Game #5 - EE vs The Lions

[ben_the_eskimo]

I'm not giving Ford a pass as he needs to be better for sure but when our defence is giving up:

• 32.4 points per game (next closest is Toronto at 27.5 and the league leader is Calgary at 17.2)
• 118.6 rushing yards per game, good enough for second last to BC who gives up 122.7. The league leader is Montreal at 69.8
• 330 Passing yards per game (next closest is Sask at 329.2 and the league leader is BC at 212.3)
• 443.6 yards of net offence (next closest is Sask at 384 and the league leader is Montreal at 321.2)
• We are last in sacks with 3, last in pass knockdowns with 10, we have ZERO forced fumbles

This is all while giving up an average time of possession of 33:40 (best is Sask at 28:21) and an average of 58 plays per game (Calgary is actually last with 61.8 and the league leader is BC at 51.1). Our D needs to be WAY better then it has been, that being said so does Ford and the whole offence as we do lead the league in 2 and outs with 43% compared to the league leader Sask at 24%.

Great analysis, the difference for me lies in the expectations. The offence was expected to take time to come together while the D was expected to be dominant right away.

What we’ve seen play out is almost the reverse where the O, while still has plenty of work to do, have for the most part outperformed my expectations at times where as the D have failed miserably at living up to my expectations of them.

[Esks4ever]

I'm not giving Ford a pass as he needs to be better for sure but when our defence is giving up:[LIST][*]118.6 rushing yards per game, good enough for second last to BC who gives up 122.7. The league leader is Montreal at 69.8[*]330 Passing yards per game (next closest is Sask at 329.2 and the league leader is BC at 212.3)
.

and our friggin game plan was to pass pass pass... no running attack whatso ever. Lemmie guess... our genius OC decided " they'll be expecting the run lets pass!!"

[bone]

Great analysis, the difference for me lies in the expectations. The offence was expected to take time to come together while the D was expected to be dominant right away.

What we’ve seen play out is almost the reverse where the O, while still has plenty of work to do, have for the most part outperformed my expectations at times where as the D have failed miserably at living up to my expectations of them.

This is also my general view, but I do think blaming the defense for the BC game isn't fair. I think they did a reasonable job in limiting the damage, even though I hated how BC seemed to find the 5-7 yard play on every single play.

Let's not forget that despite Edmonton only having 1 first down between the first series and late in the 4th quarter. The defense played a huge part in keeping the game to a 10-7 score past the mid-point of the second quarter. They did fall apart in the final two drives of the 2nd quarter, but if the offense manages even 1 first down, or prefereably 2, there likely wouldn't have been enough time for a 2nd long drive and we're at worst 20-7.

Furthermore, in the 2nd half, the defense managed to limit BC to only 2 field goals all half, despite the Elks going 2 and out every drive until Fajardo late in the 4th.

Game 5 was pretty much what we would have been expecting going into the season with the Defense doing its best to limit the opposition and hoping the offense could capitalize on a few big plays, but the offense not only couldn't find any big plays, they couldn't even find many 10 yard plays. The defense even managed two turnovers which has been one of the two biggest issue this year as this team needed some turnovers to help the offense. The other being sacks which still is ridiculous that there's been so few.

[Sectionq]

I'm not giving Ford a pass as he needs to be better for sure but when our defence is giving up:

• 32.4 points per game (next closest is Toronto at 27.5 and the league leader is Calgary at 17.2)
• 118.6 rushing yards per game, good enough for second last to BC who gives up 122.7. The league leader is Montreal at 69.8
• 330 Passing yards per game (next closest is Sask at 329.2 and the league leader is BC at 212.3)
• 443.6 yards of net offence (next closest is Sask at 384 and the league leader is Montreal at 321.2)
• We are last in sacks with 3, last in pass knockdowns with 10, we have ZERO forced fumbles

This is all while giving up an average time of possession of 33:40 (best is Sask at 28:21) and an average of 58 plays per game (Calgary is actually last with 61.8 and the league leader is BC at 51.1). Our D needs to be WAY better then it has been, that being said so does Ford and the whole offence as we do lead the league in 2 and outs with 43% compared to the league leader Sask at 24%.

Fair points, the defense hasn't been good at all which I wasn't expecting it to struggle this badly but even if the defense was better and say tied with the Argos for points per game allowed, the Elks through 5 games are averaging 23.6 that's with the 39 they put up against Ottawa that inflates their number. So they'd still be losing because they don't score enough. That games would be just closer.

The defense can't really stop anyone which is limiting the opportunities for the offense so that puts pressure on the offense and Ford but the offense when it does get chances, goes 2 and out way, way too much so not only do they not hardly score which puts extra pressure on the defense, they lots of times don't move the ball almost at all. So the defense is asked to come out over and over again with little to no rest or come out in poor field position or both.

So I think its both ways. If your offense can't score or move the ball, maybe some of your defenders aren't playing as disciplined position wise wanting to make a play because they feel they have too plus they get worn down being on the field so much. But if the defense was better, maybe there isn't as much pressure on Ford, maybe the offense is more patient instead of potentially forcing things.

I do think when he has come in, even if it's limited. Fajardo has moved the ball some. So I would start Ford but it has to be a short leash because they need some positives here.

[Looner]

Fair points, the defense hasn't been good at all which I wasn't expecting it to struggle this badly but even if the defense was better and say tied with the Argos for points per game allowed, the Elks through 5 games are averaging 23.6 that's with the 39 they put up against Ottawa that inflates their number. So they'd still be losing because they don't score enough. That games would be just closer.

The defense can't really stop anyone which is limiting the opportunities for the offense so that puts pressure on the offense and Ford but the offense when it does get chances, goes 2 and out way, way too much so not only do they not hardly score which puts extra pressure on the defense, they lots of times don't move the ball almost at all. So the defense is asked to come out over and over again with little to no rest or come out in poor field position or both.

So I think its both ways. If your offense can't score or move the ball, maybe some of your defenders aren't playing as disciplined position wise wanting to make a play because they feel they have too plus they get worn down being on the field so much. But if the defense was better, maybe there isn't as much pressure on Ford, maybe the offense is more patient instead of potentially forcing things.

I do think when he has come in, even if it's limited. Fajardo has moved the ball some. So I would start Ford but it has to be a short leash because they need some positives here.

yup I think we are saying the same thing. I would start Ford but have an extremely short leash, I would even leave Fajardo in after short yardage plays for at least the next play. We have done our due diligence when it comes to making Ford feel like he doesn't have someone peeking over his shoulder but he regressed severely last game so its time to make him uncomfortable. that being said he did put a perfect game together the game prior so I think he deserves the start.