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From the Couch – Lions 17 Alouettes 50

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Even if you had the slightest glimmer of hope that the Lions offence would be able to come together for the playoffs, there certainly can’t be anyone that is surprised at what unfolded in Montreal. In reality it was a snapshot of the Lions season, one that was filled with frustration and inconsistencies.

We could talk about the game, but you’ve probably already had enough about that. So let’s look at what the Lions have facing them over the next six and a half months, because there are plenty of areas on this football team that need to be addressed. Here are a few of my thoughts for the final time this season, From the Couch.

The Coaching

13-5, 11-7, 9-9…see a trend here? The BC Lions have gotten progressively worse in the three years that Mike Benevides has been at the helm. They have yet to win a playoff game over that span, and had a losing record at home this season. This team seems to have a problem being ready to play games and whether or not that is game planning or execution of the players, it’s the coaches’ job to ensure that it happens.

Assuming David Braley doesn’t hold Wally Buono responsible, and I don’t think he will, the general manager has a tough decision to make that will be made tougher by the fact he just signed his coach to a two year extension this season. But can this team sell another year under Benevides to their fans? Will the injuries the team endured give him a pass?

There could be some quality candidates out there as well. How long does Marc Trestman have in the NFL with the Bears floundering? Would Dave Dickenson leave Calgary for a head coaching gig if John Hufnagel coaches another year?

Regardless, Buono first has to make the call to part ways with his protégé, even if doing so would be an admission that an extension for his head coach this year may not have been the best idea.

Khari Jones had some nice games as OC but he wasn’t able to get any sort of consistent production from his players. The offence faced many challenges this season, especially with injuries. The Lions no doubt spent the off-season under the assumption that they would have Travis Lulay, and likely designed an offence with that in mind. Kevin Glenn, while experienced, isn’t the same type of QB and the Lions were unable to find ways for him to succeed. But the challenges aside, Jones’ offence simply hasn’t been good enough and a change should be considered.

Mark Washington had the Lions among the league’s best defensively but in the final three games this year that fell apart as well. That said, for his first year as a coordinator he did enough to come back in the same role.

Change is Needed

The biggest question surrounding the team besides coaching will be what to do with Travis Lulay. Clearly the Lions need a plan B and in my opinion there is no way Kevin Glenn can be part of that plan. John Beck doesn’t have a big enough body of work in the CFL and isn’t getting any younger, and we don’t know what the future holds for Travis Partridge.

Putting all their eggs in Lulay’s basket once again would be a mistake with the nature of his shoulder. But from all accounts it appears that Lulay wants to keep playing, so the question is what role would he do so under, and can the Lions find someone for that Plan B.

The Canadian receivers on this team have to be seriously looked at, as none of them had great years and that was a big part of an underachieving offence. Shawn Gore was looked on to step up this season, as were Marco Iannuzzi and SJ Haidara. The Kito Poblah experiment was a bust.

The offensive line was an issue for the Lions all season. They did play better once they could settle on a group, and they do have some promising pieces in the fold with Kirby Fabian and Hunter Steward. But the Lions must draft better in this area and do whatever they can to upgrade this group. And if that means getting rid of Dan Dorazio, perhaps it’s time for that as well. Dorazio is a coaching genius but even Angus Reid has suggested that sometimes his teachings may be too complex for young lineman. The Lions also have a built in replacement with Kelly Bates.

Defensively the Lions have decisions to make as well. They have found some nice talent in the secondary and the annual review of older players like Dante Marsh and Ryan Phillips will once again take place. Matt McGarva will be looked on to get healthy and challenge for the safety spot of JR LaRose. The defensive line, whose best player was 35 year of Khreem Smith, needs to be more aggressive and effective at pressuring the quarterback. Can you see Khalif Mitchell coming back?

The Culture

Is it just me or have things really started going downhill since Geroy Simon left the organization? The core of this team’s success over the past 5-7 years is dwindling and getting older. Do the right thing and find a spot for Simon in the organization and bring him home where he belongs. The whole thing left a sour taste in the mouth of the fan base and it still does every time I see Simon in Rider colours. He has a lot to offer as a mentor, as an alumni and as a football man.

