Lions @ Eskimos - Pre Game Odds and Comments

[WestCoastJoe]

Vegas odds favour the Eskimos by 2.5 ...

My upset call is the Bombers over the Stamps. For the rest, I would have to go with the favourites to win: Montreal, Hamilton and Edmonton. I think Toronto can beat the spread vs the Alouettes though.

[WestCoastJoe]

Ricky Ray IMO is the most dangerous QB in the CFL. His lifetime ratings are higher than Anthony Calvillo. Ray has almost always played well against the Lions. Unfortunately for us, he seems to be back on his game after some less than stellar years lately.

Along with Ray, the Eskimos have a strong running game with the horse Jerome Messam no doubt out to prove the Lions made a mistake getting rid of him.

We will have a made over defensive secondary: Hyland in for Franks, Sanchez in at safety, and Williams in at the corner.

IMO we have played well at times. What has hurt us is breakdowns at key times, offensively and defensively, and with our game management decisions.

Our passing game shows promise.

Our running game is completely unestablished. Wally has alternately said they have confidence in our "running game" (after game 1), and now has said "we are not good enough to run the ball." Yikes. Somewhere between the running backs, the O Line, the play design, the play calling and game planning we have to find a running game ... IMO. I would tend to look at the timing of our runs, the lack of surprise, the tendency to run just up the middle, the slow developing hand offs, the lack of running off tackle, and the D teeing off and filling the gaps for pass rush and being there for run stopping. IMO too much pass blocking makes the O Line passive; they need to run block more to become aggressive.

It adds up to a difficult test for the Lions. If we win, it can help set us up for a good year. If we lose, it could be a sign that things have not really changed all that much.

Here's hoping for a good game by our Lions, and for a win ...

[notahomer]

Makes you wonder when the AL's will have their stumble game. I don't think it will be against the Argos. Als

I hope the Ticats win but maybe this is the game the Riders get back on track. Riders

Stamps apparently have some key players returning. Maybe help maybe not. Stamps

I'd love to see all three parts of the Lions working smoothly but I think Esks have looked good so far. Esks

[joe kapp22]

Well, FWIW, I think the Argos are the sort of team that can beat the Als as they rely more on athletic talent then any one player, and Chad Owens is due to have a big game.

We've lost 1 starter so far due to injuries, Esks remain remarkably healthy, and they played us tough last yr.

The defense as a whole needs to play crisper, the offence needs the young Wr's to step up and Tim Brown has to make some better decisions about when to return a kick, and when not to, if we hit on those three phases we beat the Esks.

And I am really looking forward to Sol-E and Messum colluding around the LoS.

[B.C.FAN]

Some key stats to digest from the CFL's weekly statistical analysis:

- B.C. last week became the only team to lose this year when winning the tunover battle. Overall, the winner of the turnover battle is 5-1.

- Turnovers are down this year by 11% across the league. Penalties are down by 16%.

- Five of eight games this year have been decided in the final 3 minutes.

- B.C. has scored the most third-quarter points (24) of any team but has given up the most third-quarter points (also 24). Edmonton has scored 15 third-quarter points and has not given up any.

- B.C. has given up only 6 points in the fourth quarter, tied with Winnipeg for best in the league. Edmonton has given up 15.

- Edmonton has scored on 12 of 30 offensive possessions (40%), the second highest rate in the league after Montreal (44%). B.C. has scored on 11 of 29 possessions (37%), the third highest rate in the league.

- B.C. and Edmonton are tied for the second in the league in most big plays on offence and special teams (8) but B.C. has given up 10 big plays, worst in the league. Edmonton has given up only 2 big plays (1 rush of 20+ yards and 1 pass of 30+ yards), the best in the league.

- Edmonton is the second most penalized team in the league, averaging 9.5 penalties and 81.5 yards per game.

- Edmonton has a +6 turnover ratio, second in the league behind Winnipeg (+7). B.C. is +2.

- Edmonton leads the league in passing completion percentage (72.4%) and QB efficiency rating (Ricky Ray 134.4).

- B.C. leads the league in yards after the catch (341) after trailing the league in that category last year.

- Edmonton leads the league in rushing (280 yards) while B.C. is last (102 yards) but Edmonton's rushing average of 4.5 yards per carry is second worst in the league, ahead of only Hamilton (4.3 yards). B.C.'s rushing average of 5.4 yards is tied with Calgary and Montreal for second best in the league behind Saskatchewan (6.0 yards)

- B.C. and Edmonton are tied with Montreal for the league lead in fewest QB sacks allowed (2).

- B.C.'s opponents have scored on 12 of 31 possessions (38.7%), the second worst rate in the league ahead of only Saskatchewan (43.3%)

- B.C.'s defence has given up an average of 32 points a game, second worst in the league. Edmonton has given up 19 points a game, second best in the league.

