Keys to the Game
Posted: Sat Nov 26, 2011 8:26 am
Well, the Big Dance draws ever closer as our Leos have one last day to prepare for Grey Cup Sunday
Its been a magical season, from the despair of the first 7 games to the magic of the winning streak and a WDF convincing win over Edmonton.
While nothing has been determined I have no doubt that this is Wally's last game as our Head Coach, win or lose, and Sunday provides him with the opportunity to have his crowining moment.
Here are the keys to the game:
LULAY VS BUCK
Both quarterbacks have similar styles, both are mobile and courageous. Lulay goes into the Grey Cup game as the leagues Most Outstanding Player while Pierce has the confidence of the Bombers players to get it done.
Lulay led the league in rushing amongst CFL quarterbacks this season. But Buck can take off and hurt a defense as well.
The CFL is a quarterback driven league and while too much emphasis can be placed on quarterbacks for wins or losses, there is no doubt that the play of Lulay and Pierce will be a key factor in the outcome of this game
WINNING THE LINE OF SCRIMMAGE
Defense wins championships and successful defense is predicated on pressure. Winnipeg led the CFL in sacks (55) and gave up the fewest passing yards (223.1 per game). They also finished first in giving up the least amount of yards per game. Winipeg's defense finished first in most defensive categores.
Our Leos new six man defensive line rotation can also exert great pressure. We were second in the league in sacks. While our defense finished behind Winipeg in most stattistical categories..our Leos finished first in one very important category...we gave up the least points in the league.
The play of the big boys in the trenches for both sides will be a huge factor in the outcome of this game.
DEFENSIVE STRATEGY WILL PLAY A HUGE ROLE
Tim Burke, Winnipeg's defensive coordinator, won two Grey Cups in three seasons with Motreal but instead of staying comfortable, he left for a new challenge in Winnipeg, where he took last year's struggling defense and turned it into a formidable force. His game plan to shut down our offensive weapons - Lulay, Simon. Bruce, and Harris will play a huge role in the Grey Cup on Sunday.
Mike Benevedes game plan will also be a key factor. His strategy, in terms of shutting down the Winnipeg running attack will be vital to a victory as will his play calls to keep pressure on Buck Pierce.
JAQUESBALL VS BARESI
Sunday's Grey Cup match also pitts offensive coordinator Jaques Chapdealine's revitalized offence agaisnt former Leos assistant coach and now Bombers offensive coordinator Jamie Baresi's run oriented offence.
Chapdealine has gone from an offensive coordinator who was considered the biggest reason for our woes over the past number of seasons to looking like an offensive geniurs for good reason. Our offence has undergone radical changes in scheme and play calling.
Baresi has remade Winnipeg's offence into one that lookes similar to the offense we ran here in 2007, with Joe Smith leading the way. Its a run attack offence with a big pl;ay capacity in the passing attack.
Both offensive coordinators have huge chalenges tryign to exploit two outstanding defenses with few weaknesses. Sunday's game planning and play calling by these two coaches will be an important key to this game.
BIG NAME PLAYERS NEED TO BE STARS
While both our Leos and the Bombers success has been based on team play, both teams have starts that will need to come through big time on Sunday.
For our Leos that means game changers like Geroy Simon, Arland Bruce, Andrew Harris, and Korey Banks will need to come through. The Bombers also have a number of big play guys includign Chris Garnett, Terrance Edwards, Clarence Denmark, Odell Wilis, and Jovan Johnson.
A big individuaal play at a key time can be a deciding factor.
WRAP
The keys to this game will be quarterbacking, winning the line of scrimmage, coaching in terms of defensive and offensive strategy, and big play players making big plays.
Hopefully we'll win all these facets of the game on Sunday.
Its been a magical season, from the despair of the first 7 games to the magic of the winning streak and a WDF convincing win over Edmonton.
While nothing has been determined I have no doubt that this is Wally's last game as our Head Coach, win or lose, and Sunday provides him with the opportunity to have his crowining moment.
Here are the keys to the game:
LULAY VS BUCK
Both quarterbacks have similar styles, both are mobile and courageous. Lulay goes into the Grey Cup game as the leagues Most Outstanding Player while Pierce has the confidence of the Bombers players to get it done.
Lulay led the league in rushing amongst CFL quarterbacks this season. But Buck can take off and hurt a defense as well.
The CFL is a quarterback driven league and while too much emphasis can be placed on quarterbacks for wins or losses, there is no doubt that the play of Lulay and Pierce will be a key factor in the outcome of this game
WINNING THE LINE OF SCRIMMAGE
Defense wins championships and successful defense is predicated on pressure. Winnipeg led the CFL in sacks (55) and gave up the fewest passing yards (223.1 per game). They also finished first in giving up the least amount of yards per game. Winipeg's defense finished first in most defensive categores.
Our Leos new six man defensive line rotation can also exert great pressure. We were second in the league in sacks. While our defense finished behind Winipeg in most stattistical categories..our Leos finished first in one very important category...we gave up the least points in the league.
The play of the big boys in the trenches for both sides will be a huge factor in the outcome of this game.
DEFENSIVE STRATEGY WILL PLAY A HUGE ROLE
Tim Burke, Winnipeg's defensive coordinator, won two Grey Cups in three seasons with Motreal but instead of staying comfortable, he left for a new challenge in Winnipeg, where he took last year's struggling defense and turned it into a formidable force. His game plan to shut down our offensive weapons - Lulay, Simon. Bruce, and Harris will play a huge role in the Grey Cup on Sunday.
Mike Benevedes game plan will also be a key factor. His strategy, in terms of shutting down the Winnipeg running attack will be vital to a victory as will his play calls to keep pressure on Buck Pierce.
JAQUESBALL VS BARESI
Sunday's Grey Cup match also pitts offensive coordinator Jaques Chapdealine's revitalized offence agaisnt former Leos assistant coach and now Bombers offensive coordinator Jamie Baresi's run oriented offence.
Chapdealine has gone from an offensive coordinator who was considered the biggest reason for our woes over the past number of seasons to looking like an offensive geniurs for good reason. Our offence has undergone radical changes in scheme and play calling.
Baresi has remade Winnipeg's offence into one that lookes similar to the offense we ran here in 2007, with Joe Smith leading the way. Its a run attack offence with a big pl;ay capacity in the passing attack.
Both offensive coordinators have huge chalenges tryign to exploit two outstanding defenses with few weaknesses. Sunday's game planning and play calling by these two coaches will be an important key to this game.
BIG NAME PLAYERS NEED TO BE STARS
While both our Leos and the Bombers success has been based on team play, both teams have starts that will need to come through big time on Sunday.
For our Leos that means game changers like Geroy Simon, Arland Bruce, Andrew Harris, and Korey Banks will need to come through. The Bombers also have a number of big play guys includign Chris Garnett, Terrance Edwards, Clarence Denmark, Odell Wilis, and Jovan Johnson.
A big individuaal play at a key time can be a deciding factor.
WRAP
The keys to this game will be quarterbacking, winning the line of scrimmage, coaching in terms of defensive and offensive strategy, and big play players making big plays.
Hopefully we'll win all these facets of the game on Sunday.