Is Benevides losing it?

[Toppy Vann]

I can't believe that a professional coach would be uttering such utter and complete garbage.

So the coach wants a DB to say that in practice he will get x interceptions. Yikes. So he is coaching his players to think individual goals not team play!!! Bizzarre in the extreme! Oh and forced fumbles in practice??? Yikes... is that not a recipe for hurting a RB or receiver all to prove to the coach that he is living up to his stated goals. Benevides has been around football long enough to know that individual stats are not what is important in a team game!


http://www.theprovince.com/sports/footb ... story.html

Numbers point to crucial failure
Offence gives up ball, defence isn't finding it enough

By Lowell Ullrich, The Province September 1, 2009

It is indisputably the biggest problem facing the Lions this season and the reason why every defensive positional meeting this week has begun the same way.

Mike Benevides, defensive co-ordinator of the CFL team, will ask his players to tell him before every practice how many interceptions, knockdowns and forced fumbles they will manufacture, and review whether they achieved their goal before they go home.

[Don Miller]

I think Benevides is over his head as the defensive coordinator. We need Dave Ritchie back to fire them up and change the schemes. Banks should be back playing his db position. Good to see Nande back in and Mackay-Loescher. We will need to control AC and make him hold the ball a little longer. Our offence will need to keep our defense off the field as Montreal have a well balanced team.

[ziggy]

I wouldn't read to much into it. Sounds like he is just trying to get them to think about creating turnovers in practise.

[Rammer]

I wouldn't read to much into it. Sounds like he is just trying to get them to think about creating turnovers in practise.

I agree, with the players trying to force turnovers, it is important for the QB's to focus on their task.

[Bobbyp]

Maybe they should learn to tackle first.

[Rammer]

Maybe they should learn to tackle first.

Korey Banks was on Squire's noon newscast and said that they were practicing in pads this week, as they have been playing soft. Hopefully that produces the desired effect on the defensive side of the ball.

[Toppy Vann]

Maybe they should learn to tackle first.

Korey Banks was on Squire's noon newscast and said that they were practicing in pads this week, as they have been playing soft. Hopefully that produces the desired effect on the defensive side of the ball.

Maybe they need a good practice fight to fire them up. If MB's D is pressing to force fumbles I can see some uptight O players smacking them back. Grabbing thumbs to create fumbles in practice is not the way to prepare but it is a good if you want to get someone hurt.

You guys recall your coaches doing this in practice? I certainly can't. If anything it was the opposite. Coaches didn't want us hurting each other and didn't want us going for INTs when it was the wrong thing to do as you cheat, get burned and they score. If everyone is doing their job effectively - DL, LB and DBs the picks will come if you are alert. DBs that are looking to snare INTs first before making the right play are usually pursuing the wrong goals and they get burned.
WB has accused his DBs of this very behavior and last year was threatening Banks (?) for it IIRC.

All sports have one rule. NO injury in practice therefore NO dangerous plays that create injuries.

I do agree that the entire team needs something to fire them up and increased tempo at practice for both sides can help but it won't help if the Als run the ball down their throats. I just think this is the most inane and stupid instruction from a pro DC or DC at any level of the game.

The tackling comment others have made here is true. Tackling comes from proper positioning and then technique not from "I can get two INTs today, Coach B."

[TheLionKing]

Sounds like Benevides is coaching a bunch of high school kids.

[ziggy]

Looked like Winnipeg was playing against a bunch of High School kids.

[Solar Max]

Sounds like Benevides is coaching a bunch of high school kids.

Looked like Winnipeg was playing against a bunch of High School kids.

These men speak the truth. Heed them.

[Belize City Lion]

it won't be long until the Argo head coach job is open again... hopefully MB will take it this time.

[Toppy Vann]

it won't be long until the Argo head coach job is open again... hopefully MB will take it this time.

We can only hope!

He might have been smart in that one to dodge that freight train.

I am not sure if the problems are beyond the coaching there and maybe a lot of that lies with Adam Rita. He sure didn't hire his coach smartly like the Als' Jim Popp did. Forrest Gregg was a bust in Toronto too so they have some history of bad ones not understanding the nuances of the CFL game and how to build a coaching staff and listen to them (if they are competent).

[pennw]

it won't be long until the Argo head coach job is open again... hopefully MB will take it this time.

You think they may not consider his '09 season performance next time round ? IMO he hasn't exactly made himself look good lately to be considered a HC candidate . Perhaps last season was his shot at a HC job and the time has past him by . Unless of course he can put together a good Defense from here on in . Not being able to make any in game adjustments vs the Bombers and even over a 2 game period vs the Ticats don't look good on a resume . I wouldn't bank on the Argos calling again any time soon .
Hopefully this changes down the stretch for MB's sake as well as that of the team . Having a 2 week period to consider this last fiasco maybe has given them time to re-consider their strategy behind closed doors ,other then just blaming the players . The coaches can't be that daft , that they would not realize they are on the hot seat themselves .

[TheLionKing]

it won't be long until the Argo head coach job is open again... hopefully MB will take it this time.

And take JC with him as his Offensive Coordinator

[Blitz]

it won't be long until the Argo head coach job is open again... hopefully MB will take it this time.

And take JC with him as his Offensive Coordinator

The area that I have the least confidence in, for this 2009 edition of our Leos, is the coaching staff. I really don't feel confident yet in Benevedes, although I thought he did a good job in the playoff game last year against Calgary. My views on Chapdelaine are well known on Lionbackers.

Dave Ritchie was too often underrated as a defensive coordinator until he was gone. He not only coordinated a defence that was innovative, aggressive, and created so many turnovers but he also coached the defensive backs as well. He was a popular coach with the players when he coached our defence but he could also bite a players head off if he wasn't happy. He was highly respected. Benevedes just doesn't have Ritchie's presence and Mark Washington is a young coach who still has to earn his stripes.

I would have loved to see Mike Roach take over the defense after Ritchie left or a new coordinator brought in. We all know Chap got fired in Edmonton and our best hope was that they would have kept him.

I think there is a growing realization that the problems with our Leos are not just personell problems now. Coaching, scheme, play calling, game planning, in-game adjustments (or lack thereof) are now huge issues for us.

A good example was last game. We didn't adjust to stopping the run when it was obvious that Winnipeg would keep running the football until we did. We didn't adjust with scheme changes or alignment changes and it killed us.