Leos vs Bombers Keys to the Game

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Blitz
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As our B.C. Lions prepared for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers this week the media focus was on our Leos coaching staff for a change - and it was a needed change.

Lowell Ullrich wrote an article Rule No. 1 - Protect the Quarterbackk that focused on the offensive line coaching of Dan Dorazio an picked up on a post I wrote a week or so ago that included the sack totals our offence has given up over the past 10 years and the injuries our quarterbacks have sustained. Angus Reid wrote an article that focused on keeping offensive line play simple and aggressive - reflecting comments that Rob Murphy made in the Ullrich article that Dorazio is a good technician but his schemes are often too complex or challenging for new offensive lineman to the team.

Ed Willes continued the theme with his article The X Factor for the B. C. Lions is coaching. For too long the media focus had almost been solely on the players for accountability no matter how unprepared or undiscipline or ineffectively we have played. The focus was squarely where it needed to be this week.

The recipe to get our Leos turned around is:

1. Leadership and Maturity from the Head Coaching Position.
2. Improved offensive line coaching
3. Protect the Quarterback
4. Run the Football effectively
5. Shut down the Oppositions Run
6. Get Pressure on Opposition Quarterbacks.

Its very hard to win in the CFL with inadequate coaching unless you really have superior talent over everyone else. The coaching ability bar continues to rise as the game becomes more sophisticated. Leadership is a key factor in the coaching scenario as well as strategy.

Without good offensive line play its difficult to run the football effectively and if you cant' run the football or protect the quarterback it's difficult to win in today's CFL. |The sad part is that the best season a B. C. offensive lineman plays is usually his first season. Olifoye was the Best CFL lineman in 2012 and has slid since. Valli played his best season in 2011. Our starting center's play continues to decline. I could give many more examples over the years but the trend is that a B.C. Lion offensive lineman either coming out of college, from another team, or the NFL plays well at first, if he has the talent, and then Darzazio takes away his natural tendencies and aggressiveness by being too complex. Steward started off with phenomenal play at left tackle but give him Darazio for a couple of seasons and he will be confused and lacking.

The quarterback position is paid so highly because its so important a leadership and skill position. You can't win if your quarterback is on his butt or consistently doesn't have time to throw or is injured on the sideline, with talent and consistency lost.

You may be able to get away with it for long periods of time but a defense that is weak against the run and doesn't get consistent pressure on the quarterback will eventually meet its demise. Our linebacker and defensive backfield talent is so good outside of LaRose that they have overcome these two weak areas of our defense but that is asking for so much from them.

Here are my Keys to the Game

Run the Football Effectively

Our offensive run blocking over the last two games has been awful. Without it neither Kevin Glenn or Travis Lulay has been able to overcome. Glenn starts again and he has proven, in Calgary and his wins for us this season, that he is a winner with a good running game.

Protect the Quarterback

A good run game and decent quarterback protection means offensive success. Glenn is an accurate throwing quarterback. Give him decent time and he can hurt a defense.

Shut Down the Run

We need to get better at run defense and giving our defense more second and longs. Those situations create more situatiosn for our defensive backs and linebackers to create turnovers.

Pressure the Quarterback

Quarterback pressure changes everything. It breaks down a quarterback mentally as a game goes on. It forces a quarterback to make great plays and great throws consistently and that is hard to do.

WRAP

It all starts up front, on both offense and defense. Its time for our Leos coaching staff to get our talent playing to its potential.
"When I went to Catholic high school in Philadelphia, we just had one coach for football and basketball. He took all of us who turned out and had us run through a forest. The ones who ran into the trees were on the football team". (George Raveling)
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David
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One key to the game that I would add is "go vertical." Stretch the field. Challenge the Bomber defenders occasionally. Make them think twice about a ball sailing over their head. This offense has become frustratingly methodical and predictable in its down field marches. Run on first down, gain of three. Second and 7 and hit one of our slots - sometimes we make it, sometimes we don't. Just long, clock-killing, play-it-safe game planning that's not getting us points or challenging other teams' Ds. They're cheating up on the LOS (like Calgary did 'til we burned them with the pass to EJ), putting a lot of pressure on our quarterback to release the ball in a hurry (or "run to escape pressure" like we saw with Lulay last week).

