Rick Campbell wants his B.C. Lions to be locked in on Saturday, a task that will require tuning out a unique distraction B次元官网网址� a 50 Cent concert.
The rapper behind hits B次元官网网址淚n da ClubB次元官网网址� and B次元官网网址淛ust a Lil BitB次元官网网址� will take the stage at B.C. Place before the Lions (0-1) host the Calgary Stampeders (1-0) in their first home game of the CFL season. More than 51,000 people are expected to take in the show, but the LionsB次元官网网址� players wonB次元官网网址檛 be among them.
B次元官网网址淣o, weB次元官网网址檙e not going to be out there partying,B次元官网网址� said Campbell, the teamB次元官网网址檚 head coach and co-general manager. B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e going to have to be ready from play one to beat Calgary.B次元官网网址�
B.C. is looking for its first win of the campaign after falling 35-27 to the Argonauts in Toronto on Sunday.
Quarterback Vernon Adams Jr. had a league-high 363 passing yards in the effort, but also threw two interceptions and was sacked six times.
When the Lions got desperate late in SundayB次元官网网址檚 game, the offensive line faltered, Campbell said.
B次元官网网址淚t got away at the end of the game when we knew we were throwing the ball,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址�(TorontoB次元官网网址檚) frontB次元官网网址檚 good. They pinned their ears back at the end and caused some problems for us. I think TorontoB次元官网网址檚 going to cause a lot of people problems.
B次元官网网址淲e like our O-line and we want to do whatever we can to protect our quarterback.B次元官网网址�
There were lessons to take from the loss, Adams said, but itB次元官网网址檚 important for the Lions to simply move on.
B次元官网网址淲e flushed it, we washed it. And we came out here with good energy today,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淚t was a good practice today offensively, defensively, special teams locking things in.B次元官网网址�
The Stampeders (1-0) opened their season with a 32-24 win over the Hamilton Tiger-Cats last Friday.
Collecting results early is a focus this year, in part because Calgary went 1-3 out of the gate last season, said head coach Dave Dickenson.
B次元官网网址淭he goal was to start faster, to get the first win at home, then see what we can do on the road,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淪o weB次元官网网址檙e right where we need to be. Now we need to see if we can stack two wins together.B次元官网网址�
Jake Maier connected on 21 of his 26 passing attempts in the victory, amassing 252 yards and two touchdowns. The performance earned the quarterback a nod as the CFLB次元官网网址檚 top offensive player of the week.
B.C. knows Calgary is going to have a good all-around offence and be diverse in the plays they call, Campbell said.
B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e going to have to be good and also find a way to get some pressure on him,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淲e canB次元官网网址檛 just have the quarterback stand back there being comfortable no matter who it is. So weB次元官网网址檒l have to try to get him off his spot.B次元官网网址�
Having a boisterous home crowd could be a boon for the Lions.
With so many people in the stands, Saturday could feel like a big American college game, said Adams, who played for the Eastern Washington Eagles and Oregon Ducks.
More fans doesnB次元官网网址檛 necessarily equal higher stakes, though, the quarterback added.
B次元官网网址淣o pressure at all,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淚f we just come out there, we play our game, we execute at a high level, and come out better in the second half, I think the scoreboard will take care of itself.B次元官网网址�
CALGARY STAMPEDERS (1-0) AT B.C. LIONS (0-1)
Saturday, B.C. Place
ON TARGET: Maier has not thrown an interception in his last five starts. The feat ties Bo Levi Mitchell for second place on CalgaryB次元官网网址檚 all-time list. Dickenson leads the category after going seven starts without an interception in 2000.
WHYTE HOT: Lions kicker Sean Whyte has made 19 field goal attempts in a row, dating back to last season. The 38-year-old Canadian has amassed 1,936 points in his career and is 64 points away from becoming the 11th player to hit the 2,000 mark.
BIG FANS: More than 51,000 people are expected to attend SaturdayB次元官网网址檚 game. The LionsB次元官网网址� current attendance record for a home opener is 43,501 back in 1984.
READ ALSO:
