Eskimos @ Lions, Oct. 29, 2011 Las Vegas Odds and Comments

[joe kapp22]

Well, to me the injuries this late in the yr are never good news, however at least the Oline is still intact and facing the Esks, with that passrush, that is hugely important for us.

If Robertson does play, he'll have fresh legs under him should be something to watch.

[Belize City Lion]

Sounds like Rintoul is doing PxP on 1410 for this game. I will leave the headset at home methinks.

Ugh. I'd be happy to donate some air miles if they want to fly JP over from France...

[TheLionKing]

Sounds like Rintoul is doing PxP on 1410 for this game. I will leave the headset at home methinks.

Where's Rick Ball ?

[Belize City Lion]

Sounds like Rintoul is doing PxP on 1410 for this game. I will leave the headset at home methinks.

Where's Rick Ball ?

I imagine he's doing the Winnipeg Jets on HNIC.

[B.C.FAN]

I don't know who's doing PXP but there's a Canucks game across the street at the same time as the Lions' game. It's the first head-to-head conflict of the home season and is bound to make a mess of transportation and parking on Saturday, in addition to radio and TV commitments.

[sj-roc]

I don't know who's doing PXP but there's a Canucks game across the street at the same time as the Lions' game. It's the first head-to-head conflict of the home season and is bound to make a mess of transportation and parking on Saturday, in addition to radio and TV commitments.

Canucks also have home games on both playoff Sundays preceding the Grey Cup, 6 pm starts in both cases.

[WestCoastJoe]

http://blogs.theprovince.com/2011/10/26 ... -flu-shot/

Lowell Ullrich's blog ...

You want to see collective skittishness? It was at Lions practice for a few minutes Wednesday when Arland Bruce was not in attendance.

With the number of bodies dropping due to injury lately, the mere absence of any player can get people talking and such was the case until it was explained that Bruce’s absence was excused because of a reaction to a flu shot.

Here we thought getting a flu shot was supposed to make you feel better, not worse.

At any rate, it was being suggested that the slotback will be back to work Thursday, which will make for one less thing to check on during a week which almost seems unprecedented when it comes to injuries the last few years.

Here’s the Wednesday scoreboard:

Back to work – Solomon Elimimian, Tad Kornegay, Keron Williams

Still on the shelf – Jamall Lee, Jason Arakgi, Tim Brown

He might make it back Saturday – Aaron Hunt, Andrew Harris (longshot hunch).

Looking just fine – Travis Lulay, Rolly Lumbala, Dan McCullough, Shawn Gore, Khalif Mitchell

[WestCoastJoe]

http://www.cfl.ca/article/no-love-lost- ... -and-lions

No love lost between Esks and Lions October 26, 2011 1

Chris O'Leary Edmonton Journal

EDMONTON -- Fred Stamps says the right things, but his body language doesn’t lie.

Ask the Edmonton Eskimos slotback about something he really doesn’t like and, before he can spout words that are politically correct, he’ll make a face. The face resembles the reaction that comes from biting into apple pie, then quickly finding out that it’s rhubarb.

Stamps made that sour facial reaction again Friday night upon hearing a mention of the B.C. Lions. The Eskimos lost 33-24 to the Lions on Sept. 30 in Vancouver at the re-opening of BC Place. The game became quite heated late in the fourth quarter when a pack of Lions went after Edmonton tailback Jerome Messam, a former teammate. Messam was ejected from the game after he hit B.C. defensvie back Tad Kornegay on the side of his helmet with an open hand.

Sour face? Ha ha ... No words, though. Does that make it to the bulletin board?

Five Lions were later fined for the liberties they took with Messam. Defensive lineman Khalif Mitchell was fined for a hit in which he led with his helmet and made primary contact with Messam’s helmet. Korey Banks, Solomon Elimimiam, Kornegay and Dante Marsh were all fined for their role in the incident with Messam.

After the game, Lions defensive tackle Aaron Hunt went on TSN and called the Eskimos offensive linemen dirty players who were told to play that way by offensive line coach Tim Prinsen.

“(It gives us) a little momentum, but we put that behind us,” Stamps said. “We can’t keep going off on that because we play them three or four times a year.

“We’re just going to put that behind us and go in there like we need a win, which we do. Whatever they say, whoever talks, we don’t feed into all of that. We’re above that.”

Saying the right things. This is going to be a tough game. Dunno if we are ready for it.

The buildup to the game couldn’t be any better. The Lions and Eskimos are battling for the best record in the Canadian Football League’s West Division. B.C. currently leads the season series two games to one, and is up 29 points on Edmonton in the head-to-head series, thanks largely to a 36-1 drubbing of the Eskimos to start their eight-game winning streak on Aug. 19. Throw in the dramatics of the Sept. 30 contest, and the stage is set for one of the most important CFL regular-season games of 2011.

“Next week is going to be a big game for both teams,” Eskimos quarterback Ricky Ray said. “We’ve just been trying to put ourselves in a good spot. That’s what you want to do, is control your own destiny and B.C. is one of those teams that they’ve definitely done it themselves, winning eight in a row. It’s definitely going to be a slugfest next week.”

Saying the right things. If Ricky Ray finds his game once again versus the Lions, look out.

