Lions 44 - Riders 10, Post Game Stats and Comments

[MexicoLionFan]

Thanks for the comments Joe and BC Fan...there really is a great nucleus of bloggers here, lots of insight...

I agree BCFan that there just aren't many, if any spots available on this team...those that were on the "bubble" have responded big time...and yet the Lions have brought in at least 8-10 guys that can play, right now, in this league...it will be very interesting to see which backups get minutes against EE and then what happens to them...

What I would like is your, Joe's, and everyone's comments on the Lin J Shell situation...he seemed to me to be sulking when he got on the field last week as he can only see himself at this point as the dime back and back up to the other secondary spots...is this why we brought him in??? He's got size for a CFL DB, he hits hard, and is a tackling machine...IMO he needs to be on the field...that is why you sign ALL STARS, to allow them to start and make your team better!

Thoughts...

[WestCoastJoe]

Thanks for the comments Joe and BC Fan...there really is a great nucleus of bloggers here, lots of insight...

I agree BCFan that there just aren't many, if any spots available on this team...those that were on the "bubble" have responded big time...and yet the Lions have brought in at least 8-10 guys that can play, right now, in this league...it will be very interesting to see which backups get minutes against EE and then what happens to them...

What I would like is your, Joe's, and everyone's comments on the Lin J Shell situation...he seemed to me to be sulking when he got on the field last week as he can only see himself at this point as the dime back and back up to the other secondary spots...is this why we brought him in??? He's got size for a CFL DB, he hits hard, and is a tackling machine...IMO he needs to be on the field...that is why you sign ALL STARS, to allow them to start and make your team better!

Thoughts...

Well, MLFan, it seems that you are, or were, a Lin J Shell fan. I don't know him or his play, other than that he had success previously. I was a bit surprised when we brought in both Shell and Parker. IMO neither of them was a sure thing to start with us. On the other hand, I am a big fan of Anthony Reddick. Also a hard hitter. Can play DB or CFL nickelback/linebacker. Perhaps Shell saw himself as a lock for halfback or even for nickelback. I would not have bet on that.

In regard to bringing in all stars and them expecting to start, I don't know about that. I would say you bring them in and they have to actually be better than their competition to start. I would have said even Parker was not guaranteed a starting spot, although I expect Phillips was not seen as a true cornerback, more of a ballhawking halfback. So Parker could see himself as top candidate for that wideside corner.

I didn't see it, but if Lin J Shell sulked, that is very bad news for him. Perhaps he sees the writing on the wall. Dunno ...

But for sure, one of the advantages of a deep and talented team is that competition really sharpens the edge for all the players. You have to perform well. No guarantees.

I've never seen a Lions team so deep and talented. Pretty much everywhere. And focused. So many leaders amongst the players. Lulay. Simon. Jackson. Banks. Williams. McKenzie. On and on.

In retrospect it is kind of amazing that such a team could go 0 and 5 to start last year. As I've indicated a number of times however, IMO that was a coaching malaise, stuck in the mud, old ideas, overly conservative. IMO when we opened up the playbooks, and took the approach of going for it, it turned in our favour. Not really a surprise to see Mike Benevides having a go for it attitude. I love that. And I love the hoodie too. LOL Belichick Junior. It looks to me like the players have bought in totally to his leadership.

I don't think our team is anywhere near old. Wally has always kept the age factor under control. These veterans deserve a chance to go for the repeat. If we don't get it, then we can expect some changes next year. Tad Kornegay (who played very well for us IMO) and the unlucky, unappreciated Jerome Dennis are amongst the few changes from last year.

[Rammer]

In retrospect it is kind of amazing that such a team could go 0 and 5 to start last year. As I've indicated a number of times however, IMO that was a coaching malaise, stuck in the mud, old ideas, overly conservative. IMO when we opened up the playbooks, and took the approach of going for it, it turned in our favour. Not really a surprise to see Mike Benevides having a go for it attitude. I love that. And I love the hoodie too. LOL Belichick Junior. It looks to me like the players have bought in totally to his leadership.

We found some offensive plays that were outside the box, and by box I mean the run plays not going up the A gaps. We were always told that running plays were hard to develop and yet there were the Esks with brand new everything utilizing their running game with success. I will never really understand why Chapdelaine was stuck on his 3 play running game, but when that opened up, it seemed the entire O did as well.

