With his B.C. Lions slogging through a losing skid, Rick Campbell is keeping the CFL season in perspective.
Yes, the Lions have lost four games in a row. No, the return of Canadian quarterback Nathan Rourke did not solve the team含羞草研究社檚 pass problems. But there are still games to be played and B.C. still hovers near the top of the West Division standings.
含羞草研究社淎m I happy about what含羞草研究社檚 going on right now? No. But part of my job is to see the big picture and we含羞草研究社檙e one point out of first place with eight games to go,含羞草研究社� Campbell, B.C.含羞草研究社檚 head coach and co-general manager, said after practice Wednesday.
含羞草研究社淪o there含羞草研究社檚 a lot of stuff there for the taking and we need to make sure we just do our part and improve, make sure we含羞草研究社檝e got our hat in the ring, and go from there.含羞草研究社�
The Lions (5-5) will look to turn the campaign around Saturday when they battle the Redblacks (6-2-1) in Ottawa.
Rourke will be back as B.C.含羞草研究社檚 starter after struggling in Sunday含羞草研究社檚 20-11 loss to the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. The 26-year-old connected on eight of his 25 pass attempts for 126 yards and was picked off twice as he played his first CFL game in nearly two years.
The QB was exceptional for the Lions in 2022, eventually earning the league含羞草研究社檚 most outstanding Canadian award. He then moved to the NFL, bouncing between the Jacksonville Jaguars, New England Patriots, New York Giants and Atlanta Falcons before returning to B.C. earlier this month.
Coming back hasn含羞草研究社檛 been seamless, Rourke admitted.
Every pass 含羞草研究社� whether it含羞草研究社檚 in a practice or in a game 含羞草研究社� is important as he looks to get his timing down and build chemistry with the receiving corps midseason, he said.
含羞草研究社淚 think it含羞草研究社檚 hard,含羞草研究社� Rourke said. 含羞草研究社淚 think it含羞草研究社檚 good knowing the offence, and having some reps with some of the guys. But it certainly has its challenges.含羞草研究社�
The Lions know what Rourke is capable of, said receiver Alexander Hollins.
含羞草研究社淚t takes a quarterback a little time to get in that groove,含羞草研究社� he said. 含羞草研究社淪o he含羞草研究社檚 working daily, and we含羞草研究社檙e working with him, and he含羞草研究社檚 gonna continue to get better and better.
含羞草研究社淥nce he gets back to being Nathan Rourke and we get the offence going, then we含羞草研究社檒l be fine.含羞草研究社�
Rourke took over at starter for Vernon Adams Jr., who went down with a knee injury in B.C.含羞草研究社檚 25-0 loss to Winnipeg on Aug. 1.
B.C.含羞草研究社檚 offence began to falter before Adams was sidelined.
The Lions started the season 5-1, amassing 2,203 total passing yards 含羞草研究社� an average of 367.2 per game 含羞草研究社� with 12 touchdowns across the stretch. Over the past four games, the team has put up 650 total passing yards 含羞草研究社� an average of 162.5 per game 含羞草研究社� and two TDs.
含羞草研究社淥ur pass game hasn含羞草研究社檛 been what it was before,含羞草研究社� Campbell said. 含羞草研究社淲e actually do some good stuff on defence and special teams and we含羞草研究社檝e been running the ball. (William) Stanback ran the ball for 100 yards (on Sunday). Usually the conversation with us is 含羞草研究社楬ow come you can含羞草研究社檛 run the ball better? Why are you throwing all the time?含羞草研究社�
含羞草研究社淲e含羞草研究社檝e just got to get our mojo back in the pass game. And when we do, we含羞草研究社檒l be on the right side of the scoreboard in these games.含羞草研究社�
B.C. could soon be spoiled for choice at quarterback.
Adams knee injury is not expected to keep the veteran quarterback out of the lineup long-term, and he got some throws in as the Lions practised in Surrey, B.C., on Wednesday.
Despite the progress, Adams won含羞草研究社檛 travel to Ottawa for this week含羞草研究社檚 matchup.
含羞草研究社淲e含羞草研究社檙e not going to mess around with him, but he is definitely taking steps,含羞草研究社� Campbell said. 含羞草研究社淗e even literally had a spring in his step, he wasn含羞草研究社檛 just walking anymore, he was jogging and doing stuff (on Wednesday). And so I think it含羞草研究社檚 coming quick.含羞草研究社�
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