To Blitz's point, glad to see a little heat being turned up on the coaching staff. About time. Ed Willes wrote a great piece today, the key line being, "other CFL teams have certainly done more with less than the Lions of 2014...." ARTICLE HERE.

Let's hope the loss of Travis will galvanize this team and they'll rally behind KG. Last time we played Wpg we were without Ricky Schmitt. Hopefully he can make a difference for us in the field position battle.


DH :cool:
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B.C.FAN
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Good job, Blitz, and quite concise. I agree with you on the No. 1 key to the game. I have only two keys for this game.

1. Establish the running game.
Run defence is Winnipeg's weakness. Despite Andrew Harris's bravado, I don't think the Lions can rush for 250 yards this game. Even half of that total would be a significant improvement on the Lions' recent play. It would also be what the Bombers give up on average, 125 yards a game, the second most in the league. The fact is, the Lions have been unable to get any cohesion on the offensive line in recent games and have been unable to rush successfully on first down. The Lions run 50% of the time on first down. Only Saskatchewan runs more on first down (55%). But the Lions' average first-down production (5.8 yards) is tied with Ottawa's for second worst in the league. Only Montreal's is worse.

I agree with Angus Reid's suggestion that the Lions need to simplify their blocking scheme and let their powerful but inexperienced linemen just be aggressive instead of overthinking and missing assignments. Harris and Logan are great rushers who can bounce to the hole, change direction and find the cutback lanes. With angle blocking on the line, some misdirection from the second running back and receivers and the odd throwback, the Lions can be the aggressors, move the ball consistently, wear down the defence and dominate time of possession. This is a statement game for the offence as a whole, and for the offensive line, running backs and coaching staff in particular. You don't win many games with X's and O's. You win by being aggressive and playing as a team.

2. Stop Drew Willy
Nic Grigsby leads the league in rushing but QB Drew Willy is the key to the Bomber offence. Winnipeg ranks third in the league and first in the West in passing yards per game (264). Willy has five 300-yard passing games this season, including his 369-yard performance last week against Saskatchewan. No other CFL QB has more than two 300-yard games. Willy's completion percentage (65.5%) is second only to that of Ricky Ray. Winnipeg's average gain per pass (8.3 yards) is second only to Calgary's (8.4 yads) and the Bombers are tied with Saskatchewan for the league lead in big plays (31).

This is a match-up of strength vs. strength. The Winnipeg offence has completed a league-best 17 passes of 30 yards or more. The B.C. defence has given up a league low eight passes of 30 yards or more. The B.C. defence leads the league in many categories. B.C. has given up a league low of just 202 passing yards a game. And B.C. has given up a league-low gain of just 4.4 yards on second down. The Lions also lead the league in stopping opponents from converting on second down, allowing first downs only 35.9% of the time.

Wrap
According to the always-informative game notes published by the league, the Blue Bombers have given up a total of only four first-quarter points in the last seven games and have never trailed after the first quarter. Setting an early tone is important. The first quarter will be a huge test of whether the Lions can have success rushing the football. The Bombers have lost four of their last five games but three of those losses were by six points or less. The difference is turnovers. The Bombers have the league's second worst turnover ratio, minus-7, and teams that win the turnover battle are 34-6 this year (85% win percentage). Without those turnovers, the Bombers would be much better than 6-5.

This is a huge test against a team that is closest to the Lions in the battle for a playoff position. The Bombers can win the season series with a victory. With a B.C. victory, the Lions can move ahead of the Bombers in points, with a game in hand, and stay in contact with Edmonton and Saskatchewan in the battle for a home playoff game. We should know in the first quarter whether the Lions are prepared for the challenge.
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WestCoastJoe
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Tremendous stuff, Guys. :thup:

In many cities the coaches get vilified, then run out of town. Wally's Teflon shield, hard-earned in his outstanding career, has given his staff much protection from scrutiny and criticism. And when the team is winning, why complain?