Of course, at the centre of it all will be Messam, who started the season with B.C. and was dealt to Edmonton for a fifth-round conditional draft pick after he was suspended during training camp. The six-foot-three, 245-pounder has become the focal point of Edmonton’s offence. He is sitting just 40 yards away from becoming the fourth Canadian in 47 years to crack the 1,000-yard rushing mark, and could reach the milestone in a high-stakes game against his former team in a hostile environment.

Messam said he’s been thinking about getting back to BC Place after how his last trip to Vancouver ended.

“I want to go back there and play well,” he said. “The fans are probably going to boo me out of the stadium, but I don’t care.

“I’ve had a lot of doubters, I’ve had a lot of haters in my career. A lot of people told me I was too big to play this position. A lot of people told me I was a hoodlum. Nobody really knows Jerome Messam. The naysayers and the people that want to doubt me? I just use it as fuel for the fire.

Self centered diva? Head case? Hoodlum? Trouble? Dunno ...

Helluva player? Hell yes. A horse.

Is it possible he will get another NFL look? That would be nice.

[B.C.FAN]

By the numbers:

Turnovers are a big key to any CFL game, but even more so in this case. Edmonton has overtaken Winnipeg for the best turnnover ratio in the league (+15). They're 10-0 when they win the turnover battle and 0-4 when they lose it. The Lions are third in the league at +8. They're 7-1 when winning the turnover battle and 0-5 when losing it.

Big plays are another key stat. Both offences are among the league leaders in big pass plays (30+ yards) but the Lions have given up the most such plays in the league, the Esks have given up the fewest. Ricky Ray will have his big-play receivers in the lineup and will test the B.C. secondary if he gets time. Rich Stubler's defence will give up a lot of small plays but few big ones. Travis Lulay has had good success this year against that defence, throwing for an average of over 300 yards and an average of 3 TDs in 3 games. Rushing stats have been pretty even in the two B.C. victories. The Esks had a lopsided advantage in their victory in Week 3.

[Blitz]

Self centered diva? Head case? Hoodlum? Trouble? Dunno ...

Helluva player? Hell yes. A horse.

Is it possible he will get another NFL look? That would be nice.

Wonder if the Players Council would make the same decision about Messam in retrospect. I highly doubt it!!

Its going to be a heck of a game and I'm sure happy that Eliminian is back or Messam could have run wild. Even still, he's not going to be easy to stop.

[Rammer]

Even stranger to me than the "pack of Lions" attacking Messam, was the lack of a response from Messam's teammates. That only the Eskimos coach seemed to be emotionally charged should give something to think about on Messam's 'team' attitude.

[Toppy Vann]

Even stranger to me than the "pack of Lions" attacking Messam, was the lack of a response from Messam's teammates. That only the Eskimos coach seemed to be emotionally charged should give something to think about on Messam's 'team' attitude.

I don't see it that way at all. If they got overly embroiled they'd be tossed and fined too and players don't need that - seasoned pros and team oriented amateurs know not to succumb to circumstances like this one as it never ends good for your team or you.

I had zero tolerance for that stuff in men's soccer and when a a player asked me as a coach how much do they have to take before we let them respond in kind. My answer is simple. If you lose sight of the objective (winning) and make it a personal battle then you are no longer playing for the team - you're just playing for yourself. If a team mate were being beaten it'd be different. But that typically doesn't happen although I have seen serious punches that twice in the summer league we got opponents charged and convicted for. Coaches who win can only have players playing for the team. Just focus on playing and leave the purse swinging and hair pulling to the other side.

I suspect given what Messam has done for the Esks they 'd cut him some slack and it all happened fast. When you see your guy toss a punch you know expulsion is going to happen and why should a team mate take a fine when a guy does that.

I do suspect that some Lions are angry about the Messam jaw breaker as something that far exceeded what was needed in a fight over a parking pass. If yes, then Wally should not have given his boys will be boys speech and let that slide.

Not going to practice when Messam was there you guys who do get there might see Messam differently in the way he interacted.

[notahomer]

By the numbers:

Turnovers are a big key to any CFL game, but even more so in this case. Edmonton has overtaken Winnipeg for the best turnnover ratio in the league (+15). They're 10-0 when they win the turnover battle and 0-4 when they lose it. The Lions are third in the league at +8. They're 7-1 when winning the turnover battle and 0-5 when losing it.
.....

B.C.FAN, I certainly respect your perspective and ability to find stats but I have a question about this edition of the numbers. The BC Lions and Eskimos have both played 16 games but according to the stats you provided Lions have played 13 and Eskimos 14. The only answer I can come up with is the unaccounted games must have been ones that the turnovers were equal on both teams? That minor complaint aside, your points are well taken, the team winning the turnover battle is probably going to win the football game. So, if I'm right in assumming the numbers the Lions are 2-1 when the turnovers are equal? And the Esks are 0-2 when the turnovers are equal?

Once again, I appreciate the perspective/stats you bring to the Lions chatter, B.C.FAN

[Ravi]

So are we going to see 40k+ in attendance for this huge game?

[sj-roc]

So are we going to see 40k+ in attendance for this huge game?

I'll be pleasantly surprised if that's the case.