Continuing with the CFL Talking Points series, Last Word On Sports CFL writers Thomas Gunther and Kelly Bale address several pressing questions after the 25-14 Toronto Argonauts win over the B.C. Lions, as well as their overall impression of the game. For last week’s recap you can click here. Here are the key takeaways in CFL Talking Points Week 3.
CFL Talking Points Week 3: Lions versus Argonauts
BC Lions
1) Was this loss just a hiccup, or a sign of things to come for the B.C. Lions?
Kelly Bale: Just a hiccup. Many observers have been surprised by how well the B.C. Lions have played thus far, but not me. They have one of the best defences in the league and it has become clear they also have one of the best punt and kick returners in the league in Chris Rainey. Their offensive line got better this off-season to the point that they had the luxury of not re-signing a solid young national, T-Dre Player. All they needed was some improvement on offence and this game provided that.
Thomas Gunther: I agree that this game was a hiccup in what should be a good season for the Leos. Both teams played very sloppily until the late third quarter, and despite the score the Argos’ lead was never truly safe. I think if Wally Buono had put in Travis Lulay a little earlier we could be talking about a 3-0 start for B.C.
2) Despite the loss, what stood out as a positive for the Lions?
KB: For the third straight week the Lions’ bright spot came from the winningest coach in CFL history, Wally Buono. In the post-game media conference, Buono mentioned how proud he was with the effort of his football team in the second half. It was easy to see that the Lions were flat before halftime and the subtle changes he made to the lineup sparked them almost enough to be able to complete the comeback. His decision this off-season to come back to the sideline was a factor in this game and will continue to be a factor all year.
TG: The Lions’ defensive line was very potent at times despite missing Michael Brooks. They did struggle with run defence as the game went on, but made it difficult for Ricky Ray to get anything going in the passing attack. With Brooks set to return soon, the Lions D-Line will be looking to make life miserable for Darian Durant and the Riders next week.
3) Going forward, is Travis Lulay the better option at quarterback?
KB: Lulay looked very good in the second half of this game. Where Jonathan Jennings struggled at times to find receivers downfield, and couldn’t put a touchdown on the board, Lulay did both of those jobs while only missing on three attempts. Not many people outside of Vancouver gave Lulay, the 2011 MVP and Grey Cup champion, much chance of returning to form after missing so much time and altering his throwing mechanics. He proved in this game that he is worthy of a long look starting next week in Saskatchewan.
TG: This game reminded me of the Lions loss in the playoffs last year. Jennings came into the playoffs with all the hype but struggled mightily in the big game. Lulay, just like this game, came off the bench and gave the Lions life and nearly got them back in it. However, I also have to point out that he plays a different brand of football than Jennings and the Argo defense was clearly making adjustments on the fly after prepping for Jennings the whole week. I need to see Lulay perform at a high level when the opposing team knows he is the guy before I can validate him being the best option.
Who were the Lions’ top performers?
KB: With 107 yards on 16 carries, Anthony Allen was easily the best Lions player on the field. He had an early fumble but was able to rebound mentally from that mistake and secure the ball on every carry afterwards. He added three catches for 32 yards and a crucial late touchdown that he earned with a tremendous refusal to be denied. Usual suspects Solomon Elimimian and Adam Bighill were solid, however the play of Loucheiz Purifoy stood out for making timely pass knock downs, making three tackles, and leading the team in special-teams tackles with two.
TG: I was excited to see Allan in game action after he teased us with his game breaking skills in Saskatchewan. While his fumbling problem did make an appearance, the Lions have to find a way to keep him in the lineup, even when Jeremiah Johnson gets healthy. As I outlined in an earlier piece on the Lions I think BC may be better off without Harris if they can get both of these runners going at the same time.
Toronto Argonauts
1) Why was Toronto’s running game so much better this week?
TG: It was almost shocking to see the difference a week made for the Argonauts and their struggling ground game. After faltering against the Riders and Tiger-Cats, Brandon Whitaker exploded for 97 rushing yards on 13 carries, most of which came in the second half. Unlike the two previous weeks, the Argos stuck with the ground game, even when it faltered early. They kept giving Whitaker chances and he eventually broke free. It was clear that the offensive line is gelling and that will pay big dividends down the road.
KB: Not many teams can come in to BC Place Stadium and run the ball against the Lions but that’s exactly what happened. Whitaker was back to his old shifty self and blocked well against the Lions’ pass rush, both reasons for Argo fans to be excited.
2) How did the Argos secondary hold up against the passing attack?
TG: Since game one, it seemed like defenders were always close to making a play but not finishing. This week there were still more dropped passes and missed tackles but the young trio of Isaiah Green, Aaron Berry and Akwasi Owusu-Ansah have clearly benefited greatly by being allowed to develop their skills on the field instead of behind older veterans. It also helped that the Argo defensive line was getting real pressure from Ken Bishop and Shawn Lemon which made it much easier to cover downfield.
KB: So much of defense is how long the defensive backs are able to hold the receivers for the pressure to get to the quarterback, and the Argos had a good showing this game. Interesting to note that Rich Stubler has both Lemon and Bishop working hard for him again in Toronto.
3) What was the biggest factor in the Argos’ second consecutive road victory?
TG: I already mentioned the run game so let me cover the next biggest factor in the win, the Argo special teams unit. Without a doubt tops in the league this group was a huge part of how the Double Blue pulled off the upset. Lirim Hajrullahu was the only Argo offense for most of the game and, while he had his first miss of the year, the former Blue Bomber kept on chugging to make an incredible six of seven field goals. Larry Taylor may see his name mentioned alongside Brandon Banks and Chris Rainey as one of the best return men in the league after yet another sterling game. In game where bad penalties, dropped passes, and sputtering offences were a problem for both teams, the Argonauts’ ability to control field position and chip away with three-point possessions was key to stealing the W.
KB: The team managed to stay focused on the road and win back to back games despite not having the comforts of home. The extra time spent bonding on the road doubtlessly helped the players to trust each other and perform better as a team. Football is a business but it’s also a game. When teams take these kinds of opportunities, they make the game fun and build players’ willingness to put themselves in harm’s way for their teammates. The cohesiveness showed up in this game.
Who were the Argos “Top Performers?”
TG: Brandon Whitaker and Lirim Hajrullahu split this title as both were pivotal in upsetting the Lions. Whitaker took most of the pressure off Ray in the second half and nicely burned the clock when the Argos were pushing for the win. Hajrullahu was the biggest reason the Argos had a lead to burn in the first place with his clutch kicking.
KB: Keon Raymond deserves the honor this week. He complied four tackles and hit a defensive trifecta with an interception, a fumble recovery, and a quarterback sack. A veteran in the Stubler defense, Raymond was the rivet that helps keep the sides of this ship from taking on water.
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