B.C. Lions not ticked off over kickoffs, ‘keep working’ on faltering special teams

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The B.C. Lions’ kickoff coverage concerns are certainly uncovered now.

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The Lions gave up 297 yards on returns to Peyton Logan (156) and Jalen Philpot (141) in B.C.’s 41-40 win over the Calgary Stampeders Saturday at McMahon Stadium. 

B.C. is 7-1 on the season. They’ve been buoyed by a sizzling start to the campaign from second-year quarterback Nathan Rourke. If they’re going to be a true Grey Cup contender, though, they’ll need to have all phases of their game going. 

Special team co-ordinator Don Yanowsky’s kickoff coverage unit has allowed 25.4 yards per return so far this season, the second worst mark in the nine-team circuit. Only the Edmonton Elks (26.4) are allowing more.

“Their returners really hit it,” Lions coach Rick Campbell said Tuesday after practice of Logan and Philpot, who got their final totals against B.C. on four and three attempts, respectively. “They really run hard and fast and with courage, and when that happens you can’t be off. You have to be on point. 

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“I always give the other team credit when they make a play. There are also ways we can be better on many things we do on this team. We’ll keep working on all those things.

“We just missed a couple of tackles. They made plays. It’s always scheme and making plays. It’s never one single thing.”

NEXT GAME

Friday

B.C. Lions vs. Saskatchewan Roughriders

7 p.m, Mosaic Stadium. TV: TSN. Radio: AM 730.

Oddly enough, Logan fumbled a punt after B.C.’s game-opening offensive series that the Lions recovered at the Calgary 35-yard line. B.C. kicked a field goal five plays later.

Philpot ran back the ensuing kickoff 77 yards, which led to a Calgary field goal that knotted the game at 3-3.

Logan took a kickoff 99 yards for a touchdown in the fourth quarter that put Calgary ahead 39-31.

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“We’re going to keep working on schemes, making sure that we’re putting players in the right position, and making sure that we can make that tackle when we have to,” Campbell said.

B.C.’s own kick return game sits eighth in the CFL as well, at 20.0 per attempt. On Tuesday, the Lions had practice roster wide receiver Shane Wynn work with the return unit and Campbell admitted he was a “possibility” to be on activated for Friday’s visit to the Saskatchewan Roughriders.

Wynn signed with B.C. as a free agent in July. The Cleveland native had gone to Ottawa Redblacks training camp. He’s had various NFL practice roster stints and success as a  returner at the University of Indiana before that.

“He’s a guy that we were excited to get up here. He’s been up here about a month now, so he understands the CFL game,” Campbell said. “If we can fit him in, we’d like to see what he can do as a returner.”

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Campbell listed B.C.’s return game as “not bad.” He pointed out that the Lions had what would have a been a 74-yard touchdown return by Lucky Whitehead on a punt against Calgary called back because of a penalty.

B.C. is seventh in punt return average (7.8).

“We’re not far away. We need to be better, but we’ll keep working on it,” he said.

Saskatchewan is sixth in punt return average (8.6) and third in kick-off return average (25.7).

Leos top players … again

On Tuesday, Rourke and B.C. receiver Bryan Burnham were named CFL Top Performers of the Week, finishing first and second, respectively, in the voting. It’s the fifth time in just eight games that Rourke has been so honoured. He once again broke his Canadian single-game passing mark with 488 yards. That included 246 in the fourth quarter. His 39 completions also tied a career high, set back in Week 3 against Toronto.

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Burnham, who was playing his 100th game as a Lion, had eight catches for 165 yards.  He had a 53-yard fourth-quarter touchdown.

Montreal Alouettes defensive back Wesley Sutton was also named a Top Performer for Week 10, finishing third in voting.

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