Official Game Day Thread - BC at Winnipeg - November 11, 2023 - Western Final

[theaardvark]

Just got the word from the Bombers, $29 Pregame Pinnacle Club Meal:

This week it will be a Deluxe Mac and Cheese Station:

-Creamy Mac and Cheese with optional pulled pork, bacon bits, green onions, and roasted red peppers.
-Sweet Potato Wedges
-Almond, Parmesan, and Heritage blend Salad

I really liked the roast beef last game... this had better be some deluxe Mac n Cheese

[blue_gold_84]

I'm a Rose fan so I feel for the guy, but the speed factor is interesting for Parker. Hope he seizes the opportunity.

Ditto but it seems like he's lost a step on account of injuries. Not sure how that bodes for his future considering he'll be 30 by the time next season rolls around.

Parker has earned this opportunity and I'm looking forward to seeing how he performs tomorrow. The secondary will need to be on point from the Lions' first possession.

[ModAdmin]

Good interviews with Brady Oliveira and Mike O'Shea on the big game...

https://www.bluebombers.com/2023/11/10/brady-oliveira-november-10/

https://www.bluebombers.com/2023/11/10/mike-oshea-november-10-2023/

[Waffler]

I want to see Kenny view Dalton not being in as the chance to show the league why the Bombers are paying him big money. Play like a true #1 receiver, even if he's double covered. Go up there and turn 50/50 balls into 100% catches. Make some circus catches.

I am sure Lawlor will be doubled most if not all of the game. As far as him being a #1 guy, he would have put up a 1,350 yard season if he'd played 18 games. That would put him in the conversation for league leader. Schoen missed 2 games also, who know what totals he'd have had.

Regular season means nothing now though. Ball control will be the name of the game I assume. If our offensive line controls BC we can win. 

[TecnoGenius]

Ditto but it seems like he's lost a step on account of injuries. Not sure how that bodes for his future considering he'll be 30 by the time next season rolls around.

As a Rose fan, this may be a prime example of DBs hitting the wall, which they seem to do earlier than other positions.

Yes, it could be a speed thing just vs BC, and/or also a size thing, Cottoy/Rhymes picking on tiny DBs sticks in the mind.

If Parker does well (i.e. doesn't give up any explosions) then we may not see Rose dressed ever again.

He's had a very good career, got 1 (or 2?) rings with us, and used to be the big INT guy.  If/when this occurs I'll be the first to pay him tribute.

I see they did 1GIR him so that's good, he still gets paid and (I think) his name on the cup.  I hope they leave him there; other teams do; it's better for the player and improves overall morale to know after a full season of work you won't be just thrown away like rubbish.

[TecnoGenius]

From Ed Tait...

"Just to clarify this: GTD means the @Wpg_BlueBombers have up until 30 minutes before the game to determine the status of those players. If they can't go, another player is added to the roster in their place."

This is all new to me.  Ya, we've seen this going on in other games with other teams.  But I always found it weird a dude listed nowhere on the chart can suddenly show up at kickoff.  How are teams supposed to prepare for that?  Ripe for abuse, especially when you have 3 GTD!!

What if we had Zach on 1GIR and we made a chart with only Dru and Prukop listed, with Dru as GTD.  Teams prepare to face Dru.  Then at 30 mins before kickoff we say "whoops Dru can't play" and suddenly Zach appears as the starting QB?

Teams should have to chart who the actual replacements would be if the GTD is "no go".  They should also have to give a % chance for each GTD and final results at end of season have to be within a certain % of accurate.  e.g. "Bailey is GTD at 50/50", "Demski is GTD with 80% chance of starting".

[dd]

Will certainly miss Dalton....hopefully Kenny will step it up big time as he seems to have a bit of a chip on his shoulder when it comes to playing BC.    We really need Brady to have a BIG game and keep VAJ and his high powered aerial attack grounded.

Agree 100%. Lawler has been pretty much invisible this year in terms of production, and they've been trying some games really hard to get the ball in his hands, but he simply hasn't made the plays.

[TecnoGenius]

Agree 100%. Lawler has been pretty much invisible this year in terms of production, and they've been trying some games really hard to get the ball in his hands, but he simply hasn't made the plays.

Last few games Lawler's had dropsies, whiffs and near-misses.  Ones that he used to bring in 99% he's under 50%.  And he gets this look afterwards like he can't understand why he whiffed... I'm praying it's just a temporary loss of mojo.  Guys at his level and age should keep getting better, not worse.  See: Burnham, Geroy, etc.

He can make that all go away by "pulling a Willie" and justifying 90% of his $$ in the post-season.

[dd]

Last few games Lawler's had dropsies, whiffs and near-misses.  Ones that he used to bring in 99% he's under 50%.  And he gets this look afterwards like he can't understand why he whiffed... I'm praying it's just a temporary loss of mojo.  Guys at his level and age should keep getting better, not worse.  See: Burnham, Geroy, etc.

