Lions vs. Riders July 27, 2019 - Game Day Thread

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B.C.FAN
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The Lions will have history on their side when they look for their first home victory of the year Saturday afternoon against the Riders. According to the Game Notes posted at bclions.com, the Riders have not swept the Lions in back to back games in 45 years, since October 1974. The teams have played nine back-to-back sets since then, resulting in four B.C. sweeps and five splits. They split the most recent set in 2017 after the Lions swept the Riders in the two previous years.

This will be Saskatchewan's first road game in a span of 37 days. Both Saskatchewan wins this year occurred at home. The Lions have played just two home games (0-2) and four road games (1-3).

This game marks the return of Manny Arceneaux and Solomon Elimimian to B.C. Place, where they played a combined 124 games as Lions. Arceneaux has scored 35 TDs in his 64 games at B.C. Place, or 64% of his career TD output.

A lot of eyes will be on the Lions' ability to protect Mike Reilly, who took a beating last week in Regina, and not just on the four Rider sacks (three of them by Charleston Hughes, who added a career high 10 tackles). The Lions have given up 21 sacks in their first 6 games, their worst performance in that span since 2014 (22 sacks).

Despite the pressure and sacks, Reilly led the CFL last week with 346 yards passing on 31 completions. It was his third 300-yard game of the year. The Lions lost all three of those games.

Other stats and trivia from the Game Notes:

- The Lions are +17 in first quarter scoring but from the second quarter on are -86 (89 to 175). They've blown two halftime leads. If games were 30 minutes, they'd be 3-3 instead of 1-5.

- The Riders have scored first in four of their first five games. B.C. has scored first three times in six games but lost all of those games.
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Sir Purrcival
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Any bet on Manny and Sol wanting to prove something to their old team?
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TheLionKing
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Any bets the roof will be closed again ? If it's sunny, they'll probably come up with some lame excuse such as pigeons and seagulls might fly into the stadium.
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KnowItAll
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TheLionKing wrote:
Thu Jul 25, 2019 11:26 pm
Any bets the roof will be closed again ? If it's sunny, they'll probably come up with some lame excuse such as pigeons and seagulls might fly into the stadium.
actually that would work for me. I hate birds.
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SammyGreene
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Must win in July? Very likely with Bombers, Esks and Stamps already looking unreachable. That leaves the Riders, BC and Ottawa for the last spot in the East.

Falling to 1-6 and getting swept by a Cody Fajardo led team might be as low as it has been for the last 20 or more years.

Farhan saying changes are coming if they lose Saturday. What exactly that means who knows. But the bye week would give them time to make some significant roster decisions on some of their underperforming players.

Figueroa's return a big plus but Boyko and Foucault simply don't deserve another start at tackle.
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The odds favor our Leos as we play at home in a back to back series with the Saskatchewan Rough Riders. Our Leos lost to the Riders last weekend by a score of 38-25 as the Riders dominated the second half of play.

The first third of the 2018 CFL season is over and our Leos have not fared well, with a 1-5 record. Many CFL prognosticators chose our Leos as favorites to win the Grey Cup this season, based upon our off-season signings, especially on offence, led by free agent Mike Reilly.

But none of them must have considered what Jarious Jackson’s offensive scheme and play calling can do to minimize and restrict and even embarrass offensive talent.

Lions fans are very disappointed with the 2019 season so far. May wer anxious for regime change and for good reason. The product was more than stale and outdated.

But unfortunately, Wally's choice as GM, Ed Hervey and both Ed and Wally's choice of Jarious Jackson as offensive coordinator, have not worked out well so far, over last season and so far this season.

OFFENCE

RUN IT WITH RUTLEY

Last game, for the first time this season, Brandon Rutley got lots of game reps as our starting tailback. Rutley carried the football 13 times for 73 yds. and a 5.6 yd. average. Rutley ran the football hard and showed good visiton. Importantly, he also did a good job of assignment pick up in pass blocking, an area White has had his struggles.

