WESTERN FINAL 2006 POST-GAME THOUGHTS

[Blitz]

WESTERN FINAL 2006 POST-GAME THOUGHTS

A huge, dominating victory by our Leos as we eliminated the Riders and earned a berth at the ?Big Dance? in Winnipeg. The crowd of around 50,000 was a huge factor as the crowd noise really hurt the Riders offence, especially in the first half.

I thought this game would either be a blowout or close, depending on whether we got off to a quick start. That quick start took the Riders out of their game plan and the lopsided result was greatly impacted by our ability to do that.


OFFENCE


There were a number of keys to this game that we needed to accomplish on offence and we excelled at every one.

~We needed to establish the running game to keep the Riders off-balance and take away the pressure they establish with their front four and their blitz. With our offensive line physically dominating the line of scrimmage Joe Smith shredded the Riders with his inside running in the first half and then got outside for some big gains in the second half. Our ability to run the football was a huge key to our offensive success this game!!

~Sending our secondary receivers deeper and using Simon underneath was a strategy I hoped for and it worked all game. Clermont, Jackson, and Thelwell all had big games as we threw to them often for a lot of damage.

~Dickenson needed to throw the ball more quickly than he had in the past against the Riders and he did that time and time again.. He also needed to make that split second decision to run the football more quickly. Dickenson did both, with quick precision throwing and some very timely runs that really hurt the Riders. Dickenson distributed the football to every area of the field and used all our receivers very effectively.

~Our offensive line needed to win the physical battle up front and protect Dickenson.. Murphy made such a pancake block on Fred Perry on a stunt it looked like he blew him out like he was a piece of flypaper. Jiminez was just as tough on the other side and Bates, Reid, and Rasouli kept the Rders defensive tackles from getting penetration inside. When I saw Paris Jackson step inside to pick up a blitz early in the second quarter and blow a Rider defender out of there? you just knew it was going to be our day!! Rob Murphy was so physical and outstanding out there I can?t remember ever seeing a CFL offensive lineman ever play as well. Dickenson said to key to the game was "the offensive line and they clutched up against a great Riders defensive line and gave him time to throw"!!

~Chapdelaine had a smart game plan, using the running game effectively, sticking with it, utilizing the vertical passing game wisely,, and taking advantage of mismatches in the Riders secondary. He also moved the pocket for Dickenson and just didn?t keep him in the pocket and that caused heacaches for the Riders rush. We had second and short almost all game.


DEFENSE


Our defense, aided by the crowd noise, had the Riders offence in disarray. Keith was not a factor in the first half and our coverage was so tight on the Riders receivers that Joseph didn?t have anyone open most of the game.

~Pressure, sacks, team speed, great coverage, and timely blitzes had the Riders completely off their game. Ritchie?s various packages gave the Riders offence problems for most of the game.

~A key play in the game occurred early off a Joe Smith fumble as we held the Riders down for a field goal after the turnover. We never looked back.

~Four sacks, lots of pressure, and great pursuit overwhelmed the Riders. We punished them, were more physical, and proved our toughness!!

~However, when Kenton Keith scored an easy 38 yard touchdown and then Simon fumbled, leading to Keith?s second touchdown, it briefly created a new breath of life into the demoralized Rider team. However, that breath was shortlived as our ?D? clamped down again on Kerry Joseph with huge pressure and any Rider hope was quickly extinguished.

Dave Ritchie, with assistants Mike Roach, and Benevedes took away the Riders strengths for most of the game, kept the football out of Keith's hands in the first half... and those two and outs for the Riders offence all first half took its toll.



SPECIAL TEAMS

McCallum hit all five field goals, tying a B.C. playoff record, and looked confident in doing so. He also punted very well. We recovered a fumbled punt and blocked a field goal attempt. Ian Smart had a couple of excellent kickoff returns, including the opening kickoff which launched us on our way.. Jamal Johnson was inserted into the lineup again and it was a deserved call by Wally. Carl Kidd was as impressive as ever.