He can make that all go away by "pulling a Willie" and justifying 90% of his $$ in the post-season.

He'll have to, or else I'd be moving on, too much $$, too little impact.

[TecnoGenius]

Why is Siddiqi out?  Legit injured?  The replacement is Archibald?  He's not nearly as good.  Advantage us.  Maybe Teuhema can get himself ejected before halftime.

Other than that the BC lineup looks exactly as we'd expect.  Only 1 spare OL... that could possibly spell trouble for them.

Lots of DBs dressing, I guess they expect some air attack?  Weird, as I think we pound it if they don't box-stuff all day.

[TecnoGenius]

Game weather forecast getting colder.

-1 to -2C during game hours.

But 20km SE wind (30 gust) all game for "feels like" -7 to -8C.

Might be just enough wind to want to win the toss and defer.  Not that it will matter, I bet BC will take the ball regardless.

So the weather is shaping up a bit in our favor in terms of cooling off for the BC softies.  I don't think they will be happy in their air game with -8C and a biting wind.  Expect to see them all huddled by the heater.

While our guys are used to it and like to play tough, I really hope the skill positions have sleeves and do what they need to keep their hands warm.  Sometimes they try to act too tough and you can tell their hands aren't up to the delicate tasks like catching tough balls.  This would be a coaching thing, I'd hope.

[The Zipp]

It's the noise factor...

https://3downnation.com/2023/11/10/these-are-the-loudest-fans-in-the-cfl-b-c-lions-concerned-with-winnipeg-crowd-not-cold-in-preparation-for-west-final/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter

From 3rd down :


When the Lions travelled to Winnipeg for last year?s Western Final, they were dogged by the same questions about them being a warm-weather team ill-suited to playoff football in the winter. While B.C. lost that game in conditions far colder than this year?s forecast, it wasn?t the ice that killed them.

Instead, it was critical errors late in the game caused by the sold-out crowd at IG Field and the Lions? poor preparation that loomed largest in defeat.

?Last year, coming down to the end of the game, it was a close one and a lot of time got taken off of the clock because of communication issues,? star receiver Keon Hatcher confessed. ?The crowd got really loud and we didn?t have a lot of signals in place for the plays that we wanted to run in those moments. It caught up to us and we weren?t able to put the ball in the endzone at the end of the game.?

That outcome fundamentally changed how the Lions approached the game this year, favouring working out the kinks of their silent count over thickening their skin outside.

?I think it?s an advantage for us this year as compared to last year, just that it?s pretty clear what environment we?re facing. You can talk about it as one thing but to experience it is a different thing. We expect an electric atmosphere here tomorrow,? Campbell explained.

?We worked hard on the crowd noise. We were in BC Place all week, where it was legit crowd noise and you?ve got your speakers going throughout the stadium where you can?t talk or hear. We really got in a good groove of just being comfortable with that.?

According to quarterback Vernon Adams Jr., who was at the helm when B.C. pulled a stunning 30-6 upset over the Bombers at IG Field earlier this year, that change in approach is the only way the Lions can help neutralize Winnipeg?s biggest advantage.

?These are the loudest fans in the CFL; we all know that,? he acknowledged. ?I think practicing in the dome this week helped. Having the echo and everything, we have to over-communicate signals and things like that. I think it helped us. I think it?s going to help us.?

That still won?t be enough to convince a segment of red-blooded Canadians that practicing under a roof come playoff time isn?t a testament to the wimpiness of Vancouverites, but Campbell isn?t concerned by that.

?We?ll take that we?re the soft team from the West Coast,? he grinned. ?We?ll live with that label and we?ll see how we do.?

[The Zipp]

Game weather forecast getting colder.

-1 to -2C during game hours.

But 20km SE wind (30 gust) all game for "feels like" -7 to -8C.

Might be just enough wind to want to win the toss and defer.  Not that it will matter, I bet BC will take the ball regardless.

So the weather is shaping up a bit in our favor in terms of cooling off for the BC softies.  I don't think they will be happy in their air game with -8C and a biting wind.  Expect to see them all huddled by the heater.

While our guys are used to it and like to play tough, I really hope the skill positions have sleeves and do what they need to keep their hands warm.  Sometimes they try to act too tough and you can tell their hands aren't up to the delicate tasks like catching tough balls.  This would be a coaching thing, I'd hope.

-8 to -10 windchill is chilly.  I wouldn't say ZC is a great cold weather QB but our running game is really good. 

[TecnoGenius]

-8 to -10 windchill is chilly.  I wouldn't say ZC is a great cold weather QB but our running game is really good. 

He doesn't like the cold -- a bit strange for an Ohioan.  However, he has tons of experience and knows what to do to keep himself in prime (warm) condition.  They get that shawl on him pretty quick, and he'll use his hand muff all the time.  I hope he's not too tough to partake of the heater... even if he's the only one standing there.  ... although the newbie IMPs often are found huddling there as well 

[GOLDMEMBER]

Lest we forget!

Happy Game Day all!