Lionbackers.com

Robbie wrote:

Toppy Vann wrote:The Lions stopped using Lui on kickoffs as they felt he couldn't get it deep enough which was bogus if you watched the games. The advantage of a Bret Anderson was that it didn't unnecessarily risk your kicker to injury but he plays and he could get down field fast for the ball if there was a fumble - you might not want the kicker doing this.

Was that the reason why Giulio Caravatta started doing the kickoffs in 1991?

However, Lui was also able to kick onside kicks like no other kicker I have ever seen.

I remember he did this in game 6 of the 1989 season that allowed the Lions to win their first game.

It was more than just Guilio IIRC. Yes, the Lions felt that Lui wasn't able to get the deep ball on kick offs so went to other guys. I know this as a certain fact. I recall WB saying how much he liked Bret Anderson as kicker as he was another player with skill vs a kicker who needed not to get in the fray or risk injury.

If you recall the opening play in BC Place Stadium in league play when the dome first opened in 1983 was Lions v. Sask. with Don Matthews "basketball on grass" the HC. They opened the dome with an onside kick that I believe went to the left (side where the Lions bench is now) and they kicked it from north to south (to where the players enter). Lions recovered that ball and it sent that large crowd going crazy!

Lui was able to fake punts also. No one had his skill in knowing when to run or pass or kick.

Toppy Vann wrote:It was more than just Guilio IIRC. Yes, the Lions felt that Lui wasn't able to get the deep ball on kick offs so went to other guys. I know this as a certain fact. I recall WB saying how much he liked Bret Anderson as kicker as he was another player with skill vs a kicker who needed not to get in the fray or risk injury.

If you recall the opening play in BC Place Stadium in league play when the dome first opened in 1983 was Lions v. Sask. with Don Matthews "basketball on grass" the HC. They opened the dome with an onside kick that I believe went to the left (side where the Lions bench is now) and they kicked it from north to south (to where the players enter). Lions recovered that ball and it sent that large crowd going crazy!

Lui was able to fake punts also. No one had his skill in knowing when to run or pass or kick.

Although it's hard to criticize Lui for his 25 years of service, I'll add another piece of criticism aside from kickoffs. It looks like after Lui entered BC Place and started to kick indoors, he wasn't too skilled in kicking in outdoor conditions, specifically in windy conditions against the wind.

This was most prevalent in the windy 1988 Grey Cup game. Lui punted very well with the win, including an 84-yarder. But against the wind, he was terrible and it gave the Blue Bombers good field position. Bob Cameron with his Most Outstanding Canadian performance punted more effectively into the wind.