Hi fellow posters! Dooger here, with the compelling question on many Lions fans' minds. Which teams are contenders in the west, or pretenders? Lets look at a few stats, courtesy of cfl.ca, in the hopes of providing the answers with just three regular season games remaining.
Calgary scored 486 points (32.4 per game) and gave up 349 (23.2 against per game), averaging a positive point spread of +9.2 . They returned kicks for 2189 yards (146 per game), rushed for 2352 yards (145 per game) and passed for 4014 ( 276 average). That's 391 yards of offense a game and 8555 combined yards, a league-leading 570 per game.
The Riders have generated 433 points for (28.9 per game), 325 against (21.7 per game) and a healthy +7.2 average point spread. They generated 1936 return yards (average of 129 per game), 1878 yards on the ground (average of 125 per game) and 4081 yards through the air (averaging 272 yards). That's 397 yards of offense per game and 7895 total team yards, a league-leading 526 combined production per game.
BC scored 421 9 (28 per game) and gave up 390 (26 points against). That's an anemic +2 point spread. The Lions generated 2079 return yards, best in the west at 173 yards per game. Why that high? Well, because we've been scored on a lot. BC QBs threw for 3869 yards through the air (averaging 258). Twelve Lions rushed for 1,441yards, a less than stellar 81 a game due to their numerous injuries along the offensive line. That's 354 yards of offense per game and a combined yards of 7389 yards, or an average of 492 yards each game.
The Stamps have the best total points, second best points against and are first in positive point spread, return game, rushing, passing, total offense and combined yards, despite losing Nik Lewis at mid-season. Does it mean they're a lock to win the Grey Cup. Not necessary, because anybody can beat anybody else in the CFL on any given day. But its pretty clear Calgary are serious contenders and Jon Cornish is the best rusher in the country and probably in the top five players in the league.
Saskatchewan is second in point production, best in the west in defense, second best in positive point spread, third in return yards by a small margin, second in rush and passing yards, second in offensive production and combined yards. And they'll probably get a home playoff game and will have the Grey Cup in their barn, a big financial boost for ownership and the thirteenth man in both games. Their league=leading defence could propel them to a home Grey Cup date in late November.By this objective yardstick, the Riders are a definite contender.
Because of injuries to Travis Lulay and Stu Foord and offensive linemen Hameister Reis, Reed, Baboulis and Fabien, and the inability of Shivers and other scouts to find suitable Canadian replacements, BC is well behind the Stamps and Riders in point per, points against and positive point spread. They're best in the return game, so stop ragging on Harris. BC is third in rushing, passing, total offense and combined yards. Their defence have kept them in game all year and bailed out an inconsistent offense. Special teams continues to take too many penalties. Will they look better with Lulay back for the Edmonton game and Stefan Logan almost ready to play? Probably, but11 of their 15 games worth of stats were with the red head form Montana behind center. Verdict: Pretender, with a chance to upset Regina in the semifinal, if they win this week thereby winning the season series between the two teams.
If all those number have made your head ache, or spin, sorry guys. Just trying to prove a point. Let's face facts; this BC team is going nowhere in the post-season without a considerably stronger run game, much better first down production, improved and consistent tackling and fewer dumb penalties at bad times — especially on defense and special teams.
It isn't the big things that make the difference between winning and losing, contending or pretending. Its all the little things, like holding your block for a second or two longer, wrapping up instead of hitting and hoping. Reading and/or reacting to your keys half a second sooner, because you committed to watching more film during the week. Getting fully hydrated,starting a few days before game day, so you don't cramp up in the second half. Scraping to the hole instead of getting picked off in the wash. Being disciplined enough to not hit a guy out of bounds, push your guy in the back while trying to return a kickoff or throw a punch in a scrum. Avoiding drugs, excessive use of alcohol or eating junk food, so their minds and bodies can works at maximum efficiency during preparation and on game day.
One day at a pre-season practice Geroy jogged over to me and said hi to me. We chatted a bit and then I asked him whether the team recommends their players eat smart food. You know, healthy options like lean meat or vegetable protein, leafy greens, salmon, walnuts, plain yogurt, brightly coloured foods like bell peppers and tomatoes and a bit of dark chocolate daily, no refined sugar or white flour. To my surprise, Geroy said the food players eat is really pretty bad. I thought that was a clear opportunity to marginally improve the team's performance and consistency without practicing more (limited by the CBA), which is managment's prime directive. All NFL squads are encouraged to do so.
Do enough of those little things right and you're three games ahead with three to go, not three behind.Are you listening Wally?
Dooger in Surrey :cowboy: