Lionbackers.com

It will be interesting to see whether there will be any line-up changes from the unit that, in my opinion, thoroughly handled Montreal. At times, dominated.

Ciante Evans, whom I feared may be out with an elbow injury, practiced all week this week and has been deemed "available." No word on whether Jalon Edwards-Cooper will be activated for this game or will enter the line-up after the bye week.

According to Farhan Lalji, Chris Schleuger was in Jarell Broxton's left tackle position at practice today and is likely to be back in the lineup. David Knevel looks to have sustained some kind of ankle injury and was limited today (listed as "questionable" for Friday).

The other injured players from last Friday (Garry Peters, Kent Perkins) did practice this week and are available.


DH

Mackie has a hamstring issue. I would guess that he would sit out this one as having him healthy for the last 4 games will be invaluable. He has been used a lot more this year and the team is reaping the benefits. https://www.bclions.com/injuryreport/

squishy35 wrote: Wed Sep 11, 2024 2:33 pm Mackie has a hamstring issue. I would guess that he would sit out this one as having him healthy for the last 4 games will be invaluable. He has been used a lot more this year and the team is reaping the benefits. https://www.bclions.com/injuryreport/

Mackie has been dealing with a hamstring issue for a while now
He also showed on the injury reports for Week 11 & 12 but still played handling short yardage. Scored 1 TD in Wk 11 & 2 in Wk 12.

While it might do him good to rest a week they don't really have someone to fill his role. They do have a bye after this weekend.

Yea, my thoughts as well. Mackie is, frankly, too valuable to sit out. If it's nagging, he will have a couple of weeks to rest it (but it could well linger all season).

The fact that he has been "limited" this week as opposed to "DNP," likely means that it's a load management situation as opposed to something more serious.


DH

A whole lotta of David Mackie love at practice on Tuesday with Global's Jay Janower interviewing Maksymic, Campbell and Rourke about him. Nathan is always a good interview and points out how important Mackie and Cottoy are to this offence because both are so multidimensional.
The Lions certainly recognize how valuable both are. Mackie is the 5th highest paid RB/FB in the league. Cottoy is on the first year of a new 3-year deal that averages around $200,000 per season.

The Lions have released their game roster and depth chart. David Mackie is moved to the 6-game injured list. Rookie LB Jackson Taylor returns to the practice roster. Chris Schleuger comes off the 6-game list and starts at left tackle, with Kory Woodruff remaining at left guard. Rookie RB Jordan Terrell is activated from the practice roster to back up Stanback. Riley Pickett is listed at fullback. Rookie draft pick Ezechiel Tieide is activated as backup slotback.

Lions' roster and depth chart

B.C.FAN wrote: Thu Sep 12, 2024 10:16 am The Lions have released their game roster and depth chart. David Mackie is moved to the 6-game injured list. Rookie LB Jackson Taylor returns to the practice roster. Chris Schleuger comes off the 6-game list and starts at left tackle, with Kory Woodruff remaining at left guard. Rookie RB Jordan Terrell is activated from the practice roster to back up Stanback. Riley Pickett is listed at fullback. Rookie draft pick Ezechiel Tieide is activated as backup slotback.

Lions' roster and depth chart

Looks to me they need 2 players (Pierson & Terrell) to replace Mackie’s skill set as we never dress 2 back up offensive lineman. Is Berryhill dressing for games or just showing up on the depth chart?
Never see him used in any situations of late and they already have a back up American receiver in Williams who is also never utilized for anything beyond kick returns.

Jackson can at least be used in kick coverage.

And what happened to the 1 game injured list? Now everyone is ending up on the 6.

Berryhill has dressed for 11 games and is being used on kick returns alongside Williams.

B.C.FAN wrote: Thu Sep 12, 2024 10:35 am Berryhill has dressed for 11 games and is being used on kick returns alongside Williams.

Thanks BC FAN. Click on the depth chart again and you will see Terrell has since been dropped. So Stanback the only RB on the roster. Pickett is a converted LB. Yet we dress 3 back-up receivers.

There were some inconsistencies in the depth chart. Terrell was added to the roster but not the depth chart. Knevel was listed as out but was on the roster and depth chart as a backup guard. 3downnation.com posted an amended depth chart with Jordan Terrell, Chris Schleuger and Ezechiel Tieide added and and David Mackie, Jackson Taylor and Juliano Falaniko dropped.

First year Isaac Darkangelo listed as starting MLB for Toronto could be a good match up for William Stanback. Argos are fairly healthy with Tunde Adeleke on the roster for the first time this year as well.

Lions are -5.5 favorites on Proline. Hoping for a big crowd and a good game. I guess we would already know if they were planning to open some upper deck seats.