Of course, we only used the inside zone read run off RPO for Rutley as we do for White. One would think Jarious would also utilize a running play to attack the edge on occasion. But there is not an off-tackle play or a couter or quick toss play in sight.

We also rarely use our fullback David Mackie. He is 6’2”, 252 pounds. He is a good blocker with very good hands and speed for his size. We could use him in pro sets as an H back, a fullback, or as a tight end.

Mackie provides us with the ability to create running plays utilizing him as a lead blocker to run off-tackle or to the outside or as a double team blocker as a tight end. He could also be used as a pass blocker to provide Reilly with more protection against a strong pass rush.

But of course, Jarious rarely utilizes him. (He’s probably not smart enough to be successful in Jarious offence but what player is smart enough to play in Jarious offence anyway)

WHO’S AT CENTER, WHO’S AT LEFT GUARD, WHO IS AT RIGHT TACKLE

So far this season, Steward and Roy have played center. Figuroa and Boyko have played left tackle. Steward and Foucault have played left guard. Chungh and Norman have played right guard, and Boyko and Foucault have played right tackle.

One thing for sure, no matter how bad Boyko and Foucault have played, they seem to have been favored over Steward, who has played much better than both.

Kneval, who has always played well when an opportunity has arisen, has also not been given a chance to start.

What is our offensive line staring lineup for this game? Well, Pierson will start at center. Figuroa returns but Chungh is still hurt so Norman gets a second start at right guard. Thankfully Steward gets to start at left guard, as Foucault has been moved again to right tackle, where he has struggled but so has Boyko, who is relegated to backup.

Why Kneval does not get the chance to start at right tackle over Foucault is mystifying. How many times does Foucault get to start at right tackle and be beaten like a pylon? How many chances does Foucault get to start at guard or tackle and play poorly, while others like Steward are benched, despite superior play?

THE PASSING ATTACK

There have been games when Reilly has struggled badly and other games when he has passed for over 300 yds. But that stat can fool you.

Reilly’s quarterback efficiency is 89.1. Matt Nichols, Trevor Harris, Jeremiah Masoli, Cody Fajardo and even Vernon Adams Jr. have quarterback efficacies in the 100’s. Matt Nichols as a quarterback efficiency of 129. 1. Of course almost all of those quarterbacks are playing in better offensive systems and getting better pass protection than Reilly.

Secondly, Reilly needs to get the football more to Shaq Johnson and Cottoy, who has caught every pass thrown his way but one and that play was not his fault. Reilly has often been too Burnham/Carter centric and our rate of success throwing to them has not been good overall, as defenses key on them.

When Reilly mixed it up more last game, it helped open things up. Our passing attack is poorly designed so it only makes matters even worse if we key on two or three receivers too often.

YOU’RE NOT THE BOSS OFME!

“Oh yes, I am” is the attitude Devone Claybrooks needs to have when it comes to pulling Mike Reilly. Claybrooks has to do what is best for the B.C. Lions. Letting Reilly finish out a game, when the game is lost and Reilly is ailing, is not smart, especially without an experienced backup quarterback in the fold.

Reilly says he wants to lose with his teammates. There may be some truth in that but its not the main reason Reilly does not want to leave the field.

Reilly, like other quarterbacks before him, is afraid of some backup quarterback taking the reins and making an impression. Its happened before and often whether it’s was an unheralded Tom Brady getting a chance in New England or a Casey Printers, with only four reps the previous season, getting a chance and winning the MOP in 2004.

Unheralded Travis Lulay got his chance and early in his career would also go in to win a Grey Cup and MOP.

Reilly just signed a 4 year 2.8 million dollar contract. He’s not coming out a game, no matter how much we are winiing or losing on the scoreboard.

The only way Reilly is coming out is if Claybrooks pulls him and Reilly is going to make a huge fuss and make that very difficult. Reilly is not thinking bout the B.C Lions.

