http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/news ... db5e0b61c0
Buono laments wasted chances
Disappointed Lions coach pins loss on seven plays
Ian Walker, Vancouver Sun
Published: Monday, August 13, 2007
For the first time this season, the Lions looked to have made it through a week relatively unscathed as trainer Bill Recheilt reported no major injuries stemming from the game.
"It's such a fine thing -- like a golf swing -- if you're just off a small amount at the end of the day it makes things wide," said Buono, a former kicker himself. "I still believe it's discipline more than anything else. Stroking the ball, coming through with it. A kicker that overpivots is going to push the ball wide and to the left, which he did both times. He's got to see it for himself and he'll correct it."
Take away the seven aforementioned plays and Buono said he was pleased with B.C.'s execution on offence and defence. Quarterback Buck Pierce spread the ball around nicely, connecting with six different receivers for 243 yards and a touchdown on 19 of 31 pass attempts. The Lions' secondary held Bombers slotback Milt Stegall -- the league's all-time touchdown king -- without a catch. And although Charles Roberts scampered for 106 yards on the ground, take away a 42-yard gain on one carry and the Lions' front four and linebackers limited one of the game's best running backs to 63 yards on 16 carries.
I thought our offensive scheme was excellent," said Buono. "They're suppose to be very good on offence and we held them to 220 yards in the air and Stegall without a catch. Okay, Charles made us look bad on one play, but I thought overall we were good on defence, too."
Pierce will get first team reps when preparation for the Calgary Stampeders begins today. The Lions should also be buoyed by the return of linebacker Jamall Johnson (arm), defensive back Korey Banks (ankle) and wide receiver Tony Simmons (foot). All of whom are expected to resume practising with the team.
For the first time this season, the Lions looked to have made it through a week relatively unscathed as trainer Bill Recheilt reported no major injuries stemming from the game.
.......................
Ian Walker's Monday article on his talk with Buono
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http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/news ... db5e0b61c0
Wally Buono is sitting in his office one day after his team coughed up an 11-point lead in the final quarter against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers at BC Place Stadium. He's wearing his designer eye-glasses and with his right hand he's manipulating a computer mouse. It's connected to a laptop computer that is linked to a large screen TV at the side of his desk. Buono's been here at the Lions training facility in Surrey since the early morning. And after hours of review he's come to just one conclusion about Friday's 22-21 loss to the Bombers: Too many missed opportunities.
Offence. Defence. Special Teams.
Too many missed opportunities.
Two pooched field goals. A turnover on a kickoff.
Too many missed opportunities.
Overthrown targets. Missed picks.
Too many missed opportunities.
"If you make the two field goals, you don't fumble, you make one or two more throws, you intercept the ball -- there's seven plays right there we missed," he said.
"We make those seven plays, what happens? We probably end up winning. We squeak it out. We don't and they win instead."
Buono's not angry. He's not banging his fist on his desk to stress his point. No, the affable 56-year-old's tone and demeanour is of a disappointed parent more than anything else.
It's the same emotion shared by many of his players. He hopes.
"They should be disappointed in themselves," said Buono. "They should be disappointed because as a team they're not playing up to the quality they can. We are a team and until all of us play at a certain level we are accountable to each other."
The most glaring missed opportunity came in the game's final minutes when kicker Paul McCallum missed a 41-yard field goal attempt. He missed from 31-yards earlier.
"It's such a fine thing -- like a golf swing -- if you're just off a small amount at the end of the day it makes things wide," said Buono, a former kicker himself. "I still believe it's discipline more than anything else. Stroking the ball, coming through with it. A kicker that overpivots is going to push the ball wide and to the left, which he did both times. He's got to see it for himself and he'll correct it."
Take away the seven aforementioned plays, and Buono said he was pleased with B.C.'s execution on offence and defence. Quarterback Buck Pierce spread the ball around nicely, connecting with six different receivers for 243 yards and a touchdown on 19 of 31 pass attempts. The Lions' secondary held Bombers slotback Milt Stegall -- the league's all-time touchdown king -- without a catch. And although Charles Roberts scampered for 106 yards on the ground, take away a 42-yard gain on one carry and the Lions' front four and linebackers limited one of the game's best running backs to 63 yards on 16 carries.
"I thought our offensive scheme was excellent," said Buono. "They're suppose to be very good on offence and we held them to 220 yards in the air and Stegall without a catch. Okay, Charles made us look bad on one play, but I thought overall we were good on defence, too."
Pierce will get first team reps when preparation for the Calgary Stampeders begins today. The Lions should also be buoyed by the return of linebacker Jamall Johnson (arm), defensive back Korey Banks (ankle) and wide receiver Tony Simmons (foot). All of whom are expected to resume practicing with the team.
....................
Wally Buono is sitting in his office one day after his team coughed up an 11-point lead in the final quarter against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers at BC Place Stadium. He's wearing his designer eye-glasses and with his right hand he's manipulating a computer mouse. It's connected to a laptop computer that is linked to a large screen TV at the side of his desk. Buono's been here at the Lions training facility in Surrey since the early morning. And after hours of review he's come to just one conclusion about Friday's 22-21 loss to the Bombers: Too many missed opportunities.
Offence. Defence. Special Teams.
Too many missed opportunities.
Two pooched field goals. A turnover on a kickoff.
Too many missed opportunities.
Overthrown targets. Missed picks.
Too many missed opportunities.
"If you make the two field goals, you don't fumble, you make one or two more throws, you intercept the ball -- there's seven plays right there we missed," he said.
"We make those seven plays, what happens? We probably end up winning. We squeak it out. We don't and they win instead."
Buono's not angry. He's not banging his fist on his desk to stress his point. No, the affable 56-year-old's tone and demeanour is of a disappointed parent more than anything else.
It's the same emotion shared by many of his players. He hopes.
"They should be disappointed in themselves," said Buono. "They should be disappointed because as a team they're not playing up to the quality they can. We are a team and until all of us play at a certain level we are accountable to each other."
The most glaring missed opportunity came in the game's final minutes when kicker Paul McCallum missed a 41-yard field goal attempt. He missed from 31-yards earlier.
"It's such a fine thing -- like a golf swing -- if you're just off a small amount at the end of the day it makes things wide," said Buono, a former kicker himself. "I still believe it's discipline more than anything else. Stroking the ball, coming through with it. A kicker that overpivots is going to push the ball wide and to the left, which he did both times. He's got to see it for himself and he'll correct it."
Take away the seven aforementioned plays, and Buono said he was pleased with B.C.'s execution on offence and defence. Quarterback Buck Pierce spread the ball around nicely, connecting with six different receivers for 243 yards and a touchdown on 19 of 31 pass attempts. The Lions' secondary held Bombers slotback Milt Stegall -- the league's all-time touchdown king -- without a catch. And although Charles Roberts scampered for 106 yards on the ground, take away a 42-yard gain on one carry and the Lions' front four and linebackers limited one of the game's best running backs to 63 yards on 16 carries.
"I thought our offensive scheme was excellent," said Buono. "They're suppose to be very good on offence and we held them to 220 yards in the air and Stegall without a catch. Okay, Charles made us look bad on one play, but I thought overall we were good on defence, too."
Pierce will get first team reps when preparation for the Calgary Stampeders begins today. The Lions should also be buoyed by the return of linebacker Jamall Johnson (arm), defensive back Korey Banks (ankle) and wide receiver Tony Simmons (foot). All of whom are expected to resume practicing with the team.
....................