BCLions.com
Coaches will tell you football players are creatures of habit.
Teams follow routines. Schedules are maintained. The same drills are done over and over again so the players get used to reacting to certain situations. A sudden change in the process can be an unwelcome disruption.
This hasn’t been a typical week for the B.C. Lions, and maybe that’s a good thing.
Coming off Tuesday’s 38-12 loss to the Toronto Argonauts the Lions have only a few days to prepare for Monday’s game against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers at BC Place Stadium.
As far as Ryan Phillips is concerned, the shorter the time between games, the better.
“You still have that bad taste in your mouth,” said the veteran defensive halfback. “It’s definitely in the back of your head the fact we didn’t play well.
“We need to make corrections and make sure we execute this week.”
The Lions flew home from Toronto on Wednesday and then took Thursday off. The team practised Friday and Saturday before Sunday’s walk through.
For the coaching staff and players, that means cramming what is normally four or five days of preparation into two days. The coaches were already planning for the Bombers last week at the same time they were preparing for Toronto.
“It presents a few challenges in terms of thinking outside the box,” said head coach Mike Benevides. “Mentally they have to stay focused a little longer.
“You really have to shorten things down.”
The Blue Bombers have been off since losing 37-24 to the Calgary Stampeders on July 27.
Linebacker Anton McKenzie said less physical work means more mental preparation.
“You have to get more mental reps,” said McKenzie. “You have to watch more film and study them more.
“I think you study more film in short weeks than you do in long weeks.”
Receiver Nick Moore said the lack of recovery time can be an issue.
“It probably takes two or three days to get your full body healthy, if there is no serious injury,” he said. “The natural bumps and bruises are pretty much gone.”
For the second consecutive week the Lions will face a quarterback they know little about. Zack Collaros, making his first CFL start, completed 21 of 25 passes for 253 yards and three touchdowns in Toronto’s win over B.C.
The Bombers will have Justin Goltz at quarterback. In his first CFL start last week, Goltz was 19-of-35 passing for 194 yards, two touchdowns and an interception in a loss to Calgary.
Benevides acknowledged Goltz adds another variable to an already demanding week.
“Football is about tendencies,” said the second-year head coach. “You try to identify where the weaknesses are. You don’t have enough information.
“You have seen him throw the ball deep. You have seen him scramble. Like any young guy who believes in himself, he is taking some deep shots. It’s going to be a tremendous challenge to deal with that.”
As good as Collaros was against B.C., the Lions also were their own worst enemy. B.C. gave up three sacks, turned the ball over on two fumbles and an interception, failed to score an offensive touchdown and gave up 126 yards on 13 penalties.
Paul McCallum was good on four field goals but none was longer than 17 yards.
Quarterback Travis Lulay said too often the Lions found themselves facing second-and-long when in scoring position.
“Second-and-long is hard to convert anywhere on the field, especially in the red zone where it tightens up,” said Lulay. “First down production in the red zone has to be better.”
Benevides said his team was uncharacteristically undisciplined, resulting in too many penalties.
“We understand that,” he said. “We see what the fault was. I believe that is not who we are.”
Rookie offensive guard Kirby Fabien underwent surgery Friday for a knee injury suffered against Toronto and will likely be sidelined for the rest of the season. Some training camp injuries resulted in Fabien, a first-round pick in the 2012 draft, earning a starting job.
“He’s a quiet kid but did a great job coming into camp,” said Lulay. “He got thrown into the fire . . . but he was really starting to play some great football for us.
“He seems like a smart enough kid. He will have a good recovery and come back and pick up where he left off.”
Dean Valli, an eight-year veteran, stepped in for Fabien against Toronto and will start against Winnipeg.
Valli underwent knee surgery over the winter and was limping at training camp.
“It’s like riding a bike,” Valli said about returning to the lineup. “It’s like riding a bike that has been in the shed a little while, has a little rust on it.
“It comes back to you pretty quick, but you have to have the right mind set, that’s for sure.”
Valli isn’t bothered by the short week.
“I have started 60 or 70 games in my career,” shrugged the North Vancouver native. “I can see how a kid who has never played before might be pretty scared. This is all part of the job.”
Lulay likes the experience Valli brings.
“We’re fortunate to have a veteran backup,” he said. “It’s not a rookie. It’s not a completely new guy going in there.
“He’s confident and knows the deal. Any time a guy has had his role reduced, and gets a second chance, you see a new energy. I expect Dean to come out and be the player he has always been for us.”
After the Winnipeg game, the Lions will have a bye week before hosting the Calgary Stampeders Aug. 17.
Benevides said one advantage of a short week is players don’t have time to forget a frustrating loss.
“There is no doubt that a after a loss there is certainly a lot of anger, urgency and angst that needs to be taken out on the opponent,” he said.
“The level of focus is also heightened.”
