Lions at Ticats Aug. 15 - Game Day Thread

[B.C.FAN]

The Ticats are a purrfect 9-0 at home since moving into Tim Hortons Field last year, and are reportedly 8.5-point favourites to beat the Lions on Saturday. In 2011 when the Lions were rolling toward their last Grey Cup championship, they arrived in Hamilton late in the season and were spanked 42-10. Will this be the year that the tables are turned? Circumstances seem to be falling into place to give the Lions a good shot at a victory. Hamilton WR Bakari Grant will miss the game with an injury. Grant leads the Ticats and ranks sixth in the league with 389 receiving yards and his four TDs are tied for third in the CFL, two behind Andrew Harris's league-leading six TDs. Hamilton slotback Andy Fantuz, the team's third leading receiver with 311 yards, is on the six-gme injured list along with running back C.J. Gable.

The three keys to the game for B.C.:

1. Match the Ticats' intensity and avoid turnovers. This may seem like two keys but it's really one. The key to the Hamilton defence and special teams is intensity. They attack the ball and hit hard. Opponents that are passive or don't have ways to keep them off balance will pay a big price. The Ticats lead the league with a turnover margin of +8, and that doesn't count the onside kick recovery and partially blocked punt that set up touchdowns for them last week against Winnipeg, along with two pick-sixes. They make their own breaks and make teams pay for breakdowns.

2. Don't give up the long ball. It's been well documented that the B.C. defence has given up more big plays than anyone, especially against the pass. The Ticats scored on a 58-yard TD pass to Terrence Toliver last week against Winnipeg. It was the only touchdown Hamilton's offence generated on its own. The Ticats were gifted 28 points on Winnipeg turnovers and special-teams gaffes. With Bakari Grant and Andy Fantuz injured, Toliver is Hamilton's only proven receiving weapon.

3. Exploit the blitz. Like Edmonton, Hamilton's defence likes to blitz and give multiple looks. In that sense, playing Edmonton's top-ranked defence last week was a purrfect tuneup for second-ranked Hamilton. Hamilton DC Orlondo Steinauer is the best young coach in the league. The Lions need to attack his defence with misdirection, play action and heavy doses of Andrew Harris and A.C. Leonard. Travis Lulay will need to be patient and protect the ball and receivers will need to win some one-on-one matchups.

[DanoT]

The Ticats are a purrfect 9-0 at home since moving into Tim Hortons Field last year, and are reportedly 8.5-point favourites to beat the Lions on Saturday. In 2011 when the Lions were rolling toward their last Grey Cup championship, they arrived in Hamilton late in the season and were spanked 42-10. Will this be the year that the tables are turned? Circumstances seem to be falling into place to give the Lions a good shot at a victory. Hamilton WR Bakari Grant, for my money the best national receiver in the league, will miss the game with an injury. Grant leads the Ticats and ranks sixth in the league with 389 receiving yards and his four TDs are tied for third in the CFL, two behind Andrew Harris's league-leading six TDs. Hamilton slotback Andy Fantuz, the team's third leading receiver with 311 yards, is on the six-gme injured list along with running back C.J. Gable.

The three keys to the game for B.C.:

1. Match the Ticats' intensity and avoid turnovers. This may seem like two keys but it's really one. The key to the Hamilton defence and special teams is intensity. They attack the ball and hit hard. Opponents that are passive or don't have ways to keep them off balance will pay a big price. The Ticats lead the league with a turnover margin of +8, and that doesn't count the onside kick recovery and partially blocked punt that set up touchdowns for them last week against Winnipeg, along with two pick-sixes. They make their own breaks and make teams pay for breakdowns.

2. Don't give up the long ball. It's been well documented that the B.C. defence has given up more big plays than anyone, especially against the pass. The Ticats scored on a 58-yard TD pass to Terrence Toliver last week against Winnipeg. It was the only touchdown Hamilton's offence generated on its own. The Ticats were gifted 28 points on Winnipeg turnovers and special-teams gaffes. With Bakari Grant and Andy Fantuz injured, Toliver is Hamilton's only proven receiving weapon.

3. Exploit the blitz. Like Edmonton, Hamilton's defence likes to blitz and give multiple looks. In that sense, playing Edmonton's top-ranked defence last week was a purrfect tuneup for second-ranked Hamilton. Hamilton DC Orlondo Steinauer is the best young coach in the league. The Lions need to attack his defence with misdirection, play action and heavy doses of Andrew Harris and A.C. Leonard. Travis Lulay will need to be patient and protect the ball and receivers will need to win some one-on-one matchups.