He’s thinking about himself. He’d rather play hurting, in a game that is lost, that take the chance, even if it’s a long one, of one day being replaced (contracts are not guaranteed)

Claybrooks needs to show he is the boss and take a 'team first approach' rather than giving in to Reilly.

DEFENSE

Our defense was depleted by Ed Hervey in order to sign some big free agents on offence. For this game, our defense has made some changes.

No defense can play well without a pass rush and good defensive line play. You can hide an average player in the linebacking crew and defensive backfield with a good pass rush.

But without a good pass rush and the ability to also play the run, even a good linebacking and defensive backfield crew can be made to look bad.

We don’t have an effective pass rush. Willis and Coleman have been the only defensive lineman to bring pressure. For this game, Louis is out at defensive tackle and will be replaced by Macendy Cheridor, a 275 pound defensive tackle.

Korey Toomer, a 235 pound linebacker who was perviously a 5th round draft choice by the Seattel Seahawks, starts at defensive end and will rotate with speed rusher Charles Wright, another former linebacker being used as an undersized defensive end.

In the linebacking corps, the very expensive Adam Konar is relegated to the one game injured list, as Mbaye and Robinson back up Herdman.
In the defensive backfield, Butler will start over Thompson, who struggled once again at field corner, where he is out of position.

Hopefully those changes will result in improved defense. The key is to get a pass rush. Without it, Fajardo is just too mobile and will hurt our defense.

WRAP

A balance between run and pass, a diversified running attack, targeting different receivers to mix things up more, an improved pass rush, and better corner play would all pay dividends.

The reality is that our Leos are 1-5 because 1) We have a bad offensive scheme 2) our offensive line play is not good enough and our starter decisions have been confusing 3) we don't have an effective pass rush and 4) our defense is not talented enough.

While Claybrooks has taken a lot of criticism and he is accountable, I realy believe Claybrooks would be successful if he had a decent offensive coordinator and enough talent on defense to have an opportunity to win.

It appeared as if Claybrooks was dealt a good hand for his first Head Coaching job but he was also dealt a couple of jokers. Ed Hervey also thinks that players like Willis and Carter are leader types. They may be to him but they are not the 'leaders' I would want to build a team around.

Perhaps Jarious could talk to Farhan Lalgi about offensive football and learn something. We often assume that CFL assistant coaches know more about football than do high school or college coaches. Not true.

The candidate field is very small in terms of those who want to coach professionally. The hours are terrible and the job security is even worse. A Jarious Jackson is sometimes the result.

Hopefully, but unlikely, Jarious will utilize more than one run play, not send too many receivers deep on each pass play, giving Reilly poor options against a quick pass rush, use more formations, adapt more during a game to what the defense is doing, stop using the quick slant RPO play as often as he does (it’s a pick off play) and stop using Burnham and Durant on hitch screens.

One can always dream!
"When I went to Catholic high school in Philadelphia, we just had one coach for football and basketball. He took all of us who turned out and had us run through a forest. The ones who ran into the trees were on the football team". (George Raveling)
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The Lions have made five roster changes for this one, and some of them are puzzling to say the least.

Andrew Peirson, who lost the starting centre job in training camp, is back as the starter. Jean-Simon Roy moves to the 1-game injured list. Joel Figueroa returns from injury at left tackle. Hunter Steward and Phillip Normal remain at guard and David Foucault at right tackle. Brett Boyko is listed as a backup guard and David Knevel as backup tackle.

On defence, Junior Luke starts at nose tackle in place of Claudell Louis, who is banished to the practice roster. Korey Toomer starts at DE. Ebenezer Ogundeko, last week's starter, mves back to the practice roster. Newly acquired DL Mackendy Cheridor, who was a training camp cut of the Atlanta Falcons last year, is activated as a backup defensive tackle. Newly acquired CB Crezdon Butler starts at field corner ahead of Anthony Thompson, who was benched last week. Victor Gamboa, who was inserted for Thompson in that game, moves to the practice roster. Josh Woodman is activated form the 1-game injured list as backup SAM/DB. Backup linebacker Adam Konar moves to the 1-game injured list.

