Ottawa @ BC Sept 16, 2023

[Walt67]

What really concerns me about BC's defense is how soft they are defending stuff out in the flats. I noticed that when I was out in Montreal too. Want to move the ball against them well just let things develop slowly and either run the ball that way or have a receiver slide out there. Guaranteed there will be no BC defender within 10 yards.

Another constant of the last several games, as pointed out increasingly, is the overall poorer tackling compared to the first half of the season when the Lions tackled much better than recent seasons. There were a few body-jarring hits thrown it, but the excessive YAC yards the last while isn't good news - and the age-old challenge of stopping a top RB still lingers too.

[almo89]

The Lions defense finally started to make stops in the 4th quarter when we knew Ottawa was going to run the ball to run down the clock. I'm really concerned that the defense consistently gives up 2nd and long to opposing offenses. They didn't force Ottawa to punt until 4 minutes into the 4th quarter. That's unacceptable. I thought the defense respected Crum way too much. They should have been sending way more pressure on him and force him to beat you with his arm. Any pro QB can eat you alive if they have time in the pocket.

The offense was big when needed. Big play VA lives up to his name. The gunslinger mentality he is reminds me of Danny Mac. Throw a bunch of INTs, but will still try throwing it. VA made some mental mistakes today with 3 INTs, but the Oline didn't give him much help. Ottawa was able to penetrate the Oline by mostly rushing 4. VA didn't have much time today, but still was able to live up to his big play ability when needed. Considering the running game is non existent, VA played pretty decently.

[Toppy Vann]

The irony of all ironies has to be the kick return for 120 yards by Terry Williams when everyone I speak to thinks it's the returner while I think it's following orders.. Was in the end zone at the TD end of that run and that return was as good as it gets. I didn't realize it was 120 until I saw it when home on TSN.
I don't doubt his skills as he brings the ball up behind the blocking on most kick returns but that one into the end zone forced him to go right outside making fantastic directional choices all the way to the end zone. That was the turning point in the game although I told my friend from the 1st Q, not to worry, Ottawa always finds a way to blow it in the 4th Q. I saw 3 tacklers directly avoided by Williams but I don't think I saw any of the escort team look to toss a block (a good thing).

The call for the FG from the 42 yd line with Lewis Ward kicking with a 10 point lead at 1:48 and BC looking like they were done like dinner is a bit questionable. Punt it into the end zone and put BC down 11 would have been wiser. BUT, even trying for a single from the 42 was riskier than trying to place it out of bounds where it was less likely Williams would have had a chance to get going. BC hadn't moved the ball and 10 points is two scores to tie.

On the Hail Mary challenge for offensive PI on the Lucky W TD maybe that was a good thing as there were Lion players in the stands giving mom a game ball and I was certain we'd be penalized there as the Lions were pretty well set up for the convert.

I just don't get some of the play calls like deep in the Riders end getting two yards on a 1st down leaving 2nd and long which forces the pass vs any hint of keeping the DEF thinking.

There were fans with kids in S. 203 where I was who left in the 4th Q but they were with kids in uniform and if I had kids to get home, I'd have given them bus fare and told them to leave. These guys were booing VA and Lions on an INT. I was surprised at that.

There were a few times like a time with Ottawa in scoring range where the Lions showed man coverage and sure enough Crum ran on that for a TDas everyone was covered.

Shocking run stats.

I'd like to see more run plays and dressed talent taking snaps. Argos dressed 5 RBs vs Montreal last night.

[almo89]

Lions barely beat the worst team in the league at home. Bit envious of the Riders and Esks new found QB prodigies.

It's good for the league and I hope they continue to get better. I wouldn't be too envious yet. They are good stories, but they are still relying way too much on their legs to beat teams. Eventually when teams have enough game tape, these QBs will be put to the test to see if they can beat teams with their arm. I love the new energy these QBs are bringing though. It was getting really stale across the league and it hurts the league as a whole.

[B.C.FAN]

Leading up to the final Lions TD I yelled throw it to Whitehead and - zing - there it was.
Lucky looked about 3 seasons younger today - it had to be his best game in a long while. Maybe it was because his mother was in the stands (she should attend every game - home and away). With his injuries and the strength of the other receivers I thought No. 7's time here might be done - but now I'm happily not so sure.

I was saying to my buddy after Lucky's 3rd or 4th catch that he must have fantasies of VA hitting him in the chest with a pass while he's still fully upright or in stride. He was have to dig everything up from down around his shoelaces.

Yes, I was thinking the same thing. Whitehead and Cottoy have great hands and are most dangerous when they are in full stride but the B.C. offence rarely allows them to display their full talents. McInnis was the Lions’ leading receiver tonight with 8 catches for 118 yards and 2 TDs but Whitehead and Cottoy combined had 9 catches for 143 yards and Whitehead’s diving game-winning TD catch behind coverage.