Grant would be a top National WR except he is an International.

[B.C.FAN]

Grant would be a top National WR except he is an International.

You're so right, DanoT. I don't know where I got that from but I've edited my original post so I don't lead anyone else astray.

[Blitz]

Grant would be a top National WR except he is an International.

You're so right, DanoT. I don't know where I got that from but I've edited my original post so I don't lead anyone else astray.

You always lead us to insight and not astry B.C.FAN...thanks for your Keys to the Game.

The Hamilton Tiger Cats continue to improve under Kent Austin. The Tabbies made the right choice in dumping Cortez as a Head Coach after only one season there and hiring Austin. Right now, there are fans who are also believe that the Riders also made the right choice in dumping Cortez. The Riders have , by far, the best offence in the CFL, the best running attack, and the most dangerous passing attack with the new system employed by Chapdealine. Messam is averaging over 7.3 yards per carry, Glenn had the best quarterback efficiency average in the CFL before getting hurt, and rookie Brandon Smith threw for almost 300 yards in only his second CFL start. The Riders are also doing it with a rookie Canadian center, to boot.

In the meantime, our offence has been very inconsistent, as well as very ineffective, under Cortez, despite excellent pass blocking, excellent running by Harris who has benefited by some excellent run blocking. Not one of our receivers is in the top 20 in receiving so far this season as our passing attack has sputtered most of the time. On defense, we enter this game as the worst defense in the CFL and one good second half against Edmonton, with the Eskimos going conservative as well as Nichols missing passes and the Eskimos also missing their best receiver for that second half of play is not evidence of a turnaround yet.

Both Cortez and Washington need to make scheme changes if we want to become a top tier team. Cortez needs to get out of the spread as often, use our tight end properly, get some motion into our offence. and adjust the passing attack. Washington needs to do more of what he did in the second half against Edmonton - let Bighill be a linebacker as well as begin using our defensive personell in areas of strength. A more aggressive attack and a more dynamic defense using a more complex scheme wculd do wonders.

Here are my KEYS TO THE GAME.

IMPROVE OUR PASSING ATTACK

Defenses, more and more this season, will attempt to take away our running attack and Lulay throwing to Harris out of the backfield. Harris is going to get keyed more and more, defenses will load the box more and more, and defenses will blitz us more and more, both as run and pass blitzes, to shut down our run and to dare Lulay to beat them with his arm.

While we cant go away from Harris running and receiving, its going to become more difficult for Harris to be 50% of our offence. Hamilton will key Harris and blitz. We need more hot reads in our offence, more motion for quick hit pass attempts in space, and we need to move the pocket more for Lulay and give him double threat options. Defenses cannot key both Harris and Lulay if he is a double threat quarterback.

We will still need to go deep on occasion against the blitz but we need more variety aginst the blitz, as well as in general, in our passing game. Lulay needs to be more accurate, our receivers need to be given more possession style routes rather than the overdose of vertical patterns. and we need more misdirection play action on first down to burn defenses that overplay our run on first down.

PLAY A TIGHTER VERSION OF DEFENSE

Collaras is a quarterback with an accurate arm who can throw the intermediate route very well. A passive zone defense is the worst choice against him. In order to win this game, we need to use Bighill as a linebacker, and not a safety, and play tighter zone defense. We need to mix our defense more often and give Hamilton multiple looks and disguises.

Outside of one second half of play our defense has continued to get worse and worse under Mark Washington. The definition of stupidy is doing something over and over again that doesn't work. Westerman has zero sacks. Roh gets burned as a run defender but has pass rush moves. The obvious would be to move Westerman back inside with Brooks, who has played very well, and alternate Bazzie, Smith, and Roh as defensive ends.

Tighetr defense is also the style that plays to our defensive back strengths. Ronnie Yell, Cord Parks, T.J. Lee, Ryan Phillips, and Stephen Clarke are all ball hawking style of defensive backs who are at their best when allowed to play aggressively. We also have the best linebacking corps in the CFL in Eliminian, Bighill, Johnson, Ellis, and Lokombo. Its a wealth of riches that are being misused. Time for that to change.

SPEICAL TEAMS

Whether its blocking for the punt return or being prepared for onside kickoffs our special teams units need to be better. We need significant improvement in many areas but we are consistently mediocre in these areas under McMann. This is a game in which special teams could determine the outcome, especially due to how dangerous Hamiltons return game is. Leone would be wise to be instructed to punt the football out of bounds but we also need to be able to corral a dangerous punt returner with good downfield lane discipline and good tackling, especially if Leone does not get a punt out of bounds.

WRAP

Hamilton is a 9 point favorite for good reason. Our passing attack and defense has not been good enough this season. If we want to win this game, both units will have to play better and our special teams will have to be good.

Go Leos go!!

[WestCoastJoe]

Great stuff, Guys.

Kent Austin can build a team in a hurry. All he has ever done as a Head Coach is win. Trips to the Grey Cup in each of his seasons as Head Coach in the CFL.

Not especially loved by the media, or some fans, it seems. Can be prickly like a thorn. Seemingly on his best behaviour with the media these days. Smiling. Trying to be a bit humourous. But it seems to me his contempt for the media shows through.

Nevertheless his teams play hard for him. He gives quarterbacks confidence. His judgment of talent is second to none. He knows how to get productivity out of players and a team. He is an expert at the Xs and Os of football.

He is kind of a rolling stone. You never know how long he will stay in one place. But as long as he is in Hamilton, it seems to me, his Ti-Cats will contend for the title.
..................

Some obvious keys for us:

* Run effectively with Andrew Harris behind a very productive O Line.

* Hit the seams and some deep routes when Hamilton blitzes.

* Get pressure on Collaros. Hmmmm ... Is that a faint hope when we seldom blitz, or blitz effectively?

* Stop the run by the Ti-Cats. One can hope.

This fan would be happy if we can keep it close. Victory for us? Bonus. Big time bonus.
...............

Tough to put a load of pressure/expectations on one guy, but QBs make the big bucks, and the team rides on their backs. If Lulay plays like the Lulay of 2011, we can play with anyone. If his stuggles continue, we will struggle.

[B.C.FAN]

The Lions are continuing to tinker with their secondary to try to improve downfield coverage. Cord Parks moves back to wide-side corner for this game while T.J. Lee is activated and returns to his short-side halfback spot occupied by Parks last week. Steven Clark is the odd man out but remains on the 46-man roster. There are no changes on offence as the club remains one of the healthiest in the league.

This week's depth chart is here.

[BC 1988]

It's Tim Hortons Field now, but for me the fateful day for the Lions was Oct 12, 2012. It was old Ivor Wynne (with the dangerously narrow sidelines). BC rolled to an easy 37-17 win, but late in the game Lulay was ragdolled into the wall and suffered his first (as a Leo) shoulder injury.

If they can get out of this game without major injuries, that will be a plus. A win would be an (unlikely) bonus.

The weather forecast tomorrow is 30 (feels like 39) and risk of a thunderstorm.

[David]

Keys To The Game:

* Control the clock. Keep the Ti-Cats vaunted O off the field with sustained drives.
* Attack, Attack, Attack. Hamilton's O-line is the weakest unit on their team IMHO. Let's see if they can pick up the blitz.
* Spy Collaros. Have one of our linebackers spy him to make sure he doesn't tuck the ball under his arm and take off. He's quick and slippery.
* Be careful of all the misdirection Hamilton will throw at us. Ham (along with CGY and TOR) may be the best in the league at it. Don't get suckered.
* Kick away from Banks. Long, low line drives away from him would be a good strategy.


DH

[DanoT]

The Lions Oline is up against arguably the best Dline in the CFL and they will be focused on stopping Harris, so it will be a big test for BC.

Lulay is at his best when spreading the ball around to all the receivers, something he will need to do if the TiCats have success against Harris.

On D, the good news is that the TiCats don't run much and Grant, Fantuz and Cable are out.

On Special teams the bad news is that they are going against the best returner in the game in Brandon Banks. Look for Banks to have several good returns either scoring or giving the Lions a long field most of the game.

I don't see the Lions winning this one.

[Blitz]

The Lions Oline is up against arguably the best Dline in the CFL and they will be focused on stopping Harris, so it will be a big test for BC.

Lulay is at his best when spreading the ball around to all the receivers, something he will need to do if the TiCats have success against Harris.

On D, the good news is that the TiCats don't run much and Grant, Fantuz and Cable are out.

On Special teams the bad news is that they are going against the best returner in the game in Brandon Banks. Look for Banks to have several good returns either scoring or giving the Lions a long field most of the game.

I don't see the Lions winning this one.

Excellent points Dano!!

Lee will return to the tough short side halfback spot this game and Parks goes back to wideside corner, replacing Clarke. I thought Clarke played well overall and would be a good dime back if we ever decide to use one.