I have great sympathy for CFL coaches. Extremely hard working. Not highly paid considering the stress they are under. Extremely long hours. A most challenging job. Win and you feel like Kings. Lose and you feel like crap. It is dog eat dog out there. No gimmes. Can't call Uncle. And yet football is a business. The bottom line is winning, or at least playing at the highest level. We see a higher level of coaching all the time, as top level new HCs take the field. This has been noted over and over again. Coaches cannot stand pat. They cannot roll out the same game plans for each opponent. Each week is a brand new deal. And the top coaches find ways to take advantage of any tendency, any weakness, any philosophy that is not playing to win. So we find ourselves challenged each week. And Wally's coaches are finally coming under the glare of judgment in the media. All the evidence one needs is the product on the field, and the tape that goes along with it.

It has been obvious that the confidence level of our O Line players is at rock bottom. Guys shuffled in and out at an alarming rate. And some would suggest that injuries in any line of work happen when people are confused and uncertain. That has to be part of it. 14 left tackles and counting. And not all of that is because of injuries. Judgments are made. Players are tried, demoted and discarded. Some, after a brief time here, refuse to pkay for this regime, and end up on the suspended list. From last week, we might see at least two new players on the O Line. Brandon and Husband would seem to be out as starters. Subject to change, of course. Change. Change. And more change.

Can our guys adjust? Can we get the O Line playing with confidence? Sure. As has been noted many, many times, the suggestion is to simplify. Get physical. Use our great strength. Forget all the reads, detailed techniques and complicated assignments. Just kick butt. Our O Line is generally much bigger than the guys they block. Blast the D out of there. As has also been noted numerous times, go back to the simple blocking scheme of the Joe Smith days. Angle right. Angle left. And the odds are you will see the tongues of the D Line hanging out.

Keys, all well noted above:

* Run the ball. We have been trying. Into brick walls. We have to get bodies on bodies and get some holes opened, if not lanes.

* Protect the QB. Move the pocket.

* Pressure the opposing QB.

The playoffs are there for the taking. But we have to do the above three things, all the way through to the end of the season.
John Madden's Team Policies: Be on time. Pay attention. Play like hell on game day.

Jimmy Johnson's Game Keys: Protect the ball. Make plays.

Walter Payton's Advice to Kids: Play hard. Play fair. Have fun.
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B.C.FAN
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The 46-man roster and depth chart are up. As discussed, there are several key changes on offence.

Offence:
-Hardrick is off the 6-game IL and starts at LT for the first time in place of Brandon. Player is out of the doghouse and listed as backup LT.
-Valli is back at RG ahead of Husband. That's a big upgrade. Valli's experience has been a major asset this year on a young line.
-Glenn, of course, starts at QB. Partridge returns as third-string QB. Lulay is on the 6-game IL
-There are no changes at running back and receiver. Poblah remains at WR in place of Jackson so Brown can stay on the roster.

Defence:
No changes on defence. Brandon Jordan, who was on the roster but scratched last week, moves to the practice roster. The stability and experience of this unit has been the Lions' strength this year.
TheLionKing
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Priority 1, protect the quarterback

Establish the run

Pressure, pressure, pressure

No turnovers or stupid penalties

Stay alert on Special Teams
South Pender
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I think a lot hinges on whether Jermarcus Hardrick can protect Glenn on the back side. Hardrick is huge, but does he have the agility and footwork to keep DEs off Glenn? Let's fervently hope so, as we can ill afford to have another QB go down. I think, more generally, the performance of our O-line is the key in this game--a game that the Lions really need to win.
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MexicoLionFan
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As I have said for a long time, the football intelligence with our group on Lionbackers is not ordinary, thus I am not surprised that Blitz was utilized as part of Lowell's story. We have been accurately dissecting the Lions for a while now, with very little response from Wally/the Lions...and that has to change if the Lions want to stay viable in an ever more difficult market.

