SURREY, B.C. - The B.C. Lions better be prepared to shut down the
Montreal Alouettes late in Sunday's East Division final if they want to
reach the Grey Cup game.
Finishing off teams late in the fourth quarter has been a problem
for the Lions, who have been tied or beaten late in three of their last
four games.
They could have another tight game Sunday with 15-3 Montreal based on this season's form chart.
B.C. escaped with a 19-12 home win when a late Alouette touchdown
was disallowed. They lost 28-24 in Montreal on a last-minute major.
"I
feel we've let our offence down," defensive end Ricky Foley, the West
nominee for the CFL's top Canadian, said Tuesday when asked about the
late defensive collapses.
"I feel really bad about that. Somehow, some way we've just got to
keep our composure, keep our heads straight and keep doing what we've
been doing the whole game."
The 8-10 Lions advanced by eliminating Hamiton 34-27 in overtime in
Sunday's East Division semifinal - after allowing a game-tying
touchdown and two-point convert with 22 seconds left.
It was almost the same scenario on Oct. 24 in Regina when
Saskatchewan scored a TD and two-point convert with 1:53 remaining,
then won in overtime.
A week later, Calgary erased a one-point deficit, winning on a field goal with no time left.
Veteran safety Barron Miles, who led the CFL with eight
interceptions, said B.C. can't afford late-game lapses against Montreal
quarterback Anthony Calvillo, his long-time buddy.
"But it's the CFL, it's the playoffs, things are going to happen late," said Miles, who played seven seasons in Montreal.
"You've just got to black it out and say, hey, we've been through
this scenario before, let's not re-enact the same mistakes and let's
stay focused."
Coach Wally Buono believes a lack of focus allowed Hamilton back in
Sunday's game, but cornerback Korey Banks said that's not always the
case.
"I'm sure a lot of guys were focused but plays were made," Banks said. "You could be focused but still not make the play.
"Hopefully when we play Montreal we'll be focused to the end."
Defensive back LaVar Glover said the B.C. secondary must communicate
better, just as quarterbacks and receivers talk in the huddle about
opposition weaknesses.
"You've got to loosen up and play relaxed," Glover said. "If we relax out there, we'll be all right."
Quarterback Casey Printers, who got his first start against
Saskatchewan when three other B.C. pivots suffered shoulder injuries,
said the Lions have learned from the lapses.
"When you look at it, it really helped us to grow up," Printers
said. "Because of those losses we were able to come out with a victory
(in Hamilton)."
Sunday's game might not even be close if the Lions can't contain Calvillo, the East nominee for most outstanding player.
Calvillo's quick release allowed him to complete a CFL-leading 72
per cent of his passes for 4,639 yards and 26 touchdowns against only
six interceptions.
Foley, who tied for the CFL lead with 12 sacks, said B.C. must take
away the short routes for receivers like Ben Cahoon - the East nominee
for top Canadian - and make Calvillo hold the ball.
"If he's got to hold the ball, their offensive line has got to pass block differently," Foley said.
"They're expecting the ball to be gone in two and a half seconds. If
he has to hold the ball, it gives us an edge on the outside."
Another area the Lions must fix is the play of their injury-depleted
offensive line, which was flagged for several procedure violations
against the Ticats.
Dean Valli, who moved to centre because of a season-ending ankle
injury to Angus Reid, said it was the first time the Lions used a
silent count for an entire game.
"It was also the first game where the guards were making protection calls rather than the centre," Valli said.
"I can understand why they made these mistakes, but now we've got 70
playoff-pressure snaps under our belt in that procedure and with
another week to clean it up, I think we're going to be that much better
come Montreal."
The Lions finished fourth in the West but are playing in the East
Division as a crossover team because their record was better than that
of 7-11 Winnipeg.
No crossover team has made it to the Grey Cup, but that doesn't faze
Banks, who expects to be playing a division rival Nov. 29 in Calgary.
"Would you call that a record?" Banks asked as he sat in front of his locker, shuffling a deck of cards.
"Every record is meant to be broken. Hopefully it's going to happen
this week. All the odds are against us but this is Vegas, baby. Bet
against the odds, you might be a millionaire the next day."