Argonauts at Lions, Sept. 13, 2024

[TheLionKing]

Well then that’s on him and his coaches.

This is inexcusable at this time of year battling for first place.

Campbell set the tone tonight with a poor challenge on an iffy play 55 seconds into the game.

That is the moment when the game was over. He had no business throwing that flag, and if someone told him to they should be fired.

Typical Campbell move. Holds on to the flag when play should be challenged. Challenges on a very iffy play.

[TheLionKing]

As much as the oline didn't play well, but where were the quick hitters and screen passes to slow down the pass rush. Seemed like every sack the Lions gave up, Rourke/VA were waiting so long for the receivers to get open for a long pass.

Also hard to blame the defense on this game. The Lions offense started the game with three 2 and outs. Defense barely got to rest and they are back out there again.

This falls squarely on the shoulder of the Offensive Coordinator.

[TheLionKing]

Turning point of the game was when the Lions narrowed the score to 2 points with a minute or so left in the half. Instead of heading into the half with momentum on their side, the Argos took the ensuing kickoff and promptly marched down the field to score. Game, set match.

[B.C.FAN]

As much as the oline didn't play well, but where were the quick hitters and screen passes to slow down the pass rush. Seemed like every sack the Lions gave up, Rourke/VA were waiting so long for the receivers to get open for a long pass.

Also hard to blame the defense on this game. The Lions offense started the game with three 2 and outs. Defense barely got to rest and they are back out there again.

In the third quarter I remarked that one difference for Kelly vs Rourke and Adams was that if he went to his second or third read it was open save a handful of plays. The Lions' scheme simply did not have that available save generously two drives. I think Kelly read the rush better than both Lions QBs but he then also had an open option for 8-15 yards a play.

Agreed. Kelly did a good job of escaping pressure and finding an open receiver. The Lions played slow, letting the play come to them and then missing tackles. The many long Argo drives were built on missed B.C. tackles.

[footballfan-observer]

Was a bit concerned about this one - Lions beating the number 1 team in Montreal last week - playing a team that 1-5 on the road. Many sites / sports analysts predicted victory tonight - just seem that the Argos probably read the headlines and wanted it more with the extra effort. If both teams play with the "same intensity" - Lions probably take it but the Argos + Kelly wanted it this one. Costly loss - still hoping Lions can get division but don't see WPG losing too many now as they have been "pushing themselves harder" every week since the 2nd month of the season.

[Toppy Vann]

From the end zone I could see the Lions challenge on the second play of the game was poor. But so was the Argo's challenge poor. The Lions coaching staff had a good view of that play and it didn't look like it would get overturned.

While I didn't know Mackie was injured until home after the game I sure wondered at the game where he was. Might explain why the OC playcalls looked the bad play calling OC.


Great blocked kick but not sure why they waited until the end of the game for that.

Rourke's timing and OC play calling didn't help the cause. VA couldn't have been expected to be great but he added some life albeit snuffed that out quickly.

[don corleone]

Argos held the ball for 38 minutes which tells the story. I can see Chad Kelly re-entering the MOP conversation depending how the season goes. It will be interesting to see how they vote.

As bad as it was Lions looked best when they got Stanback involved. Also believe Christian Covington is emerging as a leader and thought he played hard.

Unfortunate outing overall to lose at home. Thought the crowd was slightly less than I anticipated but it looked to fill up for a while before it emptied out.

[don corleone]

Kudos to the D for holding Toronto to field goals with a couple of big stops. Hajrullahu was 6 for 6.

One disadvantage of playing in the dome is the Lions get everyone's best game because of it. Every new stadium should be a dome imo.

[tedbear]

Turning point of the game was when the Lions narrowed the score to 2 points with a minute or so left in the half. Instead of heading into the half with momentum on their side, the Argos took the ensuing kickoff and promptly marched down the field to score. Game, set match.

You nailed it Lion King and to top it off the Argos came out in the 2nd half marched it down the field and got a field goal.

