Lions at Bombers June 22, 2023
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Sir Purrcival
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Very little to be concerned with tonight other than perhaps the lack of a running game. Not totally unexpected against the Bombers. What is more impressive to me however is the receivers. No Rhymes, no Hatcher, no Burnham from last year and a Lucky just back from injury. What a way for the next in line's to step up.
Tell me how long must a fan be strong? Ans. Always.
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TheLionKing
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First win by a western team in Winnipeg since 2018
What a dominant performance: 7 sacks, 3 turnovers, holding the Bombers to just 218 yards of net offence and 6 points. Mathieu Betts, David Menard and Sione Teuhema made Bomber tackles Stanley Bryant and Jermarcus Hardrick look like turnstiles, and were in the face of Zach Collaros all night.
VA and the offence did enough to put the game out of reach. The TD drive in the final 49 seconds of the first half was huge, opening a 17-6 lead. The B.C. defence held the Bombers off the scoreboard in the second half.
The Lions earned their first win in Winnipeg since 2017 and established themselves as the new team to beat in the West.
VA and the offence did enough to put the game out of reach. The TD drive in the final 49 seconds of the first half was huge, opening a 17-6 lead. The B.C. defence held the Bombers off the scoreboard in the second half.
The Lions earned their first win in Winnipeg since 2017 and established themselves as the new team to beat in the West.
Well... congrats to whoever bet the "under" on 7.5 points allowed per game to average the season coming out of this game. 
I went to a restaurant that serves "breakfast at any time". So I ordered French Toast during the Renaissance.
Steven Wright
Steven Wright
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DanoT
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Lions D Line manhandling of the vaulted Bomber O Line was the biggest factor in the win, imo. But Adams also had his best game as a Lion and Rhymes not being in the game and Hatcher still on the IR were not even factors.
Special teams return coverage kept Grant to only one big return. Nice to see Mike Benevides back in the Den as the ST Coach.
Special teams return coverage kept Grant to only one big return. Nice to see Mike Benevides back in the Den as the ST Coach.
lol!
I wonder when Ryan Phillips will be courted for a head coaching job? Kudos also to Mike B and his job with the special teams - the kick coverage was way better than anything in the last decade.
And I publicly declare that Mizzell must now be nicknamed "The Missile" as he has been an amazing find. More than an adequate replacement for Butler.
And Betts is clearly "The Beast". Wow! Easily one of the most dominant games by a Leos DL in franchise history.
But as someone said, it is a lllllllllllllllllllllllllong season and the aging Bombers still have pride, talent and a long memory.
Still, I will savour this one. Go Lions! Great job.
And I publicly declare that Mizzell must now be nicknamed "The Missile" as he has been an amazing find. More than an adequate replacement for Butler.
And Betts is clearly "The Beast". Wow! Easily one of the most dominant games by a Leos DL in franchise history.
But as someone said, it is a lllllllllllllllllllllllllong season and the aging Bombers still have pride, talent and a long memory.
Still, I will savour this one. Go Lions! Great job.
Last edited by Walt67 on Sat Jun 24, 2023 10:13 pm, edited 1 time in total.
A great defensive effort last night. VA did quite well with the protection afforded him by the O-line.
Hollins continues to prove he is a legit great receiver.
McInnes will only get better and better.
Betts is very 'Brent Johnson' like and is having a terrific start to the season.
Hladik is probably the most underrated MLB in the league.
A great team win in the Peg!
Hollins continues to prove he is a legit great receiver.
McInnes will only get better and better.
Betts is very 'Brent Johnson' like and is having a terrific start to the season.
Hladik is probably the most underrated MLB in the league.
A great team win in the Peg!
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Toppy Vann
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Three things stood out that others touch on that were inarguably keys to not just winning a tight game, but decisively defeating the Bombers:
1. Ryan Phillip's defense both in tactics against the former vaunted OL of the Bombers but every player on the field for the entire 60 min.
This is the best defensively coached Lions team since Dave Ritchie.
Usually, it's Bombers defenders striking terror into Receivers. Last night it was all BC.
A year ago IIRC there were criticisms of the Lions defense not being good tacklers. Not last night. The Lions flipped the script in every aspect of the DEF game.
Is this possibly the best Lion's defense in Lion history in the making?
Shades of the days of Rick Klassen, Nick Hebeler, Glen Jackson days last night.
BC rushing three with the 4th guy shading his actions was fun to watch as even that three hurt the Bombers when they pulled that off.
Rick Campbell deserves a ton of credit for how he brought Phillips along much like how Dave Dickinson was prepped for OC by Jon Hufnagel and Buck Pierce under Lapo and O'Shea. Just tossing a new DC or OC in the mix or continued change to find the right person is not always the best way forward.
2. Vernon Adams and how dialed in and in command of that game and his team and his own performance was Player of the Week material.
Just maybe not having to look over his shoulder all the time brings the best out of him.
Not killing that 49 seconds before the half but risking a momentum swing if you toss an INT by attacking and succeeding in a TD was incredible credit to VA and the coaching staff's belief that this was the way to play it. It could have gone from 17-6 to 17-13 or 14 with one errant pass (none of which Adams is tossing so far). Most coaches there just want to get out of the half safely - not actually score a TD.
