Home opener: Lions vs. Stampeders June 15, 2024

[tedbear]

The onfield announcer Sasha or other is irritating. Shouting into the microphone. So full of herself.

Yes I thought I was the only one that had to plug my ears every time she screamed her high pitched voice into the microphone. Definitely in my opinion a bad hire by the B.C. Lions.

[OV:54-40]

Crimes, Lions have other receivers not named Hollins and McInnis

Alarming ball distribution to say the least. Hladik having himself a game. Who had Archibald making more impact plays 2 games in than Covington on the bingo card?

Not sure I would have had that, but I had a feeling Archibald could do well with real reps at DE - let's see if he gets rewarded with more playing time; Covington has not done much yet, but he is seasoned vet who should adjust back to the Canadian game and be a D leader; Hladik is a stud LB - at either W-OLB or MLB. They need somebody to step-up to replace all the pressure and sacks that Betts brought, but that level talent is not easy to find; have to get it done by committee.

And MacInnis is looking like a CFL best level receiver talent (what a steal from the Riders) - flashed it last year, but if VA continues to see him he could lead the league in receiving - big target with the catch radius; has speed and shows strong hands. Him and Hollins could form the best 1-2 punch in the league - but they still need to spread the ball around.

Mackie had a catch = wow - but it was just a check-down; a Stamps pass play to their little used fullback - rookie Robertson - was a nice play and good gainer. CFL OCs just don't seem to get that different look / variety/ change of pace play as a nice feature though. The old days of a screen pass to a big fullback type who could truck smaller DBs for good yardage and get it done several times a game is lost now.

[Toppy Vann]

Robbie for most fans it's not about controlling the ball it's about a ball being in play for anyone to grab after if it's fumbled. It's a head up CFL play to dive to touch it as it was last night from my excellent vantage point in the end zone. That got fans up who had that similar view.

In the '94 WDF in the ice in Calgary, after the Stamps FG was blocked Doug Flutie the holder flew to touch it before it went out of bounds with the only problem it didn't advance far enough for a first down. It added excitement to the blocked kick. In fact in that scenario no one had controll of the ball.

If you're suggesting that Mills fumbling and our guy touching before it went out of bounds should have let Calgary keep the ball, that's rewards an error versus both sides now struggling to touch it last.

[B.C.FAN]

Mackie had a catch = wow - but it was just a check-down; a Stamps pass play to their little used fullback - rookie Robertson - was a nice play and good gainer. CFL OCs just don't seem to get that different look / variety/ change of pace play as a nice feature though. The old days of a screen pass to a big fullback type who could truck smaller DBs for good yardage and get it done several times a game is lost now.

Put an asterisk on Mackie’s catch because it came after he replaced Cottoy. That would have been Cottoy’s checkdown. It’s interesting that the Lions used veteran blocker Mackie to replace Cottoy rather than rookie receiver Ezechiel Tieide, who is the designated backup for Cottoy and took all his reps at the position throughout training camp.

[Hambone]

Mackie had a catch = wow - but it was just a check-down; a Stamps pass play to their little used fullback - rookie Robertson - was a nice play and good gainer. CFL OCs just don't seem to get that different look / variety/ change of pace play as a nice feature though. The old days of a screen pass to a big fullback type who could truck smaller DBs for good yardage and get it done several times a game is lost now.

Put an asterisk on Mackie’s catch because it came after he replaced Cottoy. That would have been Cottoy’s checkdown. It’s interesting that the Lions used veteran blocker Mackie to replace Cottoy rather than rookie receiver Ezechiel Tieide, who is the designated backup for Cottoy and took all his reps at the position throughout training camp.

Given the way Calgary was sending 5, 6 & 7 rushers so often the decision of Mackie over Tieide was likely fueled because Mackie would be much better at reading and picking up extra rushers.

[TheLionKing]

Mackie had a catch = wow - but it was just a check-down; a Stamps pass play to their little used fullback - rookie Robertson - was a nice play and good gainer. CFL OCs just don't seem to get that different look / variety/ change of pace play as a nice feature though. The old days of a screen pass to a big fullback type who could truck smaller DBs for good yardage and get it done several times a game is lost now.

Put an asterisk on Mackie’s catch because it came after he replaced Cottoy. That would have been Cottoy’s checkdown. It’s interesting that the Lions used veteran blocker Mackie to replace Cottoy rather than rookie receiver Ezechiel Tieide, who is the designated backup for Cottoy and took all his reps at the position throughout training camp.

Banner year for Mackie. One reception is pre season and one in regular season. Should be asking for a hefty raise in his next contract.

[B.C.FAN]

Mackie’s versatility is underappreciated. He can be used as a ball-carrier or receiver but most often lines up as a tight end and is used as a blocker. Mackie. Cottoy and Travis Fulgham usually stand together near the sideline awaiting the play call and personnel grouping. Mackie and Cottoy sub in at the last minute if the play call is for a 4-receiver set. Fulgham comes and Mackie subs out if it’s a 5-receiver set.

[Hambone]

I don't knows if it played into the convert problems but was anybody paying attention to the longsnappers? Nelson drew the misconduct penalty early in the game. Well into the second half Pickett seemed to be handling the duties on placekicks. I didn't pay attention on who was handling it on punts.

EDIT: Nelson took the penalty on BC's first punt. According to Game Tracker Pickett took care of it on all placekicks. Tracker doesn't show who snaps on punts. Not sure Campbell benched Nelson for the bad penalty or he got hurt. Nelson was doing snapping on placekicks vs Toronto.

[Gridiron Ernie]

Hambone, during the telecast I caught a very brief glimpse of Campbell giving Nelson a stern/irritated look and some words, but don't know if he was benched thereafter.
Also, you mention GameTracker; any time I've ever clicked on it I get nothing (a blank screen). What's the trick to access it?

[B.C.FAN]

I don't knows if it played into the convert problems but was anybody paying attention to the longsnappers? Nelson drew the misconduct penalty early in the game. Well into the second half Pickett seemed to be handling the duties on placekicks. I didn't pay attention on who was handling it on punts.

EDIT: Nelson took the penalty on BC's first punt. According to Game Tracker Pickett took care of it on all placekicks. Tracker doesn't show who snaps on punts. Not sure Campbell benched Nelson for the bad penalty or he got hurt. Nelson was doing snapping on placekicks vs Toronto.

The Lions may be unique in that they dress two long-snappers. Nelson handled all punts yesterday and Pickett handled all placekicks. Pickett also lined up as left guard on the punt team. He was drafted as a defensive end but never played the position. When Nelson won the long-snapping role in the final days of training camp, Pickett started practising with the running backs. He’s listed on the depth chart as backup fullback but he’s never played the position.

[OV:54-40]

Mackie had a catch = wow - but it was just a check-down; a Stamps pass play to their little used fullback - rookie Robertson - was a nice play and good gainer. CFL OCs just don't seem to get that different look / variety/ change of pace play as a nice feature though. The old days of a screen pass to a big fullback type who could truck smaller DBs for good yardage and get it done several times a game is lost now.

Put an asterisk on Mackie’s catch because it came after he replaced Cottoy. That would have been Cottoy’s checkdown. It’s interesting that the Lions used veteran blocker Mackie to replace Cottoy rather than rookie receiver Ezechiel Tieide, who is the designated backup for Cottoy and took all his reps at the position throughout training camp.

I guess not much faith in rookie draft pick Tiede? OTOH - Riders rookie draft pick Ajou Ajou was forced into today's game with an injury to a starting receiver and responded with a bunch of nice catches.

Mackie is a big tough blocker who has a role there; it's IMO sad and myopic though that the offensive thinkers do not get what he can do with the ball - as either a change of pace power runner or a receiver who can catch and truck for yardage - even just a couple of orfew plays a game at selective well-timed calls ... for some offensive variety, that IMO is not grasped.

[SammyGreene]

The onfield announcer Sasha or other is irritating. Shouting into the microphone. So full of herself.

Yes I thought I was the only one that had to plug my ears every time she screamed her high pitched voice into the microphone. Definitely in my opinion a bad hire by the B.C. Lions.

Just horrendous!!! I thought they had left the volume up from the 50Cent concert. Not sure why she had to scream into the mic but that can’t happen for the next eight games.
It’s bad enough we don’t get to see all the replays they do at home on TV but we shouldn’t have to be listening to essentially screaming during commercial breaks.

[TheLionKing]

Emailed Fanservices about Sasha. Will be interesting if the Lions mute her for the next week. I encourage fans to email Fanservices with your complaints.

[Hambone]

I guess not much faith in rookie draft pick Tiede? OTOH - Riders rookie draft pick Ajou Ajou was forced into today's game with an injury to a starting receiver and responded with a bunch of nice catches.

In this instance the similarities between the two situations start and end with them being the same size and 2024 draft picks. Ajou was brought in to replace Bane, the Riders starting weakside wide receiver. Tieide would have been asked to fill in for the strong side slotback who has a lot of pass block responsibility. That is something of which neither Bane nor his replacement Ajou would deal with much, if at all, from the outside receiver spot. Maybe if Calgary wasn't sending extra rushers right from the start of the game they would have put Tieide in at least for some reps. Monson would have had a field day calling stunts and blitzes from his LBs and secondary against a rookie in that situation. Having the seasoned veteran Mackie fill in was the prudent move for the sake of Adams' health.

[Hambone]

Hambone, during the telecast I caught a very brief glimpse of Campbell giving Nelson a stern/irritated look and some words, but don't know if he was benched thereafter.
Also, you mention GameTracker; any time I've ever clicked on it I get nothing (a blank screen). What's the trick to access it?

Strange. It looks to be that way (blank) now if I click on Game Tracker for games this weekend from the scoreboard at the top of the CFL.ca home page. However if I go into the schedule tab and call up Game Tracker for any of the games it works fine. I was following the Rider/Ticat game along on it in what seemed like real time while I was sitting at YVR waiting for my flight home this afternoon. I've had no problems with it this season. Sometimes when I open it for a specific game I first get something that says "not available" or something to that effect. But if I just give it 3 or 4 seconds everything comes thru. It was sketchy in BC Place during the game but I chalk that up to a big crowd playing hell with the bandwidth. It was painful trying to pick up the score in the hockey game too.