David wrote: Wed Sep 11, 2024 5:16 pm Yea, my thoughts as well. Mackie is, frankly, too valuable to sit out. If it's nagging, he will have a couple of weeks to rest it (but it could well linger all season).

The fact that he has been "limited" this week as opposed to "DNP," likely means that it's a load management situation as opposed to something more serious.


DH

Has anyone in the media asked the question of who came up with the idea to make Mackie the short yardage QB? In hindsight it was a brilliant idea. But also frustrating to think that Mackie has been on the roster for 6 seasons and the Lions have perennially had difficulty converting on 3rd and 1.

I remember a time not so long ago that the starting QB took every snap, even on short yardage. Today the "short yardage specialist" on every roster. I wouldn't be surprised in a few years if that position is routinely filled by fullbacks and not QBs.

Belize City Lion wrote: Thu Sep 12, 2024 5:57 pm

David wrote: Wed Sep 11, 2024 5:16 pm Yea, my thoughts as well. Mackie is, frankly, too valuable to sit out. If it's nagging, he will have a couple of weeks to rest it (but it could well linger all season).

The fact that he has been "limited" this week as opposed to "DNP," likely means that it's a load management situation as opposed to something more serious.


DH

Has anyone in the media asked the question of who came up with the idea to make Mackie the short yardage QB? In hindsight it was a brilliant idea. But also frustrating to think that Mackie has been on the roster for 6 seasons and the Lions have perennially had difficulty converting on 3rd and 1.

I remember a time not so long ago that the starting QB took every snap, even on short yardage. Today the "short yardage specialist" on every roster. I wouldn't be surprised in a few years if that position is routinely filled by fullbacks and not QBs.

The Ticats opened this season with big back M-Litre under C for short yardage / goal-line situations. The CFL is a very copy-cat league; Mackie had that role not long after.

The Laval Rouge & Or U Sports team deployed the same trick with current Als H-back David Dallaire, a few seasons ago.

SammyGreene wrote: Thu Sep 12, 2024 10:29 am

B.C.FAN wrote: Thu Sep 12, 2024 10:16 am The Lions have released their game roster and depth chart. David Mackie is moved to the 6-game injured list. Rookie LB Jackson Taylor returns to the practice roster. Chris Schleuger comes off the 6-game list and starts at left tackle, with Kory Woodruff remaining at left guard. Rookie RB Jordan Terrell is activated from the practice roster to back up Stanback. Riley Pickett is listed at fullback. Rookie draft pick Ezechiel Tieide is activated as backup slotback.

Lions' roster and depth chart

Looks to me they need 2 players (Pierson & Terrell) to replace Mackie’s skill set as we never dress 2 back up offensive lineman. Is Berryhill dressing for games or just showing up on the depth chart?
Never see him used in any situations of late and they already have a back up American receiver in Williams who is also never utilized for anything beyond kick returns.

Jackson can at least be used in kick coverage.

And what happened to the 1 game injured list? Now everyone is ending up on the 6.

Carrying 2 backup OL is unusual for BC for sure. It gets down to a need to have depth to cover all positions in case of injuries. In this case injuries have put them in a spot where they can't cover off all 5 spots with one player. All season they've been able to cover that off with the combination of Knevel, Schleuger, Peirson & Packer. When they were starting or backing up at guard Knevel & Schleuger were the depth for tackle. Peirson & Packer cover off both center and guard. If a tackle went down Knevel or Schleuger could kick out there with Peirson or Packer backfilling at guard if necessary. When Couture was out both Peirson and Packer dressed; one starting, one for center/guard depth. When Couture is in only one of Peirson and Packer dress.

With Packer out Peirson is the only depth option for Couture. He needs to suit up to cover off center or guard if necessary but he doesn't provide tackle depth. Schleuger is starting in place of Knevel who replaced injured Broxton last game. While he started at LG earlier this year he mostly played tackle with Montreal. Schleuger starting is likely a product of Knevel being listed as a limited participant in his only practice this week due to an ankle problem. Listed at 6'5 349 Woodruff appears unlikely to provide backup tackle depth as did Knevel and Schleuger previously. Looks like Knevel, while not 100%, is dressing to provide necessary tackle depth even if it's on an emergency basis with Peirson covering the interior needs.

The reality of 1G vs 6G is the only difference being salaries of players on the 1G count against the SMS while they don't while on the 6G. Two players who have been on the 6G for 6 or more games can be reactivated without penalty i.e. get reactivated after 9 games the retroactive SMS hit for the first 3 games on the second 6G stint don't apply like they do when a player is reactivated after only 3 games in the original stint. Put a player on the 6G and pull him off early winds up being the same net SMS effect as putting him on the 1G to that same point. Might as well start them on the 6G and play it by ear. The 1G now seems to be used mostly to stash healthy scratches because you want them to continue practicing.

They look extremely flat so far.