Lions believe they’re dangerous, they’re just not dangerous all the time.<\/p>\n
Mindset. That\u2019s the key word you\u2019re hearing from the B.C. Lions organization when discussing what\u2019s happened during their past two games, each\u00a0of which resulted in a loss.<\/p>\n
In case you missed it, the Lions lost to Toronto 52-34 and then suffered a crushing defeat in Ottawa when the RedBlacks scored a last-second touchdown to prevail 34-33.<\/p>\n
The loss against the RedBlacks was particularly disturbing, as the Lions defence held the home team to a field goal in the first half only to hemorrhage and allow 31 points in the final 30 minutes.<\/p>\n
So, how does a unit that holds Ottawa to five punts and a field goal in the first two quarters manage to give up 31 points in the last two?<\/p>\n
\u201cWe’re the same team. We have the same personnel. They had 84 yards of total offence (in the first half). That’s who we can be. I can’t say that’s who we are because we didn’t finish that way. I feel like we have an extremely good team, but it’s potential right now. It’s all potential. We need to translate that into the whole game,\u201d said linebacker Micah Awe.<\/p>\n
According to Awe, it\u2019s about having confidence in yourself and executing your responsibility.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think the main thing is just mindset. It’s always mindset. That’s the only difference between any professional athlete. Our talent is plus or minus a little bit, the scheme is plus or minus a little bit but at the end of the day, it\u2019s the mindset. It\u2019s about making plays and doing your job,” stated Awe.<\/p>\n
“To me, I’m focused on myself so I can help the team out. At the end of the day, the better I am, the better the team is. That’s all I can control and I’m OK with that.”<\/p>\n
Pierce agrees most of the Lions issues are between the ears.<\/p>\n
\u201cYour mindset needs to be focused on where you are with momentum shifts and changes, how you deal with adversity and how you deal with success. We have to make sure we stay poised and we do our job and finish our job. We need to focus on ourselves,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
While the defence has been the focal point of what\u2019s ailed the Lions, the lack of finishing isn\u2019t entirely exclusive to the defence. The offence has been efficient, averaging 34 points in the last six games only to see the team go 2-4 during that span.<\/p>\n
Yet they\u2019re not to be absolved of blame either. They\u2019ve had opportunities to bury teams only to allow the opposition to creep back into the game.<\/p>\n
Take the contest at TD Place for example. The offence had an opportunity to seal the victory when Ottawa turned over the football on downs with
\n1:31 remaining in the game.<\/p>\n
With a first-and-ten at the Ottawa 43, Pierce elected to play it safe and run on first down with James Butler, who gained four yards. Faced with a second-and-six at the Ottawa 39, Pierce decided to run the ball again but Butler could only manage to gain one yard.<\/p>\n
Sean Whyte came out for a 46-yard field goal attempt to give the Lions a 36-27 lead with :42 seconds left. Whyte missed the attempt and Ottawa\u2019s Khalil Pimpleton returned it to the RedBlacks 33-yard line.<\/p>\n
A Lions penalty compounded the miss by tacking on another 15 yards to move the ball to the Ottawa 48-yard line. Two plays later, the RedBlacks scored the game-winning touchdown.<\/p>\n
Hindsight tells you that the Lions should have thrown the ball on second down. With Nathan Rourke at the controls, it wouldn\u2019t have been a bad choice. A first down pretty much would have sealed the game with either the Lions running out the clock or getting closer for a field goal by Whyte that would give the Lions a nine-point lead.<\/p>\n
Instead, they simply didn\u2019t get it done when it mattered the most.<\/p>\n
Another example is the Hamilton game at BC Place on July 27 th in which the Tiger-Cats won 37-33. The Lions were up 33-30 and gained possession on their own 43-yard-line with 2:43 left in the fourth quarter.<\/p>\n
With an opportunity to seal the game with a sustained drive, the offence went two-and-out.<\/p>\n
The Tiger-Cats then went 87 yards in 12 plays to win. Former Vancouver Canucks head coach Rick Tocchet would often talk about his team needing to
\nembrace the pressure. It\u2019s something the Lions have to learn.<\/p>\n
When the game is on the line or you\u2019re faced with adversity, you can\u2019t be looking for someone else to step up. You have to step up and execute. You have to have confidence in yourself and in your teammates that you will get the job done.<\/p>\n
That mindset is something that the Lions are lacking right now with the game on the line.<\/p>\n
So how do you work on improving that?<\/p>\n
\u201cYou have to be in those situations and learn from them. As coaches, you try and put them in those situations as much as possible in practice. You show them on film but it\u2019s a belief and it’s a trust in everyone,\u201d explained Pierce.<\/p>\n
“You want players to be able to perform at their best when their best is required. You want players to be able to step up and make plays when plays are there to be made.”<\/p>\n
It\u2019s the one thing the Lions can hope for because if this team ever develops that mindset, it has the talent to be successful.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe’re dangerous. We just have to learn how to be dangerous all the time,\u201d noted Awe.<\/p>\n
Veteran B.C. sports personality Bob \u201cthe Moj\u201d Marjanovich writes about the B.C. sporting scene\u00a0for Black Press Media.\u00a0This column is brought to you by:<\/p>\n