Alouettes 16 - Lions 12 Post Game Stats & Comments

[WestCoastJoe]

Anyone happy with a moral victory? I don't think even that can be claimed.

Good defence. Weird offence. STs not so hot.

Passing CP/AT YDS TD INT
C. PRINTERS 20/40 253 1 2

Receiving Rec YDS TD LG
G. SIMON 5 77 0 17
E. ARCENEAUX 5 50 0 14
D. ARMSTRONG 4 47 0 23
P. JACKSON 2 25 0 19
J. ROBERTSON 2 20 1 14
J. LEE 1 24 0 24
O. WILSON 1 10 0 10

Rushing ATT YDS TD LG
J. ROBERTSON 6 4 0 9
T. LULAY 2 2 0 1
R. JORDAN 1 1 0 1

Fumbles NO LST REC YDS
J. ROBERTSON 2 1 0 0
C. PRINTERS 1 0 0 0

Field Goals FG LG XP PTS
P. MCCALLUM 1/1 14 1/1 4

Punting NO AVG NET LG
P. MCCALLUM 8 41.1 290 49

Punt Returns NO YDS AVG LG TD
R. JORDAN 3 24 8.0 10 0
D. MARSH 1 8 8.0 8 0

Kickoffs NO YDS LG SG
P. MCCALLUM 4 176 61 0

Kick Returns NO YDS AVG LG TD
A. HARRIS 2 45 22.5 26 0
J. MESSAM 1 18 18.0 18 0

Defence TKL SK INT FF
D. MARSH 12 0 0 0
J. HENDERSON 6 0 0 0
S. ELIMIMIAN 6 0 0 0
T. CRAWFORD 4 0 0 0
B. JOHNSON 3 1 0 0
R. PHILLIPS 3 0 0 0
S. FRANKS 3 0 0 0
A. HUNT 2 1 0 0
D. PITTMAN 2 0 0 0
J. GIBBS 2 0 0 0
D. SANCHEZ 2 0 0 0
A. REDDICK 2 0 0 0
P. JACKSON 1 0 0 0
J. ROBERTSON 1 0 0 0
K. BANKS 1 0 0 0

Passing CP/AT YDS TD INT
A. CALVILLO 30/47 297 0 0

Receiving Rec YDS TD LG
S. GREEN 8 107 0 48
B. BRATTON 5 45 0 18
A. COBOURNE 5 43 0 13
K. WATKINS 3 34 0 14
B. CAHOON 3 30 0 19
J. RICHARDSON 3 16 0 14
K. CARTER 2 12 0 8
L. BRODEUR-JOURDAIN 1 10 0 10

Rushing ATT YDS TD LG
A. COBOURNE 13 79 0 16
A. CALVILLO 2 9 0 9
D. DIEDRICK 1 9 0 9
R. SANTOS 1 1 0 1

Fumbles NO LST REC YDS
B. BRATTON 1 0 0 0
J. BROWN 0 0 1 0

Field Goals FG LG XP PTS
D. DUVAL 4/6 41 0/0 13

Punting NO AVG NET LG
D. DUVAL 7 43.9 275 60

Punt Returns NO YDS AVG LG TD
T. MAYPRAY 3 36 12.0 21 0
W. SPENCER 1 3 3.0 3 0

Kickoffs NO YDS LG SG
D. DUVAL 3 185 65 0

Kick Returns NO YDS AVG LG TD
B. BRATTON 4 69 17.2 31 0

Defence TKL SK INT FF
M. ESTELLE 4 0 0 0
D. DIX 4 0 0 0
B. PARKER 4 0 0 0
C. COX 3 0 0 0
A. STEWART 3 0 0 0
J. BROWN 2 0 1 1
E. BOULAY 2 0 0 0
S. EMRY 2 0 0 0
J. BANKS 1 1 0 0
M. BROUILLETTE 1 0 1 0
M. SMITH 1 0 0 0
R. GUZMAN 0 0 0 1

[WestCoastJoe]

First of all, the running game. Cough, cough. I mean that aspect of the game that we were told would be de-emphasized this year. Yup. Invisible. Inadequate. Pathetic.

6 runs, 4 yards for the Lions.

13 runs, 79 yards for Cobourne.
...........

Some positives ...

Henderson and Elimimian. I like these guys. They arrive in a hurry, and they are in a bad mood when they get there.

It is starting to seem that Stubler is helping Benevides plug the leaks on defence.
.............

Mixed blessing ...

