Edmonton Elks at BC Lions - May 31, 2024 - Pregame Day Thread

[Walt67]

Jake likes to remind us why a 6-foot-7 QB with a good arm is earning back-up paychecks here and not down south. Another horrendous throw.

well, he threw that one with zip and authority and hit the player perfectly between the green and yellow numbers. Obviously that is a pity as he has an amazing arm.

[Walt67]

Ok, so the biggest positive of the game is that Stanback didn't get hurt in the last preseason game. Like others, I have been screaming about a need for a running game when the temperature drops - and I hope this move finally accomplishes that.

[David]

Newcomers who made their mark:

* Stanley Berryhill III, despite a drop on the first (long) pass thrown his way, redeemed himself. 4 catches for 50 yards and looked very dangerous on punt returns, reversing to the wide side of the field and taking it for a 29-yard return.

* Ronald Kent Jr. had a much better showing than the Calgary game. His coverage was tight and had 4 tackles.

* Jordan Perryman did not look out of place playing the corner and had two nice tackles.

* Tough decisions on our two rookie running backs. It's a dead heat. Frankly, I thought they showed more elusiveness than Stanback. Percy Agyei-Obese and Jordan Terrell carrying for a 6.4 yard average on 5 carries and 5.8 yards on 4 respectively. I could not pick out who was the better blocker but Agyei-Obese caught 3 passes in the flat.

* I thought the Oline look good in pass protection but could not move bodies on running plays.

* D line was good against the run on the night, but the pass rush was disappointing, especially against a very ordinary Oline. Christian Covington was not a factor in his first half play (likely still getting himself in shape after missing some camp time nursing a hamstring) but Pete Robertson looks like he will be a beast at defensive end.

* Cristophe Beaulieu was a steal of a draft pick and is a keeper. He's going to make the roster.

Carl Meyer was booming the ball in the second half, averaging 52.8 yards on his 2 punts in the dead BC Place air. Roof closed, go figure.



DH

[B.C.FAN]

I tried to watch the line play from the end zone, a perspective I didn’t have from the Hillside Stadium bleachers at training camp.

On offence, Tyler Packer has moved up the depth chart at centre and took some reps with the first team. The line seem to play better with him in the middle but Andrew Peirson also did well with the second team.

On defence, third-team defensive tackles Jonah Tavai and Demetrius Taylor deserve huge credit for standing their ground in the Lions’ impressive goal-line stand. I didn’t see anything from the first or second teamers in the middle. One or both of the rookies may get a spot in the rotation.

Otherwise, David’s game observations validate what I saw in Kamloops. Stanley Berryhill may be ahead of the other rookies vying for the practice roster. Christophe Beaulieu showed his nose for the ball, playing a difficult position at field halfback. National vets Adrian Greene and Patrice Rene are locks for the roster, and Beaulieu should join them. Rookie national LB Terrence Ganyi may add to the Lions’ national depth after a strong performance on special teams. The Lions lost some national depth on the D-line this year but they gained it at other position groups.

As for quarterbacks, I remain impressed by Chase Brice, especially after a couple of underwhelming performances by Jake Dolegala. I’m starting to think he should be the No. 2 QB. He’a giving Buck Pierce vibes when the lights come on.

[TheLionKing]

Dolegala showed the same tendency when he played in Saskatchewan - forcing the ball in coverage. Players that caught my eye - Stanley Berryhill, Jordan Perryman, Ronald Kent and Christophe Beaulieu. Will Campbell keep a 5"9" defensive back ?

[David]

As for quarterbacks, I remain impressed by Chase Brice, especially after a couple of underwhelming performances by Jake Dolegala. I’m starting to think he should be the No. 2 QB. He’a giving Buck Pierce vibes when the lights come on.

Jake has got a solid arm. When he's on, he looks really good. But then I really don't know what he sees out there some of the time. Straight into the opponent's arms.

I agree. Chase has the better upside in my opinion and deserves the back-up position. He was checking down a lot tonight but otherwise reading the field quite well. I am a bit concerned about his athleticism (or lack there of). Our section was gently poking fun at his...umm...lack of foot speed and considerable girth. Reminded some of Tom Wilkinson.



DH

[Hambone]

Will Campbell keep a 5"9" defensive back ?

The trend in the CFL is for "length" in the secondary probably to offfset the fact receivers are getting increasingly taller. Would Campbell keep a 5'9 DB? Well both of his DHBs since he's been here, Lee & Sayles, are listed at 5'9.

[Hambone]

Jake has got a solid arm. When he's on, he looks really good. But then I really don't know what he sees out there some of the time. Straight into the opponent's arms.

I agree. Chase has the better upside in my opinion and deserves the back-up position. He was checking down a lot tonight but otherwise reading the field quite well. I am a bit concerned about his athleticism (or lack there of). Our section was gently poking fun at his...umm...lack of foot speed and considerable girth. Reminded some of Tom Wilkinson.

DH

Dolegala made a nice decision when things opened up in front of him to lumber upfield for 17 yards. I thought Brice showed some agility and escapability in the pocket when he scrambled around avoiding what looked like a couple of sure sacks before breaking loose for some short gains. I'm not sure Wilkie would have been able to do the same even when he was at the fittest version of his usually pudgy self.

[Toppy Vann]

Lots of good things to like but VA doing short yardage even in a pre-season game is pure idiocy.

