With his B.C. Lions slogging through a losing skid, Rick Campbell is keeping the CFL season in perspective.
Yes, the Lions have lost four games in a row. No, the return of Canadian quarterback Nathan Rourke did not solve the teamB次元官网网址檚 pass problems. But there are still games to be played and B.C. still hovers near the top of the West Division standings.
B次元官网网址淎m I happy about whatB次元官网网址檚 going on right now? No. But part of my job is to see the big picture and weB次元官网网址檙e one point out of first place with eight games to go,B次元官网网址� Campbell, B.C.B次元官网网址檚 head coach and co-general manager, said after practice Wednesday.
B次元官网网址淪o thereB次元官网网址檚 a lot of stuff there for the taking and we need to make sure we just do our part and improve, make sure weB次元官网网址檝e got our hat in the ring, and go from there.B次元官网网址�
The Lions (5-5) will look to turn the campaign around Saturday when they battle the Redblacks (6-2-1) in Ottawa.
Rourke will be back as B.C.B次元官网网址檚 starter after struggling in SundayB次元官网网址檚 20-11 loss to the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. The 26-year-old connected on eight of his 25 pass attempts for 126 yards and was picked off twice as he played his first CFL game in nearly two years.
The QB was exceptional for the Lions in 2022, eventually earning the leagueB次元官网网址檚 most outstanding Canadian award. He then moved to the NFL, bouncing between the Jacksonville Jaguars, New England Patriots, New York Giants and Atlanta Falcons before returning to B.C. earlier this month.
Coming back hasnB次元官网网址檛 been seamless, Rourke admitted.
Every pass B次元官网网址� whether itB次元官网网址檚 in a practice or in a game B次元官网网址� is important as he looks to get his timing down and build chemistry with the receiving corps midseason, he said.
B次元官网网址淚 think itB次元官网网址檚 hard,B次元官网网址� Rourke said. B次元官网网址淚 think itB次元官网网址檚 good knowing the offence, and having some reps with some of the guys. But it certainly has its challenges.B次元官网网址�
The Lions know what Rourke is capable of, said receiver Alexander Hollins.
B次元官网网址淚t takes a quarterback a little time to get in that groove,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淪o heB次元官网网址檚 working daily, and weB次元官网网址檙e working with him, and heB次元官网网址檚 gonna continue to get better and better.
B次元官网网址淥nce he gets back to being Nathan Rourke and we get the offence going, then weB次元官网网址檒l be fine.B次元官网网址�
Rourke took over at starter for Vernon Adams Jr., who went down with a knee injury in B.C.B次元官网网址檚 25-0 loss to Winnipeg on Aug. 1.
B.C.B次元官网网址檚 offence began to falter before Adams was sidelined.
The Lions started the season 5-1, amassing 2,203 total passing yards B次元官网网址� an average of 367.2 per game B次元官网网址� with 12 touchdowns across the stretch. Over the past four games, the team has put up 650 total passing yards B次元官网网址� an average of 162.5 per game B次元官网网址� and two TDs.
B次元官网网址淥ur pass game hasnB次元官网网址檛 been what it was before,B次元官网网址� Campbell said. B次元官网网址淲e actually do some good stuff on defence and special teams and weB次元官网网址檝e been running the ball. (William) Stanback ran the ball for 100 yards (on Sunday). Usually the conversation with us is B次元官网网址楬ow come you canB次元官网网址檛 run the ball better? Why are you throwing all the time?B次元官网网址�
B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檝e just got to get our mojo back in the pass game. And when we do, weB次元官网网址檒l be on the right side of the scoreboard in these games.B次元官网网址�
B.C. could soon be spoiled for choice at quarterback.
Adams knee injury is not expected to keep the veteran quarterback out of the lineup long-term, and he got some throws in as the Lions practised in Surrey, B.C., on Wednesday.
Despite the progress, Adams wonB次元官网网址檛 travel to Ottawa for this weekB次元官网网址檚 matchup.
B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e not going to mess around with him, but he is definitely taking steps,B次元官网网址� Campbell said. B次元官网网址淗e even literally had a spring in his step, he wasnB次元官网网址檛 just walking anymore, he was jogging and doing stuff (on Wednesday). And so I think itB次元官网网址檚 coming quick.B次元官网网址�
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