- B.C. has passed on 80% of first-down plays, second most in the league behind Saskatchewan (81%). Edmonton has rushed on 49.3% of first downs, the most in the league.

- B.C. has scored touchdowns on four of six possessions inside the opponents' 20-yard line (67%), tied with Edmonton and Hamilton for the best red-zone conversion rate in the league.

- Edmonton has converted 29 of 51 second-down opportunities (56.9%), the second best rate in the league. B.C. ranks fourth at 45.2%.

- Edmonton's opponents have converted on 56.4% of second-down opportunities, the second worst in the league behind Saskatchewan (60.8%).

[CatsEyes]

Here's another stat for you:

Edmonton is 2-0
BC is 0-2

[TheLionKing]

Here's another stat for you:

Edmonton is 2-0
BC is 0-2

The most meaningful stat of all.

[ziggy]

Here's another stat for you:

Edmonton is 2-0
BC is 0-2

The most meaningful stat of all.

Only if both games were against each other

[joe kapp22]

Well, Kaumu Peterson will have the start vs the Esks, but the Defence worries me more, they lack the intensity and all out blitzes we had in 2010.

Have to think losing Rich Stubler is manifesting itself in the performance so far.

[WestCoastJoe]

http://communities.canada.com/theprovin ... vol-3.aspx

Pick 'em apart Vol. 3

By L. Ullrich Thu, Jul 14 2011

OK, so .500 for the week isn't great. Think the Lions would take a .500 record right about now? Enough said.

THURSDAY

Calgary at Winnipeg, 5 p.m.

A 2-0 start for the Lions would have been achievable had they delivered at least 60 minutes of consistent offensive and defensive play. Winnipeg is 2-0 despite doing nothing offensively. The Bombers have but two touchdowns with Buck Pierce at the controls, but a monster defensive effort is getting it done.

A tougher test comes against Calgary, which has not been solid facing pressure so far but gets OL Dimitri Tsoumpas back. This one feels like a coin flip so in lieu of thinking about it further, which hardly helped the first week of the season, we'll go with the home team. Province pick: Bombers

FRIDAY

Toronto at Montreal, 4:30 p.m.

Looks so far as if Henry Burris only borrowed the league's most outstanding player trophy. Anthony Calvillo was sick against Saskatchewan Saturday, as after five touchdown passes he will break Damon Allen's career mark with his next scoring throw.

The next Als player headed to the Canadian Football Hall of Fame, retired slotback Ben Cahoon, will be honoured for his career achievements at halftime of this one. Montreal will be without Jamel Richardson due to injury. But it's hard to think the Argos are going to spoil the script without a quarterback, an offensive line which gave up seven sacks last week, and injured TB Cory Boyd. Province pick: Als

SATURDAY

Saskatchewan at Hamilton, 1 p.m.

Arland Bruce, pick up a white courtesy telephone, please. The Hamilton offence is missing in action so far and their best receiver is at the top of a list of reasons for the drought. Typically, Bruce told television reporters he is frustrated by lack of balls being thrown to him but backed off when a newspaper guy asked the same question. Must be fun for new offensive coordinator Khari Jones.

It isn't much rosier for new Riders coach Greg Marshall, but at least he has a functioning quarterback in Darian Durant even if the offence only works periodically and the defence is giving up nearly 40 points a game. That could be the difference here; it also doesn't hurt to know the Riders are 6-1 their last seven road visits to Hamilton. Province pick: Riders.

B.C. at Edmonton, 4 p.m.

A wise person would check the Edmonton weather report and pick accordingly. If the skies open up, the Lions should take cover. The Eskimos had to endure July hail before their opener in Regina and lightning strikes against Hamilton, then went out and whipped both teams.

With Ricky Ray firing as he did when they won it all in 2005, completing 72 per-cent of his passes, Edmonton is 2-0 for the first time since then, averaging 35 points a game. They figure to score as much again. B.C. needs the game badly but doesn't have enough to stay pace. Province pick: Eskimos.

Last week: 2-2 Season record: 2-6.

[Dan_Payne_fan!!]

is anyone here gonna be at Commonwealth?

[Lionheart]

The most meaningful stat of all.

Not for me; it's the protecting the quarterback stat.

At two games in the record is almost meaningless.

[CatsEyes]

Here's another stat for you:

Edmonton is 2-0
BC is 0-2

The most meaningful stat of all.

Only if both games were against each other

It means that Edmonton has found a way to score more points than the other team, and BC has not. That's meaningful enough for me

[West Coast Blue Fan]

It also means its July 15th and not November 15th....let's not get our donuts in an uproar just yet