THE CANADIAN PRESS
VANCOUVER — Quarterback sacks have become a double-edged sword for the B.C. Lions as they try to resurrect their season.
The Lions not only lead the CFL with 29 sacks but have also given up a league-high 32. So protecting pivot Casey Printers will be a key when B.C. (3-7) chases its third straight win Saturday against the Hamilton Tiger-Cats.
"We do have to do a better job, particularly this week," said centre Angus Reid, a backup when the season began but now a regular on an injury-depleted offensive line. "Hamilton really relies on pressuring the quarterback as much as they can."
Hamilton (5-5) had its four-game win streak snapped last week by Montreal but remains tied for second in the East Division with Toronto. The Ticats’ defence has registered 25 sacks this season while giving up 19.
The Ticats certainly boosted their pass rush with the addition this week of free-agent Stevie Baggs. The six-foot-two, 240-pound defensive end finished tied for the CFL lead in sacks last year, registering 12 with the Saskatchewan Roughriders before signing in the off-season with the NFL’s Arizona Cardinals.
Injuries and subsequent adjustments have caused problems all season for B.C.’s offensive line, which surrendered eight sacks in last week’s 37-16 victory over Toronto.
"It’s not something we take pleasure in but the guys have worked hard and the offensive line has gotten better," coach Wally Buono said.
And Reid says statistics don’t always tell the story.
"The numbers are really high on the stat page but we had 75 plays (against the Argos) which is the second-most I’ve ever done in my (10-year) career here," he said.
Right tackle Joe McGrath, signed after being released by Edmonton, said Printers’ improved mobility after missing four games with a knee injury will help.
"He’s a guy who sometimes likes to sit in the pocket and sometimes use his feet and roll out," McGrath said. "Even if the protection is good he still likes to roll out and buy a little bit more time for our wide receivers and create those big plays."
Hamilton linebacker Otis Floyd said any team coming off two straight wins will have confidence and stopping Printers from buying that time will be a key.
"We have to get to him but we’ve had no problems this season getting to the quarterback," Floyd said. "Casey has a very strong arm but he also likes to run and can make big plays on the run."
Right tackle Jason Jimenez, like Floyd another former Lion, is expecting B.C. to try to make life miserable for Ticat quarterback Kevin Glenn.
"As long as we can maintain our ability to run the ball and pass it effectively when we have to we should be OK," Jimenez said. "But they’re very good (defensively)."
Lions defensive lineman Jonathan Brown said the key to getting to Glenn will be the B.C. secondary blanketing Hamilton’s potent receiving corps.
"He gets rid of the ball so fast we’re just going to have to rush for 60 minutes," said Brown, a former Argonaut who got three of the Lions’ six sacks against Toronto.
Defensive end Brent Johnson, who shares the club lead with four sacks, said B.C. will also have to pay attention to tailback DeAndra’ Cobb who rushed for a career high 167 yards and two touchdowns in one of Hamilton’s two victories over the Lions last season.
"Defensively we’re going to do some things different than what we’ve done before," Johnson said. "Up front we do need to get after (Glenn) but stopping the run is going to be a key."
Glenn’s prime weapon is speedster Arland Bruce who leads the CFL with 943 receiving yards but Marquay McDaniel (581) and Dave Stala (576) are also on pace to exceed 1,000 yards this season.
Buono said Printers is also gaining confidence as he adapts to new offensive personnel like receiver Steve Black and running back Yonus Davis.
"He’s also been able to make some big plays for us with his legs," Buono said. "If Casey can run around, he’s going to find the open receiver and he’s going to fatigue the defence and he’s going to fire you up."
NOTES : It will be the Lions’ 1,000th CFL game, including playoffs, since they entered the league in 1954 … The last time the two clubs met the Lions defeated the Ticats 34-27 in overtime in last season’s East semifinal in Hamilton … Lions slotback Geroy Simon jumped to third in receiving yards from ninth with his 133-yard effort against Toronto.