3. Benevides seems to have those ST players focused as Grant is the best returner in the CFL right now.
Didn't notice if Bene was chest bumping like the old days, but I honestly believe seeing him in recent years he's more subdued in that regard and less wanting to be the show like the old days competing with Jacque C for best performance by a supporting actor.
Edit to add link to article by Jeff Hamilton, Winnipeg Free Press
This article has a lot of classy comments about BC by Bryant, O'Shea, Collaros and Bighill - something that characterizes the winning teams over the average. They know what it takes to win and it's not trash talking.
1. Ryan Phillip's defense both in tactics against the former vaunted OL of the Bombers but every player on the field for the entire 60 min.
This is the best defensively coached Lions team since Dave Ritchie.
Usually, it's Bombers defenders striking terror into Receivers. Last night it was all BC.
A year ago IIRC there were criticisms of the Lions defense not being good tacklers. Not last night. The Lions flipped the script in every aspect of the DEF game.
Is this possibly the best Lion's defense in Lion history in the making?
Shades of the days of Rick Klassen, Nick Hebeler, Glen Jackson days last night.
BC rushing three with the 4th guy shading his actions was fun to watch as even that three hurt the Bombers when they pulled that off.
Rick Campbell deserves a ton of credit for how he brought Phillips along much like how Dave Dickinson was prepped for OC by Jon Hufnagel and Buck Pierce under Lapo and O'Shea. Just tossing a new DC or OC in the mix or continued change to find the right person is not always the best way forward.
2. Vernon Adams and how dialed in and in command of that game and his team and his own performance was Player of the Week material.
Just maybe not having to look over his shoulder all the time brings the best out of him.
Not killing that 49 seconds before the half but risking a momentum swing if you toss an INT by attacking and succeeding in a TD was incredible credit to VA and the coaching staff's belief that this was the way to play it. It could have gone from 17-6 to 17-13 or 14 with one errant pass (none of which Adams is tossing so far). Most coaches there just want to get out of the half safely - not actually score a TD.
3. Benevides seems to have those ST players focused as Grant is the best returner in the CFL right now.
Didn't notice if Bene was chest bumping like the old days, but I honestly believe seeing him in recent years he's more subdued in that regard and less wanting to be the show like the old days competing with Jacque C for best performance by a supporting actor.
Edit to add link to article by Jeff Hamilton, Winnipeg Free Press
https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/break ... s-big-blueLions defence mauls Big Blue
Collaros sacked seven times as B.C. rises to top of CFL West
This article has a lot of classy comments about BC by Bryant, O'Shea, Collaros and Bighill - something that characterizes the winning teams over the average. They know what it takes to win and it's not trash talking.
Lions solve Winnipeg’s home-field mystique with epic beatdown of Bombers
Author of the article:Ted Wyman
“We just got our ass whupped, basically,” Bombers offensive lineman Stanley Bryant said.
https://winnipegsun.com/sports/lions-so ... of-bombers“We struggled. We took our turns all around on offence. We’ve got to be better up front. It was physical tonight and we didn’t step up to the challenge.”
"Ability without character will lose." - Marv Levy
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Toppy Vann
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JC Abbot's long review of the Lions decimation of the Bombers on 3 Down:
Abbott does a good job of comparing last year to this years team so it's overall a typical great read from him.Lions’ defence plays kingslayer & 10 other thoughts on B.C. upsetting the Bombers
https://3downnation.com/2023/06/23/lion ... e-bombers/More impressive than the calls was the precision with which every Lions’ defender seemed to perform their duties.
"Ability without character will lose." - Marv Levy
Nothing makes a secondary look as good as a good front four. And the rotation we've built with eight guys rotating in and out of that front four is what makes the defense. Of course, guys have to cover, not just play zone, and having a secondary capable of doing both when called upon matters as well.Toppy Vann wrote: ↑Fri Jun 23, 2023 9:10 amThree things stood out that others touch on that were inarguably keys to not just winning a tight game, but decisively defeating the Bombers:
1. Ryan Phillip's defense both in tactics against the former vaunted OL of the Bombers but every player on the field for the entire 60 min.
This is the best defensively coached Lions team since Dave Ritchie.
Usually, it's Bombers defenders striking terror into Receivers. Last night it was all BC.
A year ago IIRC there were criticisms of the Lions defense not being good tacklers. Not last night. The Lions flipped the script in every aspect of the DEF game.
Is this possibly the best Lion's defense in Lion history in the making?
BC rushing three with the 4th guy shading his actions was fun to watch as even that three hurt the Bombers when they pulled that off.
Rick Campbell deserves a ton of credit for how he brought Phillips along much like how Dave Dickinson was prepped for OC by Jon Hufnagel and Buck Pierce under Lapo and O'Shea. Just tossing a new DC or OC in the mix or continued change to find the right person is not always the best way forward.