Dante Marsh, 12 tackles, but it seems they were all at the end of giving up 7, 8, 9, 12 yards all night long.
...........

Strangeness ... Defending long field goals. No one back except Crawford half way back.

No attempt at a game breaking return as the other teams in the league are getting.

And on the punt at the end of the game, giving up the point. Why the hell do that, when now you need a TD, instead of trying to run the dayum thing out, or at least looking at the possibility, with an actual return threat back there?
............

Kudos to the D. LBs very effective. Pressure on Calvillo by the D Line even without blitzing. Prevent D in the coverage got away with it, except for the long pass before the go ahead FG.

"All Strange" award to the O. No rollouts, but then we do not do that. Quick reads by Casey. Some good work with Geroy and Derick. Manny is not the guy we liked so much last year. Looks like he has left for the NFL before he gets an invite. Paris should not have played again. Wilson not used. Why not give Foster some opportunities? Or Harris? Or Lee?

I would have to give the O game planning a fail for the abandonment of the running game. Why have 3 very talented NI running backs to go along with Robertson, and we do not use them? We do not pound the ball.

We had some very, very effective running attacks with Antonio Warren, Joe Smith, Stefan Logan and Martell Mallett. But it seems we have shelved that entire aspect of offence.

[cromartie]

Anyone happy with a moral victory? I don't think even that can be claimed.

If you consider the age and makeup of this team's defence, then yes, I'm fairly happy. The front seven was terrific. The back of the secondary covered well. They rushed three or four and generated pressure. Elimmian showed terrific pursuit skills. I don't recall taking Franks' name in vain all night, which is an improvement. Marsh is still a terrific tackler. I was left stoked about both our defensive personnel and game planning. That was an inspired performance.

ST is as hit and miss as it always is. Jordan is left out to dry with the blocking a disturbing amount of the time on punt returns, though he did well to draw a No Yards on one of them.

For a change, I don't have to come on here and take shots at the offensive scheme, (7 carries? really? and you're trying to run fake in the 2nd half?) the designed play to Lee was really well designed and well executed. It's unfortunate the turnover ruined that drive. It's also unfortunate that the offense's execution (save for the three veteran receivers) was poor. Execution, or lack thereof, cost us the game. I'm fond of pointing out that more blocking generally helps the offense, but you could have a seven man line and they still couldn't block five linemen, two of whom were stunting. Or when a linebacker would stay at home and then come on a delayed blitz.

[notahomer]

I was happy with the defence. There did seem to be quite a few droppsies by open Aloettes. It really was nice to see guys get tackled rather than be able to bounce off contact. Franks was obviously out of place a couple of plays but his teammates do set him straight. Last week Crawford was waving his arms like a helicopter to get Franks corrected.

Offence was frustrating. Why won't this team run the ball? I would have said beforehand if the Lions hold Cavillo and the AL's to under 20 points they are going to win

Oh well, next game under the lights @ Tempire is the Stamps (er, the next two games, I mean). I'm going to have a real blast on that second Stamps game. Blow an entire day at the P.N.E. and cap it off with a football game.

[SammyGreene]

Time to head to the exchange department. We want the 2004 version of Casey or least the one that showed up last season — not the 2007 and 2008 that played in Hamilton.

Confused, indecisive and looking all too programed. Even worse were these traits being magnified with the game on the line on the final two possessions. What the hell has happened? Has Chaps got him thinking too much about playing within the system or is he just not comfortable being "the guy." Where is that great athleticism that was even apparent last year?

I have heard him say all the right things about it being a team game and he is just one of the pieces to the puzzle. But give me the cocky and fearless Casey if this is what the end result is going to be.

Special teams looks to be a mess. If it was bad enough having no one in the end zone to avoid the single point, how about the entire punt team arriving on the field late on a 3rd and 5 play. How could the coaching staff be asleep at such a critical juncture of the game?

25,000 and change to see the Grey Cup champs on a purrfect summer's evening at a terrific outdoor venue. A reflection of the Lions no longer generating a buzz with their performances at home and tonight hardly helped the cause.

[btemp]

One thing that has bugged the hell out of me the past two games are the 2nd throws that are thrown before the sticks. My initial inclination is to blame Printers, but the routes are cutting off a yard or two before the first down line.

