Lions need ‘more of everything’ in push for playoffs

GAME DAY: CALGARY AT B.C., 4 P.M.

VANCOUVER — Heading into the back half of the CFL season, the B.C. Lions know there’s still ample work to be done.

A 4-4 record has the Lions in third spot in the West Division, but with six games to go in the abbreviated 2021 campaign, playoffs are far from a sure bet.

The team needs to recognize just how big the final stretch will be, said defensive back T.J. Lee.

“We need to do a little bit more of everything,” he said. “We need to have more film sessions, we need to put in extra work, work on our weaknesses, make sure we’re communicating, make sure we did everything we can do to solidify a win and make those plays when they matter in crunch time in a game.”

The home stretch begins today when B.C. hosts the Calgary Stampeders (4-5).

The Stamps come to Vancouver energized after collecting back-to-back wins over the Saskatchewan Roughriders in a home-andhome series.

Calgary quarterback Bo Levi Mitchell is also rounding into form after a broken leg hampered his start to the season. He had 296 passing yards, a touchdown and two interceptions against Saskatchewan last week.

The key to stopping the Stamps’ offence is making Mitchell uncomfortable, Lee said.

“We know the looks he don’t like so just mix up our looks and attack him, make him feel uncomfortable in the pocket and make him throw off balance,” he said.

While the Stampeders have momentum heading into the Week 11 matchup, the Lions will be a rested squad coming off a bye week.

Having a week without a game allowed players to reset both physically and mentally, said B.C.’s head coach Rick Campbell, but the team also came back a few days early to work on some details.

B.C. has struggled against divisional opponents this year, going 1-4 in the first half of the season. The lone win was a 15-9 victory over Calgary on Aug. 12.

In order to swing stats against the Stamps, the Lions will need to force shorter drives and create turnovers, Campbell said.

“We know it’s going to be a tough game, we know it’s going to be close,” the coach said.

The home side will be without a key piece against Calgary. Lucky Whitehead, the Lions’ top receiver, broke two fingers in a 30-9 loss to the Winnipeg Blue Bombers back on Oct. 1 and he’s expected to miss two to four weeks after having surgery on his hand.

B.C.’s run game has also faced challenges this year. The Lions averaged 74 rushing yards per game in their first six outings of the season but totalled just 38 rushing yards in their last two games.

“We want to be more consistent, more efficient at running the ball. There’s no question about that,” Campbell said. “There’s no question that for us to have success heading into this last part of the season, we’re more effective running the ball.”