Lions vs Esks - Aug 5/05

[Argyle]

All this talk about the NHL, and we are forgetting about the Lions season.

What are the opinions regarding the game tonight? Can the Lions remain undefeated?

Who's going?

Should be a fantastic game! Too outstanding quarterbacks!!!

[Reccos]

Hey, good call to get this topic going again.

Lions to win in a close one. Yes, I am going.

Lions are looking better all the time. Watched a training session this week and Dickenson sure looks sharp. You might see some new wrinkles with the offence tonight- even some razzle dazzle based on a couple of things they were doing in practice. Can't post them as I am sure the Esk coaches are on TTP just waiting for some dumb fan to spill the plans.

I assume the black out is on as the upper deck is going to be open and Ackles won't likely lift it.

[the manager]

I'll be at the game tonight; compliments of our company. there will be likely about 6-700 of us there...

should be a good one and I'll put my prediction in with Reccos: Lions to win in a close match.

what is the status with printers these days?

cheers,

Manager

[Dapotayto]

Originally Posted by the manager

I'll put my prediction in with Reccos: Lions to win in a close match.

what is the status with printers these days?

Shouldn't the question be what is Dickenson's status these days?

Surely the Lions can come up with a better kicker than Duncan "I can miss from anywhere" O'mahony. Freaking hell, your average FVSL Division 2 player could do a better job. Even Walls or Bulljive dropkicking the ball would be preferable. I'm serious, what is he doing there?

[Regs]

Nice to have the blackout lifted last night... good game!

Not sold on Printers though. He got the job done but he seemed to short-arm everything and when he didn't, he ran in circles till he got clobbered.

[shaven]

'Twas a nice surprise to see the game on TSN last night, and continuing to do so if the crowds stay around 30,000+ is a great move by the Lions. The more people that can see this team play the better, and that will help attendance over the season.

I agree with your take on Printers, Regs. While he showed flashes of form, he looked really lost out there, and still will not throw the ball away a la last season. WAY too many sacks given up, many Printers doing, and though he was good when he had to be, I honestly didn't see anything that made me believe that he's learned from the rookie mistakes he made last season. Very frustrating to watch.

Honestly, this might be the weakest 6-0 team in CFL history. Duncan O'Mahony has gone bi-polar recently...most of us TTP'ers can make a 14 yarder!!...And the secondary? Sorry Wally, but for the most part they're not any better than last season. They can't play a solid defensive scheme for 60 minutes, and still can't tackle very well in the open field, as evidence on the final Esks drive of the first half, and most of the third quarter. It is unacceptable to build a 17 point lead, then soften up for the second half of the game and win by far less, even if the opponent was the Esks. The billing was this was a 'statement' game for both teams, particularly the Lions...I'm not sure I like the statement made last night.

~Shaven

[Reccos]

I think you are being too tough on this team and the defence.

Yes, Printers looked shakey but this is not practice where it is a bit slower. Don't forget it is just coming out now that it was in the warmup that he knew he was starting. I watched the warmup and was a bit surprised that Dickenson was taking fewer first team snaps and that Buck Pierce was also taking a lot of pre-game snaps but it didn't dawn on me that there was anything wrong with the usual starter. Angus Reid said it started to spread through the team when they were in warmup!!!

This is a very good football team with guys who could start anywhere else sitting as backups!!!! The defence last night in the first half made Ricky Ray look like a rookie. It was the only in the second half Ray looked sharp at about the same time as our offence sputtered and left the defence out too long and we seemed to back off a bit.

In the first half the switch from the 30 to the 40 D confused Ray but mostly in the second half he had caught on to what the Lions were doing and made better throwing decisions. He did toss 3 INTs and Printers none.

O'Mahony punted fine but those two missed FGs at the end with minutes to go were brutal. One hit the cross from 14 yards - no points; the other was so weak it was ran out for great field position.

We did get some lucky pass interference calls in the first half when Casey struggled but that is what happens with older DBs who think they are going to be beat. They take penalties not to get beat.

The weakest 6 -0 team in history. That is so wrong it is laughable. This Lions team is likely the best in Lion history and could well go 18 Ws in a row.

[shaven]

Originally Posted by Reccos

The weakest 6 -0 team in history. That is so wrong it is laughable. This Lions team is likely the best in Lion history and could well go 18 Ws in a row.

If this team is so strong, as you say, why are there so many questions surrounding them, and why are they almost finding ways to lose games? If the Leos had played opponents capable of putting together 60 solid minutes in any of their six wins, they'd be lucky to be 3-3. Not my words, listen to the football panels, guys who know much more than I, saying the same things.

