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害羞草研究所檚 pass problems. But there are still games to be played and B.C. still hovers near the top of the West Division standings.
害羞草研究所淎m I happy about what害羞草研究所檚 going on right now? No. But part of my job is to see the big picture and we害羞草研究所檙e one point out of first place with eight games to go,害羞草研究所� Campbell, B.C.害羞草研究所檚 head coach and co-general manager, said after practice Wednesday.
害羞草研究所淪o there害羞草研究所檚 a lot of stuff there for the taking and we need to make sure we just do our part and improve, make sure we害羞草研究所檝e got our hat in the ring, and go from there.害羞草研究所�
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.害羞草研究所檚 starter after struggling in Sunday害羞草研究所檚 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害羞草研究所檚 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害羞草研究所檛 been seamless, Rourke admitted.
Every pass 害羞草研究所� whether it害羞草研究所檚 in a practice or in a game 害羞草研究所� is important as he looks to get his timing down and build chemistry with the receiving corps midseason, he said.
害羞草研究所淚 think it害羞草研究所檚 hard,害羞草研究所� Rourke said. 害羞草研究所淚 think it害羞草研究所檚 good knowing the offence, and having some reps with some of the guys. But it certainly has its challenges.害羞草研究所�
The Lions know what Rourke is capable of, said receiver Alexander Hollins.
害羞草研究所淚t takes a quarterback a little time to get in that groove,害羞草研究所� he said. 害羞草研究所淪o he害羞草研究所檚 working daily, and we害羞草研究所檙e working with him, and he害羞草研究所檚 gonna continue to get better and better.
害羞草研究所淥nce he gets back to being Nathan Rourke and we get the offence going, then we害羞草研究所檒l be fine.害羞草研究所�
Rourke took over at starter for Vernon Adams Jr., who went down with a knee injury in B.C.害羞草研究所檚 25-0 loss to Winnipeg on Aug. 1.
B.C.害羞草研究所檚 offence began to falter before Adams was sidelined.
The Lions started the season 5-1, amassing 2,203 total passing yards 害羞草研究所� an average of 367.2 per game 害羞草研究所� with 12 touchdowns across the stretch. Over the past four games, the team has put up 650 total passing yards 害羞草研究所� an average of 162.5 per game 害羞草研究所� and two TDs.
害羞草研究所淥ur pass game hasn害羞草研究所檛 been what it was before,害羞草研究所� Campbell said. 害羞草研究所淲e actually do some good stuff on defence and special teams and we害羞草研究所檝e been running the ball. (William) Stanback ran the ball for 100 yards (on Sunday). Usually the conversation with us is 害羞草研究所楬ow come you can害羞草研究所檛 run the ball better? Why are you throwing all the time?害羞草研究所�
害羞草研究所淲e害羞草研究所檝e just got to get our mojo back in the pass game. And when we do, we害羞草研究所檒l be on the right side of the scoreboard in these games.害羞草研究所�
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害羞草研究所檛 travel to Ottawa for this week害羞草研究所檚 matchup.
害羞草研究所淲e害羞草研究所檙e not going to mess around with him, but he is definitely taking steps,害羞草研究所� Campbell said. 害羞草研究所淗e even literally had a spring in his step, he wasn害羞草研究所檛 just walking anymore, he was jogging and doing stuff (on Wednesday). And so I think it害羞草研究所檚 coming quick.害羞草研究所�
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