The B.C. Lions dominated the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in their own stadium on Sunday night, winning 44-28. Despite Hamilton’s strong team, the game was heavily one-sided from the beginning, leading to early boos from the crowd as the West Coast team took a significant lead in the first half.
Here are my reflections on the game
Power and Responsibility
Depending on your team allegiance, Sunday’s first half was either an offensive masterpiece or a defensive disaster. In reality, it was both, with Vernon Adams Jr. exploiting Hamilton’s weak secondary.
Even for Lions fans, watching the breakdowns in zone coverage and overall defensive confusion was tough, given the respect for former B.C. defensive coordinator Mark Washington. Such performances can cost players and coaches their jobs, especially with Hamilton heading into a bye week. After already dismissing special teams coordinator Paul Boudreau, no one on the coaching staff should feel secure.
Nevertheless, the quality of Hamilton’s defense doesn’t overshadow Adams’ brilliance. He threw for 383 yards and four touchdowns, with 321 yards and all touchdowns coming in the first half before the Lions eased off.
The game showcased Adams’ ability to maneuver in the pocket, compensating for an average performance by the offensive line. His agility under pressure and anticipation of open receivers were outstanding, akin to someone with superhuman abilities. Whenever pressured, Adams evaded defenders or extended plays until finding an open target.
The gap between Lions’ receivers and defenders highlighted Adams’ skill in reading plays while on the move and executing unconventional throws. Unfortunately, two of his best passes late in the first half weren’t caught by Stanley Berryhill III and Jevon Cottoy, although the throws themselves were impressive.
Adams seems to be gaining recognition across the league for his outstanding play since last year. He hasn’t thrown an interception in 169 passes since Week 1, shedding his turnover-prone reputation. However, one bad game could quickly revive doubts.
Moose on the Loose
Justin McInnis has had a stellar season for B.C., ranking third in league receiving yards after another standout performance against Hamilton. However, it’s baffling how Hamilton repeatedly left him unmarked despite his significant contributions.
By the end of B.C.’s second drive, the six-foot-six Canadian receiver had already caught five passes for 81 yards and a touchdown, often without a defender within five yards. He surpassed the century mark by the first quarter and continued to make key plays in the second.
McInnis finished with 10 receptions for 144 yards and two touchdowns, his best game so far. The Pierrefonds, Que. native excels in finding space and moving the chains, using his size advantage effectively, as shown by his ability to maintain possession with defenders on his back and shrugging off pass interference to catch a touchdown pass from Adams.
B.C.’s other top receiver, Alexander Hollins, also had a strong game with six receptions for 116 yards, including a 69-yard touchdown where he outpaced the coverage.
Running out of Steam
B.C.’s defense had an uneven night, keeping Hamilton largely contained with 139 net yards and 11 points surrendered in the first half before fading later on. The Ticats exploited gaps as the Lions seemed to ease up with the game in hand, allowing 256 yards and 17 points in the second half.
While the TSN broadcast labeled it “yards after the beatdown,” the defensive letup in the third quarter allowed Hamilton to mount a comeback. The Lions’ defense showed vulnerabilities that opponents might exploit in future games.
Overall, the Lions need to maintain defensive intensity, avoiding complacency once they take a lead.
Copycats
B.C.’s first touchdown came from William Stanback, left wide open for a 45-yard touchdown catch. It was Stanback’s longest reception since 2019, demonstrating his versatility with four more catches for a total of 74 yards during the game.
Expanding Stanback’s role in the passing game has been effective, drawing inspiration from Hamilton’s James Butler, who played similarly against his former team. Both teams utilized running backs effectively in the passing game, showcasing different strategies to score.
Getting Handsy
Despite entering the game with the third-best pass defense in the league, B.C. had struggled with pass knockdowns. However, they doubled their season total with seven breakups in this game, led by Garry Peters with three in the first quarter alone.
Despite the increased deflections, B.C. failed to secure an interception during the game. A missed opportunity for an interception due to a questionable penalty against Peters highlighted their defensive effort.
Missed Opportunities
After avoiding sacks for three games, B.C. surrendered two in consecutive plays early in the fourth quarter against Hamilton. Defensive tackle Casey Sayles and David Menard capitalized on breakdowns in B.C.’s offensive line, raising questions about the team’s pass protection.
Menard, released by B.C. before the season, showed his prowess against his former team, highlighting inconsistencies in B.C.’s defensive line.
Born to Run
In a rare sight, B.C. sealed victory by running the football in the game’s closing moments. William Stanback contributed 82 rushing yards on 14 carries, including a second touchdown to secure the win.
Stanback’s performance demonstrated B.C.’s capability to manage large leads late in games, crucial for their season ambitions.
Return of the Returner
The Lions’ return game, a topic of discussion among fans, saw Terry Williams delivering an average performance against Hamilton. While improving on his season averages, Williams failed to make significant impact plays, settling for safe returns.
B.C. remains confident in Williams’ ability to generate yardage consistently but recognizes his lack of big-play potential. Despite his reliability, Williams falls short of being considered among the top returners in the league.
Fifty Shades of Gray
The game between B.C. and Hamilton featured an unusual matchup of both teams wearing gray jerseys, creating a monochromatic visual on the field. The jerseys’ subdued color sparked criticism, with fans preferring more vibrant and distinctive team uniforms.
Help is on the Way
B.C. received a boost with several injured players returning to practice this week. Key players like Keon Hatcher, T.J. Lee, Nathan Cherry, and Francis Bemiy Jr. resumed full practice after starting the season on the injured list, providing optimism for their imminent return.
Despite injuries to Josh Banks, Tibo Debaillie, and Jevon Cottoy in the game against Hamilton, B.C. anticipates regaining key players before Week 7.
Looking Ahead
B.C. returns home to face the undefeated Saskatchewan Roughriders, a critical matchup with potential implications for the West Division standings. Despite Saskatchewan missing starting quarterback Trevor Harris, the game promises to be a significant test for both teams.
Overall, B.C.’s dominant performance against Hamilton underscores their potential but highlights areas for improvement, particularly maintaining defensive intensity and enhancing special teams.
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