The B.C. Lions did a lot of things well to win their CFL season-opening game.
The players know they must do more things even better if they hope to extend that streak when they play the Saskatchewan Roughriders at Empire Field on Saturday night.
"Because we have so many new components to our team, we have to be better, and we will be better," quarterback Casey Printers said Friday after the Lions practised in sweltering heat.
The Lions are expecting close to a sellout for the first regular-season game at Empire Field, the 27,432-seat outdoor facility the team will use this season.
The temporary stadium was built on the site of the old Empire Stadium in East Vancouver for a cost of $14.4 million. The change in venue was necessary because of construction of a new $458-million retractable roof at B.C. Place Stadium in downtown Vancouver.
The Lions' defence forced three fumbles and veteran kicker Paul McCallum was good on all six of his field goals as B.C. opened the season last week with a 25-10 win over the Edmonton Eskimos at Commonwealth Stadium.
B.C.'s win against Edmonton may have been blue collar but the Riders were glitz and excitement in their season-opener against Montreal. Saskatchewan needed double-overtime, and survived a penalty for too-many men, to beat the visiting Alouettes 54-51 in a wild game.
The Lions' only touchdown against Edmonton came on a 61-yard romp by veteran running back Jamal Robertson who ended the game with 168 yards on 10 carries.
McCallum's field goals were the difference, but also masked an offence that had trouble finishing drives.
"Paul really bailed us out," said right guard Jon Hameister-Ries. "For whatever reason, we weren't clicking at the right time.
"We have to turn some of those (field goals) into TDs."
Wally Buono, the Lions coach and general manager, doesn't worry how the points are scored.
"If six field goals mean that we win, I'll take six field goals," he said. "If three touchdowns mean we lose, it's a relative thing.
"Obviously you want to finish your drives. Obviously you want to score touchdowns. Getting touchdowns is a little bit harder sometimes."
At times Printers looked very pedestrian against Edmonton. He completed 20-of-34 passes for 218 yards and no touchdowns. His longest pass was 41 yards.
He thinks another week of practice will help the offence mesh.
"We have to execute," Printers said curtly. "If we can do that, we will be fine.
"We pretty much know what Saskatchewan is all about. We understand the whole process. We just have to go out against them and make plays and continue to show what we can do."
Rider defensive back Tad Kornegay said Printers' size, arm strength and mobility make him a difficult package to contain.
"He scrambles, he's dangerous outside the pocket," said Kornegay. "You really have to try and get pressure on that guy. We know if he has time he will make a play.
"Our biggest thing is limiting his time in throwing the ball."
Riders head coach Ken Miller said it's been a busy couple weeks as the coaches developed strategies for Montreal's Anthony Calvillo and Printers.
"They're each quality quarterbacks in their own right," said Miller. "With Anthony we tried to move him off the middle of the line and didn't do that as well as we'd like.
"With Casey, now we want to keep him on the mid line so it's a little different logistical situation. We're working on that plan."
The young Lions' offence line received a passing grade in Edmonton, but will face an even more difficult test against the Riders defence.
"They move around, they give you some unique fronts that you only see with Saskatchewan," said Hameister-Ries. "You work on those at practice and run the plays you think you are going to be successful with."
Gary Etcheverry, the Riders' defensive co-ordinator, has been working on some looks that may confuse the Lions.
"For veterans, it's hard to cope with what we give," said Kornegay. "For new guys, it's going to be a new look.
"They've never seen nothing like it before. It's going to be our advantage to take full advantage of that and make some plays out there."
Attacking the Riders offence is like handling a ticking bomb.
Saskatchewan quarterback Darian Durant threw for 481 yards and five touchdowns against Montreal. He was named the CFL offensive player of the week.
Weston Dressler had 10 catches for 154 yards and a touchdown while Wes Cates had 112 yards rushing and a touchdown on 13 carries.
"Saskatchewan can beat you with a lot of big plays," said B.C. defensive end Brent Johnson. "They are a very high-powered offence.
"They can put the big play on you very quickly. The next thing you know, you are down two touchdowns. That being said, I think we have good packages in and I think we have the right personnel."
