On Monday, the Lions added receivers Michael Fitzgerald II and Hergy Mayala to their practice roster. They had both been with the team at training camp. It’s a third stint with the Lions for Mayala, a veteran of 72 CFL games and a former first round pick of Calgary. 5. An inability to defend the long pass has played a role in B.C.’s first 0-2 start since 2019. They’ve given up six passes for 30 or more yards, which ties them for league worst. Trevor
Harris of Saskatchewan and Bo Levi Mitchell of Hamilton combined to connect on 83.3 per cent (45-of-45) of their pass attempts in the two games. The league average is 69.5 per cent. B.C. defensive coordinator Mike Benevides shouldered the blame for the early stumble in a conversation with 3DownNation. “We’ve just got to play better football right now. The last two games are inexcusable. It’s not good enough; we’ve got to be better,” Benevides said. “At the end of the day, the performance relies on
me. It’s all about me; it’s my responsibility to make sure we perform, and we haven’t. That’s me, not the players.” Former Lions pivot Vernon Adams, Jr., has completed 37-of-57 (64.9 per cent) for 493 yards, with two touchdowns and no interceptions., in a 30-28 loss to Winnipeg and a 40-37 defeat against Saskatchewan.
B.C. Lions, Michael Fitzgerald II, Hergy Mayala, Mike Benevides, Touchdown Kelowna, CFL, Vernon Adams Jr, long pass defense, 0-2 start since 2019, Trevor Harris, Bo Levi Mitchell
Defense is cooked, shocking they’re 0-2 again.
So they added receivers… but the article says the problem is defending long passes? Makes no sense to me. Maybe Fitzgerald will magically cover too?
I read that Benevides said it’s his responsibility which is cool and all, but if they’re giving up 30+ yard catches then what does the receiver move even do? Also 45-of-45 like, that’s insane, how is that even possible.
B.C. always talks tough after a bad start but then the passing defense falls apart. I swear teams don’t practice long throws anymore or something. And Vernon Adams Jr was 64.9% which sounds decent but they still lose, so maybe the offense can’t score when it matters? Idk, I’m just tired of seeing the same storyline.