Kyle Clapham/BCLions.com
Every time the B.C. Lions attempt a long field goal Chuck McMann feels the lump in his throat.
“It’s like you have your heart in your throat,” said the Lions’ special teams co-ordinator.
McMann had to swallow hard in the Lions’ loss to the Saskatchewan Roughriders last weekend. The Riders’ Tristan Jackson took advantage of a missed 40-yard Paul McCallum attempt in the fourth quarter and returned the ball 129 yards for a touchdown. That 10-point swing proved to be the margin of difference as the Riders (3-0) won 23-20 to hand the Lions (2-1) their first defeat of the season.
In the third quarter Jackson returned another missed McCallum attempt 60 yards.
Also on Saturday Hamilton’s Chris Williams returned a missed field goal 109 yards for a touchdown in the Tiger-Cats’ 36-27 win over Toronto. The two returns shows the risk-reward that must be factored into any decision to attempt a field goal of 40 yards or longer.
| Covering the missed field goal |
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“That allows you to have five which are guys who are used to doing that. It creates a huge challenge. You have a 65-yard wide field. There’s usually going to be a lapse of three to four seconds where different seams and different breakdowns can occur.” – Lions head coach Mike Benevides on why it is sometimes challenging to have linemen chasing down returners on missed field goals. |
Head coach Mike Benevides said on any field goal attempt seven of the 12 players on the field – five offensive lineman, a holder (usually a backup quarterback) and the kicker – are not normally required to or are capable of catching a lightning-fast return man.
“That allows you to have five which are guys who are used to doing that,” said Benevides. “It creates a huge challenge.
“You have a 65-yard wide field. There’s usually going to be a lapse of three to four seconds where different seams and different breakdowns can occur.”
Creating a field goal team is a fine balance. You need to combine the blocking talents of a pass play with the sprinting and tackling skill of the kickoff unit.
“You have to protect it and you have to cover it,” said Benevides.”They have to be schooled up in not only the (blocking) techniques but they also have to be big enough to do that.
“Then they have to be supple enough to cover kicks. That’s where the challenge lays.”
McMann said offensive linemen like Ben Archibald, Jon Hameister-Ries, Jesse Newman, Angus Reid and Jovan Olafioye provide the blocking skills required, but often lack the speed to race down field and the ability to make quick cuts to catch a returner.
“That’s not what they are paid to do,” said McMann.
Also, on a long attempt, it takes a couple of seconds to see if the kick is good. That gives the return team extra time to set up.
“The slower (your players are), the more separation you have between them and the returner,” said McMann.
To compensate, the Lions like to insert players like linebackers Anton McKenzie and James Yurichuk; defensive ends Keron Williams and Khreem Smith; or running backs Rolly Lumbala and Stu Foord onto the field goal unit. They add speed and tackling ability.
Like most teams the Lions have one unit they use for short field goals and a ”bomber team” used for longer attempts.
“You want to increase the defensive players or the players who are used to covering kicks,” said Benevides.
Last year McCallum was Mr. Automatic when it came to kicking. He hit 50 of 53 attempts and had a 94.3-per-cent accuracy rate. This year, working with a new snapper and holder, the 42-year-old McCallum has hit nine of 12 attempts for 75-per-cent accuracy.
Both kicks against the Riders were within his range.
Human error also comes into play.
Replays of Jackson’s return shows Saskatchewan’s Brent Hawkins making what appears to be an illegal block on Smith.
Benevides shrugged when asked about the non-call.
“It’s hard to tell because of the speed of the game,” he said.
Benevides was more concerned about several breakdowns that occurred on the coverage. Some of the Lions seemed to be moving at half speed, expecting Jackson to concede a point in the end zone.
“When you try to cover the entirety of the field you want everybody going down at the same velocity,” Benevides said.
“We talk about putting a net around the returner. Well there was a hole in that net. Once that hole is there it’s hard to recover. Once you get through that net it’s over.”
McMann said fatigue was also an issue.
“I thought we had some guys that were maybe tired and were not giving the effort would want,” he said. “There were a few things we were not happy with.”
Credit also must go to the Riders. Saskatchewan missed two field goal attempts put managed to contain.
“They missed two,” said Benevides. “What we got out of it wasn’t what they got out of our two missed. The game always comes down to four or five plays.”
Entering the fourth week of the CFL season there have been seven touchdowns scored off returns of kickoffs, punts or missed field goals. McMann said that shows the skill teams have in the return position.
“I think the returners this year are better,” he said. “On some of the teams they are putting smaller, faster guys.”
The Lions will have time to watch film and make adjustments before playing the Edmonton Eskimos (2-1) Friday at B.C. Place Stadium. Sometimes a loss can be a reality check.
“There are certain things you learn from the response,” said Benevides. “There are certain things they will show you after a loss.”
The loss was also Benevides first as a head coach.
“I’m tremendously disappointed,” he said.”In wins, as a coach, you don’t partake in it because you are always focusing on what needs to improve and you are being critical.
“When you lose, it sticks with you and it’s an awful feeling. You know how hard everyone works and you weren’t able to get it done.”