I have "angered" and sometimes "ticked" some fans here by being so brutally honest at times about things, but I have felt like it has been my "job" to point out the painfully obvious, the so called Elephant in the room. But I am not without feelings...I hear Joe's comments about CFL coaches, in particular Asst. Coaches...they work LONG HOURS for little pay and come under the microscope quite often, but hey, THAT'S SHOWBIZ...if its an issue for them, they shouldn't be doing this...

For a long time under Wally our lack of X's and O's was hidden by the relative simplicity of the CFL game and our huge talent gap over the rest of the league, but NO LONGER. Teams are OUT scouting us and have loaded rosters...but as Joe has pointed out, it has been the influx of TOP FOOTBALL minds to the CFL's coaching ranks that has meant the greatest shift or change. Starting with Hufnagel in CGY and Treastman in MTL, this league has had a wave of outstanding football minds and innovators take over coaching vacancies, and WE HAVE MISSED OUT ON ALL OF THEM! First, Wally stayed too long and then, inexplicably, turned things over to a greenhorn who really doesn't know that much about football, honestly...he's the Barry Switzer of CDN football.

Getting rid of Chaps and Stubler were reckless moves unless you had SOMEONE in mind...on Defence they wanted Washington, IMO, he's not fully ready to be a DC as he doesn't fully understand the purpose of a defence and football in general. Defences ATTACK, not lay back and attempt to neutralize all over the field. You stay on the field too long and you don't turn the football over, and with an offence like ours, these are the two worst things to do...On offence, they wanted LaPolice, but he turned us down, and then it took a long time to settle on Jones who is CLEARLY NOT READY FOR PRIMETIME...CLEARLY!

I was in favour of moving Chaps not because he couldn't coach or wasn't smart, but because he was STUBBORN that HIS SYSTEM was the way and our talent with our coaching assistants would have to adjust to him and not the other way around. Credit to Chaps mind, that EVERYTIME he was forced to change, we were successful. But he NEVER stayed with the changes, he went back to his system and by plugging in new personnel he expected new results...that's insanity. Now we are finding out, that Chaps was clearly NOT in full control of the Offence, that Dorazio controls the OLINEs style of play and designs the running plays. Wow, those two aspects of our team are the WORST in the entire CFL. Clearly Dorazio is the, or one of the, problems and NOTHING HAPPENS TO HIM, and this is with the intelligent and young Kelly Bates WAITING to take over and elevate us to the top of OLINE play...Bates single handedly turned around our CFL Drafts when he took over from (you guessed it) Mike Benevides...we STRUCK OUT with MB in charge, and we have dominated since he was removed from that position.

The fact is the Wally stubbornly clings to HIS WAY, a system that generated great success for him, but times have changed...we have analogue coaches in a Digital world, and its killing us. Our personnel is the best in the league, and I can make a case for us easily being 2-9...we have a team that features an ALL STAR CDN RB and a CDN LT and we have the worst offence in the league after OTT. That's outrageous...we have two roster gifts that we are NOT taking advantage of.

The fact is the Lions franchise is now on the ropes because of Wally...he came here and saved it and now because he won't change/adapt he is risking it. If we don't change our Coaching significantly, this franchise will drop to the bottom of the Western Conference, battling the likes of OTT and MTL for wins and fans. This WILL NOT get fixed by time...time is NOT going to allow Jones to succeed as OC with Dorazio in charge of the OLIne and our running game. Time will not save Washington and the D, if he doesn't understand the basic need for Defences to be aggressive units...and time will not save Benevides from continual POOR coaching decisions in game, and ZERO help to his Coordinators during the week.

We have the WRONG PEOPLE coaching here, and we missed out on the likes of Jones in EDM and O'Shea in WPG, and they don't come around everyday...ultimately, losing more football games down the stretch instead of pulling out awful wins, will benefit this franchise a lot more. I know that's hard to hear, but its true nonetheless...a bad losing streak, missing the playoffs will force Wally's hand into some drastic moves...and Wally should be ashamed of himself keeping Dorazio as OL coach when Bates has been waiting in the wings for 3 years now...Brutal. Wally is wasting our talent, our stadium, our fans and our home field for the Grey Cup by sticking with this lame duck coaching staff...
"Condemnation Without Investigation is the height of ignorance."