[Qman]

IMPROVE OUR PASSING ATTACK

Defenses, more and more this season, will attempt to take away our running attack and Lulay throwing to Harris out of the backfield. Harris is going to get keyed more and more, defenses will load the box more and more, and defenses will blitz us more and more, both as run and pass blitzes, to shut down our run and to dare Lulay to beat them with his arm.

While we cant go away from Harris running and receiving, its going to become more difficult for Harris to be 50% of our offence. Hamilton will key Harris and blitz. We need more hot reads in our offence, more motion for quick hit pass attempts in space, and we need to move the pocket more for Lulay and give him double threat options. Defenses cannot key both Harris and Lulay if he is a double threat quarterback.

We will still need to go deep on occasion against the blitz but we need more variety aginst the blitz, as well as in general, in our passing game. Lulay needs to be more accurate, our receivers need to be given more possession style routes rather than the overdose of vertical patterns. and we need more misdirection play action on first down to burn defenses that overplay our run on first down.


Go Leos go!!

FYI
Saw these interesting stats today.
We are going to Taylor way to much or he is not getting open. You would expect Arceneaux to be under 60% because he is getting lots of deep balls, but you cannot get this kind of production out of the key receiver position. Also, wish we went to the TE more ... seem to all the time on those long scoring drives then cortez forgets about leonard.


Roar Report ‏@RoarReport
#BCLions stats:
Lulay completion %

Taylor/Burnham 41%
Collie 59%
Arceneaux 57%
RBs 79% (Harris 81%)
Leonard/Morrah 68%
Gore 71%


Roar Report ‏@RoarReport
#BCLions stats
Lulay pass distribution (targets)

Taylor/Burnham 39
Collie 37
Arceneaux 35
RBs 34 (Harris 32)
Leonard/Morrah 22
Gore 21

[TheLionKing]

Big challenge for our Lions this week as they face the league leading Ti-Cats. The Ti-Cats are undefeated in their new digs. Sooner or later someone is going to knock them off. Might as well be our Lions. Hamilton will be focusing on stopping Andrew Harris. Some play action should be part of the game plan.

[Coast Mountain Lion]

FYI

Roar Report ‏@RoarReport
#BCLions stats:
Lulay completion %

Taylor/Burnham 41%
Collie 59%
Arceneaux 57%
RBs 79% (Harris 81%)
Leonard/Morrah 68%
Gore 71%


Roar Report ‏@RoarReport
#BCLions stats
Lulay pass distribution (targets)

Taylor/Burnham 39
Collie 37
Arceneaux 35
RBs 34 (Harris 32)
Leonard/Morrah 22
Gore 21

So basically, it looks like he needs to throw more to Gore and less to Taylor and Burnham. Gore seems to do well at getting open but has been trying to get himself noticed for a few years now. But when he does get noticed he seems to catch the ball, a couple of notorious recent drops notwithstanding.

[TheLionKing]

Gore might get a few more balls thrown his way if he holds on to the football. Too many dropsies for my liking.

[Toppy Vann]

It's pregame days and the Ticats assistants give media interviews - Reinbold, Steinhauser - both speaking openly to BC reporters. Cortez though - tight lipped but did say he enjoyed his year with the Cats as HC but nothing on the Lions game.

Kent Austin always speaks too and glowingly as he did with his tilt pre-Argos where he compared Harris and Collaros. But BC coaches are a breed different and don't seem very quotable....lol

Austin virtually recited the entire Lions lineup, listing accolades seemingly to play down the fact that his team is a nine-point betting favourite Saturday and can look forward to position mismatches all over the field.

“Andrew Harris is having a really good field running and catching the ball out of the backfield. I’m a big fan of Travis Lulay. They have big receivers. Their linebackers are very active. We have a very big challenge ahead of us,” he said.

The undefeated Ticats at Tim Horton's field are down some huge key injuries (Grant, Gable, Fantuz) with the biggest risk with the Lions is being complacent and not taking BC based on prior Lion games this year and film as a serious threat.

Maybe BC will surprise with some new offensive wrinkles but I'd be surprised if the DEF realigns in any new ways.

Penalties should again be key for both teams as it's seems they are a factor in pretty much every game this year.

The Ticats sound focused from top to bottom but key injuries and complacency with a team like BC can bring them a bad result.

Who freaking knows what BC will do and the article on kick or not to kick to Banks looks like the reporters can't get anything out of BC and have to write on something.