B.C. Lions' Bryan Burnham, tries to get past Calgary Stampeders' Jamar Wall during first half CFL football action in Calgary, Saturday, Sept. 16, 2017.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh
They get tired of being asked the same question about it over and over. So much so that it appears they have run out of ways to explain it. Yes, the Calgary Stampeders (6-0-0) have been the class of this league for over a decade. That would be the simple answer. Yet despite riding a six-game losing streak ( including two playoff defeats) at McMahon Stadium, the B.C. Lions (2-3-0), fresh off their bye week, are riding somewhat of a quiet confidence heading into the Saturday night clash against the CFL’s last remaining unbeaten squad.
“Aw man, it’s been a long time coming,” remarked Bryan Burnham on the Cowtown slump.
Burnham’s CFL debut came five weeks after the Lions’ most recent win there in 2014. Like many of his veteran teammates, he is of the mind they just need a win to help themselves in the present and that it’s not all about exercising past demons.
“It will feel good to get a win and we need one on the road. It’s gotta happen,” added the former Tulsa Golden Hurricane.
“It would be a huge boost. There isn’t really too many words to describe it but it would be very big for this team moving forward to get a road win in this division.”
Burnham and the offence had likely their best effort yet in a 29-25 setback in Ottawa before their week off. Yet that also served as a reminder that crucial mistakes, including Burnham’s 4th quarter fumble, will prevent you from getting the job done.
“We have to do our best to extend drives, stay on the field and give our defence a rest when they need it because they’ve really been great all season, ” said Burnham.
“As an offence, we haven’t been helping them. (special teams coordinator) Jeff Reinebold always talks about complementary football and that’s the offence helping out the defence when we can and staying on the field. We just have to move the ball, pick up first downs and we’ll be alright.”
Bo Levi Mitchell, a couple of elite receivers and solid running game have made the Stamps click on offence, but so far in 2018, it has been the play of their defence that has separated them from the rest of the pack. The unit led by coordinator Devon Claybrooks has allowed just 61 points and an average of 10.2 per game, numbers almost unheard of when it comes to the CFL. Alex Singleton leads the way with 35 defensive tackles while Micah Johnson has once again been a force up front, registering a team-high four quarterback sacks.
“They’re just disciplined and not going to give in to the little tricks, motions and all the movements,” said Burnham of Calgary’s defence.
“They’re going to sit back, play their defence and play it well. It’s a team you can’t make mistakes against.”
Burnham and the other receivers have established a nice rapport with Travis Lulay since the quarterback change three weeks ago. The pressure is on to maintain that.
Game 6: B.C. Lions (2-3-0) at Calgary Stampeders (6-0-0)
Saturday, August 4th 2018
McMahon Stadium
6:00 PM PT
TV: TSN 1, ESPN+
Radio: TSN 1040
Lions latest result: 29-25 loss in Ottawa on July 20th
Stampeders latest result: 34-22 win over Saskatchewan on July 28th
2017 season series: the Stampeders won both regular season meetings: 21-17 at B.C. Place on August 18th and 27-13 in Calgary on September 16th.
Gameday weather forecast: a mix of sun and clouds with a high of 22 degrees Celsius.
Vegas Line: the Stampeders are listed as 11.5 point favourites.
Lemonator Headlines New Look Defensive Line
One guy who knows a little about how elite the Stampeders have been the last few years is new Lions’ defensive end Shawn Lemon. Acquired in a trade from the Toronto Argonauts last week, Lemon can’t wait to strap on the orange against the squad he won his first Grey Cup with back in 2014.
“They’re a good organization, they prepare well for teams, understand how they want to attack guys and Bo is a smart quarterback,” said Lemon of the Stamps.
“They’ve had a lot of success in the regular season. We just have to come out and be aggressive. It’s about executing the game plan, trusting the guys next to us and understanding we have to rush together. It’s not good against a quarterback like Bo to rush individually. Rush together, understand what other guys are doing and just try to play as fast as possible.”
With a full week of practice under his belt, Lemon feels he can step in and make an impact right away.
“Very comfortable,” added the Lemonator.
“It’s kind of a blessing to get in on a bye week so to say. You get time to get adjusted to the city, adjusted to the playbook. I’m feeling more and more confident with more reps every day.”
And now he looks forward to re-kindling both some old friendships and old rivalries.
