Lionbackers.com

B.C.FAN wrote: Sat Aug 24, 2024 7:25 pm

TheLionKing wrote: Sat Aug 24, 2024 7:22 pm McInnis was back to his early self in the first quarter..Did the Lions try to target him again?

No. He had 5 catches on 5 targets for 79 yards, all in the first quarter.

That in a nutshell is wrong with this offence. If something is clicking keep doing it til the other team show they can stop it. Why is Hollins still in the lineup. Obvious to everyone that he has lost his mojo. Trying to catch the ball with his body instead of his hands.

Post-game interviews.

Rick Campbell:


Nathan Rourke:


T.J. Lee:

Right now about the only positive thing for the Lions is that the Cats are too bad a football team for the crossover if the Lions somehow manage to retain third place in the West.
I've generally liked Rick Campbell well enough, but as this movie plays out the same way yet again this season, I have to wonder if we have the right leadership. Success comes from the top and we don't have it. We have two premiere qbs, a proven running back, a fabulous place kicker and some good talent on D - yet we are a sub-500 team right now - something's got to give.
Put another way - there will be a hell of a lot riding on the game in Victoria.

Lions are for the most part getting beat in the trenches and a lot of poor tackling by LBs and DBs.

Somebody has to be fired at this point

Hazmat wrote: Sat Aug 24, 2024 10:12 pm Somebody has to be fired at this point

I'm sure Chris Jones is available. Just kidding, just kidding

Get wally on the dial asap. Nfl cuts are coming, time to restructure this defence

Farhan Lalji posted an off-the-cuff 10-minute video discussing the Lions' problems.

I only got to watch the first half but the result speaks for itself. This team has had every opportunity to take control of the west and for 5 games they have failed to do so. Now instead of being comfortably in first, they are now in real jeopardy of third. With the teams behind them charging hard. Who knows if they even make the playoffs. And if they do, who really thinks they are a contender. It's hard to lose hope so early but something ails this team and it isn't going to be easily remedied.

The secondary is god awful and no pass rush to speak of Brown has all day to throw the ball.
Offense line sucks and as usual our OC has no creativity at all, off tackle to Stanback constantly what the hell!
Basically this whole team has major problems.
On another note I can't believe that the Lions could have had Grant as a returner for less money than Williams and Argos picked him up, Williams has never run a punt or kickoff for TD just doesn't have the extra gear like Grant or Alford

J.C. Abbott weighs in on 3downnation.com with his postgame thoughts. So far there seems to be general agreement on this board and elsewhere on where the Lions’ problems lie.

https://3downnation.com/2024/08/25/b-c- ... -thoughts/

It was a better loss than the previous ones if that is any sort of silver lining. Several players had better games. They left a message that next weeks game will not be an easy one for Ottawa.

Among the most improved; Nathan Rourke who showed his elusiveness on the 51 yd play down the sideline. May have been best scramble of the year so far. Rushing three will not be so straight forward with him at QB. Rourke was also more involved communicating on the sidelines which I think is a good thing.

Eberhard and Hatcher had good games. Varga played well. Stanback and Mackie are all stars whether they get the recognition or not. I expect Alexander Hollins to return to form soon and wouldn't that be nice.

Could have awarded a TD on the play Jaelon Acklin was injured on as he had the ball until the ground jarred it loose. I thought they ruled a similar play earlier a catch. Nice to see the Redblacks doing well for their fans.

TheLionKing wrote: Sat Aug 24, 2024 11:01 pm

Hazmat wrote: Sat Aug 24, 2024 10:12 pm Somebody has to be fired at this point

I'm sure Chris Jones is available. Just kidding, just kidding

It would be a bold move but not a bad one. His passion for the game is obvious.

No to McAdoo though.

Hmmm wonder what player said to Farhan “12 is a band-aid but he doesn’t fix the real problems.”

Maybe Peters as a veteran who is a good interview and has been through the good and bad times.

He also mentioned how excited RP was about Rene and Greene coming out of Kamloops predicting all-star seasons for both. Like the team they started decently enough but have regressed since after being moved to different positions. Greene has been exposed at field side halfback and Rene’s tackling at safety has been just horrible at times.

Maybe it was their confidence in these two along with Kent Jr that resulted in Sayles being released.
I recall B.C. FAN and Hambone saying Sayles was sitting out a number of practices and then didn’t go to Calgary for the pre season game which typically means your job is safe. His release seemed based on what they saw from others in Kamloops as Sayles was given a new contract in February. It hasn’t turned out well.

Not going to happen at this point, but the Lions need wayyyyy better at both OC & DC rather than predictable dullards. Next season should see those 2 plus Campbell punted out of town, and get some fresh, sharp football coaches and thinking in place.

Rourke getting back to form - with a sharp OC to call plays, including instructing Nathan to use all his talent by taking off and running rather than holding the ball too long - could mean the Lions could win-shoot outs with a high scoring offence. Stanback is an excellent CFL RB. O-line is not a strength though.

But the defence has holes and the DC is lost. Other teams find a couple of new DBs who can play pretty well every season. Rene was doing well at S-OLB and is not a CFL safety - try some other guys (and not the mediocre Sayles) instead of sticking with weak spots. A return of Betts would be huge perhaps; the rest of the D-line has been average at best (Covington has been just Ok and a disappointment surely to those who think NFL resumes mean u will be a good CFL player). Hladik is a big loss, but Varga is playing well. Veterans like Peters and Lee should be the glue to a good secondary. It's not so much lack of talent compared to other CFL defences, it more on smart D packages and play calls/adjustments.

*** edit *** - i see former CFLer Tev. Campbell has been cut by the NFL's Jags; he MIGHT help a bunch of CFL teams (particularly the Lions) at corner or D-half - IF he has any interest in playing in the CFL again

And agreed on T. Williams - he is a decent at best CFL returner and pretty well all other teams have more explosive guys there; why not give a new guy a shot to see if he can upgrade ?