Now if Benevides lives up to the go for it attitude that he has been labelled with, it may be the change for this season that will catch our opposition off balance. With the team that the Lions have on paper, there really isn't any reason not to allow them to have fun and take the game to their opponents.

[B.C.FAN]

Thanks for the comments Joe and BC Fan...there really is a great nucleus of bloggers here, lots of insight...

I agree BCFan that there just aren't many, if any spots available on this team...those that were on the "bubble" have responded big time...and yet the Lions have brought in at least 8-10 guys that can play, right now, in this league...it will be very interesting to see which backups get minutes against EE and then what happens to them...

What I would like is your, Joe's, and everyone's comments on the Lin J Shell situation...he seemed to me to be sulking when he got on the field last week as he can only see himself at this point as the dime back and back up to the other secondary spots...is this why we brought him in??? He's got size for a CFL DB, he hits hard, and is a tackling machine...IMO he needs to be on the field...that is why you sign ALL STARS, to allow them to start and make your team better!

Thoughts...

I didn't watch enough of Lin-J Shell in Toronto to know his strengths and weaknesses. It was clear that he was let go in the offseason because he didn't have the man coverage skill to play in the system of new defensive coordinator Chris Jones. That quickly became evident when I watched him in camp and in preseason against Saskatchewan. He might still have a productive role in a Rich Stubler defence. Stubler loves veterans who can read and react and hit. The nickel position requires players who are strong against the run and pass. Shell in many ways is the opposite of Josh Bell, who brings NFL experience and strong man coverage skills but lacks CFL experience and is susceptible to rookie mistakes. There's probably not room for both of them on a 42-man roster unless the coaches abandon their search for a six-man rotation on the defensive line and use the extra import spot for a backup DB who can contibute on special teams.

[TheLionKing]

We found some offensive plays that were outside the box, and by box I mean the run plays not going up the A gaps. We were always told that running plays were hard to develop and yet there were the Esks with brand new everything utilizing their running game with success. I will never really understand why Chapdelaine was stuck on his 3 play running game, but when that opened up, it seemed the entire O did as well.

Nothing more than a convenient excuse not to run the ball. Other teams seem to have no trouble running the ball. Funny how the offence suddenly became more dangerous when the Lions finally started running the ball

[Blitz]

In retrospect it is kind of amazing that such a team could go 0 and 5 to start last year. As I've indicated a number of times however, IMO that was a coaching malaise, stuck in the mud, old ideas, overly conservative. IMO when we opened up the playbooks, and took the approach of going for it, it turned in our favour. Not really a surprise to see Mike Benevides having a go for it attitude. I love that. And I love the hoodie too. LOL Belichick Junior. It looks to me like the players have bought in totally to his leadership.
/quote]
Rammer:
We found some offensive plays that were outside the box, and by box I mean the run plays not going up the A gaps. We were always told that running plays were hard to develop and yet there were the Esks with brand new everything utilizing their running game with success. I will never really understand why Chapdelaine was stuck on his 3 play running game, but when that opened up, it seemed the entire O did as well.

Now if Benevides lives up to the go for it attitude that he has been labelled with, it may be the change for this season that will catch our opposition off balance. With the team that the Lions have on paper, there really isn't any reason not to allow them to have fun and take the game to their opponents.

As it appears riight now.....it looks like last years receiving crew will be back, including Keirrie Johnson as the starter. He does have scary speed, can run the reverse, and also run back punts. Im more partial to a tall, rangy receiver like Moore but as it stands right now it will either be Moore or Jackson on the practice roster. I still have no idea why Iannuzzi, who has not proven anything will likely be the first guy in over Paris Jackson, whose attitute and play continues to impress over Iannuzzi.

On defense I was surprised that Shell was put on the depth chart behind Reddick at nickelback going into training camp. When we signed Shell, I would have thought that we were looking for a place in the starting lineup for him and likely thought he would be competing against Phillips or be part of an all import defensive backfield...that move surprised.

