Rebecca Rempel
Everyone looks forward to getting a few days off in the summer and the B.C. Lions are especially anxious to begin their bye week. Players will get some time to heal while coaches can develop new strategies before the defending Grey Cup champions begin a stretch in the schedule where they play three games in 13 days.
“The guys can use a little rest,” said head coach Mike Benevides. “We have a big three in 13 when we get back. It’s serious business.”
The Lions play at home against the Saskatchewan Roughriders Aug. 19, then travel to Winnipeg the following Friday and Montreal Aug. 31.
The first third of the CFL season has gone well for the Lions. Benevides’ team is riding a two-game win streak and currently leads the West Division. Like any coach, Benevides likes to talk about the positives but he’s aware a season can go wrong very quickly.
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The Lions have scored the third most points in the league but still slow down in the red zone. The offensive line which has allowed a league-low six sacks will lose rookie guard Matthew Norman after the Winnipeg game when he returns to school. Punt coverage can still have the coaching staff holding its breath.
“Everything needs to get better,” said Benevides. “It doesn’t matter whether you are talking about discipline, protection or tackling, there’s always those types of issues you have to deal with.
“I think we need to continue to get better as a team. When we do that we will be headed in the right direction.”
One player who will benefit from a break is Andrew Harris. The workhorse Canadian tailback leads the CFL with 692 yards from scrimmage. Harris heads into the week second in the league with 411 rushing yards and two touchdowns on 60 carries. He also has 281 yards from 312 catches and a pair of touchdowns.
Harris has been hobbled with a turf toe and appeared to be labouring during the Lions’ 18-9 victory over the Toronto Argonauts Monday.
“When you take a look at how he was playing, he’s had a lot of touches,” said Benevides. “He’s had a lot of hits and obviously that toe is bothering him.
“The only thing you can do for that toe is rest.”
The offensive line was crippled in training camp when Jon Hameister-Ries, Dean Valli and Jesse Newman all suffered knee injuries. Norman, a third-round pick in the Canadian draft this year, was forced into a starting role and the Lions signed former Edmonton Eskimo Patrick Kabongo to play left guard.
As meionted, Norman has played well but is returning to teacher’s college. Hameister-Ries is back in the lineup after surgery but is dealing with a sore right knee that has undergone five procedures in six years. A few days off will give the knee some time to heal.
Valli has also returned but Newman remains on the nine-game injured list. With Newman leaving the Lions’ coaching staff have some decisions to make.
“We are going to look at that hard this week,” Benevides said. “We’ll have to juggle it a little bit.”
It’s never a given when the Lions try a short-yardage play. Against Toronto, B.C. needed four tries from the one-yard line, and the benefit of a penalty against the Argos, to score a fourth-quarter touchdown.
“We have been doing much better of late,” said Benevides. “It’s not as easy as it appears. That’s something we will definitely continue to look at.”
While the Lions managed to keep Toronto retuners Chad Owens and Chandler Williams contained, B.C. has given up some big returns this season.
“It’s a never-ending story,” said Benevides. “The returners in this league present challenges. The cover team has improved.”
One thing Benevides won’t worry about on his days off is a drop in production from two of his biggest weapons. Veteran slotback Geroy Simon is 13th in receiving with 329 yards from 22 catches but no touchdowns. Arland Bruce has 20 catches for 263 yards and one touchdown. 
Benevides said quarterback Travis Lulay has plenty of targets to choose from with Marco Iannuzzi, Akeem Foster, Shawn Gore and rookie Ernest Jackson all seeing the ball.
“Everybody is contributing,” said Benevides. “Those guys are used to having big numbers. Their time will come.
“Things are going to go in ebbs and flows. It’s not always going to be Andrew Harris’s day.”
The Lions offence has been good at hanging onto the ball. Lulay has thrown five interceptions but the Lions have not lost a fumble or turned the ball over on downs.
A source of strength so far this season has been the Lions defence. B.C. has not allowed a touchdown in two games. The Lions lead the league with 16 quarterback sacks while Keron Williams is the individual leader with six.
“The defence has been spectacular,” Benevides said. “The guys are playing outstanding football.
“They are playing for each other and they are playing fast.”
Second-year player Adam Bighill has looked like a veteran at the middle linebacker position. He is second in the league with 36 tackles and has two interceptions. He was named defensive player of the week after recording seven tackles, an interception and sack against Toronto.
Some of the issues the Lions need to address are technical and there’s always the chance of new faces being added over the week. What Benevides wants to see most as the season continues is a continuation of the mental attitude the team has shown.
“When you come out of a championship season…there are a lot of different challenges,” he said. “People are going to treat you differently because you are a champion.
“There are a lot of internal challenges that we faced. Teams are prepared for us. I’m pleased about how everybody is doing the right thing and how we are progressing.”
