Elks vs. Lions Aug. 6, 2022

[B.C.FAN]

Bryan Burnham has been activated early for Saturday's home game against Edmonton after spending 4 games on the 6-game injured list. He'll return to his familiar slot position, often lined up alongside Lucky Whitehead on the short side of the field. Keon Hatcher, who has caught 18 passes for 331 yards in 4 games as Burnham's replacement, returns to his original position as field WR, backed up by Jacob Scarfone and Shai Ross. Omar Fortt, who was activated as a depth LB/ST when Scarfone moved into the starting lineup, moves back to the practice roster. There are no other changes in a healthy Lions' roster although backup LB/ST Isaiah Guzylak-Messam is listed as questionable after missing Thursday's practice due to illness. His absence, and Fortt's, could hurt B.C.'s cover teams, which have struggled this year, giving up a league-worst average of 12.1 yards per punt return.

The Lions lead the league in most offensive categories, while Edmonton ranks last in most categories. Nathan Rourke and company scored 8 TDs in their season-opening 59-15 whipping of the Elks but Edmonton has gone 2-2 in their past 4 games. Still, it's the Lions' game to win.

Lions' preview and depth chart

[Hambone]

Elks roster roulette continues. 12 players who weren't on their depth chart for the previous game are being added for tomorrow night. Some are returning from injury. Some like Jon Ryan and Levi Noel are CFL vets suiting up for the first time as Elks.

https://www.goelks.com/2022/08/05/depth ... s-lions-2/

[DanoT]

Massive air lifting of guys in and out has been Jones trademark especially when taking on a new team. The problem, as I see it, is that with today's limited hitting in practices it makes proper player evaluation difficult. Maybe that is why Jones leans so heavily on going after big guys that are extra athletic because actually evaluating the skill set is so impaired these days.

Come game day, with all the player position changes, getting the Elk players to gel as a team is difficult. It should give the Lions an edge.

[Hambone]

A few other notes from the roster. Richardson and Baron were extended on the 6G injured list but on a positive note Knevel has been moved from the 6G to the 1G. Would love to see him back on the active roster but kinda doubt we'll see that right away. Playing with Peirson as the lone backup OL has been working. He's been like the Maytag repairman pretty much stapled to the bench save for some late 4th qtr reps in games already decided. I think if and when Knevel does suit up it will mean either one of the starters is less than 100% or they could activate him as the lone backup while pushing Peirson to the 1G. If Godber got hurt mid-game they have Norman to slide over to C.

[SammyGreene]

Lions expecting around the same 17,000 mark tonight. Will they flirt with 20,000 when the Riders are here in 3 weeks albeit on a Friday night?

They are doing a lot of things right on and off the field but lingering pandemic and ridiculous inflation make TV likely an easier choice for those casual fans they are trying to win back.

To put their attendance into perspective the Whitecaps had 14,000 last night.

[Hambone]

To put things into perspective Caps have failed to draw 15000 for 3 straight MLS home games. They did hit 24K for the Voyageur Cup final vs TFC but for MLS matches have yet to surpass their season opener mark of 18643. 15500 vs Toronto is the Lions low water mark. That's better than the Whitecaps have drawn for 6 of their 12 MLS home dates including 4 of the last 5.

In 2019 BC averaged 17803 with a low of 15032 and high of 20950. Arbitrarily knocking 17K off the season opener for the One Republic factor and they Re averaging 16585, 6.8% off 2019.

In 2019 the Whitecaps averaged 19514 with a low of 16038 and high of 27837. Their 2022 season average is 16127, down 17.4% from 2019.

Strange as it might sound a 6.8% decline might actually be a sign of progress considering how the Caps and other CFL teams are struggling this year.

[David]

Other teams (Calgary, Hamilton, Edmonton, Ottawa) are reporting attendance in the 20-25 range but the "butts in seats" eye test looks more like the 15K-17K range. Due to our low(er) season ticket base, 17K looks like 17K - fewer no-shows (sometimes, such as the Winnipeg game, 17K actually looked more like 20-21K).


DH

[Hambone]

Other teams (Calgary, Hamilton, Edmonton, Ottawa) are reporting attendance in the 20-25 range but the "butts in seats" eye test looks more like the 15K-17K range. Due to our low(er) season ticket base, 17K looks like 17K - fewer no-shows (sometimes, such as the Winnipeg game, 17K actually looked more like 20-21K).


DH

2 time defending champs Winnipeg are up about 4% vs 2019. Everybody else is down from 2019 and in some cases bigly as lardass Trump would say. Stamps are down 15%. Elks 24%. Riders 15%. Hamilton 9.5%. Ottawa 7%. Montreal 3%, Toronto 20%, Lions 6.8%.

[B.C.FAN]

Isaiah Guzylak-Messam is on the field for warmups somit looks like the Lions won’t have to make any late roster adjustments. Bryan Burnham seems pumped to be back in uniform.

[Coast Mountain Lion]

Lawler and Carter

[Coast Mountain Lion]

But this time Lawler holds onto the ball.

[SammyGreene]

Defence shredded on that drive.

[TheLionKing]

Touchdown Rhymes

[Lion Guy]

Defence shredded on that drive.

Yup. And then we shredded the Defence on the next one!

[Coast Mountain Lion]

Shredding? Rourke has 386 yards passing at half time. Though neither team has had any running game to speak of, but Butler should get more action in the second half.