Lionbackers.com

notahomer wrote:B.C.FAN, I certainly respect your perspective and ability to find stats but I have a question about this edition of the numbers. The BC Lions and Eskimos have both played 16 games but according to the stats you provided Lions have played 13 and Eskimos 14. The only answer I can come up with is the unaccounted games must have been ones that the turnovers were equal on both teams? That minor complaint aside, your points are well taken, the team winning the turnover battle is probably going to win the football game. So, if I'm right in assumming the numbers the Lions are 2-1 when the turnovers are equal? And the Esks are 0-2 when the turnovers are equal?

Once again, I appreciate the perspective/stats you bring to the Lions chatter, B.C.FAN

B.C.FAN wrote:

notahomer wrote:B.C.FAN, I certainly respect your perspective and ability to find stats but I have a question about this edition of the numbers. The BC Lions and Eskimos have both played 16 games but according to the stats you provided Lions have played 13 and Eskimos 14. The only answer I can come up with is the unaccounted games must have been ones that the turnovers were equal on both teams? That minor complaint aside, your points are well taken, the team winning the turnover battle is probably going to win the football game. So, if I'm right in assumming the numbers the Lions are 2-1 when the turnovers are equal? And the Esks are 0-2 when the turnovers are equal?

Once again, I appreciate the perspective/stats you bring to the Lions chatter, B.C.FAN

Correct. The Sept. 30 game between the Lions and Esks was one such game, with 2 turnovers each. The league tracks turnovers closely because that stat is most closely correlated with wins and losses. Teams winning the turnover battle are 49-5 this year (.907 win percentage). Another 10 games have had equal turnovers for both teams.

Interestingly (I'm always interested in this stuff), the Eskimos are 0-2 when they have the same number of turnovers as their opponent, so they have to win the turnover battle to win the game.

David wrote:Eskimos will be without JC Sherritt, their outstanding rookie linebacker (think last year's Solly). On the 9 game with an injured ankle.

This is a big loss to the Esks' defense.


DH

“I can’t think of another game over the past two months where he gave up as many hits and pressures,” admitted left tackle Ben Archibald. “We had breakdowns for different reasons. Hamilton has a talented front [four]. They hit us with some things, scheme-wise, that we didn’t handle really well. But we don’t dwell on that too much. We’ve got to be ready for another good front this week.”

“Our tackles [Archibald and Olafioye] have been our most consistent linemen all year,” Bates stated. “They’ve both played at a high level, and really anchored the line for us this season.”

“Jovan might be the best right tackle in the league,” added offensive line coach Dan Dorazio. “He might be the best tackle, period -- if it’s not Ben. At the beginning of the year, there were a few fundamental areas that Ben had to adjust to. Early in the year, his angles were a little off. After that, he’s been consistent, smooth. He’s been a guy you can count on.”

Offensive linemen may be the thickest guys on the football field, but only from the neck down. According to intelligence tests, they’re reputed to be the smartest. So let’s have Archibald weigh the imponderables and decide who’s had the better year -- him or Olafioye?

“Jovan’s a beast,” Archibald said, with a chuckle. “I can’t remember a time this year when he’s been beaten cleanly, or outmanned or outmatched in any regard. I have a lot of respect for him.”

Waiting for charter to #YVR!!! Defence heard they sell alphaghetti in BC called I-N-T'S...looking to pick some up while in town. #yeg #esks

David wrote:Eskimos will be without JC Sherritt, their outstanding rookie linebacker (think last year's Solly). Has been placed on the 9 game with an injured ankle.

This is a big loss to the Esks' defense.


DH

Esks nickname workhorse tailback 'Seabiscuit'

October 27, 2011 1 Chris O'Leary Edmonton Journal

"We call him Seabiscuit," Eskimos slotback Jason Barnes said. "That's the nickname that our running back coach, Dennis McKnight, gave him. We call him Biscuit for short, just because he's a big horse."

"In my opinion, he had turned the corner after the Hamilton game," Eskimos head coach Kavis Reed said. "He started to show that his vision was there, his flexibility was back, and he'd learned the lesson from the situation that he'd had earlier (with inconsistency) and we really felt that he had turned a corner."

As for the nickname, the 26-yearold from Brampton, Ont., said he's not too worried about what he's called.

"I don't really feel any way about it," Messam said. "That's what they call me and I just go with it."

The most impressive aspect of Messam's yardage this season has been his ability to run through tackles. At six-foot-three and 245 pounds, he's proving near impossible to haul down in single coverage.

"He's a monster, man," Eskimos defensive back Rod Williams said. "He's running with confidence, he's running with power, and he's going to run us right to the Grey Cup. " Williams said there aren't too many players in the league who can haul down Messam on their own, especially when he gets a step or two behind them.

"You've got to gang-tackle him," said Williams.

"You've got to run to the ball, you've got to make sure he's down," Williams continued. "You can't expect one guy to make the play."

"He's definitely gifted," Esks quarterback Ricky Ray said. "He's big and powerful, but he's also got some speed and he can make some guys miss. He's got a good combination of skills."

"Man, that power-run game. When (Messam) is on, we can control the clock and grind it down," Barnes said.

"He gets those tough yards that we need in difficult situations, so he's not the typical scatback; he's not scared to punch it up in there. I think that definitely gives us an edge and an attitude on our offence."

"I'm really excited," Messam said. "It's just big, a big accomplishment. It'll be good to go back (to B.C.). It'll be kind of ironic, but - I've just got to compose myself and keep my emotions within."

"It's not like he's been playing tailback for five or six years in this league," Ray said. "Really, this is his first full season of starting and I think you're going to see him improve quite a bit this year with our remaining games.

"As well, he's still got a lot to learn at the tailback position."

David wrote:Like I've said, disposing of Messam for a mid-round pick has the potential to be the gift that keeps on giving. The one that got away. To a divisional rival no less. This could be as big a misjudgement on a player as cutting Larry Highbaugh loose, the speedster from Indiana who played here in 1971 and 1972. For whatever reason, Eagle Keys was never a big fan and put him on waivers. The Eskimos picked him up, converted him to DB, and he ended up being a 3-time CFL all-star, a deadly kick returner, and CFL Hall-Of-Famer.


DH