Benevides is labelled as a player’s coach, but it seemed like he lost his team on too many occasions. The team is going to need to get younger and some of that transition is already taking place. Perhaps this group needs more of a disciplinarian as a coach, but at the same time someone that can convince this team to buy in, and to play with discipline and focus.

“It’s all about winning.”

The bottom line is football is about winning, and the Lions aren’t doing enough of it. You hear the coaches say all the time “Your job is to win, and if you can’t we’ll find someone that will”. That applies to them too and the Lions will have a tough time convincing their fans that the status quo will turn it around. Tough choices face this organization and whatever they decide those choices must get this team back to being a contender.

Thank you

Thanks to Lowell Ullrich and you the reader. It’s been a pleasure writing these pieces for TheProvince.com again this year, and I hope you’ve enjoyed them. As always, I welcome your comments whether you agree with my views or not. We’ll be continuing our Lions coverage on BCLionsDen.ca and our Pawdcasts, as well as our social media channels.

Until then, we have some Grey Cup partying to do in a couple weeks, even if the team we love isn’t in the game. Roar you Lions Roar.

From the Stands – Lions 16 Stampeders 33

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With two tune up games against West Division contenders to end the season, the BC Lions still have knock, pings and stalls in the engine that need to be addressed. The final game of the regular season saw the Lions drop a 33-16 decision to the first place Calgary Stampeders and here are my thoughts, From the Stands.

The Plain Truth

This team just can’t seem to put together a complete game this season. If one part is going well, two other parts breakdown. The way the Stampeders so easily picked apart the Lions defence Friday was impressive if you’re a Stamps fan, depressing if you cheer for the orange and black.

Whether it was Drew Tate or Bo Mitchell, the results were the same for Calgary, while Kevin Glenn and the Lions couldn’t translate yards into points to keep pace with the Stamps.

Glenn, who had another two drive killing interceptions, took a lot of heat in the section I was sitting in and once again I sat and wondered why John Beck was not given a chance later in the game. This is a guy you may need to use in Montreal and you give him zero time in a game you clearly were not going to win?

Unless Mike Benevides knows something he’s not sharing about Travis Lulay, this approach makes no sense. I get that you want Glenn to get on a roll and get some confidence with the offence, but at the same time, his play has dictated you may have to go to another option when you’re playing for your season next week.

On a good note Stefan Logan showed what he might be able to provide next week and Shawn Gore and Manny Arceneaux looked more involved in the offence but again, those performances didn’t result in enough points.

The defence was solid against the run yet brutal defending the pass. Calgary’s aerial attack routinely found wide open receivers over the middle of the field, partially due to the fact that the new look defensive line the Lions fielded was nowhere near Tate or Mitchell all night long.

After impressing with a solid run of not allowing touchdowns the defence has now allowed 70 points in two games, not exactly the stat you want to see heading into the playoffs, nor are the 19 points for either.

Right Where They Belong

So the Lions now head to Montreal to take on the Alouettes in the East Division semifinal and really they ended up where they belong. Unable to advance themselves any further up the West ladder, the Lions showed the differences between themselves and the contenders in their division. Edmonton and Calgary disposed of them easily, leaving the progress we saw down the stretch against Ottawa and Winnipeg with a solid asterisk.

But this is football, and on any given day in this league, anyone can beat anyone. Let’s not be fooled to think the East is an easy route to take to the Grey Cup. Don’t let anyone tell you that the Lions have simply been playing possum these final two weeks because if they were they deserve an Academy Award.

The same issues that have plagued the Lions all year still remain, and then comes this little gem via Lowell Ullrich from Paul McCallum following Friday’s game.

“We lack a lot of mental focus. We’re not organized. In the real world, there’d be a lot of fired people.”

The concerning part to me in that quote is the “we’re not organized” part. The job of organization belongs to the coaches. This is a 22-year veteran who would seem to be more than qualified to have such an opinion about his organization. Another veteran, Dante Marsh also made reference earlier in the week to the fact that there were bigger problems on this team than what he found himself in the doghouse over.

It doesn’t exactly sound like the Lions are one for all and all for one heading into the playoffs. And unless they can sort some of this stuff out, their season is likely to end in Montreal next week.

