Lions/Bombers PreGame Discussion - Noise Welcome to the Lions

[Lincoln Locomotive]

We can be sure BC will engage their air attack and if there's a fast track they have enough receivers to make that work for them.    VAJ threw for over 400 yards against Calgary and escaped when he had to.    It will be up to our front 7 to try and rattle and contain him as best they can because their receivers are very good and they can hurt you.

Injuries at this time of year are always a factor and which team is the more banged up of the two is debatable......this will most likely go down as a Dawg fight and could be decided by which QB makes the fewest mistakes and is the most dialled in.    We will need Zach's A game and Brady's bully ball game to win this.....

We certainly have the edge with home field and the best and most loyal fans in the league bar none!!

[Blue In BC]

Apparently Tait also tweeted that Parker is in for Rose?

Last week Rose was getting 1st team reps and Parker wasn't. Could be a decision made later this week or they may decide on having a DB as a DI against a team that lives on the pass. If they do that might mean one less LB as a DI. Since we got Gauthier back last week, that MIGHT be a choice considered.

I'd like having that extra depth at DB. A need for more speed to help in contain and coverage than you'd get from the LB's.

[Lincoln Locomotive]

Last week Rose was getting 1st team reps and Parker wasn't. Could be a decision made later this week or they may decide on having a DB as a DI against a team that lives on the pass. If they do that might mean one less LB as a DI. Since we got Gauthier back last week, that MIGHT be a choice considered.

I'd like having that extra depth at DB. A need for more speed to help in contain and coverage than you'd get from the LB's.

Good points....

[3rdand1.5]

Parker does have pretty good speed, BC is a very fast team, perhaps you beat speed with speed?

[GOLDMEMBER]

Last week Rose was getting 1st team reps and Parker wasn't. Could be a decision made later this week or they may decide on having a DB as a DI against a team that lives on the pass. If they do that might mean one less LB as a DI. Since we got Gauthier back last week, that MIGHT be a choice considered.

I'd like having that extra depth at DB. A need for more speed to help in contain and coverage than you'd get from the LB's.

thanks for mentioning

Our secondary has their work cut out. From 7 gets after it it won?t matter.
Lawrence get a sniff? Are 100% healthy there?

[Blue In BC]

thanks for mentioning

Our secondary has their work cut out. From 7 gets after it it won?t matter.
Lawrence get a sniff? Are 100% healthy there?

I don't think Lawrence is part of the on going plan either this year or next year. It may depend on who we think we might lose in free agency. Most of our DB's are potential free agents.

When we decide on our roster for the WDF there is going to be a big shift overall. All the vets that sat out the last game will be returning and all the PR roster spots up for grabs. We added about 6 new players to the PR and something will have to give. There isn't room for all of them.

Will the team choose to move some of the PR players that played last week to the 1 game IR and absorb the SMS hit? IDK.

Unless some of those new players were future contracts or we had new injuries, there will be more than the usual movement this week. IIRC we added 10 players last week: 2 off the IR and 8 from the PR. I doubt anyone expects to see many if any of those PR players this week?

[PurpleReign]

This game is blow out. Run Brady 30 times they can?t stop the run. By the 3rd BC defense will be gassed. Long drives using up the clock will negate their offense.

[dd]

This game is blow out. Run Brady 30 times they can?t stop the run. By the 3rd BC defense will be gassed. Long drives using up the clock will negate their offense.

This is the strategy I?d be using, ground and pound.  Eat up the clock, keep VA on the sideline as much as possible, score points slow and steady.

[Throw Long Bannatyne]

I don't think Lawrence is part of the on going plan either this year or next year. It may depend on who we think we might lose in free agency. Most of our DB's are potential free agents.

When we decide on our roster for the WDF there is going to be a big shift overall. All the vets that sat out the last game will be returning and all the PR roster spots up for grabs. We added about 6 new players to the PR and something will have to give. There isn't room for all of them.

Will the team choose to move some of the PR players that played last week to the 1 game IR and absorb the SMS hit? IDK.

Unless some of those new players were future contracts or we had new injuries, there will be more than the usual movement this week. IIRC we added 10 players last week: 2 off the IR and 8 from the PR. I doubt anyone expects to see many if any of those PR players this week?

I'd be surprised if the PR players they added last week are still in town, I think they took a sneak peak at future prospects in the week they had off. 

As for Rose, I wouldn't be surprised if they go with Houston and Parker on the corners and spare Rose from being bullied on another long TD reception by one of the Lions bigger receivers of which they have 3 listed 6'-4" or taller.

[TecnoGenius]

Yep, Whitehead is a Lions fan favourite but he's pretty lucky if they're paying him more than Nic Demski for what he's contributed, he's not in the top 10 receivers in the league in terms of ability. I could see him moving on unless he accepts his role as a sometimes guy at a lower salary but don't believe he would be a main guy on any team.  The Lions are deep at receiver and have the luxury of using the position as a ratio flex with Cottoy and McInnes, which is another reason Lucky isn't starting.