[almo89]

Leading up to the final Lions TD I yelled throw it to Whitehead and - zing - there it was.
Lucky looked about 3 seasons younger today - it had to be his best game in a long while. Maybe it was because his mother was in the stands (she should attend every game - home and away). With his injuries and the strength of the other receivers I thought No. 7's time here might be done - but now I'm happily not so sure.

I was saying to my buddy after Lucky's 3rd or 4th catch that he must have fantasies of VA hitting him in the chest with a pass while he's still fully upright or in stride. He was have to dig everything up from down around his shoelaces.

Yes, I was thinking the same thing. Whitehead and Cottoy have great hands and are most dangerous when they are in full stride but the B.C. offence rarely allows them to display their full talents. McInnis was the Lions’ leading receiver tonight with 8 catches for 118 yards and 2 TDs but Whitehead and Cottoy combined had 9 catches for 143 yards and Whitehead’s diving game-winning TD catch behind coverage.

McInnis is doing everything Sask fans wish he would do. He's a bit body and VA just throws up jump balls and it's always going to be a mismatch against CFL DBs. He's had some drops but overall he's been a pleasant surprise this year.

[Hambone]

I tend to disagree with those questioning Ottawa's decision to try the late FG for 3 reasons:

1) counting the two 53 yarders made earlier in the game Ward was 8 for 10 on the season from 50+.
2) going into this weekend 21 MFG returns had been recorded in the CFL with 0 going to the house.
3) BC had already partially blocked 1 Leone punt and came very close to blocking 1 or 2 more.

With that in mind the ranking of probabilities from best odds were:
1) Ward makes the kick to seal the deal.
2) Leone's punt is blocked.
3) Ward misses and Williams runs it back for 6......which is probably less likely than a punt return TD if Leone doesn't angle that OB.

[almo89]

Campbell's coaching was suspect today, but the one call he made that was ballsy was kicking it deep after Terry Williams' TD. With the defense playing horrible all game, he passed on what would have been the second offside kick, giving the defense all the pressure to come up with a big stop with very little time left on the clock. The Lions were also helped big time with Ottawa going for a pass deep on second down that stopped the clock. Bone headed call by Dyce on that one.

[TheLionKing]

I wonder how many fans left before the end of the game.

Met a few that left early in our section in a restaurant. They were stunned that the Lions won. Kept asking "what the f**k happened after we left ?"

[Hambone]

The Lions were also helped big time with Ottawa going for a pass deep on second down that stopped the clock. Bone headed call by Dyce on that one.

Boneheaded on Khari Jones maybe. Dyce doesn't call offensive plays. That would all be on Khari with Crum sharing the blame for making the read and decision.

[Hambone]

I wonder how many fans left before the end of the game.

Met a few that left early in our section in a restaurant. They were stunned that the Lions won. Kept asking "what the f**k happened after we left ?"

Lol. Remember that big comeback a few years back when BC came from behind to tie Hamilton then win it in OT? My buddy who was down from PG with his wife got disgusted at BC's lackluster performance and left with 5 to go. I texted him to tell him it was going into OT. He was like WTF?!?! Instead of watching the miracle finish from his seats in BC Place he watched it looking thru the window while in the lineup to get into Doolin's.

[TheLionKing]

A win is a win but it was far from a Picasso. Running game is non existent. No imagination whatsoever. Is Chapdelaine back with the Lions ? Even giving the ball to David Mackie once or twice would force the opposition to account for him. Offensive line is porous. VA takes too long to read defences as he drops into the pocket.

[B.C.FAN]

This was a historic comeback. According to Bob Marjanovich on the postgame radio show, CFL statistician Steve Daniel confirmed the Lions’ 23 unanswered fourth quarter points overcame a 19-point deficit, the biggest on home turf in franchise history. The Lions overcame a 20-point deficit on the road in Montreal in 2004.

[almo89]

I wonder how many fans left before the end of the game.

Met a few that left early in our section in a restaurant. They were stunned that the Lions won. Kept asking "what the f**k happened after we left ?"

Lol. Remember that big comeback a few years back when BC came from behind to tie Hamilton then win it in OT? My buddy who was down from PG with his wife got disgusted at BC's lackluster performance and left with 5 to go. I texted him to tell him it was going into OT. He was like WTF?!?! Instead of watching the miracle finish from his seats in BC Place he watched it looking thru the window while in the lineup to get into Doolin's.

I have never left BC Place early no matter how badly the Lions are getting thumped. I paid full price for the ticket, I'm staying for the full duration.

[Hambone]

I have never left BC Place early no matter how badly the Lions are getting thumped. I paid full price for the ticket, I'm staying for the full duration.

Nor have I with one exception. That was the NASL Soccer Bowl championship game back in 1983. It was so painfully boring that the 8 of us pulled up stakes and left to find a peeler bar with a good 15 minutes to go in the game. It was the first and last pro soccer game I ever attended.