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As some of you may know, I am now participating in a fantasy game called Cauz vs. Canada. It is your basic fantasy show down where I take on a different fan every week. We use standard fantasy scoring system and each of us must select one quarterback, two running’s backs, three wide receivers, one team defence and a kicker.
Now am I mentioning this to highlight that I am 1-0 and that @BCLionsDen went down in flames trying to match football wits with me? Kind of.
But really this is just a vaulting off point for my column on Jon Cornish.
Going into Week 1, I decided not to select the 2012 leading rusher as one of my two running backs. I didn’t do this to be different or to be some sort of fantasy football hipster. Nope my choice was solely motivated by the B.C. Lions’ rush defence. No way would I pick a running back going up against a unit that finished first in rushing yards allowed (76.4), second in average yards per carry plus they allowed a measly seven rushing touchdowns for all of last season! How could I pick Cornish going up against that?
Boy was I wrong.
Yes I know Solmon Elimimian was not in the game, but the Lions defence is an elite squad. The degree of difficulty facing Cornish was high and he just devastated the Lions all night.
Thankfully I PVR’d the game so I could watch it wide awake and without the sensation that comes with having a couple beers to kick off the long weekend. I didn’t want to drink but it was Canada’s 146th birthday and I didn’t want to say no. Let’s just call in Patriotic drinking and move on,
So let’s break down Cornish’s 172 rushing performance Game Log style!
1st Quarter
THE PLAY: 12:30
Jon Cornish rush for 23 yards to the BC27. Tackled by Ryan Phillips.
WHAT HAPPENED:
A simple power run to the right side. The play starts off well with right tackle Dan Federkeil sealing his man and fullback Rob Cote helping out. But the real stars on this play are Cornish and maybe my new favourite player, right guard Dimitri Tsoumpas. The man just blazes (well as much as an offensive lineman can “blaze”) down field, taking out linebacker Anton McKenzie with a textbook pancake block sending his helmet flying as the smell of syrup fills the air. Remember McKenzie is a veteran, he knows what he’s doing with two CFL West All-Star awards under his belt.
Then there is Cornish who displays a Swiss Army knife array of moves.
First let’s start with his vision. He immediately reads where he has to go and accelerates through the line. Of course the way the line is blocking you almost feel any running back could have gained at least five yards. What is noteworthy was the cut he made that just side-stepped safety J.R. LaRose and then he uses his power to drag DB Ryan Phillips for a couple more yards.
This run had it all, I must have rewound it at least 20 times.
THE PLAY: 04:39
Drew Tate pass to Jon Cornish for 20 yards to the BC12. Tackled by Anton McKenzie.
WHAT HAPPENED:
This was a simple pass play with Cornish catching a pass in the left flat. He is wide open with McKenzie about one step behind. The play should have gone for about nine yards if it weren’t for Cornish being Cornish.
I really don’t mean to pick on McKenzie but this play calls for it as he gets all tripped up and falls down as a result of Cornish stutter step that has McKenzie going in about five directions at once. Hopefully the team will burn the tape.
This play is another example of Cornish’s combination of speed and power. His ability to accelerate allows him to get past a couple more defenders while his power is on display as he literally just pushed CB Cord Parks out of his way en route to a 20 yard gain.
The reception is even more impressive when you consider it was basically Cornish vs. the Lions, he did it all on his own without any help for his teammates. Rest assured this is the last time you will read a sentence like that. This game was all about everyone chipping in.
2nd Quarter
THE PLAY: 09:34
Jon Cornish rush for 16 yards to the Cgy52. Tackled by Cord Parks.
WHAT HAPPENED:
A quick toss right where the usual suspects are getting it done. Cornish is not even touched until he has gained nine yards as the right side of Calgary’s offensive line is winning every individual battle at the point of attack. Credit here also goes to Nik Lewis for his great hold..errr..I mean block. All right maybe that’s not fair. Let’s say that Lewis’ executed an effective block that may, just may have also included just a wee dusting of a hold.
Rules aside, it is fun to watch Lewis matched up downfield with Kory Banks. Let’s score this one for Lewis. To be fair to Banks, Lewis does have about 50 pounds on him, just not a fair fight. Again I cannot end this slice of analysis without mentioning that Tsoumpas and Federkeil are setting the pace for the Stampeders running attack. Rookie centre Brett Jones gets into the action slowing down DE Brandon Jordan on this play.
Spoiler alert, this is not the last time I will mention Jones who has the Block Of The Night. Stay tuned.
THE PLAY: 08:15
Jon Cornish rush for 15 yards to the BC33. Tackled by J.R. LaRose.
WHAT HAPPENED:
A sneaky direct snap to Cornish that once again catches the Lions off guard. Full marks go to the Stamps coaching staff for devising as many different ways as possible for getting the ball to Cornish. We’ve seen quick tosses that allow Cornish to get the ball while already moving with a full head of steam plus your basic direct hand offs and now a direct snap. This time the run is to the left allowing the other half of Calgary’s offensive line to shine. In particular left tackle Stanley Bryant completely neutralizes Brandon Jordan ensuring Calgary can’t disrupt the momentum of this run.
One easy way to know if a team’s rushing schemes are working is to count how many yards does the running back gain before initial contact. This is a theme we have seen all night, as on this run Cornish is not touched until he has already gained a first down. This is a perfectly designed play executed by an extremely talented running back that uses his football IQ and his physical skills to overwhelm a Lions defence that looks unprepared. Cote and Lewis are also responsible for the room in which Cornish has to maneuver in and a special shout out to Joe West who took his man right out of the play.
At this point I need to highlight once again (Where do I get his jersey?) the hustle of the hardest sounding player to pronounce Dimitri Tsoumpas who sprinted down field and was right next to Cornish when the play ended. This run went left yet the right guard found himself in the middle of the action. I felt bad for LaRose who was credited with the tackle but really it was Cornish doing most of the tackling. I’m guessing Saturday did not feel good.
THE PLAY: 06:14
Jon Cornish rush for 1 yard for a TOUCHDOWN.
WHAT HAPPENED:
A really, really easy touchdown right behind the left side of the offensive line. Cornish just walks into the end zone as Bryant and Cote wipe out any chance of opposition.
Kerwin Bell could have scored on that play. You remember him right?
3rd Quarter
THE PLAY: 02:11
Jon Cornish rush for 11 yards for a TOUCHDOWN.
WHAT HAPPENED:
The coronation of Brett Jones as Rookie of the Year (I know, I’m getting ahead of myself. Just let me be excited) as Cornish, with a couple nifty moves, goes up the middle giving the Lions a 38-21 lead and sucking most of the life out of the Lions. Interesting how for most of the night Calgary had been attacking the Lions’ rush defence on the edges, this run was right up the gut.
Now I could easily focus on Cornish who displayed patience to wait for the hole to open up, enough burst to get through the first level of defence and the requisite amount of power needed to run through Phillips for the touchdown. Instead this play was all about Jones. At the snap of the ball Jones helps left guard Jon Gott block Jaber Westermann then instantly spins up field locates poor McKenzie, once again serves up that delicious breakfast item we call a “pancake”, creating the sort of hole that Moses would be proud of.
I have no doubt the Lions will bounce back from this loss and will take away many important lessons. But on this Friday night it was all about the Stampeders offensive line, the willingness of the receivers to get a bit dirty
and the all around skills of Jon Cornish.
The story gets even better when you consider that Cornish had dedicated to donate $10 dollars for every yard he gained to flood relief in Calgary. Cornish rounded up to $2000, a wonderful gesture from the leagues leading rusher.
