The B.C. Lions journey to Mosaic Stadium for Sunday’s showdown with the Roughriders, who harangued the Leos’ pivots relentlessly of their Week 7 assembly.
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The Saskatchewan Roughriders had the B.C. Lions offensive line chasing ghosts of their Week 7 matchup at B.C. Place. Nevertheless it was beginning quarterback Vernon Adams Jr. who ended up being planted within the floor with pennies on his eyes, a first-quarter sack knocking him from the sport — and the next two.
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The blitzes got here from each course and misdirection, confounding, engulfing and overwhelming the Lions’ offensive line. Adams obtained hit on 4 of his 5 dropbacks, the final of which was the fateful Pete Robertson sack. On that play, linebacker Larry Dean got here chugging unblocked when the Lions’ line slid to the proper, forcing Adams proper into the arms of Robertson, the blunt drive trauma skilled.
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“I simply noticed one thing that wasn’t there. And I obtained my eyes away from the place they need to have been,” mentioned centre Michael Couture, who after the sport referred to as the primary half “brutal” and one of many worst he might keep in mind.
“And, , I used to be compelled to look at that play once more a lot of occasions this week in our prep, in order that gained’t occur once more. It obtained much less and fewer unhealthy each time I watched it, however for the primary time … I used to be like, ‘Man, this sucks.’
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“We simply made mandatory adjustments in our safety. It begins with me. I make the (safety) calls and every little thing like that, so the mandatory changes have been made. I gained’t get into that … however yeah, trying ahead to bounce again from Recreation 1 in opposition to them. We didn’t play nice up entrance final time, however each week is a brand new problem and we’re tremendous excited to go in there and present what we obtained.
“We’re prepared for every little thing. They could include a brand new flavour or one thing, and that’s one thing that we’ll cope with on the sideline, if it comes.”
The Lions (7-2) gained the July 22 recreation 19-9, however it was arguably their worst offensive efficiency of the yr — and that features the 2 losses to Toronto and Winnipeg, the place they have been outscored a mixed 95-38.
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Their first three drives led to two-and-outs, with grand totals of 5, zero and minus-12 yards. When Dane Evans got here within the recreation for Adams, it was extra of the identical. Demarcus Christmas obtained to Evans for a security on the following collection, however it was overturned on a comfortable — if technically appropriate — roughing-the-passer name that had the Riders’ incensed.
Evans linked with Keon Hatcher for 53 yards, then hit Alex Hollins on a 27-yard landing, for the sport’s solely TD drive, 84 yards in whole. Nevertheless it wasn’t a portent of issues to return. Two different drives led to zero yards gained, and two extra went for detrimental yards, together with a Christmas strip-sack of Evans at midfield. Another for a whopping 10.
All 4 Riders’ sacks got here within the first half, however there wasn’t a lot traction offensively. B.C.’s whole of 231 yards of offence was yet another than they mustered in opposition to the Bombers of their blowout loss. These are the one two video games once they have been held below 300 yards in offence, and one in all two video games B.C. has given up 4 or extra sacks.
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“They’ve good gamers. They have been doing a little good blitz stuff as nicely,” mentioned coach Rick Campbell. “(Cross safety), it’s a operate of our complete offence. It’s not simply our offensive line, it’s the operating again serving to out, the QB getting the ball out of his fingers, receivers operating the right routes, mixing up the play calls … all these issues to fight that, and we’re gonna need to be good.”
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Adams is prepared for Spherical 2 on Sunday, coming within the noisy confines of Watermelon Patch Central, Mosaic Stadium. His knee isn’t sore, and neither is he, regardless of how his final recreation in opposition to them went.
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“Clearly, I do wish to come out right here and play the entire recreation and get a win in opposition to these guys, however it’s nothing loopy,” he mentioned Friday after follow.
“The O-line, myself, the operating backs, we get collectively the day earlier than the sport and we undergo the safety checks and every little thing like that. We’re going to look at it once more tomorrow. We watched it earlier this this week on Day 1, and we’re going to be prepared for no matter they obtained to usher in.
“There’s at all times going to be one or two you may want again, , however yeah, simply have to remain locked in to every play and simply take it play by play. Soccer is the final word staff recreation and all of us need to be on the identical web page. If we’re not … then unhealthy issues would possibly occur.”
And loads of unhealthy issues have occurred for the Riders (4-5), who misplaced QB Trevor Harris for the season, after which backup Mason High quality final week. Jake Dolegala will begin for Saskatchewan in Sunday’s recreation. He was 11-of-20 for 107 yards and an interception after taking up for the injured High quality of their 41-12 loss to Montreal.
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“I don’t assume you will get too caught up in that, ‘He’s a third-string quarterback.’ They’ve loads of good gamers, they’ve a superb staff, and it’s actually about what we do and the way we play. So I don’t assume you will get caught up in that enterprise,” mentioned Campbell. “It’s a harmful recreation to play.
“The man has been round too. It’s not like he’s simply flown in right here and is determining the CFL recreation. He’s been round, he understands their offence, understands the CFL, is aware of their gamers, all these issues. So we obtained to be able to go and play nicely.”
Twitter.com/TheRealJJAdams
NEXT GAME
Sunday
Saskatchewan Roughriders vs. B.C. Lions
4 p.m., Mosaic Stadium, TV: TSN, Radio: AM730
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