3. Benevides seems to have those ST players focused as Grant is the best returner in the CFL right now.
I do agree with you that this is likely on its way to becoming the best since the Ritchie days. But what I think is even better is that Ritchie and Stubler would bend between the 20s and this version is much more aggressive. Which makes me as an observer even happier.
On the Special Teams front, I think Terry Williams speed helps a lot, however the best friend of a Special Teams Coordinator is good depth, and good depth comes from good drafting and player personnel decisions, and we've done well in this department also.
That's a wordy way of agreeing with you, but these are high times and I'm excited to see them next week in Toronto.
In fact, here's a key difference between Stubler/Ritchie and Phillips. The former would rely on zone secondary coverage to stifle defenses. Phillips is more aggressive in that he leverages the front six/seven through stunting to create pressure.Whether it was sending Emmanuel Rugamba screaming off the edge when he knew Winnipeg’s sixth OL would down block, allowing linebacker Ben Hladlik to loop outside and free up space for stunting defensive ends, or simply trusting in three-man pressure to get the job done, RP seemed to innately know exactly what was needed on every down. The result was seven sacks for B.C. and a usually unflappable opposing quarterback looking deeply unsettled.
Last edited by cromartie on Fri Jun 23, 2023 9:55 am, edited 1 time in total.
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SammyGreene
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- Joined: Sun Oct 06, 2002 11:52 am
Great prediction on the key to the game squishy35. You nailed it although I don't think any of us was expecting that kind of dominating performance from the d-line.
The Lions have gone the exact opposite of the Bombers' blueprint for success which is loading up your nationals on offence and starting just 1 on defence. Can't recall the last time we had this many impact nationals on defence. Maybe 1980s? (Konar, Jackson, Hebeler, Klassen). Much of Wally's glory years it was just 2 (Johnson & Glatt).
The Lions raised eyebrows when they signed Betts to big money ($180,000 plus) in 2022 after not playing up to his expectations as a high draft pick in Edmonton. There maybe no bigger pending free agent next off-season as a ratio busting impact DE. Hopefully an extension happens sooner than later.
Another player poised for a huge raise is the ever-improving Hladik who is in the final year of his rookie deal. What a steal as a 3rd round pick in the 2021 draft. His range was on full display last night.
A couple of thoughts after our huge victory last night.
1) Phillips gets all the credit for our defence and rightfully so, but we have 9 defensive lineman that are all playing outstanding, It is no coincidence that this line and Bettis have gotten a lot better since John Bowman was hired as the defensive line coach. You don't hear much about him but our linemen seem to be much quicker off the ball and we seem to be running more stunts etc.
2) Since turning the defensive duties over to Phillips, Coach Campbell seems to be on top of everything during the games even telling the line judge before the ball was snapped that Winnipeg was lined up offside. This move frees him up to concentrate solely on managing the game.
3) Benny brings the little things to the Special teams to make them special. Benny preaches Pride, Hustle and discipline. Players seem to play hard for him. While we did not break any punt returns last night I am pretty sure we played clean with no blocking penalties enabling us to get positive yardage on each return.
4) The two penalties by Baron and Maugher were costly but boy did they ever send a message.
6) The Lions have not dominated Winnipeg's O and D Lines like that since the early 80's
5) Although it was only one win early in the season, it was something that we could not do in a meaning full game against the bombers last year. On the Blue bomber website the talk is all about how the Blue Bombers did not show up. The fans still believe they are the dominant team and the game was a one off. But if you looked at the Blue Bomber players on the sideline they knew that they were dominated and they had no answer. Now one win doesn't mean we will be Grey Cup Champions and we may not beat them next time. BUT the doubt is in there minds and they know that they are going to be in for a long physical battle when they play the Lions this year.
1) Phillips gets all the credit for our defence and rightfully so, but we have 9 defensive lineman that are all playing outstanding, It is no coincidence that this line and Bettis have gotten a lot better since John Bowman was hired as the defensive line coach. You don't hear much about him but our linemen seem to be much quicker off the ball and we seem to be running more stunts etc.
2) Since turning the defensive duties over to Phillips, Coach Campbell seems to be on top of everything during the games even telling the line judge before the ball was snapped that Winnipeg was lined up offside. This move frees him up to concentrate solely on managing the game.
3) Benny brings the little things to the Special teams to make them special. Benny preaches Pride, Hustle and discipline. Players seem to play hard for him. While we did not break any punt returns last night I am pretty sure we played clean with no blocking penalties enabling us to get positive yardage on each return.
4) The two penalties by Baron and Maugher were costly but boy did they ever send a message.
6) The Lions have not dominated Winnipeg's O and D Lines like that since the early 80's
5) Although it was only one win early in the season, it was something that we could not do in a meaning full game against the bombers last year. On the Blue bomber website the talk is all about how the Blue Bombers did not show up. The fans still believe they are the dominant team and the game was a one off. But if you looked at the Blue Bomber players on the sideline they knew that they were dominated and they had no answer. Now one win doesn't mean we will be Grey Cup Champions and we may not beat them next time. BUT the doubt is in there minds and they know that they are going to be in for a long physical battle when they play the Lions this year.