Let me give you an example. 2nd and medium and we ran all curls, Printers throws a completion but the curls stopped a yard before the first down line, tackled immediately and we punt. Breaking those routes a yard or two later gives us more first downs, forces the D to tighten up, and opens up the big plays. Based on what I'm seeing, Chapdelaine's playcalling is questionable. And how about the lack of a run game? You'd think a guy who broke off 168 yards first game of the season would get another carry or two.

[B.C.FAN]

Time to head to the exchange department. We want the 2004 version of Casey or least the one that showed up last season — not the 2007 and 2008 that played in Hamilton.

Confused, indecisive and looking all too programed. Even worse were these traits being magnified with the game on the line on the final two possessions. What the hell has happened? Has Chaps got him thinking too much about playing within the system or is he just not comfortable being "the guy." Where is that great athleticism that was even apparent last year?

I have heard him say all the right things about it being a team game and he is just one of the pieces to the puzzle. But give me the cocky and fearless Casey if this is what the end result is going to be.

The 2007 and 2008 Casey that played in Hamilton is the one we have for now. He's confused and indecisive because he gets too wound up, puts too much pressure on himself, doesn't read the defence well and doesn't step into his throws. Besides his mental errors, his arm does not look strong. He didn't look sharp in training camp and threw a lot of interceptions there, and he looked terrible in pregame warmups tonight. His passes fluttered and were often underthrown. Is it because of his injury that he can't set up as well, or is changing his mechanics? Perhaps, but there's a lot more at play. He needs to calm down.

It was a shame that this game was there for the taking and the Lions couldn't take it. They turned the ball over three times, once in field goal position in the third quarter, and Geroy Simon had a ball fall through his hands in the end zone on a play that could have given the Lions a 10-point lead in the third quarter. Those two plays cost them seven points and likely would have been enough to win the game.

This was a tremendous game for the defence to hold the Alouettes without a touchdown for the first time in three years, and by the offensive line to buy Printers all day to throw the ball. The Lions are a talented team. They're playing without three injured starters in the front seven and two injured offensive linemen, and yet those units did a lot of things well. This team will get better as the year goes on and will be in the thick of the playoff race -- if the quarterback doesn't hold them back.

[TheLionKing]

Defence played well tonight as did the offensive line. Another positive is the reduction in the number of penalties, although there is still alot of room for improvement.

On the other hand, once again there is a lack of commitment to establish a running game. Lions are strictly a one dimensional football team. Running the football only 9 times in the entire game is totally inexcusable. Opponents know this and they pin their collective ears back and rush the quarterback with reckless abandon knowing full well Chapdelaine doesn't have an anti blitz package. The offence tonight is no different from the ones we've seen the past few seasons except for different personnel. 2nd down conversion tonight was abysmal. Throwing 9 yard passes when you need 12 doesn't get it done. The return game is a disaster. Robert Jordan has had 4 games (3 regular games plus the Edmonton exhibition) to show showcase his talent. So far he has not shown anything to warrant a roster spot. The fact that the Lions chose to scrimmage from their own 35 yards after a Montreal field goal speaks volume about Buono's faith in the return game.

[hutch]

Our offense looks like the Argo's It better get fixed in a hurry or its going to be a long year...

[Gary]

Other than the minimal running game, I thought the offensive play-calling showed some improvement over the last couple weeks. We saw them rolling the pocket a lot more, which did seem to settle the Al's pass rush down a bit. Also, as someone else mentioned, the pass play to Lee coming out of the back field was nice...let's see some more of that. Also, there was also what appeared to be an attempt at a screen pass, although it got batted down. The problems I saw today were mistakes in execution. Two turnovers in scoring range, and another to kill the final drive. Casey refusing to scamper. He doesn't have the accuracy or defense readabilty to be a pure pocket passer. His biggest asset is the threat to run the football. When the d has to account for him running, it opens up a lot of options for the passing game. Unfortunately, he seemed either unwilling or unable to take off. In '04 he rushed 82 times; this year he's on pace for 36 carries. That's just not going to cut it for him.

[TheLionKing]

After Jamall Lee went on his 24-yd scamper, I thought that was probably his kiss of death in the Lions system. True to form, he was ignored for the rest of the game and probably won't touch the ball again until October.

The Als served up this game on a platter for the Lions, but the offence is basically brain dead. Until the Lions clean house and bring in some fresh coaches, what your see is what you'll get.

That's been Chapdelaine's MO since he's been here. If something works, go to something else. If the running game is showing life, abandon it and go to the air. Lions best drive was in the last minute of the first half; passes to Geroy got them to scoring position. Then they forget about Geroy for the rest of the game.

