SCOUTING THE LIONS

By: Gary Lawless Posted: 1:00 AM CDT Sunday, Oct. 18, 2009

RECORD: 7-7, third in the West

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Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 18/10/2009 (5834 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

RECORD: 7-7, third in the West

ON THE ROAD: 3-4

VS. THE EAST: 3-4

OFFENSIVE RANKINGS: Overall scoring: 5th (24.1 points per game); passing: 4th (257.9 yards per game); rushing: 4th (117 yards per game). Defensive rankings: Overall scoring: 6th (26.8 points per game); passing: 4th (248.2 yards per game); rushing: 8th (132.5 yards per game).

TURNOVER RATIO: minus-10 (5th overall)

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THE QB

No. 16 Buck Pierce: In his fifth season in the CFL, Pierce has battled concussion symptoms on three occasions this season but has been steady since returning to the lineup four games ago, running up a 3-1 mark and posting a pair of 300-yard games in that stretch. Last weekend Pierce threw up a last-second TD pass to Geroy Simon to steal a win from the Edmonton Eskimos. On the season he ranks fifth in the league in passing with a 2,212 yards — 194 completions on 302 attempts with 10 TDs and 11 interceptions.

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OFFENSIVE WEAPONRY

No. 81 Geroy Simon, SB: Former Blue Bomber has been a consistent star with the Lions and is now in his 11th season and likely headed to the Hall of Fame. He has over 12,000 receiving yards and could threaten Milt Stegall’s record of 15,153 yards with a couple more solid seasons. Comes into this game with 952 yards on 61 catches with six TDs.

No. 19 Paris Jackson, SB: The other bookend in B.C.’s passing attack, Jackson has 867 yards on 65 catches and seven TDs. Jackson is a big target and a Canadian game-breaker that has some speed and a smooth stride at 6-3, 220 pounds. Vancouver native is in his seventh CFL season and last year went over 1,000 yards for the first time.

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DEFENSIVE STOPPERS

No. 42 Anton McKenzie, LB: Came over from the Saskatchewan Roughriders as a free agent in the off-season and has settled in nicely with 63 tackles. Can cover the pass and stop the run, under-rated and very effective.

No. 95 Ricky Foley, DE: Leads the league in sacks with 11 — six in his last four games. The fourth-year pro was taken in the first round of the CFL draft in 2006 out of York University.

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THE SPECIALISTS

No. 4 Paul McCallum, K: Veteran kicker has been good on three of five attempts this season after missing most of the campaign due to injury and then backing up Shawn Whyte. Will also handle punts.

No. 13 Ryan Grice-Mullen, returner: Has 808 yards on kickoff returns and 370 punt-return yards. Consistent but has yet to break one for a TD.

— Lawless