The Sports Corner

Putting up Points: Wake-ing up the defence

Much like the Calgary Stampeders did against the B.C. Lions last Saturday, here is another addition of Putting up Points.

Following the conclusion of Saturday’s 41-30 loss to the Calgary Stampeders to end the CFL regular season, the B.C. Lions defence looked beaten up, worn down and devoid of anything that resembled what most experts around the league considered the best shutdown squad in Canadian football.

It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out that when the opponents third string quarterback comes in to start the second half, puts up one pass completion for nine yards yet rushes for 72 yards on just six carries and three touchdowns, that there is a problem with the D.

For a team that prides itself on stopping the top offensive units in the league, the Lions defence has looked anything but stellar this season, and consider Saturday’s debacle to be rock bottom.  Linebackers couldn’t tackle, the secondary couldn’t stop the big play in the first half, and Calgary’s offensive line held the Lions vicious pass rush in check with the exception of Cam Wake.

The second year defensive lineman conjured up another three sacks to finish the year with 23.  But even he was made to look human in some cases last weekend.

So what does this all mean?  Well, if the Lions want to go anywhere in the playoffs, the defence is what’s going to get them there.  Cliche time.  Defence wins championships.  Even though most B.C. fans still think so, Wake can’t muster up six, seven or eight sacks a game and single handily stop Saskatchewan’s offence. 

It’s going to have to be a consistent effort from everybody.  Secondary, linebackers, D-lineman all have to make the big plays, the simple plays like tackling the ball carrier or not letting them get extra yards off of broken plays.

Still on the Lions’ Wake.

Many people in the B.C. were disappointed to learn that the CFL leader in QB sacks was not one of the league’s Most Outstanding Player nominees.  After all, he leads the best pass rush in the league, and most consider this to be his final few weeks as a Lion before departing to the NFL next season.

But, with all due respect, he shouldn’t have been nominated for the outstanding player award.  Why?  Well because Calgary QB Henry Burris was simply better. 

The former Saskatchewan Roughrider threw 39 touchdown passes this year, 13 more than his Edmonton rival Ricky Ray and just four less than the Eastern Division’s outstanding player nominee Anthony Calvillo.

Perhaps if Wake put up 23 sacks last year, in his rookie campaign, he may have been given the prestigious recognition.

But this year, he went up against the likes of Burris and Calvillo who were both better for the entire season, while Wake’s numbers tailed off as team’s adjusted their schemes to subdue him.

But, as TSN’s CFL analysts Duane Forde said today on the Rick Ball show on the TEAM 1040, it seemed as if Wake didn’t get three or four sacks in a game that he had a poor night.  Lots of pressure.

The third and final point.  Saturday’s Western Division semifinal against Saskatchewan will be an even more daunting task, as game time temperatures are expected to reach a whopping minus-three Celsius.  Add in the fact that more than 30,000 fans from the brilliant province of Saskatchewan will be out in full force and the fact that the Roughriders are always a tough team, the Lions are certainly in for one helluva challenge.  Understatement of the year, perhaps?

And seriously, who names a mascot Gainer the Gopher?  Only in Saskatchewan…