That's a good point.  Lucky is a great left-coast fit.  Maybe they keep him on as depth and offer $110?  No way is he worth >$125 anywhere anymore.  I wonder why they never use him in returns?  Did he suddenly lose all speed?  Their current returner is blah at best.

[TecnoGenius]

Apparently Tait also tweeted that Parker is in for Rose?

As for Rose, I wouldn't be surprised if they go with Houston and Parker on the corners and spare Rose from being bullied on another long TD reception by one of the Lions bigger receivers of which they have 3 listed 6'-4" or taller.

Rose has always risen up for the playoffs.  He does seem to be continuing with his troubles this year though.  Assuming he's not injured, this may be our own "McInnis for Lucky" semi-surprising tweak.  Rose maybe lost his mojo due to age.  I sure hope not, he's one of my faves.  Might be tough to see him back for next year: maybe OTT will pick him up.

However, in the last few games when Parker came back every team chose him as the guy to pick on... did they all get that wrong?  If teams see him as weak, why do we see him stronger than Rose?  And hey, isn't Parker more of a HB than CB?

[TecnoGenius]

Could be a decision made later this week or they may decide on having a DB as a DI against a team that lives on the pass. If they do that might mean one less LB as a DI. Since we got Gauthier back last week, that MIGHT be a choice considered.

Great point.  I hadn't really been considering possible changes to DI position choices.  Players, sure.  Positions, no.

If we are convinced BC has shown us who they are (no run) and they won't suddenly decide to run every other down, then it absolutely makes sense to (just for this game) slot in more speed at DI (more DB or SAM) and less beef.  The speed would also help contain and track down VAJ.

However, we still need enough beef to disrupt VAJ's pocket, and that includes LBers that know how to blitz effectively.

It's a tricky balance and I know MOS/Buck/Hall are loathe to disrupt what's working too much.

[Blue In BC]

Great point.  I hadn't really been considering possible changes to DI position choices.  Players, sure.  Positions, no.

If we are convinced BC has shown us who they are (no run) and they won't suddenly decide to run every other down, then it absolutely makes sense to (just for this game) slot in more speed at DI (more DB or SAM) and less beef.  The speed would also help contain and track down VAJ.

However, we still need enough beef to disrupt VAJ's pocket, and that includes LBers that know how to blitz effectively.

It's a tricky balance and I know MOS/Buck/Hall are loathe to disrupt what's working too much.

I was thinking / expecting we may see more 34 defensive sets. Strong interior pass rush can be effective but that isn't really our strength this year. We use 34 type defences using either a LB or DB off the LOS at times. That means even if a QB gets past the LOS he has to get past those slightly further off the LOS. It also means it is more difficult for their OL to be sure where the  prssure may come from. Think about the 1990 Bombers that had those great LB's and opponents never knew who was coming or from where.

It also is very effective from teams that don't run as much. That's the Lions. It puts more defenders into short pass zones and can confuse QB's.

It is a tricky balance because it might also give the QB more time to find open receivers.

[Throw Long Bannatyne]

That's a good point.  Lucky is a great left-coast fit.  Maybe they keep him on as depth and offer $110?  No way is he worth >$125 anywhere anymore.  I wonder why they never use him in returns?  Did he suddenly lose all speed?  Their current returner is blah at best.

Terry Williams has become quite an effective returner, rewatch the last BC/Wpg contest, he consistently put them in good field position throughout the game and had at least one return for a TD earlier in the season.

Despite getting many of their missing ST players back, defending returns and limiting yards remains the Bombers biggest weakness this season, hopefully it doesn't bite them in the *** in the playoffs.  At this point I have to believe it's related to the changes they've made to their kicking game, if not in personnel than in philosophy.

[BBRT]

I was thinking / expecting we may see more 34 defensive sets. Strong interior pass rush can be effective but that isn't really our strength this year. We use 34 type defences using either a LB or DB off the LOS at times. That means even if a QB gets past the LOS he has to get past those slightly further off the LOS. It also means it is more difficult for their OL to be sure where the  prssure may come from. Think about the 1990 Bombers that had those great LB's and opponents never knew who was coming or from where.

It also is very effective from teams that don't run as much. That's the Lions. It puts more defenders into short pass zones and can confuse QB's.

It is a tricky balance because it might also give the QB more time to find open receivers.

Good Point - I remember BC coming into the Peg and the Bombers were definate underdogs - not sure who the Lions QB was but he was suppose to eat the Bombers up. The Bombers went with a 3-4 defense (James West, maybe Ty Jones not sure who else were the LB's). Bombers ate the BC offense up that day - first time I believe they went with a 3-4 defense that year. Was one of the best Bomber defensive games I had seen up til then.