“I beat them in the Grey Cup last year. I’m excited. It’s a good test for us as a team,” added Lemon.
“It’s a good measuring stick for us this week.
Defensive lineman Claudell Lewis will also make his debut in orange. The Fresno State product was signed by the Lions before training camp and spent a portion of last year’s camp with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats. Junior Luke is also back in the fold after missing one game due to a stomach virus.
Changes Continued…..
Jeremiah Johnson returns to the backfield after missing the loss in Ottawa with a rolled ankle. Brandon Rutley (knee) underwent successful surgery on Thursday and remains on the six-game injured list. Travon Van takes the spot of return specialist Chris Rainey this week. Rainey had been dealing with a nagging ankle injury of his own and will use this week to rest before a quick turnaround with Edmonton in town five nights after they tackle the Stampeders. And finally, wide receiver Kevin Elliott makes his season debut after Shaq Johnson went down with an injury while trying to make a play in practice on Thursday. Elliott has been in the picture since the club’s April mini-camp and should be hungry to perform after only appearing in three games split between Ottawa and Hamilton in 2017.
The Coach Says…..
“There is not an area where you say they’re vulnerable. They’re very good against the run, they’ve got a very good front, they put pressure on the quarterback, they’re linebackers are, what I believe, to be maybe the two best in the league. They’re smart, they’re physical, they’re good against the pass, they blitz well. They’re great run stoppers and their secondary plays I think a very smart team defence. They don’t isolate anybody, they try not to depend on just one guy and they know how to play their system very well. There’s a reason why you’re 6-0, there’s a reason why you don’t average more than what, 11 points (allowed) a game? It’s not because the other team is that bad it’s because you make the other team look that bad.”- Wally Buono
Game Breakers
Emmanuel Arceneaux- number 84 has benefited the most from the QB change, hauling in 12 passes for 295 yards and a major over the last two games. It took a few weeks, but Arceneaux appears to have re-discovered the magic that has made him one of the league’s elite receivers over the past few years.
Kamar Jorden– the Stamps’ leading receiver has racked up 32 catches for 395 yards and three touchdowns through six games and looks to be showing no ill effects after his infamous fumble in last year’s Grey Cup that was returned over 100 yards for a Toronto Argonauts’ major.
Extra Yardage
Stats of the week: Calgary’s stout defence has also allowed just four touchdowns by their opposing offence in six games. The next lowest total? 10 given up by Hamilton and Saskatchewan. We’ve talked about the importance of turnovers: Calgary enters this week with a plus 14 ratio in that department while the Lions are minus two. Although a lot of the attention has been placed on his defence so far, Mitchell has been true to form entering this week third in league passing yards ( 1,517) and touchdowns (12). The quarterback is a remarkable 62-10-2 as a starter in his career.
A solid nugget courtesy CFL stats guru Steve Daniel: Jordan Herdman‘s 12 defensive tackles in Ottawa were the highest total by a first-time starter since they started tracking it as an official stat in 1987.
Since taking over for Jonathon Jennings, Lulay has completed 64 per cent if his passes to go along with 651 yards and three majors in two games.
This edition of the Stamps is the sixth team in the last 20 years to start a season 6-0, the other five being Montreal in 2002, 2004 and 2006, plus Saskatchewan in 2008 and Edmonton in 2017. The 2002 Alouettes are the only team in that group to go on to win the Grey Cup. This season marks the first time Calgary has started 6-0 since 1995.
As we mentioned off the top, this Lions squad is in the midst of a pretty dismal streak in Cowtown. Their last victory came just over four years ago to the day, August 1st, 2014. The winning quarterback that night? Kevin Glenn. Since then they have dropped four straight at McMahon in the regular season and two more in the playoffs.
Lulay will make his first start against the Stampeders since the regular season finale of 2015, a game in which the Lions dropped 28-7 and rested many starters as the two squads were already slated to meet each other one week later in the Western Semi-Final at McMahon. The 34-year old Lulay has a 6-4-0 career regular season record against the Stampeders.
TSN 1040 has you covered, starting with the pre-game show at 4:30 PM with Lowell Ullrich. Bob Marjoanovich, Giulio Caravatta and sideline reporter Karen Surman bring you the action starting at 6:00 PM. Viewers can watch on TSN 1 and Lions fans south of the border can live stream the game on ESPN+.