Another surprise was that Cauchy Muamba was given the starting safety position on the roster going into training camp with Larose behind him on the depth chart. A number of Lionbackers, including myself, wanted Muamba to start in the second half of last season over LaRose. However, LaRose was our staring safety in the Grey Cup game so the move to Muamba was not expected. Its looking like Bell is going to make the roster...best man cover guy in camp although my money would still be on Banks in live action as our best cover guy.

Our Leos continue to search for a pure rush end and we need one. In the defensive line rotation, Keron Williams and Smith both have the ability to move inside when a pure rush end comes into the lineup. At this point, no one has seized the job or knocked Joe Smith of his perch in the depth chart. Henley has not stepped up the way I hoped. Evans right now is the only recruit who has made any impression at all and we're brought in another defensive end in Peguese for a look.

Both Dean Valli and Jon Hameister-Rees are hoping to be in the starting lineup to start the season. Norman is likely still going back to school. Its insane that a player can be drafted, return to school, and the CFL tream loses his rights and he can sign anywhere the following season. It makes a mockery of the draft and has to be changed, especially with so many players returning to the univeristy ranks after being drafted these days. Norman is in a tough spot because if he doesn't return to university this year to complete his teaching certificate the Ontario rules change and he has to go back for two years.

Both Doege and Norman have been the surprises of camp...both very good news stories....looks like we'll continue to work with Doege and all we can do is hope Norman will come back to our Leos and show some loyalty if he does return to university, which is likely.

[MexicoLionFan]

I think you are right BCFan about Shell and Bell...two different DBs...ultimately it will come down to what Stubler feels he can get the most mileage out of...and I also think that Joe is quite right about Shell, that he needs to get out of whatever funk he is in and compete...find a way to make the Lions put you and keep you on the field...

I like the concept of Shell at safety because he doesn't have to provide a lot of man coverage, and at the same time is able to add a strong physical presence and intimidation on the back end that the Lions have been missing for a decade...

Either way, he has to step us his game and attitude and WIN a spot on this incredibly talented roster!

[Sir Purrcival]

As a fan, it is a nice situation to be in, having a roster that looks as deep in most positions as any team that I can recall in recent memory. For the LJ Shells, however, it must be a difficult shift. Coming from a team that has been an "also ran" for so many seasons where the competition for a roster spot has been far less severe to a defending Grey Cup Champion team that has most of it's roster returning from last year and in some ways looks to be even stronger has to be difficult. It it sometimes hard to come out of the spot light to be one of the chorus. Lin J was one of the brighter lights on a very sad sack Toronto team. His release was a bit perplexing, maybe we are beginning to see part of the reason behind that???

[MexicoLionFan]

Good thoughts SP...it has to be a major shift for Shell to come over here, as an All Star, and be asked to compete for the dime spot...but as I said, he has to fight hard, and be so good that the Leos cannot afford to keep him off the field...

Great post Blitz, and so true about Norman...it is absolutely INSANE what is going on here...that is why I said that the Leos have to do something to work out a deal with Norman...he is our starting LG or RG for a decade and we can't just let him go and see what happens next year...if he is eligible for the draft, he will never make it to us in the #8 slot...

I also agree with the IMPORT WR spot...I would prefer to see a healthy Nick Moore in there over tiny tot Kierri Johnson, but it is a long season and a lot can happen over 18 games...

[Toppy Vann]

We found some offensive plays that were outside the box, and by box I mean the run plays not going up the A gaps. We were always told that running plays were hard to develop and yet there were the Esks with brand new everything utilizing their running game with success. I will never really understand why Chapdelaine was stuck on his 3 play running game, but when that opened up, it seemed the entire O did as well.

Nothing more than a convenient excuse not to run the ball. Other teams seem to have no trouble running the ball. Funny how the offence suddenly became more dangerous when the Lions finally started running the ball

We have to hope the new HC has a low tolerance for idiocy and dumb statements from assistant coaches. If they go back to the old Chaps it could get tough. This is the only coach in football that I can recall who has ever said that the running game is hard for professional players to learn. That was bizarre. With the Lions using a former OL as a running backs coach - Kelly Bates - it is scary. Kruck-Dorazio in 2007 had no trouble getting the Lions some running plays.

I am confident that MB won't put up with the crap that the Lions can't learn the run game like other teams do though as they will need to be able to run to win.