Here are today's transactions:
July 26, 2019
Add to Roster from Practice Roster: DL Mackendy Cheridor (A), DL Charles Wright (A), DB Crezdon Butler (A), OL Andrew Peirson (N)
Add to Roster from 1-Game Injured: DB Josh Woodman (N)
Place on 1-Game Injured: LB Adam Konar (N), OL Jean–Simon Roy (N)
Place on Practice Roster: DL Ebo Ogundeko (A), DL Claudell Louis (A), DB Victor Gamboa (A)
Add to Practice Roster: OL Andrew Peterson (A)
Here is this week's' depth chart and roster.
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SammyGreene wrote:
Fri Jul 26, 2019 7:29 am
Must win in July? Very likely with Bombers, Esks and Stamps already looking unreachable. That leaves the Riders, BC and Ottawa for the last spot in the East.

Falling to 1-6 and getting swept by a Cody Fajardo led team might be as low as it has been for the last 20 or more years.

Farhan saying changes are coming if they lose Saturday. What exactly that means who knows. But the bye week would give them time to make some significant roster decisions on some of their underperforming players.

Figueroa's return a big plus but Boyko and Foucault simply don't deserve another start at tackle.
Changes should be coming anyway regardless of the outcome.
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Came here for an idea of what kind of moves the Lions made after seeing the depth chart. Wow. Claudell Louis looked like a gem last year and is now banished to the PR. Did not expect to see that coming as I felt our interior D-line was a strength going into the season. As we have 7 starting Nationals on offense, and Herdman at MLB, it's not like we need to start a Canadian on the D-line. Big opportunity for Luke to step up and claim a job for himself as a starter.

I like our O-line a lot better without Boyko on it, so hopefully that helps. I still would like to see Knevel given a chance to start at RT.
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Toppy Vann
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The problems as I see them aren't dissimilar to those outlined above.

If there is one common thread with the bottom feeders it's a lack of creativity in their run games and/or an ability for their QB to get outta there. Cody Fajardo gives the Riders an edge over the Lions as he's not going to run consistently he forces the DEF to account for the RB first then move to get after him.

It's not the specific plays that are the problem with the Jackson offence other than a lack of creativity and run packages that include the FB. It's also the sequencing of the play calls that leads opposing defenders to know what's coming.

Yes, coaches will change players when they know the fans et al are getting angry as it buys them time.

There is never any razzle dazzle - something like the Als used that had their QB catching a TD pass - something that inspires a team. Now I haven't seen them practice so maybe it's changing but give us something in the run game that is not just Rutley/White through the same holes.
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Jeremy from CBC Radio here. Hoping I can get a big Lions fan on the line for an interview about early season struggles. Hit me up! jeremy.allingham@cbc.ca.
TheLionKing
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Just got off the phone to the Lions. Asked whether the roof is going to be opened tomorrow. No decision have been made. It will be made tomorrow morning. Guess they're expecting a cold front to move in overnight and showers tomorrow. :bang:
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David
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TheLionKing wrote:
Fri Jul 26, 2019 3:58 pm
Just got off the phone to the Lions. Asked whether the roof is going to be opened tomorrow. No decision have been made. It will be made tomorrow morning. Guess they're expecting a cold front to move in overnight and showers tomorrow. :bang:
FFS, any showers that we do get will fall in the overnight hours (tonight) toward morning! High pressure ridge building as the day goes on so the threat of any precip by a 4:00pm kick-off will be virtually nil. What more do they need to open a roof in July?

What an absurd system they have going here. Better to go on a limb NOW and say we anticipate the roof being OPEN tomorrow. Saying nothing or waiting until tomorrow will not help any fence-sitters. Sheesh. :roll:


DH :cool:
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Hopefully the addition of Cheritor and Toomer will improve the pass rush.
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Lion Guy
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Watching the Bombers Ticats game.

Can someone explain again why we let Craig Roh and Winston Rose go?
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