Some Positive Stuff

Those that mocked Dennis Skulsky for his guaranteed win night proclamation should now be able to see that the result were larger crowds down the stretch. In the four games prior to the guarantee the Lions averaged 24786 fans per game, versus 30,591 over their final five at BC Place. Many of them were freebies because of the promotion, but the hope is that some of those folks will come back next season.

As always, I would love to hear your thoughts on the game. Post a comment, or hit me up on Twitter @BCLionsDen. Make sure to check out BCLionsDen.ca for all of our Lions coverage and our weekly Pawdcast as well. This week Lowell Ullrich of The Province will join us along with Jamie Pitblado, chair for the 2014 Grey Cup Committee.

From the Couch: Lions 3 Eskimos 37

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This B.C. Lions team sure has a way of testing your emotions, or maybe it was simply the fact they were playing one of the real contenders in the CFL. Whatever the case, the Lions were dominated from start to finish by the Edmonton Eskimos, and it wasn’t pretty. Here are my thoughts, From the Couch.

What a Letdown

The game was billed as a playoff preview and the Lions still had an outside shot at second place in the West Division. But you never would have guessed it by the display put on by the Lions and should they return to Commonwealth Stadium in two weeks, there was no aspect of their game that led you believe the result will be much different.

Hey, any given Sunday right? Don’t hold your breath.

It was discouraging to see the Lions were unable to rise to the occasion. Sure second place was a bit of a longshot, but you at least wanted to see an effort that let the Eskimos know that should the two teams meet in the playoffs, it would be a fight. In the end it looked like contender versus pretender.

The Lions stumbled from the first whistle and once again didn’t appear to be ready to play. The penalty parade continued and the lack of execution on offence was once again evident. Why can’t this team be ready to play? Why can they not make the in-game adjustments to counter what other teams are doing? Chris Jones schooled his counterpart on Saturday and the efficiency and determination of his team was impressive, two traits that have been missing from this year’s edition of the Leos.

No one is saying they don’t care. Trust me, this is what these players and coaches do for a living. They care more than we the fans do, but clearly there is a disconnect somewhere that is allowing these types of efforts to surface too often.

Offensive Struggles Continue

The Lions managed only a field goal as their offence once again failed to produce. Ernest Jackson who had two strong games versus Ottawa and Winnipeg was blanked by the Eskimos. Manny Arceneaux had no impact and the running game was unproductive as well.

The Eskimos did an outstanding job of covering the Lions receivers, leaving Kevin Glenn with few options, and when that happens Glenn is not an effective quarterback. Even short to medium range passes were not an option. John Beck didn’t fare any better in relief.

The Lions’ receivers have shown they have the talent, so why do we see it so sporadically? Is it all execution or is Khari Jones’ offence simply not good enough? It seems plays that other teams make regularly are a task for the Lions. Sure, we can point to injuries to key players, but so can the Stampeders, Riders, Argos and almost every other team in the CFL. The bottom line is, offensively, the Lions have not been good enough for a variety of reasons.

In contrast, Mike Reilly and the Eskimos have the ability to make things happen when there is nothing downfield. He has a running back in John White that is consistently productive and receivers that find ways to get open. Those two elements of the Eskimos offence make them very tough to defend, even for a good Lions defence.

A Tale of Two Defences

Both the Eskimos and the Lions are solid defensively, and while the defence allowed a lot of yards and 37 points the biggest difference is the Eskimos have a balanced offence that forces teams to be aware of multiple facets. Their defence didn’t have to worry about Glenn running the ball when his receivers couldn’t get open, and when you combine that with a struggling running game all they had to do is sit back, contain and cover.

With the defence constantly on the field, it was too much to ask (once again) to shut down the balanced offence of the Eskimos. This wasn’t Ottawa or Winnipeg, this was a legitimate Grey Cup contender and the Lions simply couldn’t compete.

Solomon Elimimian set the league tackles record, but that was the only high for the Lions on the night. Unfortunately the Lions can’t bottle the fire this guy plays with and spread it around.

It appears the Lions will lose Adam Bighill with what is being reported as a broken arm and while they do have a capable replacement with veteran Jamall Johnson, his loss was just another insult to injury on Saturday.

What were your thoughts on the game? We’ll have more on this week’s Pawdcast, and you chat Lions and CFL football with me @BCLionsDen on Twitter.

