Rush-happy Alouettes look to continue Lions’ recent run of misery
FIVE THINGS TO WATCH
1.
Ground control
Alouettes QB Vernon Adams is enjoying a breakout year, but the key to the offence is a productive running game that features William Stanback, former Lion Jeremiah Johnson and Adams. The Als rank second in rushing yards. The Lions’ defence is sixth in run defence. Its first job this week is turning Adams into a pocket passer.
2.
Great expectations
The Als have quietly flown under the radar this season, but if teams are still taking them lightly they, aren’t paying attention. The Als haven’t made the playoffs since 2014 and they’re a mess off the field. But this is a deep and balanced team that has responded to coach-of-the-year candidate Khari Jones. At 5-4, they also sit in second in the East. It will be interesting to see how they handle the modest success of their first half of the season.
3.
You have to carry that weight The Lions are 1-9 this season and while they maintain their record doesn’t define their team, at some point it takes its toll. They’ve been right there in seven of their nine losses, but something — a key turnover, a missed opportunity on offence, a special-teams blunder — always conspires to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory for this team. In the immortal words
of Bill Parcells, you are what your record says you are and right now the Lions aren’t very good.
4.
The broken line
During the bye week, GM Ed Hervey fired offensive line coach Bryan Chiu and replaced him with Kelly Bates, a disciple of former Lions O-line coach Dan Dorazio. There are a number of reasons for the Lions’ dismal showing this year, but the performance of the offensive line ranks at the top. The Leos have allowed 43 sacks on the season, 14 more than the next-closest CFL team.
5.
The Reilly factor
Given the beating he’s taken this season, QB Mike Reilly has become an object of sympathy around the league, but Reilly has to shoulder some of the blame. His 11 interceptions on the season rank behind only Ottawa’s Dominique Davis among starting quarterbacks and there are nine CFL quarterbacks with higher efficiency ratings. If the Lions are going to salvage anything out of this season, it has to start with better play from Reilly.