[SammyGreene]

Attendance: 20,683 — piss poor given 2 impressive wins, 70th anniversary/gun metal jersey debut and just the 2nd game at BC Place in 2 months. There is no longer a Rourke factor when it comes to moving tickets, unlike 2022. He is popular with the loyal fan base and the team is in great hands for the future but some of that initial shine for casual fans is gone after the unsuccessful NFL stint. We saw it when Printers came back too.

But Lions are finding out Friday nights are not attracting fans from outside the Lower Mainland or young families the way the 4 pm Saturdays do. Post Labour Day games are not the automatic uptick in attendance anymore either. Last year's late season 1st place showdown with the Bombers attracting under 25,000 on a Friday made it pretty clear. It could be even uglier for the Hamilton game 2 Fridays from now after that performance then Calgary again a week later.

Plug and play it's been the theme of the season due mainly to injuries but also poor play and trying to find a spark.
Last night it was yet another new look for the o-line on the left side with Schleuger playing tackle for the first time and Woodruff making his 2nd straight start at guard. To say they and the unit as a whole struggled would be generous. Just a horrendous performance and who knows what the starting 5 will look like in 2 weeks. It's very strange how the line's 2 best games of the season came when they appeared to be vulnerable — in Winnipeg back in July with Packer (centre) and Schleuger (guard) making their debuts then in Montreal with Knevel (tackle) and Woodruff (guard).

No doubt a season ending injury to Josh Woods and now Ben Hladik on the shelf for an extended period have really hurt the defence. We have also seen 3 players start at SAM (Rene, Rugumba Lee) 3 at field halfback (Evans, Greene, Kent Jr) and different players at boundary halfback (now Rugumba) and safety (currently Greene). Last year the only changes in the secondary were Mike Jones replacing an injured Jalon Edwards Cooper and Greene for Quincy Mauger at safety.
Continuity is typically an important element in the secondary but so is young players learning a position which should pay off down the stretch run. Instead the impatient approach has me wondering what are the futures of Rene, Greene and Rugumba — all pending FAs in 2025.

Offensive game plan As mentioned above, Maksymic's 2 best games was when he knew he might have limitations with his offensive line and planned accordingly. Not sure if he thought the o-line was going to thrive with 3 American starters or how the Argos had given up some big deep plays in their previous 2 losses but what a disaster. It was evident early Rourke wanted to go deep often and there were balls Hatcher and Hollins had chances to make game changing catches. But stunning to see them abandon what had worked so well the previous 2 weeks.

[TheLionKing]

Correct me if I'm wrong, Lions have a losing record wearing those gunmetal jerseys. No wonder Wally Buono hated them.

[DanoT]

The inconsistency of this year's Lions team is really frustrating me. How can they go from 2 dominate performances including beating the Als the top team in the CFL, to not even looking competitive vs the Argos?

[MacNews]

As the O struggled there was far too much "gunslinging" with long poor-percentage pass attempts instead of shorter passes, screens and swing passes to get things unclogged. That also contributed to the 7 sacks. And I join the chorus wondering about the coaching and why this team isn't ready to play far too often.

I think in the off-season it's time to find a new head coach, a new offensive coordinator and maybe a new defensive coordinator as well.

[johnchow604]

I was disappointed in the offense but realized Toronto was just the better team yesterday. One odd positive I see in this thread as opposed to riderfans.com is at least we're not blaming the refs for fixing calls

[DanoT]

I think in the off-season it's time to find a new head coach, a new offensive coordinator and maybe a new defensive coordinator as well.

Even if the team does not improve and find some consistency by the end of the season I am NOT in favour of gutting the coaching staff. The main reason is that it is not like there are a bunch of unemployed coaches hanging around looking for employment. The second reason to stay the course with the coaching staff is that most of them are relatively new to coaching and will eventually benefit from more games coached.

I don't remember his name but a few seasons ago Lions hired the very successful Calgary DC and he became a very unsuccessful Lions HC. There is no such thing as an easy path to upgrading a coaching staff.