Lions @ Eskimos - Game Day Thread, July 16, 2011

[WestCoastJoe]

Lions-Eskimos: Keys to the game, players to watch

By Mike Beamish, Vancouver Sun July 15, 2011

What, and who, to look for in Saturday’s Canadian Football League contest at Commonwealth Stadium between the visiting B.C. Lions and the Edmonton Eskimos:

• THREE THEMES:

SILENCING RAY GUN — Eskimos quarterback Ricky Ray, a 72-per-cent passer, may be licking his chops as well as the fingers in anticipation of playing a re-shuffled Lions secondary made necessary because of a season-ending knee injury to halfback Stanley Franks. David Hyland draws in at Franks' spot, Davis Sanchez, who has struggled in one-on-one coverage, moves from corner to safety and rookie Travis Williams makes his CFL debut at wide-side corner in place of Sanchez. "Give Ricky time — and he's dangerous," said Lions head coach Wally Buono. "That's not something we just found out."

MISTAKES GOING VIRAL — Wally Buono doesn't need sports psychologist Frank Lodato to tell him that one man's mistakes can infect a whole team. Regarding the dropped passes and shoddy tackling that have marred the Lions' first two games, Buono says all it takes is one botched play to spread the virus. "The psychology of sports requires a trigger … for confidence and lack of confidence. A big catch can pick a team up. A missed tackle acts in reverse. I'm not sure the Nik Lewis touchdown [last Friday, a 61-yard play that put the Stampeders ahead 28-20, after the Lions missed two tackles] didn't have that effect."

BLACK DAYS IN JULY — Swarms of mosquitoes, dark clouds and threatening thunderstorms lend an air of foreboding to the Lions' first visit to northern Alberta. Yet despite a 2-10 record in the months of June-July over the past three seasons, the Lions should be encouraged by the prospect of playing at Commonwealth Stadium. Both of those July wins came against the Eskimos. Indeed, the Lions are 5-2 in their past seven visits to the Alberta capital. The last time the Lions started 0-2 (2009), they whipped the Eskimos 40-22 on July 16 at Commonwealth — the exact date on which this year's initial meeting takes place.

• PLAYERS TO WATCH:

Edmonton Eskimos: Cliff Washburn, left tackle — Washburn, the presumptive left tackle in training camp, joins the starting cast for the first time since shucking a cast used to protect a broken finger. A well-traveled journeyman in both the CFL and NFL, the 6-6, 315-pound Washburn played for head coach Kavis Reed in previous stops with the Roughriders and Argos.

B.C. Lions: Kamau Peterson, slotback — The former Stampeder-Blue Bomber-Tiger-Cat-Eskimo receiver got plenty of work in practice this week — and the Lions intend to use him this time. Peterson was dressed but didn't get on the field last Friday against the Stampeders, the first time he has spent an entire game in a state of idleness in his 11-year CFL career.

http://www.vancouversun.com/sports/Lion ... story.html

[joe kapp22]

Will be interesting to see if JHRM's absence helps or hurts the running game.

We really need this one, Ray is so hot right now, and Stubler has that Defence playing rock solid and attacking, should be a good game.

[WestCoastJoe]

http://www.vancouversun.com/sports/Eski ... story.html

A new coach has the same guys on the O Line playing well for the Eskimos ...

Remarkably, the Eskimos will line up their first-string offensive line Saturday for the first time the way it was envisioned in training camp, with import Cliff Washburn at left tackle and Victoria native Brian Ramsay at right tackle. Washburn was out with a broken finger; Ramsay returns from a knee injury.

If all goes according to plan, the cohesion will be even better, and it was already pretty good.

“They’re just a well-coached group,” Ray said. “Coach [Tim] Prinsen has done a great job getting those guys are on the same page, with the right assignments and the right technique. That’s one of the big differences you see from last year. When he came on, he’s just done a tremendous job with that group.”

Last year the Eskimos, like the Lions, started off 1-6 and the offensive line took much of the heat for the result. Tackles Joe McGrath and Calvin Armstrong were released, with McGrath later picked up by the Lions and Armstrong by the Argos. Position coach Jeff Bleamer was replaced in mid-season by Prinsen, an eight-year CFL veteran player who spent four years as offensive line coach with the Alberta Golden Bears.

