Priority One- Improve the run game. I don't think our running back talent is ideal. Butler is a good blocker and has good hands but lacks the quick burst from what I can see. Cooper has been a disappointment from what I recall from his Edmonton days. But it starts with the Oline. Perhaps it's our zone blocking scheme but we're just not moving bodies to create the holes. A big, punishing back would be welcome, but even Derrick Henry would struggle for yards the way things are right now. We're last in the league in rushing and haven't cracked the 100-yard mark this season. Until we get this sorted out, we're a one-dimensional team. Take away Lucky and we're going to be even easier to defend.
Priority Two - If not O-line scheme then talent. We need to really assess where the breakdowns are coming from. Godber and Chungh look to be struggling with their assignments from what I can see but on Friday against the Bombers, the leaks seemed to be coming from everywhere. Maybe with Lucky out and Durant in, we can move to 3 Americans on the O-line. If Godber needs more seasoning at centre, then we can place Phillip Norman in that spot. OR when Ryker comes back at RT, move Perkins in Chungh's RG position (where Perkins played in college). A couple of options here. Chungh has been a huge disappointment from his Bomber days.
Priority Three - We're not getting a good enough or consistent enough push from our defensive line. Sure, there have been flashes but our D-line is not big or physical enough IMO. All season we have given the opposing QBs too much time to set up and find receivers. Fine when we have a healthy defensive backfield to break up passes, but when we have one or two replacements back there, yikes. It's ugly, as we saw on Friday night. Second and long has been too easy for opponents this year. All it takes is one disruptive defensive tackle or end that needs to be double-teamed. IIRC, Khalif Mitchell was that (midseason) find for us a bunch of years ago.
Priority Four - We don't have much of a return game, especially with Lucky and Rainey out. Not sure how much longer either will be on the shelf but when opponents can kick off down to the 5-yard line, we're going to be scrimmaging with an awfully long field. Punt returns have been a big issue all year too. Yanowsky really needs to step up here and get this fixed during the bye week.
DH
