B.C. Lions at Calgary June 29, 2019 - Game Day Thread

[B.C.FAN]

The Lions' depth chart for Saturday's game in Calgary confirms what has been widely reported.

On offence, Jean Simon-Roy, plucked off Edmonton's practice roster at the start of the season, makes his first career start at centre. Hunter Steward slides back to his more familiar left guard position and David Foucault returns to right tackle, a position he won in training camp. Brett Boyko is on the 1-game injured list.

On defence, former Alouette and East Division all-star Branden Dozier starts at safety. Anthony Thompson moves to field corner. Dom Termansen is on the 1-game injured list.

Lions depth chart and roster

[Lion Guy]

So we have a starting centre, field corner and safety that didn't attend training camp. Why is there a training camp again?

[David]

So we have a starting centre, field corner and safety that didn't attend training camp. Why is there a training camp again?

You can almost count the 3rd game of the season as the de facto 1st real game of the year, where coaches (for a rebuilt roster like the Leos) should have figured out their optimum starting 24, players are familiar with their positions and have minimized mental errors, QBs have their timing down with receivers etc.

I do suspect that there is going to be season-long "tinkering"* with our Leos though.

*until such time this team can string some wins together.


DH

[B.C.FAN]

You can almost count the 3rd game of the season as the de facto 1st real game of the year, where coaches (for a rebuilt roster like the Leos) should have figured out their optimum starting 24, players are familiar with their positions and have minimized mental errors, QBs have their timing down with receivers etc.

It don’t consider rosters to be settled until Game 5. It’s harder each year to evaluate players because there is no meaningful contact in training camp and there are limited reps in preseason. It usually takes four weeks of the regular season to get the right players in place.

The Lions started their most successful season in recent history 0-5 in 2011. After the additions of Arland Bruce and Tad Kornegay and the return of Korey Banks to boundary halfback, the Lions went on a13-2 run that culminated in a Grey Cup victory.

[SammyGreene]

Maybe the Lions received a heritage grant to start an abundance of national starters? We are the only team of the 9 that does so and even go out of our way to make sure it continues.

After Termansen was beat for a 2nd TD in week #1 he was replaced by an American (Tucker) for the rest of the game. Week #2 not only saw Termansen back at corner but Tucker dropped from the roster entirely.

Now it's Thompson getting his first ever start at corner and backed-up by another national (Woodman) and Tucker remains on practice roster.

Meanwhile Farhan mentioned Junior Luke is expected to get more playing time this week at the expense of Claudell Louis.

[WestCoastJoe]

Personnel question marks.

Thompson

Dozier (new)

Boesen

Carter (Consistency. Can he get you 100 yards? He might.)

Burnham (Is he the receiver of previous years?)

Cottoy

White

Roy

Foucault
..........

Playbook issues.

Can we pass block?

Can we run the ball?

Can we pressure the QB?

Can we stop the run?
..........

Leadership issue

If the game is out of hand, will Reilly come out of the game?

...........

Other than those issues, it smells like a Rose. Nope, he is gone. Orange? Nothing rhymes. Lemon? Well the 2 losses have left a sour taste.

Just imo. Not trying to rain on anyone's hopes.

[B.C.FAN]

Other than those issues, it smells like a Rose. Nope, he is gone. Orange? Nothing rhymes. Lemon? Well the 2 losses have left a sour taste.

Just imo. Not trying to rain on anyone's hopes.

No, it's definitely not Rainey on the parade route.

[WestCoastJoe]

Other than those issues, it smells like a Rose. Nope, he is gone. Orange? Nothing rhymes. Lemon? Well the 2 losses have left a sour taste.

Just imo. Not trying to rain on anyone's hopes.

No, it's definitely not Rainey on the parade route.

Ha ha.

Could we use a handful of Poseys at receiver? Maybe.

[David]

Could we use a handful of Poseys at receiver? Maybe.

Pocket full, Joe.

Maybe this is the week our offence becomes unShaqled.


DH

[WestCoastJoe]

Could we use a handful of Poseys at receiver? Maybe.

Pocket full, Joe.

Maybe this is the week our offence becomes unShaqled.


DH

OMG.

Sometimes it can even be a pocketful, David.

Are we nitpicking? This is giving me some pique. Ha ha

Screenshot_20190628_151308.jpg

[David]

Well, I only know the nursery rhyme, "Ring Around The Rosie."

One method people used to fend off the plague in the Middle Ages was to stuff their pockets with posies (flowers). A superstition.

When "Game Day" can't arrive fast enough...


DH

[Lion Guy]

Head scratchers for me;

Anthony Orange
Winston Rose
Carter over Posey

[David]

Head scratchers for me;

Anthony Orange
Winston Rose
Carter over Posey

Don't think for a minute that our Big 3 FA signings weren't brought in for strategic off-field purposes. Reilly to excite the market place, Chungh to appeal to the large Indo-Canadian community, and Carter to add "star power" and name recognition to attract younger fans (some of whom may have seen "the catch").

Two games is a small sample size and I don't doubt all three will find their game in short order but all three at various stages have underwhelmed thus far (Reilly has been under siege but has also hung onto balls too long and thrown some ill-timed pics).

Posey over Carter? Mmm. Not sure about that. Posey has looked good in Montreal but didn't impress me too much here last year. Yes, Carter can often look like he's lollygagging but can also return punts and play corner in a pinch. When he's "on" he can also be a serious big-target deep threat.


DH

[pennw]

Head scratchers for me;

Anthony Orange
Winston Rose
Carter over Posey

Another head scratcher - Rich Stublar

[WestCoastJoe]

Ed Willes - The Province

The defence will also feature a new face in safety Branden Dozier, who played for Stubler in Montreal last season and assumes a lot of the unit’s organizational responsibilities.

“That position is a specialty position for us,” Stubler said. “It’s the quarterback of the defence. A lot of teams take their worst player and say, ‘Line up 25 yards deep and cover the goalposts.’ I’ve never understood that. I’ve always tried to have a great player there.''

Yup. We have seen that. 25 yards deep. Covering the goalposts. Different time zone. In the parking lot. Rarely getting near the play.

Ed Willes: Lions feel they're 'close' to winning, but surly Stamps are tough 2