The B.C. Lions may be looking for their third win in a row, but coach DeVone Claybrooks says his team still has plenty room for improvement.
B次元官网网址淲e still havenB次元官网网址檛 played a perfect game by my standards,B次元官网网址� he said on Friday. B次元官网网址漌eB次元官网网址檙e just trying to get better and trying to win the next game.B次元官网网址�
The LionsB次元官网网址� next test will be much tougher than their previous two outings B次元官网网址� wins over the free-falling Ottawa Redblacks. On Saturday, the Lions (3-10) host the Montreal Alouettes (7-5), who have won four of their past five.
B.C. already faced Montreal once this season, dropping a 21-16 decision back on Sept. 6.
But this week, the Als will be without quarterback Vernon Adams Jr., who was suspended by the CFL after swinging a helmet at WinnipegB次元官网网址檚 Adam Bighill in MontrealB次元官网网址檚 38-37 comeback win last week.
Alouettes coach Khari Jones said missing his starting QB is B次元官网网址渦nfortunateB次元官网网址� but the club accepts it and will move on with Matt Shiltz at the helm.
B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檒l be OK,B次元官网网址� he told reporters in Montreal this week. B次元官网网址漈hese guys rally together really well. I have all the faith in the world in (Shiltz) and IB次元官网网址檓 excited to see him get out there and play. HeB次元官网网址檚 been practising really well.B次元官网网址�
The Lions havenB次元官网网址檛 been thinking too much about whoB次元官网网址檒l be tossing for their opponents, Claybrooks said.
B次元官网网址淲e canB次元官网网址檛 control who plays,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淎ll IB次元官网网址檓 worried about is what we do. B次元官网网址� If we focus on us, execute and do our thing, weB次元官网网址檒l be fine.B次元官网网址�
Shiltz has slotted into two games this season, completing 11-of-16 attempts for 107 passing yards, and said this week that heB次元官网网址檚 ready to go out and do whateverB次元官网网址檚 asked of him on a given play.
B次元官网网址淲hether thatB次元官网网址檚 hand the ball off 40 times a game or have 50 pass attempts, I just go out there, read the defence and get the ball to the open guy,B次元官网网址� he said.
B次元官网网址淲hen you think about it that way, itB次元官网网址檚 a pretty simple game so IB次元官网网址檓 going to go out there, do everything I can to move the ball down the field, protect the football and hopefully come out on top.B次元官网网址�
Claybrooks called the 26-year-old Butler University alum B次元官网网址漚 mobile kid (who) can make all the throws,B次元官网网址� but said the Lions will be focusing on shutting down the AlsB次元官网网址� run game.
Running back William Stanback already has 748 rushing yards and five touchdowns for the Als in 10 games this season.
He could also get some help from former Lion Jeremiah Johnson, whoB次元官网网址檚 expected to be back in the lineup after missing two games with a concussion.
B.C. will also have to work around what Lions quarterback Mike Reilly called B次元官网网址渁 very good defence.B次元官网网址�
B次元官网网址淭heyB次元官网网址檙e not really the team thatB次元官网网址檚 going to have busted coverages and breakdowns and things like that that youB次元官网网址檙e going to be able to take a bunch of big shots over the top,B次元官网网址� he said.
Instead, Reilly expects that his offence will have to make long, sustained drives.
That task has become a bit easier for the veteran quarterback in recent weeks, thanks in part to a stronger offensive line.
While the Lions allowed 42 sacks in the first 10 games of the season, Reilly has been hauled down just four times over the past three games.
He credited B次元官网网址渇antasticB次元官网网址� protection across the field with allowing him to make big plays.
B次元官网网址淚 think weB次元官网网址檝e all done a better job on protection, but certainly it starts up front (with the offensive line),B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淧rotecting really well, but also getting the run game going. That always makes it a lot easier on the back end.B次元官网网址�
MONTREAL ALOUETTES (7-5) AT B.C. LIONS (3-10)
Saturday, B.C. Place
PLAYOFF IMPLICATIONS: The LionsB次元官网网址� faint hope of a post-season berth could be snuffed out this week if they lose to the Alouettes and the Edmonton Eskimos beat the Ottawa Redblacks.
SCORING BIG: Montreal has 24.8 points per game heading into SaturdayB次元官网网址檚 contest, good for second in the league. The Winnipeg Blue Bombers lead the CFL with 25.8.
TOUGH CROWD: The Alouettes havenB次元官网网址檛 won at B.C. Place since Aug. 20, 2015. Still, Montreal has been decent on the road this season, going 3-3.
Gemma Karstens-Smith, The Canadian Press
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