~Shaven

P.S. If they're playing so erratically this early in the season, what do you think will happen when they play really meaningful games in late Sept. and Oct.?? I have one word for you: LOSSES, and many of them.

[Regs]

Right, so the Esks are not capable of putting together 60 solid minutes?

P.S. If they're playing so erratically this early in the season, what do you think will happen when they play really meaningful games in late Sept. and Oct.?? I have one word for you: LOSSES, and many of them.

This statement is so stupid on so many levels. Being erratic at the start of the season is to be expected and invariably ironed out come Sept. and Oct. and I don't need some useless football "panel" to tell me

[knvb]

Good teams find ways to win. I don't, in any sport, know of a champion who wins every game by a bakers dozen plus each and every time, especially tidily winks. Fcuking game is a nightmare. What is it exactly you're looking for from the Lions?

They're 6-0, man and have beaten the "best" teams in the league. When you play good teams they're inevitably going to force you into mistakes. It's they way you recover from said mistake that counts. Eat your vegetables. Say your prayers and fcuk off... I'm drunk that's the key here.

It's all about rum.

[shaven]

Alright, you twats...here's my point. Essentially, while the Lions are 6-0 and are playing a different style of game than last season, I'm not convinced, based on what I've seen from them so far, that they are an improved team, and good enough to win the one that got away last season. That's it, that's my point. I take nothing from the 6-0 record, and am enjoying the Western Division lead they now possess...HOWEVER, it is the manner in which they've gotten there that has me much less than convinced, and I'm not alone in this sentiment. There is cause to doubt them, and if you don't, you don't know beans about the game itself. Oh, and btw...the 'panels'?...most of them have played the game, so they tend to know what they're talking about.

~Shaven

[knvb]

I hear little Davey Pratt played high school ball. Expert indeed. Solid source Shaven. You're right, Regs is a cnut. It's simple really.

[Reccos]

Like others here say, Shaven... the good team always find a way to win. This is a good team that can overcome problems like the QB going down while sleeping and the back up having to play in his place with an hour's notice. How many teams can have a kicker miss two FGs in about two minutes with a 6 point lead and can come up big and win? Exactly. Few and only the good ones can do that. Two years ago if that happened our DBs would have backed up in a "prevent" defence that would have had no pressure on the QB and completion after completion until they gave them a TD. This defence now is possibly the best overall group the Lions have ever had together with a lot of talent rotating in and out.

The offence is very similar. This is a capable and confident team now that is going places.

This is not completely dissimilar to soccer. The issue in a soccer game where a team dominates is not so much preventing the other side from ever getting some control of the play and coming on strong even if it is only 5 to 10 minutes, it is what your team does when under that pressure that is inevitable in any match. The best teams soak up that pressure and don't break or panic and letting the opponent take over. That is when error free ball and prevent defences come into play and this is what the Lions did to end the Esks comeback attempts despite their FG kicker nearly costing them the game.

Otis Floyd's tackle on Tony Thompkins running out the missed 42 yarder was worth the price of admission alone. I was in the end zone behind that play and I think the guy might have gone but for a tackle that was incredible - check the replay. Dante Marsh's interception with 11 seconds was almost the equal of that. Ricky Ray had no one open and gunned it up for a TD or a great defensive effort to intercept. Again...all what good teams can do.

KNVB and Regs are spot on. What do you expect of these guys? They aren't playing the Sisters of Charity in these games.

[shaven]

[quote=knvb]I hear little Davey Pratt played high school ball. Expert indeed. Solid source Shaven.[quote]

I was speaking more along the lines of Dunigan, Shultzie et all...Pratt doesn't know his arsehole from his piehole most days.

~Shaven

[shaven]

Originally Posted by Reccos

Dante Marsh's interception with 11 seconds was almost the equal of that. Ricky Ray had no one open and gunned it up for a TD or a great defensive effort to intercept. Again...all what good teams can do.

Just a little FYI here, that ball Ray threw up with 11 seconds left was not catchable by the Esks receiver, although I do concur that Marsh made a great play to bring it in and keep his feet in bounds to effectively end the game. Ray threw that ball about 3 yards wide of the receiver, who was covered on the inside if I'm not mistaken. A little hard to equate that with Floyd's tackle, as Marsh either caught the ball, or it went for an incompletion and the Esks got likely one more shot...wait, actually wasn't that third down? I think it was, in retrospect. Good teams make good plays, I agree...what I don't agree with is how good you all seem to think this Lions team is...good, yes...good enough, far from convinced.