The players Prinsen inherited — centre Aaron Fiacconi, guards Patrick Kabongo, Kyle Koch and Greg Wojt — the same guys leading the charge this year, are pretty much the same bunch who played for the Esks at the end of last season, with the addition of Washburn, Ramsay and No. 1 overall draft pick Scott Mitchell from Rice University. So perhaps coaching really does make a difference.

“He [Prinsen] is an unbelievable coach, a fantastic motivator,” Fiacconi explained. “He understands the game and he’s played in this league before. Nothing too flashy about him. He’s blue collar. That’s what he expects of us. Blue-collar values. Work to the whistle, punish your opponent, make sure they feel every play right down to the bone. It’s a blue-collar mentality and Edmonton is a blue-collar community. They’re hard-working people here, and we want to make them proud on game day.”

Keys to the game I see ...

Pressure on Ricky Ray. If from the 3 - 4, we will need well-timed blitzes from the Linebackers.

Outstanding coverage from the DBs.

A running game to keep the ball out of the hands of the Edmonton offence.

Pass protection for Lulay.

Confidence in catching the ball from our receivers.

[joe kapp22]

WCJ, I suspect we go more with the 4-3 then 3-4 in this one, simply because their running game has picked things up.

To me, the key is to not allow the big play and to convert in the red zone, we cannot settle for FG's.

[Rammer]

WCJ, I suspect we go more with the 4-3 then 3-4 in this one, simply because their running game has picked things up.

To me, the key is to not allow the big play and to convert in the red zone, we cannot settle for FG's.

Exactly, load the box and sit back in a deep zone forcing RR to do what he has done the last two or three seasons.

[WestCoastJoe]

WCJ, I suspect we go more with the 4-3 then 3-4 in this one, simply because their running game has picked things up.

To me, the key is to not allow the big play and to convert in the red zone, we cannot settle for FG's.

Lots of keys, ed.

With a 3 - 4, I wonder if we get containment on Ricky Ray. Last year he ran for over 130 yards against us. Benevides has gone to the 3 - 4 this year, but seems to have used the 4 - 3 at least as much. My preference would be to go after Ricky Ray with a lot of blitzing (well-timed, deceptive and well-run). It is high risk, but IMO the risk of giving him too much time is even worse. New corner. Changed halfback. New safety. Yikes.

Be nice if our DBs tackle hard.

Messam is going to be jacked to play against the Lions. Maybe too jacked up.

Peterson will be pumped to play against his old team.

Ricky Ray usually lights it up vs the Lions.

Lions' running game? Efforts were made in practice this week to focus more on the running game. We'll see.

If both passing games get going, it could be a shootout.

[Lionheart]

I f'n HATE ricky ray.

I just had to get that out.

Also, I hate how he can attract a red flag for just thinking about hitting him.

[Rammer]

I f'n HATE ricky ray.

I just had to get that out.

Also, I hate how he can attract a red flag for just thinking about hitting him.

Insert Henry Burris there for me as well.

With today's game, from what I have seen on Messam, his running style isn't any better than McCarty's, and not as punishing, so I am not worried about him specifically, just that the OL seems to be able to open up the holes for either RB, plus Porter. In order for the Lions to be successful in stopping the run game, I anticipate that Aaron Hunt will have to have a monster game.

[joe kapp22]

WCJ, I suspect we go more with the 4-3 then 3-4 in this one, simply because their running game has picked things up.

To me, the key is to not allow the big play and to convert in the red zone, we cannot settle for FG's.

Lots of keys, ed.

With a 3 - 4, I wonder if we get containment on Ricky Ray. Last year he ran for over 130 yards against us. Benevides has gone to the 3 - 4 this year, but seems to have used the 4 - 3 at least as much. My preference would be to go after Ricky Ray with a lot of blitzing (well-timed, deceptive and well-run). It is high risk, but IMO the risk of giving him too much time is even worse. New corner. Changed halfback. New safety. Yikes.