From the Couch: Lions 28 Blue Bombers 23

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The BC Lions punched their ticket to the 2014 CFL playoffs for the 18th straight season, but made it tougher on themselves they needed to. Here’s how I saw the game, From the Couch.

They All Count

A win is a win and the Lions did reach down to beat the Bombers so you have to give them credit. But it should be noted that there is lots of work to do for the Lions in the next two weeks.

There appeared to be a lot of bye week rust with the Lions, who faltered early mainly due to a parade of penalties. Unnecessary roughness calls, offsides, time counts, illegal blocks, you name it the Lions probably got called for it and that simply can’t continue heading into the playoffs against teams that will make you pay for it.

But the coaches weren’t immune either. There were some time management issues, mainly some poor clock management to end the first half that resulted in a field goal instead of a possible touchdown.

I know, I know, quit being so negative…but these things are fixable, and as we said a win is a win.

Stepping Up

As was the case against Ottawa the Lions once again got a big game from Ernest Jackson who racked up 149 yards of receiving. Jackson is a great story, often being the odd man out of the lineup when the Lions were healthy. To think back to the catch he made in Calgary and the last two games he’s played and right now I don’t think he’s in that position anymore.

Keola Antolin also had another strong showing on the ground grinding out 84 hard earned yards on the night and adding a touchdown.

And on special teams Marco Iannuzzi probably had his best game of the season as he gave the Lions solid field position most of the night. He had a 92-yard return for a TD called back by a couple of the aforementioned penalties as well. Someone owes him a dinner.

After Kevin Glenn went down in the fourth quarter, John Beck came in to throw two touchdown passes and even the often not noticed Kito Poblah chipped in with a 55 yard catch and run touchdown that proved to be the winning points the Lions needed.

54 Possessions

The Lions defensive touchdown shutout streak ended at 54 possessions, but the defence unleashed a sack attack that Lions fans haven’t seen this season, racking up 10 on the night. Khreem Smith who had four of those sacks was a one-man wrecking crew in the fourth quarter to lead the way for the defensive line.

The Lions seem to have found a good one in national David Menard as well, who had two sacks on the night. One of them was a prime example of his fight and determination as he fought off a hold at the line to follow up and sack Drew Willy. Along with Jabar Westerman, his starting status gives the Lions the luxury of starting that extra import on the offensive line, or at receiver and that’s been the difference maker in their last two games.

After a four-tackle performance, Solomon Elimimian is six away from the CFL tackle record of Edmonton’s JC Sherritt. The Lions most outstanding player this season also added a fumble recovery and a sack.

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Everyone’s favourite whipping boy JR Larose also deserves to be mentioned. He had some bone jarring hits in this one and added the final sack of the night on the last play of the game. LaRose always seems to be the target when things go wrong for the Lions. Sometimes it’s fair, sometimes he’s just the guy everyone likes to point at. Regardless, he had a solid game against the Bombers, and he also deserves his recent Tom Pate Award nomination as well. There are few if any CFL players in the league that do more in the community than LaRose.

The Lions defence did have some issues dealing with the small and shifty Paris Cotton. Strangely though the Bombers got away from him in the fourth quarter and Willy, who was running for his life most of the second half, got himself in trouble with two interceptions. One was to Cord Parks, the other to Ryan Phillips, the 40th of his career.

Bombers Done

With the Lions clinching that of course means the Bombers are done. There were some solid strides made in Winnipeg this season, and I don’t think many thought the Bombers would cave the way they did. Mike O’Shea is a good coach, and there seems to be some good football people in place. Willy got beat up this season, and the Bombers will have to address that and their poor run defence this off-season.

Onto the Playoffs

The Lions still have an outside shot at a home playoff game and a chance to catch Edmonton. They have to beat the Eskimos by eight points, then have Edmonton lose while they must beat Calgary in the final week. One more Lions win I believe would also make Saskatchewan the crossover team, as they have just one game left and lose in any potential tie situation with the Lions.

What were your thoughts on the game? Are the Lions poised to make a run in this year’s playoffs? As always your comments are welcome. We’ll have more on this week’s Pawdcast, and you chat Lions with me @BCLionsDen on Twitter.

From the Stands: Lions 41 Redblacks 3

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How do you spell relief? For the BC Lions and their fan base, relief was spelled O-F-F-E-N-C-E Saturday at BC Place Stadium. Kevin Glenn had arguably his best game as a BC Lion and got support from his receivers as the Lions went on to thrash the Ottawa Redblacks 41-3. Here is how I saw the game, From the Stands.

Rising to the Challenge

When Glenn appeared to injure his throwing hand on the first play of the game, my first thought was, “Sure, why not?” The way Lions have been falling by the wayside of late it only seemed fitting that another player would be added to the pile. But thankfully Glenn not only returned, but went onto a 20-27, 345 yard, 3 touchdown performance.

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Ernest Jackson had plenty to celebrate against the Redblacks. Photo: The Province.com

 

Glenn wasn’t the only performance to be thankful for on Thanksgiving weekend. The Lions receiving corps needed to step up to help a struggling offence and they were led by the 195 yard effort of Ernest Jackson. Jackson was in the zone Saturday, with big plays and timely catches all night long. I’ve often wondered why the Lions haven’t attempted to use Jackson more, and after this performance he may have forced them to consider it, even when injured receivers return.

Jackson wasn’t alone as Lavasier Tuinei turned in a strong game and Shawn Gore made some key catches as well.

The running game also came to life with Keola Antolin looking much more comfortable in his second start and the offensive line opening the holes the diminutive running back needed. Antolin also gets high marks for the surfing routine he did to celebrate his first professional touchdown, a result of a 56 yard run on the same drive. Stefan Logan will likely return after the bye week, but the Lions now have some comfort without Andrew Harris in the running department.

Credit to the Coaches

No one escapes criticism when things aren’t going well and the Lions coaches have received their fair share over the last few weeks. But not only did Mike Benevides and his staff have to find ways to generate offence with so many starters injured, they had to keep the team united as one. They accomplished both. After the game Lions players spoke of the fact that no one believed in them, but as Gore said earlier in the week, that doubt and criticism was deserved from outsiders. So too is the praise they should receive for rallying as an organization, and hopefully this was the tonic the teams needs to play out the final three games of the season and enter the playoffs on a roll.

Special Teams

After a poor outing in Hamilton the Lions did a much better job on special teams. Tim Brown looked maybe a half step behind speed wise coming off his groin injury, but the coverage downfield was solid all night long and gave the Lions much better field position to work with defensively.

Better Call Sol

I spent a lot of time watching Solomon Elimimian Saturday, because not only is he my favourite player, I just wanted to watch and see what makes him so good. His pursuit of the ball on every play is relentless, he’ll go over, through or around any obstacle in his path to make a tackle. Elimimian has really settled into the CFL game and it shows. Solomon became the Lions record holder for tackles in a season, and the league record will be next to fall if Elimimian can stay healthy.

Props to Paul

Paul McCallum was also in the spotlight Saturday as he moved into second place on the all-time CFL scoring list. It’s unlikely that McCallum will catch Lui Passaglia to take over the number one spot, but it’s pretty cool that two BC Lions are one/two on the list.

Speaking of Passaglia, it was great to see him at BC Place on Saturday night as the club’s honorary captain. He’s been in Lions fans’ thoughts since his recent battle with cancer was made public, but Lui looked good and it was great to see the Lions bring him out to a standing ovation and chants of Luuuuu for the coin toss.

Looking Ahead

The Lions were finally able to take advantage of their position and move four points ahead of the Bombers. But the Riders are in a freefall as well and got spanked by the Alouettes, meaning that the Lions are now just two points out of third in the CFL West and they hold the tie breaker over the Riders.

The Lions should be getting some bodies back following the bye week, and now have some confidence in their pocket when they head into Winnipeg in two weeks. That game could be the defining moment of the season for BC, who close out the season versus Edmonton and Calgary.

Going through the West or the East doesn’t matter, because in the end the Lions will have to beat two good teams to get to the Grey Cup. However, travel wise the club would be better off to keep their playoff streak alive by qualifying in the West.

What are your thoughts? Your comments are always welcome. The Pawdcast will be taking a break this week along with the Lions, but we’ll be back with a show before the Lions take on the Bombers.

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