[ad_1]
Breadcrumb Trail Links
No NFL cuts nor practice squad saviours are incoming to halt their 5-game skid. This one is on the BC Lions to fix
Get the latest from J.J. Adams straight to your inbox
Published Aug 28, 2024 • Last updated 6 hours ago • 5 minute read
You can save this article by registering for free here. Or sign-in if you have an account.
B.C. Lions head coach Rick Campbell, left, speaks to quarterback Nathan Rourke on the sideline during the second half of a CFL football game against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, in Vancouver, B.C., Sunday, Aug. 18, 2024. Photo by DARRYL DYCK /THE CANADIAN PRESS
Article content
The NFL cut-down day was Tuesday, when all 32 teams had to trim their numbers to the requisite 53 for the active roster, along with 17 on the practice squad.
Advertisement 2
This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.
THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY
Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada.
- Exclusive articles by top sports columnists Patrick Johnston, Ben Kuzma, J.J. Abrams and others. Plus, Canucks Report, Sports and Headline News newsletters and events.
- Unlimited online access to The Province and 15 news sites with one account.
- The Province ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on.
- Daily puzzles and comics, including the New York Times Crossword.
- Support local journalism.
SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES
Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada.
- Exclusive articles by top sports columnists Patrick Johnston, Ben Kuzma, J.J. Abrams and others. Plus, Canucks Report, Sports and Headline News newsletters and events.
- Unlimited online access to The Province and 15 news sites with one account.
- The Province ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on.
- Daily puzzles and comics, including the New York Times Crossword.
- Support local journalism.
REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES
Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.
- Access articles from across Canada with one account.
- Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments.
- Enjoy additional articles per month.
- Get email updates from your favourite authors.
Sign In or Create an Account
or
Article content
And I’m sorry to disappoint you, B.C. Lions fans, but there’s no Raiders, Ravens, Packers or any other white knights in shining armour riding to the rescue. The last chevalier to come back from the NFL — Nathan Rourke — arrived armour battered and scarred by his experience in the bowels of the NFL juggernaut, and was promptly unhorsed in his first two CFL jousts.
Defensive lineman Mathieu Betts, who set a CFL record for sacks by a Canadian last year, was cut by the Detroit Lions and cleared waivers to become a free agent. The Lions, losers of five in a row, would welcome him back post-haste, but are waiting on him to figure out his options on both sides of the border.
Once the NFL practice squads are settled and free agent offers dry up, sure, there will be a handful of players coming north. But don’t expect immediate difference makers. It’s ‘run what ya brung’ time for B.C.
Advertisement 3
This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.
Article content
“The only people who are going to get it done are us. There’s no magic people coming in,” said Lions coach Rick Campbell. “We have very competent players and coaches who are going to ride through this.”
It could be a possible canary in the coal mine moment for B.C. In the past 10 seasons, every year they’ve lost five straight or more (2021, 2019, 2017), they’ve failed to make the playoffs.
Their only saving grace is a West Division tighter than Donald Trump when it comes to paying contractors. Saskatchewan (5-5-1) is winless in five games, but somehow remains in first place. The Winnipeg Blue Bombers (5-6) are in second, holding the tiebreaker over B.C.
Calgary (4-6) sits one game behind the Lions, and even the last-place Edmonton Elks (3-8) aren’t out of contention.
Canucks Report
Thanks for signing up!
Article content
Advertisement 4
This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.
Article content
The number of NFL castoffs has dropped with the newly expanded practice squads, and historically those players are brought in with the future in mind, not fixing a tire fire.
“I don’t know about (new players) riding to the rescue, but our scouts always do a great job of scouring the NFL for guys who fit this league,” said Lions director of football operations Neil McEvoy. “We will certainly be bringing guys up to see if they’ll be able to help this year, but usually those guys are for the future.
“I know right now we’re on a five-game losing streak, but this is primarily the same group that won five in a row. There’s always going to be tweeks and twerks … to make you better. But I have confidence in the coaches and players that we have that we’re going to be able to weather the storm.”
Advertisement 5
This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.
Article content
Take the two losses to the Bombers — who started the year 0-4, it should be noted — out of the Lions funk, and it’s still bad, but not overwhelmingly so. A one-point loss to the Stamps, and defeats to Edmonton and Ottawa which weren’t decided until the late stages of the fourth quarter.
Losing Josh Woods for the season was a big blow to the linebacking corps, which was further kneecapped by injuries, and they were forced to throw younger players into the mix. The defensive secondary has also been a mass of moving parts, with injuries to Ronald Kent Jr., Christophe Beaulieu and Jordan Perryman undercutting its efficiency.
The result has been a defence that can’t tackle or cover, and leads the CFL in yards after the catch. It doesn’t help, said cornerback Garry Peters, that it’s something they don’t work on in practice.
Advertisement 6
This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.
Article content
“A lot of times we’re tackling on the dummies or pads, but you can’t really simulate that speed that you’re going to get in the game,” he said. “At this point, you just have to want to do it. A lot of it is effort. A lot of times guys aren’t going to make tackles by themselves, but there’s a lot of guys just watching, hoping (the other guy is) going to make the play and not trying to get over there and help make the play.
“Any time you lose a game, no matter what, it’s hurtful. But when you look at the stats and see that they threw for 390 yards and three touchdowns, for us it’s like a punch in the stomach,” he added, referring to Dru Brown’s numbers against them in last week’s 34-27 loss to Ottawa.
“As football players, especially DBs, we’re very prideful. For us, we don’t want to see a team throw for three, much less four hundred yards on us … There’s more onus on us to do the little things.”
Advertisement 7
This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.
Article content
Campbell said the level of urgency is “ramped all the way up,” though allowed that the upcoming stretch in the team’s schedule will help them. B.C. plays four straight games against East Division teams, while their western foes all play each other.
Not that it’s going to be a cakewalk; the East is 18-9 against the West this season. Take Hamilton out of that equation, and Ottawa, Montreal and Toronto — the teams the Lions will face — are 17-3.
Peters knows time is running out on B.C.
“This is just a down moment. … When you start losing, it’s contagious. Every week you have to find that confidence, you have to work that much harder to get back on the winning side,” he said. “We’ve just been in a funk, and we have to get out of this valley and figure it out. … Patience is running out. We have to start winning games. We only have seven games left. It’s an important part of the season; every game kind of feels like a playoff game.”
Advertisement 8
This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.
Article content
jadams@postmedia.com
NEXT GAME
Touchdown Pacific
Ottawa Redblacks (7-2-1) at B.C. Lions (5-6)
Saturday, 4 p.m., Royal Athletic Park, Victoria
TV: TSN. Radio: AM980
Recommended from Editorial
-
Redblacks 34, Lions 27: B.C. shooting their feet off with a bazooka
-
‘We can’t lose’: No choice for slip-sliding B.C. Lions vs. Redblacks
-
CFL Picks: Rourke’s B.C. Lions look to hand Redblacks their first home loss of season
Bookmark our website and support our journalism: Don’t miss the news you need to know — add VancouverSun.com and TheProvince.com to your bookmarks and sign up for our newsletters here.
You can also support our journalism by becoming a digital subscriber: For just $14 a month, you can get unlimited access to The Vancouver Sun, The Province, National Post and 13 other Canadian news sites. Support us by subscribing today: The Vancouver Sun | The Province.
Article content
Share this article in your social network
[ad_2]
Source link
Fitnessnacks – #Whos #riding #rescue #Lions #answer
Courtesy : https://theprovince.com/sports/football/cfl/bc-lions/whos-riding-rescue-bc-lions