WRAP

We had the the system, the game plan, the talent, the discipline , the poise, the confidence, and the drive to win. We won every key battle! We won at every aspect of the game. There is no question that we are more than worthy to be playing in the Grey Cup Game in Winnipeg! This was a statement game and we made it convincingly!! Quite simply we kicked a very tough Riders teams ass out there!!!!!!!

[Robbie]

Great analysis, Blitz! The crowd did indeed act as the 13th man!

[Belize City Lion]

The Chap really stepped up and did an amazing job. Makes it hard for me to still hope he gets fired and Burratto gets his job... DD was determined to carry this team on his back, but thanks to L82, P Jackson, G-Roy, Joe Smith, the 13th man, et al, he didn't have to. Still, game ball goes to DD. Can you believe DD only gained 273 yards yet put up 45 points???

Fantastic all around team effort today!!

[Tighthead]

I give Rasouli the game ball - the whole line was great, but he has been pretty stalwart this year when bouncing between many positions.

Wilson also was very active today.

[Blitz]

give Rasouli the game ball - the whole line was great, but he has been pretty stalwart this year when bouncing between many positions.

I'd give a game ball to every offensive lineman. Dickenson said they were the key to the victory!! They opened huge holes for Smith and protected Dickenson!!! I'd give Rob Murphy two game balls!!!

[Roaring Fan Since 82!!]

All i can come up with is...like the Blues Brothers...this team is on a mission from god.

The focus is unbelieveable.

82 had all the grunt catches in close for first downs, and PJ who had everyone fooled did his thing in the endzone.

Great recap Blitz as always.

I think this is going to be a great week!

[Tighthead]

Blitz - I'd take one of the two away for the penalty.

No doubt the line was great man for man.

It probably helped the DD took off for some good gains early - gave the D something else to worry about.

[hutch]

Good post! I like how you chose a blowout first
Guess this game wasn't as close, very close as people thought.......hey Danny.

[Belize City Lion]

I still can't believe the score was 45-18. I really expected a very close game.

[Belize City Lion]

and how good was that Jackson touchdown.... the first one where he stretched out and got it?

[Leo_on_Rideau]

1. This was my first experience calling a game... was on Skype with my cousin in Pittsburgh, narrating the game over the CBC commentators (avoids the minute-or-so delay on TEAM's website)!

2. Awesome, dominating performance. O-line awesome... receivers awesome, defense awesome... excellent!

3. Good job 13th man! The crowd played their part and had a very direct effect in snuffing out Sask momentum after that ugly, early turnover.

4. I thought that overthrow of Geroy early was ominous... was scared that the failure to capitalize on a gimme touchdown would haunt them. It's so cool to have a psychologically strong team...!

5. Because the MTL-TOR game went so late, we easterners missed the opening part of the game. Luckily only a couple of plays, but I would have liked to see the Smart kick return... :x

6. Deep down I think I wanted Toronto to triumph over Montreal... let's hope BC's mojo over the Stalouettes can defeat the law of averages...

GO LIONS GO!!!!

[Belize City Lion]

4. I thought that overthrow of Geroy early was ominous... was scared that the failure to capitalize on a gimme touchdown would haunt them. It's so cool to have a psychologically strong team...!

That overthrow of Geroy was huge because the he had already made a couple of big plays and then Sask crapped their pants when they saw easily he almost beat them for an TD. Even though DD over threw Geroy, I think Sask really started to focus on him from then on and that led to huge games by Paris and Jason.

[tedbear]

The O line dominated and the addition of Jimminez and Murphy are the main reasons we will be playing next week. I love our O line dominating Sasks D line. I remember a couple of years ago Davis, and Shulz saying our O line were a bunch of fat and sassy pigs. The only things that were fat and sassy today were wearing green.

[agent2]

The lions key for next week... dealing with being the heavy favorite.

[Soundy]

Hey Leo_in_TO, the start of the game was delayed for us in Vancouver, too... %#^$#*$ CBC.

Personally, I don't think it woulda killed the CFL to just delay the start of the Western game a few minutes... oh well.

Amazing game, good to see DD get the "Warrior" nod, although our little crew watching would have given it to No Ordinary Joe, who went above and beyond in his role! PJ was a close second as well, with those amazing stretch catches!