[TheLionKing]

Other than the minimal running game, I thought the offensive play-calling showed some improvement over the last couple weeks. We saw them rolling the pocket a lot more, which did seem to settle the Al's pass rush down a bit. Also, as someone else mentioned, the pass play to Lee coming out of the back field was nice...let's see some more of that. Also, there was also what appeared to be an attempt at a screen pass, although it got batted down. The problems I saw today were mistakes in execution. Two turnovers in scoring range, and another to kill the final drive. Casey refusing to scamper. He doesn't have the accuracy or defense readabilty to be a pure pocket passer. His biggest asset is the threat to run the football. When the d has to account for him running, it opens up a lot of options for the passing game. Unfortunately, he seemed either unwilling or unable to take off. In '04 he rushed 82 times; this year he's on pace for 36 carries. That's just not going to cut it for him.

I think Printers' quad problem prevented him from scrambling. He is best when he's moving around putting pressure on the defence. He did not look comfortable standing in the pocket. Perhaps Buono should have gone to Lulay.

[DanoT]

The TSN broadcast crew commented several times on Printers lack of mobility. So why not more of a running game?

It is a shame that the Lions have done a great job of improving personnel in some areas but in areas that have gotten worse (O-line) the coaches have done nothing to compensate.

As other teams improve, this is shaping up to be a year of constantly being out coached.

[WestCoastJoe]

The game was there for the taking, and the Alouettes took it.

Good teams find ways to win, and vice versa.

Possible excuses for the Lions ...

Inexperienced O Line. Yup. By choice. We threw a bomb into the O Line. As it happens, the pass protection seemed OK. The run blocking, or perhaps the play design and play calling, not so much.

Immobile QB. Yeah. Casey has been immobile, by his previous standards, all this year. Unfortunately he is at his best when he can run around. A pocket passer he ain't.

2 receivers not 100%. Yeah. Jackson and Wilson not really able to do much. I would rather use Harris and Foster and Lee, if our starters are not 100%.

Can't think of an excuse for not running the ball. Hmmmmm .... Ummmmm ... Still can't. OK, I've got a kind of an excuse: the Alouettes were stuffing the run, so therefore there was no point in trying to run.

I won't buy it. You run the ball anyway. If you can't run with any success, I would look at your play design, and your play calling, and your deception, and your subtlety. If those are lacking, I guess you could say your offence is PREDICTABLE.
.............

It seems we now have the mechanical Casey, not the improvisational Casey. We have the pocket passer Casey, not the run and gun Casey. We have the thoughtful, right-brained Casey, not the instinctive Casey. Have we taken away Casey's strengths or is it just that he is putting too much pressure on himself?
................

Defence gets deserved credit for a great effort. Active LBs. Good pressure on Calvillo by D Line, even without aid of much blitzing. Good prevent type pass coverage, but Calvillo did get 297 yards passing, and without some drops, could have had more.

............

Return game. Ugghhhhh Did Robert Jordan even play? Oh yes, he was dressed. 3 punt returns for 24 yards. (And one yard on the sneaky, creative, outside the box RGM end around that no one will see coming.)

No attempt for a long return on possible missed field goals. Was Robert Jordan injured during the game?

No attempt to run the punt out of the endzone near the end of the game, and no returner back just in case the field opened up. That gave a 4 point lead to the Alouettes. Ughhhhh
............

I cannot give the O coaches high marks for this game. There will be explanations and rationalizations and justifications by Wally. The D coaches had a good, effective game plan vs the Als. But it still adds up to a loss in a game that was eminently winnable.

I thought the Alouettes kind of sleep walked through the game and did just enough to win. They stuffed our feeble attempts at running the ball. If not for a surprising late first half TD, our Lions would have had just 5 points for the game. (Granted Geroy did miss what would have been a key TD catch, but that is for the rationalizations.)

Do we see signs yet, after 2 pre-season and 3 league games, of a competitive team, of a team that can challenge for the Grey Cup? Dunno about that. The talent seems very good. I have doubts if we have a game-breaking return man on the team. Our O seems out of sync, far from firing on all cylinders, hand cuffed, constipated. Our run game was non-existent in this game, but then we were told it would be less of an emphasis this year. Hmmmmm ... Ah well, who needs a run game when you can pass the ball all game?

Our D is promising, but still conservative. Still some soft attempts at tackling in the secondary. Much more active at LB with Henderson and Elimimian, who can find the ball, get there in a flash, and make hard tackles.