WSF: Lions at Riders Nov. 2, 2024

[Sir Purrcival]

I will say have a good off season to all in this forum. I have not felt less connected to a Lions team than I have felt this year. It has been painful to watch their descent and I feel sorry for Doman. He deserves better than this.

[Coast Mountain Lion]

Though a better effort from Hollins would have been nice there.

Along with the coaches, they need to clean house with the receiving corps. Keep Cottoy and McInnis and maybe Eberhart, broom the rest.

[B.C.FAN]

I imagine that was VAs last play as a Lion.

Yes, and it will make his departure less painful. He threw 3 bad passes into coverage, missed checkdowns and failed to run when he had a chance. He attacked downfield the way he said he would, and it cost the Lions the game.

[almo89]

Sad to see it end this way. A strange sense of excitement for us fans though on what they'll do to the coaching staff. Rourke will get a full training camp.

[Belize City Lion]

Pete Robertson has been a major disappointment. What has he done ?

Take bad penalties. Just like he did when was a Rider.

[Lion Guy]

I will say have a good off season to all in this forum. I have not felt less connected to a Lions team than I have felt this year. It has been painful to watch their descent and I feel sorry for Doman. He deserves better than this.

My sentiments exactly. That might have been one of the worst coached defences to ever take the field.

Embarrassing.

[B.C.FAN]

The Lions will have to take a hard look at their salary cap in the offseason, especially at receiver. Hatcher had 2 catches on 8 targets today. Hollins had 2 catches on 4 targets. McInnis and Cottoy are their best receivers. Cottoy had 3 catches on 5 targets for 88 yards and a TD, with 62 of those yards after the catch. McInnis had 5 catches on 6 targets for 66 yards and a TD.

[OV:54-40]

I imagine that was VAs last play as a Lion.

Yes, and it will make his departure less painful. He threw 3 bad passes into coverage, missed checkdowns and failed to run when he had a chance. He attacked downfield the way he said he would, and it cost the Lions the game.

Well, that was VA's big chance to maybe keep his job; played Ok mostly with some nice throws but also made his typical mistakes forcing balls into coverage for picks; and I counted at least 5 or more times where he could have took off for decent to big yardage. OC is the biggest issue = doesn't get a ground game; not near enough diversity on O - time for big changes in the coaching staff IMO.

[Toppy Vann]

I imagine that was VAs last play as a Lion.

Yes, and it will make his departure less painful. He threw 3 bad passes into coverage, missed checkdowns and failed to run when he had a chance. He attacked downfield the way he said he would, and it cost the Lions the game.

Quick Reactions:

* a home game would have eliminated the wind that was a factor both passing and FG and 1 convert.

* parallel to the Argo win was Eley's Unnecessary Roughness hit that really put momentum on the Riders where earlier a hit to Chad Kelly's head was a motivating factor to Argos turnaround. Arbuckle ran the ball with Kelly out for 3 plays - came back on and TD on his first play back. RBs lost all momentum

* VA continues to prove he's not the old VA with a calm, cool, collected game again today.


* VA had short options like the time he tried for Hatcher in the end zone vs Harris later hitting the short man for a TD. VA was why Riders won - Riders played better and didn't have wind factors hurt them that may have been just 4 lost points it is a team deflator.

* Some say VA made bad decisions for INTS but he was down late in the game and that wind was no doubt a big factor, plus the Riders knew they weren't running. I'm not blaming VA. He's proven to this observer he's a better team leader at this moment than Nathan Rourke who's focused more right now on getting his old game back.

*VA in the clutch calling for phantom PI calls late in the game suggests he was not fully composed late. Not a factor in outcome.

* Changes for next year. GET A RUN PACKAGE WITH SOME FREAKING VARIATION.

The better team won on the day.

Learn the lessons, improve on the schemes espec a run game and improve for next season.

[aklawitter]

The Lions will have to take a hard look at their salary cap in the offseason, especially at receiver. Hatcher had 2 catches on 8 targets today. Hollins had 2 catches on 4 targets. McInnis and Cottoy are their best receivers. Cottoy had 3 catches on 5 targets for 88 yards and a TD, with 62 of those yards after the catch. McInnis had 5 catches on 6 targets for 66 yards and a TD.

Cottoy and McInnis are unique National talents and have to be kept

[SammyGreene]

I imagine that was VAs last play as a Lion.

Yes, and it will make his departure less painful. He threw 3 bad passes into coverage, missed checkdowns and failed to run when he had a chance. He attacked downfield the way he said he would, and it cost the Lions the game.

My thoughts too BC FAN. Best thing about today is it will have no one questioning the transition to Rourke. The big question is how many more players and even coaches are soon to become former Lions.

[almo89]

I imagine that was VAs last play as a Lion.

Yes, and it will make his departure less painful. He threw 3 bad passes into coverage, missed checkdowns and failed to run when he had a chance. He attacked downfield the way he said he would, and it cost the Lions the game.

Well, that was VA's big chance to maybe keep his job; played Ok mostly with some nice throws but also made his typical mistakes forcing balls into coverage for picks; and I counted at least 5 or more times where he could have took off for decent to big yardage. OC is the biggest issue = doesn't get a ground game; not near enough diversity on O - time for big changes in the coaching staff IMO.

I totally agree that OC is the biggest issue. I noticed same thing where VA had opportunities to run, but he chose look for the open receiver. He's clearly been coached to not run and stay in the pocket for as long as he can but we end up taking sacks.

[Clash Dance]

Thank you to all the great insights throughout the year from everyone on this forum. I live and die with this team and this forum makes it even more enjoyable. Teams figured us out after that Calgary loss earlier in the season and we just couldn't or wouldn't adjust. I think Ringmaiden needs to accept as much blame as the coaches. When was the last import we had to challenge for ROTY? We overspend in FA because we don't draft well or find good young import talent. Since this brain trust took over, is there a unit that has improved? Secondary used to be a strength, now we let teams March up and down the field. How many key dropped passes by our receivers this year? We overspent the cap big time this year and arguably are the 6th best team. Let's prioritize the Lines for once

[B.C.FAN]

Thank you to all the great insights throughout the year from everyone on this forum. I live and die with this team and this forum makes it even more enjoyable. Teams figured us out after that Calgary loss earlier in the season and we just couldn't or wouldn't adjust. I think Ringmaiden needs to accept as much blame as the coaches. When was the last import we had to challenge for ROTY? We overspend in FA because we don't draft well or find good young import talent. Since this brain trust took over, is there a unit that has improved? Secondary used to be a strength, now we let teams March up and down the field. How many key dropped passes by our receivers this year? We overspent the cap big time this year and arguably are the 6th best team. Let's prioritize the Lines for once

Well said.

[B.C.FAN]

Farhan Lalji’s postgame video recap makes a lot of the points that have been made here all season:
1. The offence didn’t convert enough opportunities in the red zone.
2. The defence couldn’t get off the field on second down.
3. The team regressed this season and coaching changes are possible.