friday’s game in Edmonton. According to the official injury report, Lucky Whitehead and Phil Norman didn’t practise Tuesday while Nathan Rourke, Josh Banks (pec), Ben Hladik (knee), Delvin Breaux (ribs), Jalon Edwards-Cooper (foot), Obum Gwacham (knee), Mario Villamizar (calf), David Mackie (toe) and Adrian Greene (knee) were all limited participants.
https://www.bclions.com/injuryreport/

Farhan Lalji said Banks and Gwacham are trending towards playing this week while Norman is 50-50. Whitehead and Bryan Burnham won’t play but both are expected to practise and play next week. And Rourke is doing more work than he did last week.

[SammyGreene]

A REALLY short practice week for the Lions as today’s session in Surrey has been cancelled due to the air quality with the lingering smoke. Just an indoor “walk through” instead

[David]

That's very odd. I don't have any way to measure this, but the air quality here in Van seems to be better today than it has been in a week. The sun is shining as opposed to haze and the faint smell of smoke that we've recently experienced (esp. yesterday).

A practice at Thunderbird Stadium would have served them well.


DH

[OV:54-40]

Ford has much the same athletic skill set as Winnipeg’s Dru Brown, so the Lions can use their most recent game tape as an example of what can happen when they let a young QB out of the pocket. Ford was seen as the QB of the future in Edmonton. He led the Elks to a rare win in his first start against Hamilton in Week 4 before he hurt his shoulder the following week against Calgary.

I doubt Dru Brown has anywhere near the 4.4 speed that Ford has. Wether the Elks offensive brain-trust is willing to turn Ford loose and green light him to run when he sees fit is another matter - Ford injured on a run earlier in the season, and Cornelius just got injured on a big hit last game. Nathan Rourke did not get injured as a result of a QB run though. Taking outstanding running/scrambling ability away from a QB who has that as a decent part of his skill-set / toolbox is limiting and conservative IMO; wonder if the Bill's offensive thinkers try to convince Josh Allen to hardly ever scramble/ run on the tiny by comparison NFL fields ?

[B.C.FAN]

Ford has much the same athletic skill set as Winnipeg’s Dru Brown, so the Lions can use their most recent game tape as an example of what can happen when they let a young QB out of the pocket. Ford was seen as the QB of the future in Edmonton. He led the Elks to a rare win in his first start against Hamilton in Week 4 before he hurt his shoulder the following week against Calgary.

I doubt Dru Brown has anywhere near the 4.4 speed that Ford has. Wether the Elks offensive brain-trust is willing to turn Ford loose and green light him to run when he sees fit is another matter - Ford injured on a run earlier in the season, and Cornelius just got injured on a big hit last game. Nathan Rourke did not get injured as a result of a QB run though. Taking outstanding running/scrambling ability away from a QB who has that as a decent part of his skill-set / toolbox is limiting and conservative IMO; wonder if the Bill's offensive thinkers try to convince Josh Allen to hardly ever scramble/ run on the tiny by comparison NFL fields ?

True about the difference in speed. Brown ran a 4.72 at his pro day in 2020. Ford ran a 4.45 this year. Ford is more of a running threat but they're similar in that Brown was most effective as a passer last week when he got outside the pocket.

[B.C.FAN]

The Lions have updated their injury report. It looks like Adrian Greene will be back, and Ben Hladik and Mario Villamizar will stay in the lineup for Friday's game. Nathan Rourke, Lucky Whitehead, Delvin Breaux, David Mackie and Phil Norman remain out. Obum Gwacham, Josh Banks and Jalon Edwards-Cooper are listed as doubtful.
https://www.bclions.com/injuryreport/

[Coast Mountain Lion]

That's very odd. I don't have any way to measure this, but the air quality here in Van seems to be better today than it has been in a week. The sun is shining as opposed to haze and the faint smell of smoke that we've recently experienced (esp. yesterday).

A practice at Thunderbird Stadium would have served them well.


DH

It improved this afternoon, but it was pretty awful this morning at work in South Vancouver (Main and Marine). And my friend said she could barely see downtown from her apartment in Central Lonsdale, and the foghorn at Point Atkinson was sounding. Thunderbird Stadium wouldn't have been a good place to be.

[Hambone]

Ford has much the same athletic skill set as Winnipeg’s Dru Brown, so the Lions can use their most recent game tape as an example of what can happen when they let a young QB out of the pocket. Ford was seen as the QB of the future in Edmonton. He led the Elks to a rare win in his first start against Hamilton in Week 4 before he hurt his shoulder the following week against Calgary.

I doubt Dru Brown has anywhere near the 4.4 speed that Ford has. Wether the Elks offensive brain-trust is willing to turn Ford loose and green light him to run when he sees fit is another matter - Ford injured on a run earlier in the season, and Cornelius just got injured on a big hit last game. Nathan Rourke did not get injured as a result of a QB run though. Taking outstanding running/scrambling ability away from a QB who has that as a decent part of his skill-set / toolbox is limiting and conservative IMO; wonder if the Bill's offensive thinkers try to convince Josh Allen to hardly ever scramble/ run on the tiny by comparison NFL fields ?

True about the difference in speed. Brown ran a 4.72 at his pro day in 2020. Ford ran a 4.45 this year. Ford is more of a running threat but they're similar in that Brown was most effective as a passer last week when he got outside the pocket.

Ford was 4.49 at his pro day in Buffalo. Many things make a player fast not all of which involve their legs. A fast thinking but slower QB can escape easier than a slow thinking faster QB. One thing Brown did show the other night was an ability to sense his situation and start moving away from the rush. He also was pretty good at escaping the grasp. Must have good lower body strength.

[Belize City Lion]

Edmonton has been slowly trending in the right direction lately. Tre Ford might be the catalyst to help a very mediocre team play a very good game. Definitely not a guaranteed win night for the Lions. Especially as Edmonton has not won a home game since they were called the Eskimos THREE years ago! So for them, winning their final game of the season, at home, could be a huge motivation.

I hope the opportunity for the Lions is not lost on them. To wrap up second in the west and be able to rest some guys while also giving carefully managed playing time to others (Rourke, Burnham, Whitehead) would be huge. Hopefully VA understands that this is his last best chance to showcase what he is capable of. If "good Vernon" shows up on Friday, the Lions could possibly roll over the Elks.

[SammyGreene]

Sure wish at least Gwacham & Mackie are elevated from doubtful to starter for Friday. Lions really need to win not let 2nd place come down to next week in Winnipeg.

Especially with the Riders essentially throwing in the towel against the Stamps by benching Fajardo in favour of Mason Fine. .