B.C. Lions aiming to recapture defensive mojo after shellacking by Blue Bombers

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For one evening at the least, it was the holes within the Donut Boys that instructed the story.

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The B.C. Lions’ defence earned the moniker from coach Rick Campbell throughout a locker room speech that was part of the Lions’ behind-the-scenes social media posts following the second of two shutouts in opposition to the Edmonton Elks on July 29, and allowed a CFL season-high seven huge performs — outlined as rushes of 20-plus yards or passing performs of 30-plus yards — in a 50-14 shellacking by the hands of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers final Thursday. 

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B.C. had solely given up 11 huge performs in its first seven video games mixed and defensive coordinator Ryan Phillips’ unit shall be seeking to recapture that mojo when the Lions (6-2) host the Calgary Stampeders (3-5) Saturday afternoon (4 p.m.) at B.C. Place.

“Anyone who’s been round this recreation this lengthy within the CFL will let you know that typically you might have a day when it pours,” Phillips stated after observe earlier this week. “It didn’t simply rain that day. It poured that day. Hopefully everyone has introduced their umbrella this week and we may be good and keep dry and take it to Calgary.

“On the finish of the day, our outcomes communicate for themselves. For the following recreation, I anticipate my guys to get again to what they’ve been doing the primary few weeks. We’re going to maintain flying like we have now been.”

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That one evening in Winnipeg actually didn’t match with the defence’s physique of labor this season. With a hat tip to CFL stats guru Steve Daniel, contemplate that B.C. had given up 5 touchdowns to different golf equipment’ offences within the first seven video games after which allowed six to Winnipeg; they didn’t file a sack for the primary recreation in 2023; they usually incurred seven of their 11 defensive penalties on the yr.

They nonetheless lead the CFL in opponents internet offence (294.1 yards per recreation) although they allowed a CFL season-high 576 yards of internet offence in opposition to Winnipeg they usually’re nonetheless tops in opponents factors per recreation (16.4).

They’re third in fewest huge performs allowed, behind the Toronto Argonauts (12) and Montreal Alouettes (17). The Blue Bombers (19) and Saskatchewan Roughriders (19) are proper behind them.

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“It’s a slap within the face. Whenever you lose, it’s a actuality test,” defensive again Garry Peters stated of that setback to the Blue Bombers. “Soccer has nice life classes in it. We had given up 94 factors all season after which we gave up 50 in a single recreation. It sucks however you need to come again to work, and that’s simply life on the whole. Come again, look your self within the mirror.

“Everyone within the locker room is on edge. Coaches like ‘We’re going again to fundamentals.’ We’re going over small issues. We simply need to come out and play our model of soccer and present how significantly better we’re than we simply placed on movie.”

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The Lions are halfway by a five-game stretch in opposition to Western Division groups. They’ve the Calgary assembly after which wrap up this quintet with a go to to the Roughriders on Aug. 20. Head coach Rick Campbell is “all for it,” if this loss to Winnipeg supplies a psychological reset for his gamers.

“We’re going to get everyone’s finest shot. It’s a tricky division. Individuals are chasing us apart from Winnipeg. We’re going to must be at our greatest to beat anybody,” Campbell stated. “We don’t win by simply exhibiting up. We win by taking part in actually good soccer for 60 minutes and grinding out wins and I’m clearly seeking to get again to that.”

B.C. is anticipated to have Vernon Adams, Jr. again at beginning quarterback after he missed the previous two video games as a consequence of a knee harm. Dane Evans —  who got here on for Adams when he was injured within the 19-9 win over Saskatchewan on July 22 after which began these previous pair of video games — got here out of Thursday’s contest in opposition to Winnipeg and was changed by Dominique Davis. Adams dressed the previous two video games because the No. 3 quarterback.

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Campbell stated earlier this week that Adams’ knee situation shall be restrictive.

“I don’t suppose it’s going to be a live-with-something scenario. I feel he’s going to maintain feeling higher because it goes, ” Campbell stated.

“We’re positively not forcing the difficulty. We’ll see how he goes. I don’t suppose he’s going to be a restricted man. I feel he’s going to come back again to full power.

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