Head 2 Head: The Defence

If there is any team that gives the Boatmen a run for their money on the defensive side of the ball, it is the defending Grey Cup champion B.C. Lions.  Defensive Coordinator Rich Stubler has the Lions atop the league in fewest rushing yards allowed (386) and fewest passing yards allowed (1,122) for a league low average of 288.6 per game. 

The Lions have also been very good at getting pressure on the opposing quarterback, as they have already tallied 12 sacks to the Argos’ eight. Bolstering those sack numbers is the league leader in the category.

Star DE Keron Williams already has six sacks this season.  The pressure from the Lions’ defence has led to poor quarterback efficiency from their opponents, as they have allowed only 95 passes to be completed at a 61.3% clip.  Argos fans should look for Ricky Ray to step up into the pocket, avoid pressure, and breakdown the Lions defence.

Where the Lions really shine is in the redzone.  They have allowed only six passing TDs and two rushing TDs all season which ranks them second behind Edmonton in total TDs allowed (8) and fewest points against (110).  If leading CFL rusher Cory Boyd wants to have a successful day on the ground, he will definitely have to put in a full day’s worth of work.

The Argonauts’ defensive unit, led by Defensive Coordinator Chris Jones, sits second in the league in a number of defensive statistics, all numbers which have helped this team move into second place in the East after five games.  They are second in fewest first downs allowed (88), fewest passing first downs allowed (54), fewest first downs rushing against (25) and  fewest average yards of net offence against (306.8).

According to League statistics, the Argos have the third best rushing defence in the league.  They rank third in fewest net yards rushing against (451), allowing only 90.2 yards on average while limiting them to a fourth-best 4.8 yards per carry.  Where the Argos’ run defence really excels is in the redzone, as they have only allowed two rushing TDs all season.  A big performance from this unit will be essential in beating the Lions, as the Argos will look to contain running back Andrew Harris. Harris, who ranks fourth in the league in total yards, was just announced at the Canadian Player of the month for July

Where Jones’ defence really shines is in the passing game.  Going into this Week 1, Safety Jordan Younger was the only player in the secondary with any CFL experience, as all other starters were rookies in our League.  The unit is allowing the fewest average yards passing against per game (231) and are only allowing 7.0 yards per throw (best in the CFL).  The secondary has only allowed opposing QBs to complete 87 passes this season at a 52.7% clip, both tops in the CFL. 

Finally, the Argos’ athletic defence is second in the CFL with 7 interceptions (Pat Watkins and Younger lead the way tied with two a piece). This could end up being a huge part of this game, as the pass defence, as a whole, will look to limit Lions’ QB Travis Lulay through the air; he sits fourth in total passing yards for QBs but has already thrown five picks.