If Brice has shades of Buck Pierce which I'm not yet seeing as I just saw the game last night, why isn't he running short yardage?

Watching TSN when the Lions appeared in that formation with Dolegala about to throw an INT it was clear to me at home where he was passing.
Same on the next series when it was a near INT. Before the snap on both plays I felt this was going to be bad. Just those two series seemed that way. Elks seemed to recognize something on those two series.

I'm not sure if Dolegala tosses INT or near INTs as he decides before the snap he's making that play to that player.

OR

He's not always focused and confident.

Assumedly he's working on that in practice.

BC overall seems to have it together but those Chris Jones Elks with so many people being evaluated in the week before the season opens makes no sense.
I thought the Lions got away with more things than the Elks got called for but it may be that there's no core leadership group on their DEF to up the standard.
Jason Shivers the new DC is not one to coach risky play so it seems it's not likely they're letting things slide in practice which is never a good thing if not called out there.

I didn't hear about their first pre-season game but is MBT and that offense firing on all cylinders? I'd say not and if this is case.
It was funny hearing the TSN crew all over how much potential Tre Ford has etc but it sure seems he's not in the cards with Chris Jones. Bizarre..

[Qman]

Dolegala arm is almost too strong. Just tries to over throw every thing. He is not a long term option.

Schleager looked good. Everytime i watched line play he has 4 yds downfield pancaking a guy. Doubt Campbell will start him over knevel because he likes the flexibility is essentially playing 5 DIs with extra pass rusher.

Interesting what they do at punter too. That would open another DI spot.

Back up Running backs. It was even. Hard choice. They will play games. Stanback can’t play 18 the way he plays.

Perryman and Kent looked good.

Thank god we signed Robertson.

[Hambone]

I didn't hear about their first pre-season game but is MBT and that offense firing on all cylinders? I'd say not and if this is case.
It was funny hearing the TSN crew all over how much potential Tre Ford has etc but it sure seems he's not in the cards with Chris Jones. Bizarre..

I'm not seeing why you think Ford is not in the cards. If their first ex-game was an indication it would seem their offense was firing fairly well under MBT and Ford. They combined for 29 of 39 for 311 yards albeit with 0 TDs and 1 INT. MBT played the first half going 17 of 25 for 190 with a pick-6. Watching the highlight MBT threw one low that Lewis had to go down close to the ground for. It would be one of those that was theoretically thrown where only the receiver had a shot at it. Unfortunately Lewis went down akwardly for it. It hit his hands at turf level then popped up into the grasp of the Rider DB a few feet in behind him. Ford took over to start the 2nd half and played until Doege came in with 5 minutes left in the 4th. He went 12 for 14 for 121 yards.

IMO MBT and Ford are already written into ink as #1 & #2 with the roster being laminated. That they left them back at home was because the only question left to be answered is who of the other 4 QBs would be #3 and possibly earn a PR spot. They still have 4 other QBs in camp with Doege being the only one to get limited reps in the first game; apologies to Cole McDonald who was called on for 3 short yardage reps. I think they needed to leave Ford back in Edmonton so as not to muddy the waters by taking away reps from the others. Doege was supposed to get the entire first half last night but appeared to tweak something in his leg half way through the 2nd quarter. Malik Henry went the rest of the way. I don't know why Cole McDonald and Woodrow Trey Lowe III didn't get some reps other than McDonald's short yardage attempts.

[David]

I wonder if Mgt picks up any QBs off the scap heap after seeing Dolegala and Brice in preseason. I'm not saying they are pressing alarm bells, but one struggled with INTs and the other struggled to put up points. You have to think that they are at least keeping an eye on who's getting released (e.g. Mason Fine today).

Campbell tossed Dolegala a life line by suggested receivers may not have run the right routes. He's still learning JM's offense. Brice looks like a good QB to develop. He's been with us less than 1 year. But it's pretty much a given that VA won't start 18 games. Do you trust handing the keys to the offense in a Grey Cup hosting season to these two?

Just a thought on a Saturday after preseason...



DH

[Hambone]

Interesting. As training camp opened a lot of Rider fans were still miffed that O'Day and Mace chose to keep Fine over Dolegala. Now Fine has lost out to two BC castoffs; Shea Patterson and Antonio Pipkin.

Oops. My bad. I missed Pipkin also being cut.

[SammyGreene]

Interesting. As training camp opened a lot of Rider fans were still miffed that O'Day and Mace chose to keep Fine over Dolegala. Now Fine has lost out to two BC castoffs; Shea Patterson and Antonio Pipkin.

Speaking of Rider cuts wonder if the Lions have any interest in Carson Graham grad Brayden Lenius given we start 2 national receivers

[Hambone]

Interesting. As training camp opened a lot of Rider fans were still miffed that O'Day and Mace chose to keep Fine over Dolegala. Now Fine has lost out to two BC castoffs; Shea Patterson and Antonio Pipkin.

Speaking of Rider cuts wonder if the Lions have any interest in Carson Graham grad Brayden Lenius given we start 2 national receivers

Scuttlebutt over on RF is that Lenius remains recovering from injuries from last year and has really struggled with injuries his entire career. In debating receivers with Don Corleone he is that type of guy BC might be interested in with Harty's situation and lack of NAT depth behind Cottoy and McInnis.