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notahomer
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I think special teams will continue to play a big role in the background of this game. No question the things you all have mentioned are interesting things that we'll get to see play out tomorrow night under the blue skies of our open air stadium.

I appreciate what the club has tried to do with splitting up the kicking duties but in spite of some of the successes, there have been many mistakes too. For e.g. I do NOT remember a team that has had so many successful trick plays pulled on it over the course of a half season. Last week in Ottawa it was the fake field goal, watching Brown SPRINT from the endzone as he had to knock down the ball carrier. Thankfully Brown has gotten us lots of yards/points off his fine efforts but perhaps special teams play will again be somewhere as one of those half dozen or so plays that "DECIDE THE GAME". Hopefully its a positive one for the guys wearing orange....... :cool:
leo4life
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Great posts as per usual...Mexico hit the nail on the head regarding the piss poor coaching being rolled out weekly...its disgusting and Wally refuses to aknowledge the Oline issues year after year...even if this team somehow makes the playoffs they will be sent home...Benny is not a real HC and has been smug in the media:"dont care what the fans think" or "not apolgising" for last week" won nothing in big games and talking down to the fan base...also Mcmann was not mentioned in your rant Mexico,however he must retire with Dorazio at seasons end
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MexicoLionFan
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leo4life wrote:Great posts as per usual...Mexico hit the nail on the head regarding the piss poor coaching being rolled out weekly...its disgusting and Wally refuses to aknowledge the Oline issues year after year...even if this team somehow makes the playoffs they will be sent home...Benny is not a real HC and has been smug in the media:"dont care what the fans think" or "not apolgising" for last week" won nothing in big games and talking down to the fan base...also Mcmann was not mentioned in your rant Mexico,however he must retire with Dorazio at seasons end
Yep, Chuck McMann is simply not a great S Ts coach...maybe he can run the offence for Wally?
"Condemnation Without Investigation is the height of ignorance."

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notahomer
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Saw an interview by Benevides (local CTV news), you know what the number one thing he felt deserved credit?

An AWESOME EFFORT by the Coaches!?!?!?! :dizzy:

He did quickly follow that up by crediting the players too but come on........
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Rammer
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notahomer wrote:Saw an interview by Benevides (local CTV news), you know what the number one thing he felt deserved credit?

An AWESOME EFFORT by the Coaches!?!?!?! :dizzy:

He did quickly follow that up by crediting the players too but come on........
Oh no, Benevides had to have said that tongue in cheek? If he didn't, he is not long for this gig I suspect. Well unless Wally sticks around for his next contract.
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WestCoastJoe
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"Dreamer, nothin' but a dreamer ... "

Hard work, yes. Shot full of holes? Yes. D pretty good, with some quibbles about not being aggressive enough.

But there we are, 7 and 4. Loaded with talent, it seems to many of us, including Wally Buono.

Looks like we make the playoffs, even if it is through the Eastern back door. Although the East has a lousy record against the West, I expect Toronto, and either Montreal or Hamilton will give us a game.
John Madden's Team Policies: Be on time. Pay attention. Play like hell on game day.

Jimmy Johnson's Game Keys: Protect the ball. Make plays.

Walter Payton's Advice to Kids: Play hard. Play fair. Have fun.
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notahomer
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Rammer wrote:Oh no, Benevides had to have said that tongue in cheek? If he didn't, he is not long for this gig I suspect. Well unless Wally sticks around for his next contract.
Not IMO, it seemed like the effort the players made was the afterthought. His Coaches are what got the Lions ready and were the number one thing that led to last nights victory. He was smart enough to realize how DUMB it sounded and quickly added his congrats to the players as well....but it sounded like an afterthought....
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