Be nice if our DBs tackle hard.

Messam is going to be jacked to play against the Lions. Maybe too jacked up.

Peterson will be pumped to play against his old team.

Ricky Ray usually lights it up vs the Lions.

Lions' running game? Efforts were made in practice this week to focus more on the running game. We'll see.

If both passing games get going, it could be a shootout.

Well, one new Cb, Hyland has played Cb and Sanchez has been around forever so he is not that huge of a target for Ray.

Same game:

-Tackle well
-Don't turn the ball over
-generate explosive plays on Specials
-Wr's perform well

The way I see it, Ray is going to make plays happen, the key will be answering back and not giving up cheap scores

Problem with the 3-4 is a powerful running back matches size with a Lb, might be a bit larger, with the 4-3 the advantage tilts towards our side of the ledger, however that also means the Defcord has to run stunts and twists and X games to get to the Qb as the confusing blitzes do not come out of the 4-3 the Dline has to generate everything.

Keron Williams and Aaron Hunt have to step up their impacts.

[WestCoastJoe]

Snapshots of each team's last game ...

The Lions won the turnover battle (and the penalty differential) vs the Stampeders, but did not capitalize on the scoreboard.

The Eskimos had great balance on offence. The one bad thing I see is 14 penalties against. Fred Stamps is scary. Jason Barnes is going to be scary going to the corner, the old unstoppable Jason Tucker route.

[David]

For me, it's all about getting off to a good start. Apart from a solid defensive performance in Week 2, the 1st half has not been kind to the Leos this year. I sense that they could be taking on the frustrations of their Head Coach and my worry is that they'll come out tighter than a pickle jar.

Play with determination, but relax and have fun.

An opening drive for a major will go a long way towards instilling confidence and getting their swagger back.

DH

[joe kapp22]

WCJ, I suspect we go more with the 4-3 then 3-4 in this one, simply because their running game has picked things up.

To me, the key is to not allow the big play and to convert in the red zone, we cannot settle for FG's.

Exactly, load the box and sit back in a deep zone forcing RR to do what he has done the last two or three seasons.

Nah, if Benevides is sharpe (and for the record I'm not so sure that is the case, not a fan of his game plans) you give a deep shell look, then send Db blitzes off of the corner and slot receivers while the deep safeties slide up and pick up the vacated areas it is man on man coverage however that is why you vary the places that the blitzes come from.

To me, we really, really, could use a Elephant player, a Lb/De to allow us to switch 3-4/4-3 looks and it allows the Defence to hide coverages more effectively as the elephant can drop back into coverage as well, for example fake the blitz and handle the Running Back heading out to the flat on the screen pass.

[Rammer]

For me, it's all about getting off to a good start. Apart from a solid defensive performance in Week 2, the 1st half has not been kind to the Leos this year. I sense that they could be taking on the frustrations of their Head Coach and my worry is that they'll come out tighter than a pickle jar.

Play with determination, but relax and have fun.

An opening drive for a major will go a long way towards instilling confidence and getting their swagger back.

DH

I also worry about the expectations that the Lions O will have on actually doing the running plays and if it doesn't materialize it will place that much more of a burden on both sides of the ball.

[joe kapp22]

Other key for me is that the game does not fall all on Travis's shoulders early in the contest, a Qb performs at their worst when they feel they must be purrfect with every pass, for a young Qb that is a recipe for turnovers in bunches as Stubler is no dummy, he will offer things then take them away leading to int's.

That is why Tim Brown has to step up and make some things happen, release the pressure on Lulay and the Offence.

BTW, Bombers Elliot is out with a ACL injury, and Buck has a thigh issue, Wpg just cannot seem to have an easy time of it at Qb.

[notahomer]

Could be a strange game. Apparently Manitoba's mosquitos have setup shop in Edmonton. The Esks had to practice indoors yesterday to escape the bloodsucking critters. Wonder how the fans/teams will react. Probably won't impact the game itself too much but I feel sorry for the fans trying to take in an afternoon CFL game.

I think the Lions will have their best game of the season so far.....