2019 season by the numbers: A case for the defence

[B.C.FAN]

It wasn't supposed to be this way. With the high-profile acquisitions of Mike Reilly, Duron Carter, Lemar Durant, John White and Sukh Chungh and the gutting of the 2018 linebacking corps and secondary, there were predictions at the start of the season that the B.C. offence would score a lot of points but the defence would have trouble stopping anyone. The final numbers tell the opposite story, with the offence struggling all year and the defence near the top of the league in several statistical categories, especially in the second half of the season.

The Lions' 5-13 record was their worst since 1996, the year before David Braley bought the team. Aided by the schedule that included two games against Ottawa in the second half of the season, the Lions improved to 4-5 in the final 9 games after starting 1-8 (or 4-3 in the final 7 games after starting 1-10). The stats show that most credit for the improved record should go to the defence. The only offensive stat where the Lions showed significant improvement was sacks allowed, where they still finished last with 58 but only 22 of those were in the final 9 games, which tied for fourth best in that stretch.

Defensively, the Lions finished third overall behind Saskatchewan and Edmonton in net offence allowed (325 yards per game), third behind Edmonton and Saskatchewan in pass yards allowed (230 per game) and third behind Edmonton and Saskatchewan again in first downs allowed (339). The numbers for the second half of the season were even more impressive. In the final 9 games, the B.C. defence led the league in allowing the fewest net yards (297 per game), fewest passing yards (206 per game), fewest offensive touchdowns (12) and fewest first downs (152 or 17 per game).

The B.C. defence still finished near the bottom of the league in QB sacks (28, T-7th), turnovers forced (32, T-8th) and rushing yards allowed (107 per game, 7th), which suggest continuing weakness in the front-7. If offseason changes are to made in coaching and personnel, the offence and front-7 are clearly the areas of biggest need.

B.C. LIONS 2019 STATS

OFFENCE (Rank) (final 9 games)
Points per game 21.7 (7th)
Offensive TDs 38 (T-6th)
Net offence per game 324 (8th)
Rushing yards per game 99 (5th)
Passing yards per game 254 (7th)
First downs 374 (6th)
Sacks allowed 58 (9th) (22, T-4th)

DEFENCE (Rank) (final 9 games)
Points allowed per game 22.5 (6th) (15.1, 1st)
TDs allowed 41 (6th) (12, 1st)
Net offence per game 325 (3rd) (297, 1st)
Rushing yards per game 107 (7th) (105, T-4th)
Passing yards per game 230 (3rd) (206, 1st)
First downs 339 (3rd) (152, 1st)
Sacks made 28 (T-7th) (18, T-6th)

[plaidrabbit]

Great Post BC Fan
Stubler’s D was stingier than that in the last 9 games with a total of 144 points or 16 points for game.

I think the D ranked 1 in that category too in the back 9

[B.C.FAN]

Great Post BC Fan
Stubler’s D was stingier than that in the last 9 games with a total of 144 points or 16 points for game.

I think the D ranked 1 in that category too in the back 9

You're right. The defence in fact gave up only 136 points in the second half of the season, or 15.1 per game, which ranked first in the league. I've clarified the stats table.

[Dusty]

Certainly there was much improvement over the last part of the season. I think that a portion of the statistic for low yards given up by the defence was that our opposition had a short field or relatively short field for many games in the first half of the season. Either the ST screwed up and gave up field position through penalties or bad coverage or the Offence were stuck inside our 20.

Many a night our opponents were starting drives in our end or from their 45.... they did not need to churn up a lot of yards to score. On the other hand, we were forever starting deep in our zone, with predictable results.