Lions season opener in Toronto Sunday

[DanoT]

I prefer an O with 4 receivers, a RB, and a FB. OK, I am old school and no CFL ream does that regularly. But that doesn't mean they are right. How often does a QB get to go to the 4th or 5th read?
If the Lions are using Cottoy as a blocker, even as a "chip" blocker delaying his pass route, then it diminishes his passing game contribution. Far better to take Eberhart or the other new receiver out of the game and insert Mackie at FB and occasionally at TE.

[don corleone]

One benefit of a 5 receiver set is the defense has to account for all possibilities. Theoretically it pulls another guy out of the box to give more room for the QB as well. What they have to be careful of is to have the receivers maintain the separation so that a defender can't leave his man to make a play nearby. I see quite a few interceptions happening that way over recent times.

[don corleone]

Thinking about it more seems likely Bagayogo was offered a practice roster spot and turned it down.

Having the Guelph U Sports background he may fit in well in Hamilton over time.

[Hambone]

[qMeh, I've kind of tuned out attendance figures because I have lost all faith in their accuracy. Edmonton seems to be the worst at fudging. They claim to have the 3rd highest average gate in 2023 at 24,774 (a 4.1% rise over 2022) which is almost laughable given the eye ball test we all applied on our TV screens or devise. Attendance figures by all teams are self-reported and cannot be independently verified beyond the info that’s publicly available on Ticketmaster and what observers view themselves.

The number for their first game vs Saskatchewan was 20,710. It appeared to be more like 11,000, of which about 5,000 were Rider fans. We all understand why (Oilers, weather) and maybe those tickets were sold in advance of the hockey playoffs but it's just hard to take these reported numbers seriously.


DH

We all know, or should, that announced attendances reflect tickets sold, not turnstile counts. Tickets sold may also include promotional freebies handed out. Edmonton's 2023 overall average number was skewed, not unlike BC's, due to some special promotion. I can't remember if it was some sort of 2 for 1 deal, seeding their 50/50 with unclaimed pots from 2022 or something else as they started out with 32K+ then immediately dropped to a hair over 20K for the next game. I don't take the numbers as pure gospel but rather a trend indicator.

[Hambone]

I prefer an O with 4 receivers, a RB, and a FB. OK, I am old school and no CFL ream does that regularly. But that doesn't mean they are right. How often does a QB get to go to the 4th or 5th read?
If the Lions are using Cottoy as a blocker, even as a "chip" blocker delaying his pass route, then it diminishes his passing game contribution. Far better to take Eberhart or the other new receiver out of the game and insert Mackie at FB and occasionally at TE.

The game has changed immensely since you were a young'un. The days of Reed and Evenson getting the rock over and over again are things of the past. There are parts of today's passing game are de facto running plays. For example on BC's first play from scrimmage Sunday Hollins took a shovel pass 2 yards behind the LOS and turned it upfield into a 9 yard gain. It was a running play but was record as a pass. Some running plays have been replaced by slotback or WR screens, high percentage passes to get the ball into a playmaker's hands in space .

The other day I was looking at some numbers. George Reed lugged the ball 10.8 times for every pass reception. Andrew Harris ran it 3.2 times per catch.

Another quirky aspect of run vs pass comes with just the general numbers. Back in the run dominant days of the 60s and 70s it was a struggle for most QBs to complete 50% of their passes. Those who threw more TDs than picks were in the minority. The one CFL record that will last forever is Lancaster's career interception mark of 396 to go with 333 TDs. They ran the ball a lot back then because they couldn't reliably move the ball in the air.

[DanoT]

I prefer an O with 4 receivers, a RB, and a FB. OK, I am old school and no CFL ream does that regularly. But that doesn't mean they are right. How often does a QB get to go to the 4th or 5th read?
If the Lions are using Cottoy as a blocker, even as a "chip" blocker delaying his pass route, then it diminishes his passing game contribution. Far better to take Eberhart or the other new receiver out of the game and insert Mackie at FB and occasionally at TE.

The game has changed immensely since you were a young'un. The days of Reed and Evenson getting the rock over and over again are things of the past. There are parts of today's passing game are de facto running plays. For example on BC's first play from scrimmage Sunday Hollins took a shovel pass 2 yards behind the LOS and turned it upfield into a 9 yard gain. It was a running play but was record as a pass. Some running plays have been replaced by slotback or WR screens, high percentage passes to get the ball into a playmaker's hands in space .

The other day I was looking at some numbers. George Reed lugged the ball 10.8 times for every pass reception. Andrew Harris ran it 3.2 times per catch.

Another quirky aspect of run vs pass comes with just the general numbers. Back in the run dominant days of the 60s and 70s it was a struggle for most QBs to complete 50% of their passes. Those who threw more TDs than picks were in the minority. The one CFL record that will last forever is Lancaster's career interception mark of 396 to go with 333 TDs. They ran the ball a lot back then because they couldn't reliably move the ball in the air.

I can't successfully argue with what you are saying but the less complex O and D in the 60s and 70s was for me the heyday of CFL football with smaller coaching staffs and veteran QBs who called their own plays in the huddle, same with usually a MLB calling the defensive formation . I loved it.

[OV:54-40]

I prefer an O with 4 receivers, a RB, and a FB. OK, I am old school and no CFL ream does that regularly. But that doesn't mean they are right. How often does a QB get to go to the 4th or 5th read?
If the Lions are using Cottoy as a blocker, even as a "chip" blocker delaying his pass route, then it diminishes his passing game contribution. Far better to take Eberhart or the other new receiver out of the game and insert Mackie at FB and occasionally at TE.

It's not a matter or "right" IMO but more deferring to standard same old basic offence that the CFL offensive coaches only subscribe to now = same basic 5 pack look, one basic simple run play, QB always in shot-gun = these are choices of the coaches calling things and have nothing to do with what is right or guaranteed for offensive success.

Sorry, but CFL offences now are simpler than ever, and as one who likes diversity in football, it's disappointing and frustrating to see less complex or diverse offences now. I think it was Blitz here (?) who has spoken quite eloquently on this matter before. Keep hiring from the same old clique of same thinkers for offensive coaches and that's all you are going to get. IF however, you like same old, and believe tight ends or fullbacks or a diverse 2 back run game, or screen passes or lots of deep passing game are things of the past and just not "right" for the CFL now, then hey, have at 'er. Qbs throw way less interceptions now and have a higher completion % than before with tons of 5 yard check downs or hitch passes though = whop de do.

[Toppy Vann]

If you look at the Bombers offensive schemes - passing and running - that started with Lapolice and morphed brilliantly with Buck Pierce, they use slot backs etc on run plays and they have a creative offense none of which involves risking starter Zach Collaros. They like Argos don't just pound it with one back off tackle. If Buck was protecting himself better, he might still be playing.

That jet sweep with Hollins was brilliant but it wasn't repeated. Same when they had Stanback and David Mackie was WIDE OPEN in the middle but VA hit Stanback. That should have been a set up and with that ball going to Mackie or deeper. I just don't see this OC's philosophy in play calling as they don't see to be setting something up other than relying on the big play they know Vernon Adams is capable of.

BC getting caught and beat in pass protection results not just from personnel but from scheme and the knowledge on the DEF side that if they run it's inside and the Lions are the best in the CFL signalling run over pass so it's not hard to figure out.

The passing game is more complex and plotted these days with more minor wrinkles. There was a great Als passing play for a TD in their first game where one REC simply stopped and turned about the 5 bringing a back up only to have the crossing REC wide open in the end zone.