~Shaven

[walls]

come on now shaven. our boys haven't even had a chance to play the shite teams in the league yet and they've won every game!!! they play the esks two more times on the road and are in calgary this week(stamps always seem to give us problems), but other than that we've already taken care of the best of the others and should be able to continue coasting. as for printers, yes he did look shakey for much of the games and his recievers helped him out a lot, but the guy hasn't even been practicing regularly and had under an hours notice. one thing is for certain about him, is that nobody in the league(EVER) can electrify the crowd like he does. just imagine how nuts it would've been(for those like me that were in attendance) if they announced the offence before the game with printers coming out last in regular fire-it-up fassion. the fcukin roof would've blown off the place!!!!
our defence in my eyes(and i go to every home game and watch all the away games) has studded it up week after week. they step up and make the huge plays when needed. i don't know if its a fact but i don't think any D in the league has less points per game against than ours does. being a season ticket holder i'd much rather watch a game that goes down to the wire(as long as we get th W) instead of a blow out that makes you want to leave the dome before the beer sales even stop. i don't think one sided football is fun to watch, especially when i'm paying money to watch instead of sitting at home on my couch on a friday night praying that ackles will lift the blackout so i can have my say in what i think the first undefeated lions team after six weeks EVER is doing wrong .
ROAR YOU LIONS ROAR!!!!!!!!!

ps-lockett out two weeks///dickenson took snaps today and will be back as the starter on friday if his back doesn't act up again.

[shaven]

Originally Posted by walls

i don't think one sided football is fun to watch, especially when i'm paying money to watch instead of sitting at home on my couch on a friday night praying that ackles will lift the blackout so i can have my say in what i think the first undefeated lions team after six weeks EVER is doing wrong .

Walls, you have your say on everything and anything, and unlike the rest of us who actually have to WORK when we're at work, and not spend all day on TTP responding to every little thread that pops up, you can do so at will apparently. And further, some of us work and night, and don't have a chance to get out to the Lions games as much as we'd like...I take in 3 games a season, usually, and have for many years...I'm qualified for my say Wallsie, and to boot I've been a Lions fan far longer than you my friend, so don't go gettin' all fcuking self-righteous on me brother .

All I've said, and I'll re-iterate for you as apparently you've not gotten it yet, is that I am not convinced that the Lions are as good as many think they are, and I'm not alone in that. There is evidence to support it, and not from my mouth, from those that know more than I about the CFL. Lets not forget, my supposed Super-Lions fan, that had Hamilton's receivers actually caught passes rather than dropping them like hot potatoes, the Lions would very realistically be at least 5-1...and as much was said during and after that game. However, I don't expect you to know that, as you seem to be looking at the team with orange-coloured glasses .

~Shaven

P.S. Let's see how it goes against Burris and the Stamps, and then revisit this...I think my points may appear to have a bit more merit then.

[Dapotayto]

I took in the game Friday night. It was enjoyable but what the hell is with the game announcer trying to spur on the crowd to cheer during every huddle by the Esks? Football is a fairly complicated sport so if someone is at the game they probably know the routine and when to cheer. We don't need some idiot going, "Now let's raise the roof and show the Eskimos we mean business everybody!!", every goddamn play. Second, could the Lions hire another concession stand employee or two or would another $8 an hour blow the budget? I don't like standing in line for the whole first half to get a fcuking hot dog.

Carry on carrying on.

[walls]

[quote=shaven]

.... and unlike the rest of us who actually have to WORK when we're at work, and not spend all day on TTP responding to every little thread that pops up, you can do so at will apparently.

trust me shaven, i have to WORK for a living as well. i'm just so damn good at my job that i have a lot of free time to spare. and i can respond at will, thats the beauty of being the boss .

..... and to boot I've been a Lions fan far longer than you my friend, so don't go gettin' all fcuking self-righteous on me brother .

i know i'm just 24yrs old big guy, buts lets not get into the fact of how much longer into your life you are than i .

Lets not forget, my supposed Super-Lions fan, that had Hamilton's receivers actually caught passes rather than dropping them like hot potatoes, the Lions would very realistically be at least 5-1

if, if, if, if, if frogs had wings they would't bump their ass when they hop. what's your point??? we won the game. i guess you could make the argument that if we didn't score more points than the kitty cats then they would have won as well . we are 6-0 so quit being a typical vancouverite harping on your home teams shortcomings and enjoy the ride to the party on the pacifc.
ps- i do value your opinions shaven......on this subject though, in my opinion, your opinion is wrong.
cheers!!

[knvb]

Lovely, walls has made a point. My day is ruined.

Thread closed. See the Lions vs Stamps thread.