The B.C. Lions enter September in second place, in a little bit of a droop.
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Per week off for the B.C. Lions to start out September provides them, and us, an opportunity to take inventory of the place this group sits with two months to go within the CFL season.
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Listed here are 5 issues to think about concerning the Lions’ ambitions this season because the battle for playoff positioning begins to warmth up:
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Adams’ arm
A lot concerning the Lions’ success rides on Vernon Adams’ arm.
The veteran quarterback is averaging 246 yards a sport by means of the air, pretty much as good as he’s managed in his two earlier seasons as a starter in Montreal.
On Saturday, he had 306 yards passing, the seventh time this season he’s surpassed 300.
This offence-through-the-air may be very a lot a group technique: the Leos are averaging essentially the most passing yards — 306 yards — and the fewest speeding yards — simply 81.5 yards — per sport throughout the league.
The equation is fairly easy.
Defensive woes
To start out the season all speak was concerning the Lions’ defensive dominance.
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That’s not been the case currently.
Earlier than Saturday’s win over the Als in Montreal, B.C. had misplaced three of 4 video games. In these three losses, that they had given up 38 factors per sport.
You’re not typically going to win if you’re giving up that many factors.
The excellent news is more often than not their defence has been excellent, and on the season as an entire they’ve nonetheless given up the second-fewest factors within the CFL; solely Toronto has given up fewer.
And it’s as a result of the Lions proceed to make massive performs in massive moments just like the interception in the long run zone by Quincy Mauger on Saturday as Montreal appeared poised to take the lead.
“Me and Manny (Rugamba), we’ve been practising attacking the ball. Iron sharpens iron, so when watching movie having Mack in that three spot and working that nook route, I needed to make that play. Any time the ball’s within the air, the DB’s mentality is to make that play. That’s precisely what occurred proper there,” Mauger stated after the sport.
The Lions additionally did an awesome job of harrying Montreal quarterback Cody Fajardo — once more, when the Lions have been on, their defence has saved opposing QBs scrambling.
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T.J. Lee had one other decide within the sport’s waning moments because the determined Alouettes tried to drag off a miracle.
Massive leg
Sean Whyte is pretty much as good as they arrive. The Lions’ kicker has nailed 30 of 32 area aim makes an attempt this season, one of the best success charge within the league.
His solely misses have been from 49 and 52 yards, there’s no disgrace in that.
Having Whyte nailing kicks from in all places is a good complement to the red-hot aerial assault, which has scored 20 touchdowns on the season, the second-most within the league.
The one kink within the Lions’ offensive armour is their working sport, which has scored simply 4 touchdowns on the yr, the fewest majors scored on the bottom by any group within the CFL this season.
If the Leos can one way or the other add slightly extra energy to their speeding assault, be careful.
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No comeback
When the Lions have misplaced, it’s been about unhealthy begins they will’t get better from.
Three of their 4 losses on the season have seen the Lions trailing on the half. Certainly, these are the one thrice they’ve gone into the half trailing — not as soon as have the Lions recovered to win after a first-half scoring deficit.
B.C. is one among three groups within the league to not have come from behind to win after trailing by means of the primary two quarters: the disastrous Edmonton Elks and the nearly-as-woeful Calgary Stampeders are the one different CFL squads to not have come again after trailing on the half.
Playoff hopes
Even sitting second within the West, the Lions weren’t in charge of their playoff destiny earlier than final Saturday.
However with the Blue Bombers dropping to the Roughriders on Sunday, the Lions are again in full management of their positioning.
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The Lions and the Bombers have one sport left in opposition to one another on the season, Oct. 6 at B.C. Place. If the 2 groups finish the yr with equal information, the winner of that sport will possible take first within the West.
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Lions 34, Alouettes 25: B.C. stops the bleeding and will get again within the win column
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B.C. Lions vs. Tiger-Cats: 5 issues to observe
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