The BC Lions (5-3) will look to get back on track when they battle the East Division-leading Ottawa REDBLACKS (4-3-1) Thursday night at TD Place Stadium. With last week’s 37-9 loss to Calgary in the rear view mirror, the focus is on getting back to basics in all three facets, especially on offence where Jonathon Jennings and company took a big step back, settling for only three field goals against the West Division -leading Stamps. “Just making plays, going out at a faster tempo and really being aggressive with everything that we do,” Jennings said when asked about how the approach needs to change. “We’re just trying to maintain our focus and coming in everyday at work trying to get better. They have a good team, an aggressive defence, they play a lot of man and they have two good quarterbacks on the other side of the ball. It will be a challenge for us, but hopefully we come out there and fight a little harder than we did last week.” This is an intriguing matchup in the sense that both teams are looking to move back after sub-par performances at home. The REDBLACKS are licking their wounds following a 43-19 loss to Montreal, a result that prevented them from opening a three-point lead atop the East Division.
Here are some other storylines to look out for on Thursday night:
Prepping For Harris:
Following their setback against Montreal, the REDBLACKS will give Trevor Harris the start at quarterback in place of Henry Burris. Harris has spent the last five weeks healing from a leg injury. Ronnie Yell and company know what to expect from the dynamic 30-year old pivot. “ Every week is a challenge, especially when you’re facing a elite quarterbacks in this league, which we have,” Yell said. “Trevor Harris is another elite quarterback and you have to show him respect. “We’re just ready to get after him, make him uncomfortable back there and get a couple of picks.” Harris’ breakout campaign in Toronto included a 340-yard passing effort and two touchdown passes in a 30-27 win over the Lions last July. Yell has taken notice of what Harris and the offence is capable of. “Film shows they run a lot of screens, they have a lot of gadget players such as Chris Williams and (Greg) Ellingson that they like to get the ball in their hands and just let them go to work. A lot of quick throws and getting their playmakers the ball.”
Backfield Shake Up:
After sitting out the last three games, Anthony Allen will once again be the featured running back as he replaces Jeremiah Johnson. In three appearances this season, Allen has averaged 4.9 yards per carry and had an impressive 107-yard performance in his Lions debut July 7th against Toronto. “I’ve been itching to get back on the field and I’m ready to just go out and ball for real,” Allen said. The Super Bowl Champion with the Baltimore Ravens will be expected to give the offence a much-needed shot in the arm. “We’re not going to hold anything back this week,” Allen added. “We’re going to go at ‘em with full force and try to run it down their throat.” The roster move is not an indictment of Johnson. The two-headed monster approach at running back has paid off as the Lions lead the CFL in total rushing yards with 742. Ottawa is best in the league at stopping the run, so as Allen stated, it will be an intense, physical battle up front to kick off week ten.
Gaitor Back In:
Anthony Gaitor starts at halfback after Steven Clarke suffered a season-ending knee injury against the Stampeders. The Florida International product made his CFL debut in Montreal on August 4th and made one of the biggest defensive plays of the Lions’ season, a forced a fumble that led to a touchdown return by Loucheiz Purifoy. It proved to be a turning point in the 38-18 victory. Gaitor impressed the coaching staff at training camp before dealing with a recurring hamstring injury. He was re-added to the practice roster on July 23rd.
Three Keys To Victory:
Pass rush, pass rush, pass rush: A big reason the Lions came up short last week was the inability to put pressure on Stamps’ QB Bo Levi Mitchell. And as you saw, he used the extra time to his advantage. The stout Lions’ defensive line gets a boost with the return of Mic’hael Brooks from a high-ankle sprain. Look for them to correct the miscues of last week and make sure they pressure Harris early.
Special Teams Battle: As bad as last week seemed, it was an eight-point game when Chris Rainey fumbled the second half kickoff that led to another Calgary major. The Leos’ special teams unit has been dynamic throughout 2016 and a big reason they have a winning record in the first half of the season. If they can allow Jennings to work with a short field, it would take loads of pressure off the entire offence.
Spread it out:
Stop us if you’ve heard this before, but Jennings and the offence operates best when everyone is involved. Ottawa’s Mark Nelson is one of the CFL’s most respected defensive co-ordinators so you know the home team will have the right schemes dialled up. If number ten can utilize all his weapons to the best of their abilities, it provides an even better chance to win the first of two straight games in Ontario. A big part of improving will also come down to first down production, another area that was lacking against the Stampeders. If Khari Jones and his troops can consistently force the defence into second and short and force them to try and win the game themselves, Jennings can then further utilize his playmaking ability. Especially with his legs.
Quotable:
“We better not be thinking about post-Labour Day, just be thinking about Thursday night. We gotta be focussed on the task at hand. They (Ottawa) played probably as poorly as we played (last week) and they were at home. For both teams, this is a big game. Let’s not worry about Toronto, let’s not worry about post East Division, let’s just worry about Ottawa.”- Wally Buono when asked about the chances setting themselves up nicely for a post-Labour day stretch drive where they play five of the final eight games at home. One game at a time, always the mindset.
Extra Yardage:
The REDBLACKS prevailed in both meetings last season, including a 27-16 victory at TD place in the Lions’ season opener. Johnson rushed for a pair of touchdowns to help them prevail 31-18 at BC Place on September 13th.
Much like their three East Division counterparts, Ottawa has struggled at home in 2016, sporting a 1-2-1 record at their renovated digs.
The game can be heard on TSN 1040 with Scott Rintoul and Giulio Caravatta. The pre-game show gets underway at 2:30PM with Bob Marjanovich, Chris Burns and Lowell Ullrich. Viewers can tune in on TSN and those south of the border can see it on ESPN 2.
For the first time since 2004, the Lions will stay back east in between regular games. The University of Ottawa will become practice headquarters before the team makes the short flight to Toronto on Tuesday, the 30th. They face the Argos at BMO Field on August 31st.
You can download the roster and depth chart for Thursday here!
Matt Baker: mbaker@bclions.com